Working Paper

Human Capital Development Programme for Effective ICT in Africa

“This paper examined how to develop an ICT strategy for Africa, with particular reference to its human capital, in order to enable it to pursue a similar path of development. A specific task of this framework paper is to form a basis for
several country studies aimed at establishing accurately the current state of the human capital in African countries in the area of ICT. This paper begins with an overview of major issues related to human capital development in the African continent. The paper highlights the need for African governments first to develop a strategy towards the development of ICT with a view to securing the maximum benefits to the economy and, where feasible,transforming their economies into knowledge-based economies along the lines undertaken by some of the successful developing countries in ICT capability building. The paper points out to two possibilities for ICT capacity building: use of ICT applications for efficiency gaining and production of ICT goods for internal market and export, but emphasises their different roles in the economy.”