Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: A Review and Selective Annotated Bibliography 1990-2000
SummaryText
This 90-page study was commissioned by International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) and written as a response to the various existing studies and initiatives concerned with ensuring that African countries are prepared to meet the challenges of the information age, many of which discuss access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and ICT policy development in general. The author wished to address the following questions: What evidence is there for the potential of ICTs to assist in Africa's development? Are ICTs actually changing the 'shape' of Africa?
The study is divided into two sections: the review and the annotated bibliography. Dr Adeya made a personal selection of literature that she found representative of the developments in ICTs in Africa over the decade 1990-2000. The review and annotations of the literature selected aim to give attention to the type of research carried out and methodologies used, with the object of identifying areas for future research. The full text of much of the literature cited was available on the internet at the time of publication, 2001, so the review and bibliography are intended to guide researchers needing more detail about work done in specific countries or in relation to specific applications of ICTs.
The review begins by introducing ICTs and the information economy in the African context. The literature selected for the bibliography is then reviewed thematically under a number of headings: Overview of ICTs in Africa; Information Infrastructure; Information Economy; Information Management; Socio-cultural and Political Issues; Education and Training; and Gender. Dr Adeya then draws certain conclusions from this review and provides some thoughts on the future.
The review reveals that, despite constraints, the use of ICTs is growing in Africa and there have been successful developments in infrastructure, information management, networking and gender-related issues. However, the literature has also revealed considerable variation between different African countries in their adoption and use of these technologies. The literature reviewed relates primarily to anglophone Africa and generally excludes telecommunications issues, as these are already well documented in other publications. The publishers hope that this study “will act as a window of opportunity for more nationally and locally focused empirical research and will make a contribution to understanding the research opportunities and challenges that still face most African countries.”
Topics covered include:
The study is divided into two sections: the review and the annotated bibliography. Dr Adeya made a personal selection of literature that she found representative of the developments in ICTs in Africa over the decade 1990-2000. The review and annotations of the literature selected aim to give attention to the type of research carried out and methodologies used, with the object of identifying areas for future research. The full text of much of the literature cited was available on the internet at the time of publication, 2001, so the review and bibliography are intended to guide researchers needing more detail about work done in specific countries or in relation to specific applications of ICTs.
The review begins by introducing ICTs and the information economy in the African context. The literature selected for the bibliography is then reviewed thematically under a number of headings: Overview of ICTs in Africa; Information Infrastructure; Information Economy; Information Management; Socio-cultural and Political Issues; Education and Training; and Gender. Dr Adeya then draws certain conclusions from this review and provides some thoughts on the future.
The review reveals that, despite constraints, the use of ICTs is growing in Africa and there have been successful developments in infrastructure, information management, networking and gender-related issues. However, the literature has also revealed considerable variation between different African countries in their adoption and use of these technologies. The literature reviewed relates primarily to anglophone Africa and generally excludes telecommunications issues, as these are already well documented in other publications. The publishers hope that this study “will act as a window of opportunity for more nationally and locally focused empirical research and will make a contribution to understanding the research opportunities and challenges that still face most African countries.”
Topics covered include:
- Overview of ICTs in Africa;
- Information Infrastructure;
- Information Economy;
- Information Management;
- Socio-cultural and Political Issues;
- Education and Training;
- Gender
Publication Date
Languages
English
Number of Pages
90
Source
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