How can the Centre help to promote the notion that ICTs are catalysts of economic and agricultural development?
MJ: CTA could collaborate with other agencies working in this area, such as the Farm Radio Network, the FAO, UNESCO and DFID, to develop a common strategy to encourage policy makers to adopt and invest in ICT supportive strategies. Government officials and NGO leaders should become much more proactively involved in the national telecom policy dialogue in order to press the interests of their rural constituencies. CTA could help them by developing a ‘telecom advocacy manual’ on how to participate in telecom policy dialogues. CTA could further assist them in developing their capacities to lobby effectively for change among the telecom policy makers. Interestingly, it seems that one of the few benefits of the WSIS process has been to promote this sort of multi-stakeholder telecom policy dialogue. Rural people in ACP countries have much to gain from policy changes that will lead to allow private use of VSAT and wireless technologies. We should strike while the iron is still hot. Mike Jense
