| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
During the eighth session of the Joint Conference of African Statisticians, Planners and Demographers (JCPSD) held in Addis Ababa from 21-26 March 1994, the Information Science Committee assumed new functions assigned to it by the twenty- eighth (1993) session of the UNECA Conference of Ministers. Under its new terms of reference the Information Science Committee is charged with providing policy guidance to the UNECA on its activities and programme in information systems development.
The change in functions of the Committee resulted from the UNECA Conference of Ministers decision to rationalize the number of statutory and legislative bodies reporting to it, eliminating, among other bodies, the Regional Technical Committee for PADIS which had meet biennially since 1985.
Information systems figured prominently among the debate and decisions of the Joint Conference this year. The Conference urged UNECA to co-ordinate databases developed in the region through the promotion and the adoption of norms and standards, in order to facilitate the exchange of information and foster regional economic integration. In view of the barriers placed to the introduction of modems, satellites and other new information technology in some countries, the Conference requested UNECA to sensitize policy makers to the importance of electronic communication as a tool for African development and regional co- operation. The Conference stressed the need for Africa to take part actively in computer mediated communications so that more intra-country and intra-African communication would result. The Conference urged member States to approve the introduction and utilization of new technology for electronic communication.
Member States were also urged to adopt national information policies and to set up multi-sectoral national information networks for better coordination of development information activities in their respective countries.
The Information Science Committee was attended by 12 member States, two international organizations and two other observer organizations. Its officers elected were Chairperson: Niger (Mr. Abdoulaye Maliki); Vice Chairperson: Senegal (Mr. Abdoussalam Diallo); and Rapporteur: Swaziland (Ms. Dudu Fakudze).
Among the documentation presented to the Committee was the following:
- Development Information Management Issues in Africa (E/ECA/PSD.8/24)
- Computer mediated Communications and the need for infrastructure building
in Africa (E/ECA/PSD.8/25)
- Report on ECA development information activities (1992-1993); work
programme (1994-1995) and provisional work programme (1996-1997)
(E/ECA/PSD.8/26)
- Programme Budget Resources 1994-1995 (E/ECA/PSD.8/26/Add.1)
(Translator; these are available in French; let us give you correct titles)
Copies of all these documents are available upon request from PADIS from
the address shown in the box on p.1.
This decision was a very important one for the continuation of PADIS, whose activities are comprised by UNECA's subprogramme on statistics and information systems development. Since March 1992 when its funding from UNDP came to an end, PADIS financial resources have been very tenuous. The decision of the General Assembly ensures the commitment of the United Nations to include activities on behalf of information systems development in Africa within the resource structure of the United Nations regular programme budget. Further evidence of that commitment came in January 1994 with the creation of a post of regional advisor at UNECA in information systems development, as part of the United Nation's section 20 technical assistance programme.
Change of name Although information specialists had been included in the Joint Conference of African, Planners, Statisticians and Demographers since 1984 as a result of UNECA Conference of Ministers resolution 438 (XVII) of 1982, their participation had never been officially recognized in the Conference title. As a result of the decision of the eighth meeting of the JCPSD (related story above), the Conference has now changed its name to the Joint Conference of African Planners, Statisticians and Population and Information Specialists. In the case of information specialists, this is meant to include information science and systems, information technology, information management, information policy and telematics and to reflect the role of the Conference in advising on the secretariat of the Economic Commission for Africa on development information.
Copies of the new terms of reference of the Conference are available upon request from PADIS. PADIS visits Tunisia From 15 to 23 January 1994 the Pan African Development Information System undertook a mission to the Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX) of the Ministry of the National Economy in Tunis, in order to discuss potential cooperation between PADIS and CEPEX in the field of trade information systems.
Undertaken by Mr. Saddik Solbi, PADIS Systems Development Officer, the mission evaluated CEPEX's Trade Applications System for Developing Information Research (TASDIR) developed as an information trade system in collaboration with the International Trade Centre of UNCTAD/GATT (Geneva) and the United Nations Development Programme.
The mission examined the system software, its connectivity to other similar systems and its possible adaptation to or adoption by other African States.
The mission had several meetings with CEPEX's management in order to discuss modalities of cooperation in the field of training, advisory services and information exchange. Copies of the mission report are available from PADIS upon request. PADIS Participates in TELESPAZIO Seminar PADIS attended a seminar on the use of space technologies for environmental development and telecommunication in Africa organised jointly by Telespazio and African Development Bank (ADB) in Abidjan on 28 January 1994. The mission was undertaken by PADIS staff member Mr. Saddik Solbi. The seminar discussed distance teaching and training, the use of satellite and space technologies in rural development, natural disaster, remote sensing projects in the use of soil and Geographical Information Systems.
PADIS made a presentation to the seminar on the use of the HealthNet SatelLife for the health sector in the horn of Africa and the use of telecommunications in computer mediated networking as well as the importance of distance training in the development of capacity building for African member States.
The mission concluded with an agreement between PADIS and Telespazio officials on promoting data exchange and experiences. Resrep visits PADIS The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Namibia Mr. Aliou M. Diallo visited PADIS on 22 February to learn about PADIS' products and services. It is expected that the visit will result in a request from the Government of Namibia for PADIS' advisory services for the development of an information system to support development planning.
During January and March 1994 CABECA visited six southern African countries, namely, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland to assist in identifying new electronic communication nodes and strengthening existing ones. All the missions were undertaken by Mike Jensen, a leading expert in electronic communication in Africa.
Lesotho
The first mission was to Lesotho from 12-14 January; some users there had already been using electronic mail by dialing Rhodes University in South Africa, but no local system had been established. The Institute of Southern African Studies of the University of Lesotho in Roma hosted the mission and volunteered to act as the host for the national node to be established under the CABECA project. The mission visited a number of university departments, local organizations and government offices to ascertain their interest in forming a national user group. The prospect received strong support, especially from the Vice Chancellor of the University. Plans were made to order equipment under the CABECA project; once this arrives, installation will be done and demonstrations held to bring in additional users. Both e-mail and conferences will be provided on the prospective system.
Swaziland
In Swaziland from 19-22 January Mike Jensen found that although some attempts were being made to use e-mail, there was no national host. Swaziland has a unique opportunity to establish a leased line connection to InterNet through UniNet in South Africa because of the close proximity of South Africa telecommunications facilities and the low pricing schedule of the Swai Telecom Authority. If this takes place, Swaziland would be the first country in sub- Saharan Africa outside South Africa to have such a system. The mission centred on plans towards this goal, with the assistance of the Office of the Vice Chancellor, University of Swaziland, which hosted the mission.
Mozambique
Mozambique was the third country visited, from 24-27 January with the assistance of the Informatics Centre at the University Eduardo Mondlane which had e-mail connectivity through a Uucp connection to Rhodes University. The University has established public access policies for this node, and thus CABECA concentrated its efforts on developing a plan of operation for the national network to be called EMUNET running under Unix on an IBM compatible 486 PC based at the University. Calls would need to be initiated from South Africa in view of the view high cost of telecommunications in/from Mozambique.
Namibia
The timing of the mission to Namibia from 1-4 February was particularly apropos as a new local electronic host had just been commissioned at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Namibia, The visit concentrated on developing national users and strengthening the newly-established host, whose address is user@grumpy.cs.na. A public meeting was held, attended by 30 residents interested in electronic communication. Individual meetings were subseuqnetly held with all the participants to discuss their particular electronic communication needs. The new host running on Unix calls the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa, which is on Intrnet, so mail transfer is immediate. The mission noted that Namibia has a packet switching network, SWANET.
Angola
In Angola from 7-14 February Mike Jensen found two operating nodes, both using the FIDO operating system, - one run by Development Workshop, a Canadian non-governmental organization, and the other as part of the United Nations Development Programme Sustainable Development Network (SDN, or RIDS in Portuguese). Onsite training, installation and configuration were done at both sites and at a user site as well. A development plan was also worked out to bring electronic networking extensively to the University Agostinho Neto. Electronic communication users can reach the two nodes at user@angonet.gn.apc.org (DW) or user@ridsang.gn.apc.org (SDN).
Botswana
Botswana was the last of the six countries to be visited, from 22-25 February. The mission was hosted by the Botswana Technology Centre in Gaborone. The institution had e-mail through the cc:Mail package on a local area network, but no wide area electronic mail service. Users had been dialing South Africa, using the commercial CompuService electronic mail service which provides a mail gateway to Internet. The University of Botswana had some e-mail experience on a dialup UUCP link to Rhodes University in South Africa. In addition to BTC, the`South Africa Development Conference also showed interest in the CABECA project.
Mike Jensen can be contacted electronically at mikej@wn.apc.org. Copies of the individual missions reports are also available upon request from PADIS.
HealthNet/SatelLife Established in Ethiopia
Under the sponsorship of PADIS, the HealthNet/SatelLife information system based in Cambridge MA (USA) has installed a ground station in Ethiopia, at the library of the Addis Ababa University Medical School. The ground station became operational in January 1994.
Under the HealthNet programme, the medical school library of Emory University in Atlanta GA (USA) has agreed to be the international library partner for HealthNet Ethiopia, responding to information requests on subjects related to health and medical matters.
Electronic mail users may reach HealthNet Ethiopia at khundie@eth.healthnet.org. By traditional means, those interested may contact Mr. Tadesse Gulbessa, Librarian or Mr. Kebede Hundie, Systems operator, HealthNet Ethiopia, Medical School Library, Addis Ababa University, P O Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, tel.+251 1 51 89 99.
HealthNet expects to install a ground station in Eritrea in April 1994, to bring to 16 the number of operational HealthNet ground stations. Copies of information on HealthNet/SatelLife are available from PADIS.
PADIS sets up BBS
As part of its CABECA project, PADIS has opened The Hornet, a free electronic bulletin board serving as a source of news, reports and discussion on issues related to the Horn of Africa. It also intends to introduce users to Internet, the giant metanetwork.
Any electronic communications users in the Horn of Africa, or elsewhere, are welcome to access this information service by using their modem to dial +251 1 51 45 34 (at 2400 baud, settings N-8-1). News, reports and discussions can be browsed; callers can also download shareware, software and information services. The BBS is also accessible through Windows. Further information is available from ben.parker@padis.gn.apc.org.
Among the items of interest on The Hornet on a recent day were files for fully exploiting Internet, United States Department of State human rights reports on Ethiopia and Eritrea, Somalia news updates, Amnesty International reports and the PADIS newsletter.
POPIN Gopher
The United Nations Population Division of the Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis (New York) has established a population information "gopher". (A gopher is an electronic library of services, an interactive information delivery service which allows users to browse available Internet resources.)
The POPIN gopher was created by the Division's Population Information Network (POPIN) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with financial support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Population information resources in the POPIN gopher include electronic journals and newsletters, software, news summaries and press releases, directories, and documentation about the forthcoming International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
Resources have been contributed by international, governmental and non-governmental organizations and cover topics of immediate interest and importance to researchers, policy makers, clinicians, and others in the fields of population, health and family planning.
The POPIN gopherspace has been designed to serve as a focal point for the display and distribution of population information world-wide and POPIN welcomes additional relevant postings. PADIS has contributed information on population information activities in Africa to the gopherspace. Access to the UNDP gopher is free of charge for Internet users. To access the gopherspace, the address is gopher.undp.org via Internet or gopher@undp.org via email.
For further information, contact: Dr. Susan Pasquariella, POPIN Co-ordinator, Population Division, Department for Economic and Social, Information and Policy Analysis, United Nations Secretariat, 2 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 USA; telephone: +1(212) 963-3203; fax: +1 (212) 963-2147; E-mail: popin@undp.org.
E-mail at the University of Zimbabwe
At least three electronic mail nodes at the University of Zimbabwe are accessible to the public sector, research community and non-governmental organizations, according to an article by Prof. John G. Shepard.
The first which uses a UUCP link to Internet, for electronic mail only, to Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, has nearly 2000 registered users. The second is a node using Front Door software and the Fidonet Protocol, as part of the Eastern and Southern Africa Network (ESANET) project linking five universities in the subregion, with about 30 users in Zimbabwe. The third is a Healthnet/SatelLife ground station, which, as of the time of the writing of the article, was experiencing difficulties in securing an operating license.
The author argues the merits of the three systems and makes the case for obtaining a leased line to move toward full Internet connectivity.
Copies of the article are available upon request from PADIS at the address listed on p.1. Prof. Shepard may be contacted at the Computer Centre, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Harare, Zimbabwe, e-mail johnax@zimbix.uz.zw.
The United Nations is working toward creating an integrated library network of the United Nations system. Reports detailing efforts in this direction were presented to the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly meeting in New York in April 1993. Copies of the reports presenting this agenda item (A48/83) are available upon request from PADIS at the address listed on p.1.
Computers Available
Although the issue of recycling computers to developing countries is a controversial one (readers may request from PADIS a summary of the debate which took place over electronic media on this issue) an organisation in the United Kingdom has been organised to facilitate the no-cost transfer of microcomputers and related technology to recipients in developing countries.
Organisations in developing countries who are interested in profiting from these arrangements should contact Dr. Patrick H. Corr, Department of Computer Science, Sir David Bates Building, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, N. Ireland; Tel.:44-232-245133 Ext 3216; Fax: + 44-232-331232;e- mail:p.corr@v2.qub.ac.uk.
Training Opportunities
Agriculture Information Training
Librarians and information professions from countries with or planning to have national information systems are invited to apply for the fifteenth annual training course on information on agriculture and the biosciences organized by CAB International from 17 July-5 August 1994.
The overall topic is use and management of information on agriculture, the biosciences and related disciplines, with strong emphasis on new information technology and marketing library resources. Candidates should have professional qualifications either in library or information science or in a scientific discipline. Further information is available from the Courses Administrator, Training Services, CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon 10 8DE UK; tel. +491 832 111; fax +491 833508; telex 847964 COMAGG g.
Training for Computer Systems Skills
Studies show that while many organisations have computers these days, few of them are making effective use of the technology. The dangers of missed opportunities and wasted investments are particularly acute in developing countries.
To address this problem, the Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM) is mounting a six-week training programme in June/July 1994 for participants from Africa, Asia and Latin America. The programme entitled Effective Microcomputer Information Systems provides training for those who must design and/or manage new computerised information systems.
The programme aims to provide participants with: - practical and applicable skills in information systems analysis, design, implementation and management; - experience of a wide range of current and future computing developments; the skills and confidence to use computers and deal with computing professionals;- the skills and support to develop a relevant computing application or an action plan for IT implementation;- the opportunity to share experiences with participants from a wide range of development organisations; - a relevant postgraduate-level qualification.
Most participants find sponsorship for their attendance. Past sponsors have included UNDP, the World Bank and the UK's Overseas Development Administration.
For further details on this and other training programmes run by IDPM, contact: Dr Richard Heeks, IDPM, University of Manchester, Precinct Centre, Manchester, M13 9QS, UK; tel: +44-61-275-2870; fax: +44-61-273-8829; e-mail: R.B.Heeks@open.ac.uk.
IFLA/ALP Correction
Many expressions of interest were received from readers of this newsletter in response to an announcement in PADIS Newsletter vol. 8, no. 2 about The International Federation of Library Associations' training attachments for mid- level library and information workers to work in more technologically advanced environments. IFLA/ALP has informed PADIS that regrettably there is no possibility of consideration of applications from Africa. PADIS regrets the inconvenience caused to readers and to IFLA/ALP.
On the other hand, the response to this announcement indicates a clear need for such attachments to be made available to mid-level information workers from Africa. PADIS would like to inform the readers of the newsletter that it is presently working to secure funds to develop such a programme attached to an African institution or institutions. If the proposal is successful, full information will be presented in forthcoming editions of this newsletter.
Publications
African Futures
African Futures, a project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is charged with assisting African countries to prepare national long-term perspective studies. In a series of recent workshops the project developed and presented four alternate scenarios describing a variety of possible futures for Africa in the year 2025. Extremely thought-provoking, these scenarios range from the very positive "Why Not," with the continent participating fully in world affairs and with economic crisis a thing of the past, to "Recolonization or Trusteeship" where the United Nations Security Council was forced to assign some African countries to other powers until they developed the capacity for self-governance. Two intermediate scenarios are also described.
Copies of the scenarios are available upon request from PADIS. More information on the project is available from: African Futures, National long-term perspectives studies (NLTPS); United Nations Development Programme 01 B.P. 1747; Abidjan 01, C“te d'Ivoire; Telephone: (225)22.26.69, Fax: (225)22.26.64;e-mail: futures@worldbank.org.
IT Policies
A new book published by the Commonwealth Secretariat highlights the importance of formulating integrated national information technology in the context of national development objectives. Under the title Information Technology Policies and Applications in the Commonwealth Developing Countries the book includes a survey of existing information policies in Commonwelth developing countries and explores the applications of information technology for developing. A case study of a computerised rural information system project reveals the failure of a top-down approach to its installation and implementation.
Copies of the book can be purchased from the Management and Training Services Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX UK.
Business CD ROM
The Library of the Helsinki School of Economics has produced the ninth version of its CD-ROM of international economic and business management information, containing some 700,000 references to articles, books, research reports, dissertations and working papers. The disc comprises seven separate databases, including two of "grey" literature.
Further information on obtaining the disc is available from Helsinki School of Economics and Buiness Administration Library; tel.+358 0 4313 539; phone +358 0 4313 413.
Social Science Inventory
UNESCO has published the fourth edition of its Selective Inventory of Social Science Information and Documentation Services, on the basis of the DARE computerized database, which is also available on CD-ROM.
The published directory lists 1199 information services, including libraries, documentation centres, information services and reference bureaux serving the public in 126 countries. Copies can be obtained from the UNESCO Publishing Office, 7 place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP France; tel.: +33 01 45 68 10 00; fax: +33 1 42 7330 07.
New journal
A new quarterly journal directed at libraries and information centres in
developing countries has been launched from Lagos, Nigeria. Under the management
of J.B. Wordslink Limited and the editorship of Mr. E.N.O. Adimorah, the first
volume of Leading Libraries and Information Centres has been published.
The journal intends to enhance understanding and promote the exchange of ideas between developing and developed countries in the area of libraries and information centres.
Subscription information is available from J.B.Wordslink Ltd., 1 New Era Road, Allmoso Area, Agege, P.O. Box 4150, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
New from Unesco/ICSSD
UNESCO and the International Social Science Council have published the second number (1994) of the ICSSD Newsletter. Published twice a year and also available on the Internet, the issues covered in the newsletter centre on the convergence of interests between social science resarch, the information professions and electronic communication. Another major interest of the newsletter concerns grey literature.
Contributions are invited relating to social science bibliography, documentation and the information profession in international or regional perspective.
Copies of the article from no. 2 entitled "Perspectives for training the Modern Information Professional", stressing the need to create links beween the concepts of the modern information professional and computer-mediated communication, are available upon request from PADIS. Enquiries can be addressed to ICSSD Newsletter, Newsletter of the International Committee for Social Science Information and Documentation, ISSN 1380-7390, SWIDOC, 410-412 Herengracht, 1017 BX Amsterdam, Netherlands; tel.: +31 20 622 50 61; fax: + 31 20 623 83 74; e-mail: marks@swidoc.nl. The Newsletter is affiliated with UNESCO's Division for the International Development of the Social and Human Sciences.
COMPUTEK: Call for Papers
COMPUTEK, an electronic quarterly journal of Kenya Association for the Advancement of Computing Technology (KAACT), is requesting papers on practical applications of information and computer technology in developing countries including specific projects such as use of computers in health, agriculture, public transport systems, manufacturing. Submission can be sent in plain text (ASCII) to: kci-net@SML1.ecs.umass.edu COMPUTEK is published jointly with Computer Age by the Kenya Computer Institute. This latter is available by subscription from: the Secretary, African Regional Centre for Computing, P.O. Box 58638, Nairobi, Kenya or from Luvisia Bakuli, tel.: +1(413)253-7661; fax: +1(413)253-7661;e-mail: bakuli@sml1.ecs.umass.edu.P.O. Box 1374, Amherst MA 01004-1374 USA.
Hypertext
A work originally published in Spanish in Chile is now available for the first time to English-speaking readers. Written by Jos‚ Gonz les Cornejo, "Hypertext: its use in the documentary treatment of data" explains the use of hypertext in managing documentary data, and especially its relationship to classic "ISIS" documentary information systems.
Hypertext is a tool for creating multi-level cross-references and annotated documents in a way which would be impossible to accomplish with word processors or database management software, whose use is linked to CD-ROM technology.
The book contains an excellent bibliography, glossary as well as listing of available hypertexts and their approaches. Copies may be obtained through Robert Valentin, Director; Information and Communication Technologies, Information Sciences and Systems Division; International Development Research Centre; 250 Albert Street, P.O. Box 8500, Ottawa, Canada K1G 3H9; fax: (613) 563- 385; Internet: rvalantin@idrc.ca.
PADIS Calendar, April-June 1994
Asmara 6-10 April CABECA mission to Eritrea on electronic communication
Addis 11-15 April United Nations Joint Inspection Unit visit to review development communications
Addis 11-15 April Healthnet/SatelLife System Operators meeting at PADIS
Dakar 13-20 April PADIS information systems development advisory services mission
New York 19-20 April Carnegie Corporation brainstorming meeting on scientific and technological
information in Africa
Cairo 25-29 April TELECOM '94
Addis 2-5 May ECA Conference of Ministers
Pretoria 16-20 May Innovation '94: relevant information services for sustainable development of
southern Africa
Addis Ababa 16-20 May Visit Michel M‚nou on impact of information on development
Addis Ababa 24-25 May Visit RAND Corporation consultants on United Nations Economic and Social
Information System
Addis 27 May-3 June Visit Andr‚ Roberge for training in MINISIS version "H"
Harare 12-15 June International Centre for Economic Growth Regional Conference on economic
liberalization for African development
Prague 5-17 June INET '94 Niamey 6-17 June PADIS advisory services mission on West African
Development Information System
Make a Date
African Information Technology ForumAITEC, the publishers of Computers and Communications in Africa, are organising a forum on "Information Technology for Sustained Development in Africa" at St. John's College in Cambridge (UK) from 29-30 September 1994.
Themes of the forum include national information technology policies, information technology standards, education and training and data communications and e-mail for development. The objective of the forum is to bring together information technology professionals, vendors and policy makers to share problems and ideas and develop effective information technology strategies for their organisations and countries.
Further information is available from AITEC, 15 High Street, Graveley, Cambridgeshire PE 18 9PL, UK, fax +44 480 831131.
Call for Papers
The second biennial International Conference on African Economic Issues will be held in Arusha, Tanzania from 11-14 October 1994. Jointly sponsored by the Western and Southern and the West African Economics Association, the conference will promote research on governance and sustainability issues in the transformation and development in Africa.
Papers are invited from authors on topics related to the general subject of the conference. Travel expenses and a modest honorarium will be given to the authors of papers selected for presentation. Inquiries should be address to: Prof. Samuel Wanga, Chairman, Programme Committee; International Conference on African Economic Issues; c/o African Economic Research Consortium, P O Box 62882; Nairobi, Kenya; tel.: +254-22 28057; fax: 254 2 21 9308.
Information Technology in Cairo
The International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP) and the Regional Information Technology and Software Engineering Centre in Cairo will co- host an international conference on Information Technology and Socio-Economic Development: Challenges and Opportunities in Cairo from 9-11 January 1995.
The aim of the conference is to share and critically review experiences on the potential of information technology for improving public administration and increasing industrial competitiveness in developing countries.
Further details on the conference can be obtained from the Programme Committee Chair Dr. Mayuri Odedra-Straub, Kirschenweg 4, D71229, Leonberg Germany; e-mail: m.odedra-straub@gaia.comlink.apc.org.
New Entries in PADdev
The following are some recent entries into the PADdev bibliographic data base on social and economic aspects of development in Africa. New entries in PADdev are printed as a current bulletin for subscribers to DEVINDEX-AFRICA. Microfiches or photocopies of the documents are available upon request from PADIS at the address on p.1.
El-Bakry, Zeinab [ADB, C“te d'Ivoire CI]
ECA. Public Administration, Human Resources and Social Development Division, Addis Ababa, ET. The African women entrepreneur: an agenda for enhancing capacity and empowerment. 17p. Mar 1993. Regional Conference Development Management in Africa: thirty-years of experience, emerging challenges and future priority, Addis Ababa, ET, 8-12 Mar 1993.
Reviews the role of entrepreneurship in Africa's development, with special emphasis on the role of women entrepreneurs; analyses the situation of the African women entrepreneurs and the constraints they face. Presents some of the current actions undertaken by various institutions in their favor and makes recommendations for different levels of interventions and action. /Entrepreneurship*/, /women's role/, /recommendations/, /Africa/. ISN: 10173
Henock Kifle and T.W. Oshikoya
Towards new development strategies for Africa, in the 1990s: key lessons from the past and policy options for the future. 22p. Sep 1993. Seminar on the South Commission report, Addis Ababa, ET, 15-16 Sep 1993.
Presents discussion of African economic performance and policy context of Africa's economic performance. Also discusses some of the reasons for the limited success that structural adjustment programs have had on generating rapid economic growth. Gives the key lessons from past development experience-including both African and non-African sourcesregarding the requirements for rapid economic growth and development. Describes the resource, institutional, and political constraints that may stand in the way of implementing appropriate development strategies. /Economic development*/, /economic growth/, /development strategy/, /Africa/. ISN: 10182
Ndongko, W.A.
ECA. Multidisciplinary Regional Advisory Group, Addis Ababa, ET Social science research and policy-making in Africa: status, issues and prospects. 34p. refs. Aug 1993.
Demonstrates the lack of co-ordination between social science research and policy making in the African countries; illustrates the importance of social science research as a foundation of sound government policy, particularly in African countries where economic and social development indicators are crude, faulty and unreliable. /Policy making*/, /social research/, /Africa/. ISN: 10165
Africa in cyberspace
The African Studies Association (USA) annual meeting in conjunction with the Canadian African Studies Association in Toronto from 3-6 November 1994 will feature a number of special presentations on information technology on and for Africa.
To demonstrate how to access Africa-related materials and how to communicate electronically, there will be a special hands-on demonstration of Africana on the Information Highway entitled Africa in cyberspace sponsored by the Electronic Technology Group of the African Studies Association . The exhibit will operate throughout the meeting in the Exhibit Hall.
The meeting will also include two panel sessions on information techology: "New Frontiers in Information Technology" on 3 November and "Information Highway: Putting Africa on the Map" on 4 November.
The activities have been developed by the Electronic Technology Group (ETG) of the African Studies Association whose goals include providing a forum for communication among African scholars around the globe and facilitating cooperative research among African scholars associated with institutions on every continent.
Further information, before or after the event, can be obtained from Richard Chowning, President of the ETG, at chowning@acuvax.acu.edu and Gretchen Walsh, at gwalsh@acs.bu.edu; African Studies Library, Boston University, 771 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston Massashusetts 02215 USA; tel. (617) 353-3726.
Africa Telematics Symposium PADIS announces the organization of an African Regional Symposium on Telematics for Development, to be held at UNECA Headquarters from 2-6 April 1995 and co- sponsored by UNECA, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
The symposium is meant to be a forum to promote cooperative action for the development of telematics facilities and the use of telematics services in Africa, taking full account of existing efforts and infrastructure and with the concerted support of the international community.
The Symposium will bring together representatives of actual and potential telematics users and service providers, telecommunication administrations and operators and concerned government agencies to, inter alia, provide an up-to-date overview of international advances in telematics networks and services and explore African needs in this area; take stock of African initiatives to plan, develop, operate and improve telematics services and promote the elaboration of concrete national and regional strategies and policies for the use and development of telematics services in the region.
Partial or full travel support will be provided to a limited number of participants. All participants will be expected to provide written communications, e.g. presentations of relevant experience or proposals or national surveys of telematics use and potential. The Symposium will be conducted in English and French.
Participants from African countries will come from telematics user organizations, information and informatics service providers, telecommunications administrations and telecommunication operators. Member states, telecommunication administrations and other major institutions concerned with telematics in Africa are invited to recommended candidates for the Symposium. If individuals want to participate, their applications should be accompanied by a recommendation from their employer or Government.
For a copy of the application form or more information on the seminar, please address queries to:
Ms. Nancy Hafkin
Officer-in-Charge, PADIS
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: (251-1) 51 11 67
(251-1) 51 72 00 ext. 281
Fax: (251-1) 51 44 16
(1-212) 963 4957
E-mail: nhafkin@padis.gn.apc.org
hafkin.uneca@un.org
Editor: Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.
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