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ICT for Development & Sectoral priorities
This community of practice will focus on supporting activities in ICT for development, geared towards supporting African countries to participate fully in the rapidly evolving people-centred, inclusive, development-oriented information society. Also included are sectoral priorities that are in focus through the implementation of development projects.
Agriculture
Agriculture, the backbone of the continent’s economy, produces the lowest yields in the world. It is beset, among others, with abiotic stressors (drought, high temperature, poor soil fertility, vast marginal land areas); biotic factors (insect pests, weeds, diseases); high costs of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers and irrigation; and drug resistance. Some 200 million people are chronically hungry in Africa and more than half of the countries on the continent need food aid.
The UNECA assists member States in enhancing regional food security through support for the creation of regional agricultural market information systems and databases as well as undertaking in-depth studies on strategic food and agricultural commodity chains with emphasis on regional integration aspects.
Biotechnology has been recognized by the Heads of African States in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as “an important priority area in science and technology for the continent’s development”
UN Biotech Africa is expected, among others, to (i) coordinate policies, strategic approach and actions among agencies and programmes of UN system in support of NEPAD in the area of biotechnology; (ii) generate synergies between activities of UN institutions for greater impact through greater efficiency in the use of UN resources; and (iii) create an effective platform of exchange of biotechnology-related information, experiences and perspectives
ICT for Development
UNECA activities in ICT for development are geared towards supporting African countries to participate fully in the rapidly evolving people-centred, inclusive, development-oriented Information Society where everyone can create, utilize and share information and knowledge and be empowered to achieve their full potential in order to gain improved quality of lifel.
It is widely recognized that without embracing information and communications technologies (ICT), the development gap between Africa and the rest of the world will continue to expand. Information and knowledge have increasingly become essential resources and raw materials in the global networked knowledge economy. Africa can exploit these technologies to become fully integrated into the global knowledge economy and accelerate socio-economic development.
UNECA is primarily responsible for implementing the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) and develops practical strategies and programs that will help lead Africa towards the realization of digital inclusion.
AISI remains the key framework for the development and implementation of national e-strategies of National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) plans. At least 30 African countries have already developed such strategies and in the coming years, efforts will be geared towards financing the NICI process, building the implementation capacity of relevant institutions and stakeholders and harmonizing regulatory and legal frameworks.
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