UNDP/ICT Project. An Effort for Bridging Digital Divide in Afghanistan

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1 UNDP/ICT Project An Effort for Bridging Digital Divide in Afghanistan WSIS Thematic Meeting on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Bridging the Digital Divide Ahmad Farshid Ghyasi UNDP/ICT Project 23-June 2005

2 UNDP ICT Project : Background UNDP s ICT Initiatives in Afghanistan Project components include Telekiosk Project ICT Capacity Building Training Centers Cisco Networking Academy Programs Microsoft Localization Programme Support to ICT Policy Development Establishment and Support to Afghanistan s.af top level domain E-Government & Data Center

3 Multi-Stakeholders Partnership UNDP Afghanistan is implementing ICT project in cooperation with: Ministry of Communications, Afghanistan Ministry of Women Affairs, Afghanistan Kabul University Cisco Systems Inc. Microsoft European Union French Trust Fund, Government of France USAID

4 ICT in Afghanistan Total Fixed telephones lines: ~100,000 Fixed Wireless telephones (WLL):? Total Mobile phone users: ~900,000 Teledensity of mobile phones: 4% Teledensity of mobile phones (2001): 0% Teledensity of fixed telephone: 0.5% Total number of internet users: ~100,000 Afghanistan s new ICT & Telecommunication Policy, a drive to foster economic and ICT growth in the country Source: Telecommunication Regulatory Body (TRB) Afghanistan, Ministry of Communications

5 Telekiosk Project

6 Telekiosk Project Effort to increase ICT Access Establishment of 12 telekiosks around Kabul City to provide Internet & Computer Training Services Partners in Project Donor: French Trust Fund (US$ 300,000) Implementing Agency: UNDP Afghanistan (US$ 45,000) Implementing Partner: Postal Department, Afghanistan Technology Provider: QuickLinks Communication Started on May 2003, handed over to MoC on Oct 2004

7 Telekiosk Objectives Increase ICT access to general public mainly Women, School Children, Government Employees Provide training programmes on the use of ICTs Facilitate the dissemination of information, particularly government information through post offices Provide a network for exchange of information and best practices; Provide computer based training to facilitate the access to new technologies, especially for young generation, particularly female genders who are keep on developing their skills

8 Telekiosk - Achievements Established Telekiosks located in 8 Post Offices around Kabul City and 1 in Kabul Airport Development of first web portal in Afghanistan Total Visitors during June-Oct 2004: 70,000+ Percentage of Women: 40% (40% Children) Percentage of Men: 60% (30% Children) The participation of women and school children has been tremendous (public awareness by project staff)

9 Telekiosk Benefits of Partnership Partnership between UNDP, Ministry of Communications and FTF unique Goal was to introduce internet and computer training to public; MOC Provided space & internet connection UNDP Provided technical assistance and implementation of the project; Leading to cheap ICT access and; More citizens visiting Problems Insufficient logistic support of MoC to the project due to economic problem that hindered the expansion of the project and its sustainability

10 Lessons Learnt & Conclusion To use new technologies, a need for proper planning is required Rapid capacity building of government employees to take over the project in short duration Proper selection of technology. In order to make projects like Telekiosk sustainable, fast revenue generating services should be introduced such as Phone/Fax services, Video Camera, Color Printing, Photo Copying etc, in conclusion, a sound business plan is needed to keep telekiosks running

11 Cisco Networking Academy Programme (CNAP) Computer Networking 3 Training centers, 1 being the regional academy High participation of women (more than 30%) Partners UNDP/ICT Project, Cisco Systems Inc, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Women Affairs, USAID, Kabul University 147 number of Cisco Certified graduates to date Future Plans Expansion to other major provinces of Afghanistan (based on criteria of 30% female participation) Computer Essential Module

12 ICT Training Centers 19 Training Centers 7 provinces in Afghanistan Partners UNDP/ICT Project Ministry of Communications Local NGOs Private Companies 2,358 number people trained on basic ICT 24% Femal, 74% Male Duration of project 2002 to 2004 Handed over to Ministry of Communications by end of 2004

13 .AF Top Level Domain Partnership between UNDP Ministry of Communications Total revenue from local domains registered: US$ 8,620 Total revenue from international domains registered: US$ 92,661 Total number of domains registered: 235 Future plans Localized domain names Online registration of domain names

14 Ongoing and Future Planned Projects Microsoft Localization project (Dari & Pashto) Multipurpose Telecenters Project (120) Advanced ICT Capacity Building Project E-Governance & National Data Center Afghanistan Computer Emergency Response Team (AFCERT) Afghanistan Internet Exchange Point (AIX) National Internet Registry of Afghanistan (NIRA) Internet Service Providers Association (ISPAA) Other ICT Application Projects Afghanistan Registry Authority (ARA) Government Communication Network (GCN) District Communication Network (DCN)

15 Thank you very much Ahmad Farshid Ghyasi Deputy Project Manager UNDP/ICT Project Afghanistan Ph: Cell: