INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROWTH IN ETHIOPIA

The 1960's witnessed the advent of informationenterprises
technology in Ethiopia, when the mainframe computers- Effective and enhanced data and information
were introduced for the first time in Africa. Despitegathering and distribution for better planning
being installed in the important sectors of military,- Enhanced national cohesion and integration of
defense, finance, telecom, electricity & power, andheterogeneous social composition or geographical
railways, the mainframes had no interactive boundariesdispersal
within the sector.Core ICT Application Areas for Development in
Later, microcomputers spread widely in the countryEthiopia
either by direct purchase or through donorTo attain the benefits mentioned above, Ethiopia should
development aid. Like its predecessor, the initial use ofdefine areas of outmost strategic importance that
microcomputers was characterized by inadequateshould be put in place for continued economic
literacy and patchy understanding of the technology bydevelopment. This would include those areas that:
potential users.- Promote food security (food chain information
A centralized approach to building information andsystems, agricultural information systems and
communication technologies in Ethiopia was firstnetworks, etc.)
proposed by donor agencies such as UNESCO and- Help in overall poverty reduction enhancing quality
IDRC as soon as microcomputers were introduced toand quantity of education and health (basic education
the county. In 1986 national computing and informationand health care information systems, telemedicine and
center was also established. However, the intendedhealthcare networks)
goals were not realized by the centre due to high- Build the necessary human capital (school, university
control by the military government of the time,and research networks)
inadequate resources, high turnover, shortage of skilled- Facilitate general economic activity (statistical
manpower and insufficient knowledge of informationinformation systems, geographic information systems,
technology by decision makers.judicial and administration systems such as inland
After the change of government in 1991 the effortsrevenue, municipalities activities, land registry information
were resumed with regard to promoting thesystems and networks)
awareness and growth of computers. A survey- Improve financial market and the development of
carried out in response to a study on nationalprivate sector (property, land and business registry
informatics policy in Ethiopia in 1993 covering 81 majorsystems and networks, payment clearance and
institutions reports 1550 microcomputers, 38 minifinancial institutions oversight systems);
computers and 8 mainframe computers. 25% of these- Improve trade and global competitiveness (trade
machines were owned by international organizationsinformation systems, customs and clearance systems,
and aid agencies. By the end of 1998, extensivebusiness promotion information systems and
growth in computers in business, academic institutionsnetworks)
and households were seen raising the figure to an- Improve the delivery of infrastructure and social
estimated 15,000 microcomputers.services (transport, communication, utilities
Awareness of the effect of information technologymanagement information systems and networks)
has been growing among users in the field of- Support the management of macroeconomic
research, those working for international organizationsplanning and project implementation at national level
and those in business. All of which has encouraged the(planning, budgeting, monitoring, tax administration,
IT sector in the country - proliferation of privateexpenditure management system both at national and
companies that provide value added services infederal states level).
information technology, training centers and the- Assist in the preservation of the environment
establishment of a computer science unit at Addis(regional planning, environment monitoring, early warning
Ababa University, efforts towards standardizinginformation systems, etc.)
Ethiopic software, etc.- Encourage the tourism sector (promotional and
Public access links were introduced in 1990 and thecultural information systems) and
first Internet connection was established by the- Provide conditions for popular participation
Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporations (ETC) in(community centers, information systems between
October 1996 with a T1 connection to the Unitedvarious regions).
States. Currently there are over 2500 Internet usersRecommendations
but the quality of service leaves much to be desired.Ethiopia should develop a National Information
Recent move of the government towards increasingInfrastructure (NII) plan that covers the above
the bandwidth to 1Mb line, privatization of energy andmentioned areas of strategic information systems and
telecommunication sector could open furthernetworks backed by efficient telecommunication
opportunities for growth in information andnetworks and people that implement it.
communication sector. However, surveys show asThe NII plan should encompass connectivity (built on
much as 83% of the capacity of a PC is oftenrobust and low cost technology), content (mainly
underutilized and the quality of services offered isstrategic information systems), infrastructure (human,
often poor.energy, telecommunications, and social) and enabling
Challenges to the Growth of Information Technology inpolicy for private sector investment and participation.
EthiopiaEthiopia should not leave ICT as sector for commercial
Full adaptation of the technology has been difficult dueinterest or free market and privatization as such but
to:rather regard them as part of the general public
§ Lack of national guidelines and consistentinterest, participation, use and debate.
information and communication policyWith the growing population pressures, the policy on
§ Lack of academic institutions that act asrural economic development requires considerable
sources of well-grounded study in informationinvestment and attention to ICT to achieve sustainable
technologygrowth in the long term.
§ Non-existent computer literacy in primary andThe application of information and communication
secondary educationtechnology does not just encompass technology -
§ A weak education infrastructurehardware, radios, computers, telephones and software
§ Shortage of skilled human resources andand the content or data, but also needs organization,
computing infrastructure colleges and universitiesincentives, procedures and people
§ The School of Information Studies for AfricaThe ability to participate in information and
(SISA) that was to become a center of excellence incommunication technologies requires participation,
new techniques of information systems developmentpartnership, understanding of social implication of new
for Africa has limited intake of students - degrees fortechnologies and management of changes at national
less than fifteen African students per- due to its heavylevel.
reliance on donor funding and lack of vision.Furthermore, democratization of access to ICT to the
§ Shortage of programmers in custom and new90 percent of rural and sub-urban disadvantaged
systems developmentcommunities is also crucial. But it requires considerable
§ Poor quality of internet servicesresources.
§ A restrictive information seeking cultureSome of the key steps for democratization of access
§ Limited access to software and trainingto ICT that remain as a principle to Acacia initiative and
materialscrucial for Ethiopia include:
§ Diverse local languages, scripts and dialects in- Promoting applications and services that respond to
Ethiopia - user friendly interface in the local languagescommunities' needs (e.g. enhancing the delivery of
for on-line connectivity is needed in promotingeducation, distribution of health and agricultural
information sharing and developing a successfulinformation, and other applications)
national network in Ethiopia- Fostering it and telecom policies which are hospitable
The Role of International Organizations andto ICT access in rural and small town communities (e.g.
Development Aid Agencieschanges in pricing policies, regulatory frameworks, the
The international organizations and aid agencies havedelivery of public information, and promotion of
played a significant role in information technologyuniversal service/universal access);
diffusion in the country. Their existence has helped- Supporting human capacity and innovative
create opportunities for demonstrations of keyinfrastructure that extends communication networks to
information technology, transfer of ideas, sponsoringrural and small town communities (e.g. radio, satellite,
structural development projects and a potential marketcellular phone-computer linkages);
segment for emerging small and medium enterprises in- Encouraging the development of tools and
the field. The number of international organizationstechnologies that facilitate ICT use by the marginalized
recognizing the importance of information technologygroups including the disabled and illiterate (e.g. graphic,
for the development of local capacity has beentouch-screen or language interfaces); and,
increasing.- Developing, organizing and dissemination of content in
Potential Benefits of Information Technology in Ethiopiastructured and non-structured format through a variety
- Efficient communications for manufacturing, serviceof media to be accessed and advanced by
and tourism sectorcommunities.
- Fast response to natural disasters and effective ruralBesides meeting the general needs of the rural areas
health and family planning servicesthe National Information Infrastructure should take
- Effective governance and administrativeoverall national strategy for development into
effectivenessconsideration. The NII plan should also be built on
- Efficient education, research and communication ofexistent tools and infrastructure that underpin the
research resultscurrent economic activity and new tools and
- Access to global market and research informationtechnologies that must be put in place to sustain
- Employment opportunities for small and mediumemerging economic activity.