* UNDP PROJECT TO STRENGTHEN CAPAITY TO CREATE NATIONAL ICT POLICY

From Balancing Act News Update (http://www.balancingact-africa.com [2])

A recently approved project, allocating US$95,000 from the ICT Trust Fund,
opts to strengthen the capacity to prepare a National ICT Policy in Lesotho.
According to those setting up the project:"it is a major step towards
developing the ICT for development assistance in Lesotho, a country eager to
address the growing digital divide".

Lesotho has one of Africa¹s lowest internet connectivity with merely three
internet service providers and approximately twenty one thousand internet
users out of a population of 2.2 million. The importance of urgently
addressing the digital divide and the need to accelerate connectivity, has
however been recognized by the Government of Lesotho and the current project
will target to establish an enabling environment.

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen Lesotho¹s national
capacity to prepare a national policy and support the accelerated strategic
use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to promote human
development in Lesotho. The Government of Lesotho has thus identified a
number of key areas- a central national infrastructure, increase Government
connectivity and promote community and school connectivity- all necessary to
successfully tackle the growing digital divide.

The current UNDP sponsored project consists of a number of core activities
which are believed to further facilitate the process of including ICT4
Development as a development agent in Lesotho:
a) reviewing the legislative frameworks, contents, policies and
institutional arrangements governing national e-readiness
b) Ensuring the development of a national ICT policy is within the context
of the on-going PRSP process effectively linking ICT to national priorities
for poverty reduction.
c) Supporting the establishment and capacity strengthening of the ICT Unit
within the Ministry of Communications. The unit which will serve as the key
body for monitoring implementation of the national ICT policy.

The project will also use the consultative process of the development of the
national ICT policy as an important tool in the fight against the HIV/AIDS
pandemic. HIV/AIDS is a key development challenge in the Lesotho context,
and exploring ICT as a tool for effective information and knowledge
management, and information dissemination will be a priority.

The proposed interventions will support an enabling environment, and
releasing the transformative potential of ICT within the specific national
and regional context. ICT 4 Development, with due consideration to key
development issues being addressed within the overall framework of the
Vision and PRSP processes led by the Government of Lesotho and supported by
development partners including UNDP, have taken one significant step further
into being a integrated agent of human development in Lesotho.
For further details contact: Mandisa Mashologu ­ Poverty Reduction Advisor ­
UNDP Lesotho- [email][email protected] [3]