The CATIA Programme(2003 to 2006)

April 2003

David Woolnough - DFID

Claire Sibthorpe – Atos KPMG

What is CATIA?

• The end result of a lot of listening…

• A practical response to the demands from Africa and the G8 DOT Force recommendations

• An attempt by donors to co-ordinate & work together (UK, Sweden, Canada & US)

• A partnership with the private sector (Cisco, African ISPs, VSATs, etc.)

• A $15 million, three year commitment to ICTs in Africa – with plenty of scope for growth!

What will CATIA actually do?• CATIA – Catalysing Access To ICTs in Africa

• A package of 9 small-scale, yet strategic activities that seek to improve access to the full range of ICTs in Africa, from the Internet to community radio.

• Support an African-led network of institutions active in building capacity on ICT regulatory/policy issues;

• Catalyse well-informed local debates on ICT policy reform;• Support a major new multi-partner programme aimed at increasing

access to radio across the continent; • Working in partnership with the private sector, it will also seek to cut

access costs through: supporting Internet Exchange Points; appropriate use of low cost satellite and the development of low cost kit & open source;

• Increase Africa's influence in international ICT related decision making;

• Catalyse a thriving exchange of local African content.

CATIA - A regional African programme

• Low Cost Access Opportunities……VSAT / low cost kit / radio / IXPs

• ICT Policy & Regulation……on telecoms and the internet / other media (radio)

…subversive approach

…participate in international decision making

• Local African Content……radio / internet (OKN) / open source

Co-funded with DFID / Sida / Cida / IDRC / USAID & Cisco (e.g. core funding, MoUs, Steve Song (CA) on CATIA Steering Panel, etc.)

International Competition => Consortium, led by Management Contractor

Impact on Poverty?

Independent Evaluation(in at start)

Managing CATIA

• Low cost satellite internet access widely available across Africa

• Robust African internet backbone with exchange points at the core and strong African ISP Associations

• Well-informed, lively and inclusive policy debates across Africa, shaping the local policy environment

• An African led network of institutions, actively strengthening the African expertise involved in setting ICT related policy

• Increased capacity for African developing countries to participate in international ICT decision making

• Low cost computers and open source software being developed and tailored to the African market

Atos KPMG Consulting (AKC) is the Managing Consultant for CATIA and is working with a strong consortium to deliver on CATIA’s objectives.

We will be delivering across 6 of the CATIA components working towards:

Managing CATIA (cont.)

• Positive policy environments for radio broadcasting across Africa (led by Panos)

• Stronger network of community radio and FM radio stations across Africa, offering good pro-poor radio programmes (led by Amarc)

• A thriving African based Open Knowledge Network, catalysing the creation and exchange of local content (led by OneWorld)

We will also be working together with and managing the other 3 CATIA components aimed at:

Consortium ApproachThe Atos KPMG Consulting (AKC) Consortium comprises leading research and policy institutions, ICT technology and development consultancies, non governmental organisations, individual experts, and ICT networks.

The team includes:

• Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

• British Council

• Bridges.org

• Direqlearn

• KPMG Africa

• Miller Esselaar & Associates

• SchoolNet Africa

• Summit Strategies

• Telecommunications Management Groups (TMG)

• Technology Surveys International (TSI)

• Independent consultants

In Summary

We are working with DFID and others to help:

• catalyse access to ICTs in Africa• address the need for ICTs to address social and

economic development issues

We will work across Africa providing effective management and delivery of a set of components aimed at a achieving these objectives.

We hope to work with many at this conference to help build capacity across Africa to achieve sustainable change.