Part of the WEF Internet for All, Northern Corridor Initiative, the Rwanda
Digital Ambassadors Programme (DAP) is spearheaded by the Government of
Rwanda in collaboration with Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) and WEF. The
initiative's objective is to raise ICT awareness in the country. The goal
is to use 5,000 trained Digital Ambassadors to raise awareness of 5,000,000
citizens in rural areas. The launch, which was a discussion forum pitching
for partnerships was attended by 31 organizations and companies, including
USAID and JICA, Microsoft and CISCO, Ecobank and Cogebank, MTN and TIGO,
TATA and Mozilla, ITU and UNDP and others.
The Regional Director, asked to summarize the way forward for the
initiative and offer closing remarks noted that for the Digital Ambassadors
to succeed sustainably, a supporting Digital Ecosystem was necessary and
informed the gathering that ITU's major contribution was the joint
Broadband Wireless Network underway with the Government of Rwanda which
would extend Broadband connectivity to rural areas, facilitating the
Ambassadors Programme. He urged the organization present to honor their
pledges in a timely manner and recalled that for enduring partnership,
monitoring and evaluation as well as reporting was essential. In closing,
Mr. Rugege noted that this was an Exponential rather than the customary
linear-growth initiative. He proposed that Rwanda should go to the next
level where each of the 5,000,000 trained would train others, elevating the
initiative to a Movement. The role played and support shown by ITU was
appreciated by all present.