Building capacity towards Uganda’s transformation into a digitally enabled society and knowledge economy
Impact of the project:
The objective of this project is to contribute to a strengthened ICT policy and regulatory environment to enable Uganda to continue transformation into a digitally enabled society that is innovative and competitive.
Background:
The Digital Uganda Vision (DUV) Is a National Policy and Strategic Framework that reviews, integrates, consolidates, and improves all the existing ICT strategies, policies and plans into one overarching Digital Vision for Uganda by providing a unified direction for ICT development and an Integrated ICT project implementation approach.
The principal aim of Digital Uganda Vision is to align ICT investments in the various sectors in a manner that will improve the country’s global ICT indices for purposes of attracting investors. The goal of the Third National Development Plan (NDP III) is to increase household incomes and improve the quality of life of Ugandans. To ensure inclusive development, the NDP III has adopted the Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) with specific attention to the human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, empowerment and participation and attention to vulnerable groups.
I
n 2019, Uganda’s progress on the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
was ranked 140 out of 162 countries with a global index score of 52.6 per cent declining from 125th position out of 156 Countries in 2018. According to the SDG global index, Uganda’s achievement is average, with moderate performance on SDGs 3, 8, 9, 13 and 15. SDGs 2, 5 and 6 have stagnated and the Country is off track in achieving SDG 1, 11, and 16. There are also information gaps, with official data available on only 46.3% for SDG indicators applicable to the country context. This project supports the implementation of SDG9 (Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation) and with its focus on supporting digital transformtion has the potential to contribute to accelerating progress on the other SDGs.
Areas of work:
In line with the
Third National Development Plan (NDPIII) and
Digital Uganda Vision (DUV) framework, the project lays a foundation for ICT policy and planning with a focus on promoting the integration of ICT with other vertical industries in Uganda and driving the digital transformation of trade, government, education, health and other areas, and promoting employment and sustainable development.
Applying a three-pronged approach focused on the development of recommendations, capacity development and the implementation of pilot projects, the project contributes towards the implementation of a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy and to transform Uganda into a digitally enabled society that is innovative, productive, and competitive. Through its interventions, the project further seeks to assist in the development of internet connectivity in the country and the resiliency of such networks and boost related opportunities to contribute to sustainable social and economic development. The project also assists the Government of Uganda in strengthening the enabling ICT policy and regulatory environment and to contribute to making ICT services affordable and accessible for all Ugandans.
Approach:
The project is delivered under the following three components, which are mutually reinforcing:
Component 1 – Policy and strategy recommendations
Component 2 – Cross-cutting capacity development
Component 3 – Design and implementation of pilot projects and use cases to support the recommendations
The policy and strategy recommendations are the following and will be organized under the pertinent DUV pillars:
Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity
(1) Recommendations on review of national broadband plan, including the monitoring and evaluation framework
(2) Recommendations on 5G and spectrum management strategy and implementation plan
(3) Recommendations on the development of international communication networks
(4) Recommendations on the development of national backbone transmission network, including data center strategy
(5) Recommendations for last mile connectivity and infrastructure, including for rural and remote areas
(6) Recommendations for big data development
Digital Services
(7) Recommendations on the development of telecommunication universal services in rural and remote areas and their diffusion in critical sectors, e.g. education.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
(8) Recommendations for Uganda’s ICT industry development policies, including on e-waste
Partners:
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The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance as the lead agency.
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The South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF) is providing financial support with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of the People’s Republic of China as its representative partner within the project.
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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the implementing partner.
