SPC - e-Agriculture policy work
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Transcript of SPC - e-Agriculture policy work
State of ICT policy development and linkages withAgriculture in ACP countries
24 – 25 April, 2013 CTA
Background• Communication Action Plan (1999)• Pacific Islands ICT Policy and Plan (2002)• Pacific Plan Digital Strategy (2005)– Further endorsed by Forum ICT Ministers in 2006 : Wellington
Declaration• Cairns Communique– Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) commissioned a review– SPC led the development of the framework
• Pacific Regional ICT Ministers (2010 Tonga)– Endorsed the Framework for Action on ICT for Development for the
Pacific
Transferring Pacific ICT Outreach functions of SPC to University of the South Pacific (USP)
• In 2012, the Independent External Review team conducted a review of SPC. One of their recommendations was to transfer the function of SPC’s Information and Communication Technology Outreach to the University of the South Pacific.
• Earlier this year, SPC and USP signed a letter of agreement regarding the transfer and integration of specific functions of SPC’s work programme into USP’s. USP has undertaken to develop and strengthen Pacific ICT Outreach activities, including countries and territories that are not USP members but are members of SPC, subject to resource availability. USP will also provide updates through yearly reporting to the USP governing council and Pacific ministers for communication. The letter of agreement is consistent with the role of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) and its guiding principles of improving service.
USP – lead role• USP will take a lead role as chair of the ICT working group of the Council of
Regional Organisations in the Pacific, commonly known as CROP agencies.
• This working group spearheads the Framework for Action on ICT for Development in the Pacific, recognising that ICT plays a critical role in the efforts of countries to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
• For those countries’ continued development it is critical that vibrant and market-driven ICT sectors are established. For your information, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, in collaboration with SPC, commissioned a review of the Pacific digital strategy early in 2010. This strategy is an initiative under the Pacific Plan to promote economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security in Forum Countries.
Development of Framework
PIFS Review of Digital Strategy
ITU Assessment of PICs National
ICT Policies
Development Partners
CROP ICT WG
Feedbacks & Comments from
PICTs
REGIONAL ICT FRAMEWORK
Framework• Vision– Improved livelihood of Pacific communities through effective
utilization of ICT• Goals– Pacific Island nations to recognise and utilise ICT as an essential
tool for socio economic sustainable development, good governance and security;
– ICT be a national priority• Outcomes– Access to affordable ICT– Efficient and effective utilization of ICT for sustainable
development
The status of PICTs is paramount and a regional framework cannot override national or territorial decisions. This
framework will be guided by national policies and implementation plans
Themes• The successful implementation of the framework is dependent
on the support and commitment of PICTs, development partners and other stakeholders;
• The themes categorized the ICT priority areas and reflect commonalities; and
• The themes have been structured so as to provide a rationale, long-term objectives, key priorities, targets and milestones, policy objectives and regional strategies for 2011-2015.
Themes
For each THEMES:• Expected Outcome• Rationale• Long-term objectives• Key priorities• Policy objectives and strategies for 2011-2015• Targets and milestones
Themes1. Leadership, governance, coordination and partnerships - strong
leadership and appropriate governance mechanisms are needed to ensure that the benefits of ICT are fully realised and would contribute to the livelihood of Pacific Islanders.
2. ICT policy, legislation and regulatory frameworks - the importance of having a strong and effective policy and regulatory framework to create an enabling environment that promotes fair competition.
3. ICT Human Capacity Building -the importance of investing in human resource development in the ICT sector
4. ICT Infrastructure and Access - most PICTs have poor infrastructure, including in ICT and energy.
Themes5. International Connectivity- high cost of international capacity
continues to be a major issue for PICTs6. Cyber security and ICT Applications
1. cyber security is essential as nations become more dependent on ICT and it grows more pervasive in peoples’ daily lives
2. ICT can promote greater transparency and more efficient, effective and accessible services
7. Financing, monitoring and evaluation - the importance of ensuring a coordinated approach to financing the ICT sector and of having a robust monitoring and evaluation framework
ICT Applications• ICT can promote greater transparency and more efficient, effective and
accessible services.
– technologies such as mobile phones promote greater transparency and more efficient, effective and accessible services.
– ICT applications can assist the priority sectors such as health, agriculture and education through e learning for affordable ‐professional development, tele health for affordable and accessible ‐health services
– e Agriculture for affordable access to market and information ‐
Status of national ICT policiesCountry National ICT policy adopted Communication Market
Adopted Evaluation (Review)
Draft prepared Open Market Separate Regulator
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
RMI
FSM
NauruNiuePalau PNG
Samoa
Solomon Is.
Timor LesteTonga
TuvaluVanuatu Total 6 1 3 7 6
Country Sector Ministry Stakeholder Committee
Other Remarks
Cook Islands National ICT Committee
Fiji IT Advisory Council
Kiribati Ministry of Communications, Transport and Tourism
RMI Ministry of Transportation and Communication
FSM Department of Transport, Communications and Information
Nauru Department of Transport and Telecommunications
Niue Niue Island Information, Technology & Communication and Development Council (NiDC)
Palau National ICT Policy Task Force
PNG Interagency ICT Taskforce
Samoa National ICT Steering Committee
Solomon Is. ICT Working group
Timor Leste ARCOM (Sector regulator)
Tonga Ministry of Information and Communications
Tuvalu Ministry of Communications Transport and Tourism
Vanuatu Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Utilities
Total 7 7 1
Institutional arrangements for the development of national ICT policies in the PICs
The role of ICT in Agriculture and Rural Development
• When we think of development, we should not only relate it to technology and it should not just be about information. It should promote a discussion:
– Information and knowledge exchange– People– Content
• e-agriculture is "an emerging field” as referred by the United Nations which means we can still redefine what e-agriculture
• 2 area of focus:
– Practice – how can we use ICT to develop collaborative approaches and implement activities focusing on good practices and success stories in agriculture and rural development
– Policy -- how can we have an impact on food security by developing ICT policies and strategies?
Heads of Agriculture and Forestry• The concept of e-agriculture was explained at the HOAFS meeting but with the
notion that it’s still an evolving field
• In 2010, the officials of the Head of Agriculture and Forestry Services:
– Acknowledged that ICT is an important tool that can contribute to the development of the Agriculture/Forestry and rural development sector;
– Noted the ‘Framework for Action on ICT for Development in the Pacific in assisting the agriculture sector’ and SPC LRD ICT initiatives
– Endorsed that the Land Resources Division will need to work with development partners and key stakeholders to develop a regional ICT for agriculture, forestry and rural development project
ICT for agriculture, forestry and rural development
• SPC worked on a proposal and submitted it to FAO Pacific regional office
• Ad hoc activities and worked closely with partners such as CTA, FAO – Bangkok, EU, UNCTAD, ITC Geneva etc
– Proposal outlined initiatives such as “promote information sharing through the use of ICTs”
– Promote market information systems --- using sms services– Create a query based system – LRD helpdesk system– Develop a website/portal to promote the work of SPC and Land
Resources to stakeholders and development partners– Youth and ICT in agriculture competitions
Country initiatives
• With very little resources, we work with countries like Vanuatu to advise them on e-agriculture activities. National ICT policy has incorporated ICT for agriculture
• Unfortunately, there’s not enough funds nor resources to work with the rest of the countries
• Online consultation
• Difficult to work with national counterparts because of the lack of coordination between the ministries
Next steps?
HOW CAN PARTNERS SUCH AS FAO AND CTA ASSIST MEMBER COUNTRIES AND REGIONAL
ORGANISATIONS?