7 - Targeted Strategic Initiatives
7.4 Back to Africa Initiative
Egypt enjoys strong historical and cultural
ties with the Africa continent. These ties are
particularly strong with the Nile Basin countries.
The Egyptian government seeks to build on its
long-standing relations in Africa in all fields,
and since the 25 January Revolution this goal
has been designated a national priority.
In this context, the Back to Africa Initiative seeks
to use Egypt’s progress in the ICT sector, in terms
of infrastructure, policies and human resources,
to further strengthen its ties throughout the
continent on the bilateral and regional levels,
while promoting sustainable human and social
development and establishing a strong ICT
infrastructure, that would contribute to bridging
the digital divide in Africa.
The primary objectives of this initiative are:
Enhancing Egypt’s role in Africa:
Participating in ICT-related activities of
various African organizations, including
the African Union, the Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the
African Telecommunications Union (ATU),
the Pan-African Postal Union (PAPU), the
African Network Operators Group (AfNOG),
the African Network Information Center
(AfriNIC), the AfriNIC Government Working
Group (AfGWG), the United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the
African Development Bank (ADB)
Nominating Egyptians for leading positions in
African organizations working in ICT-related
fields
Hosting events in Egypt for African
organizations working in ICT-related fields
Hosting entities created by African
organizations working in ICT-related fields
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Proposing and implementing regional ICTrelated projects through membership of
African organizations
Continuing to follow up on projects resulting
from cooperation between African, Asian and
European countries
Promoting African ICT development:
Building human capacity in the ICT sector
Promoting the creation of an environment
conducive to ICT investment
Exploring communication resources, including
spectrum usage, and how best to use them
Developing the regulatory and administrative
structure of telecommunications regulation
bodies
Promoting the digitization of heritage and
culture, thereby encouraging future investment
in these areas
Promoting and developing ICT use in
marginalized regions
7.4.1 Back to Africa Initiative; Core Programs
First: Nile ICT Corridor Initiative
The Nile ICT Corridor Initiative aims to promote
cooperation and integration in support of
development and the formation of information
societies and knowledge-based economies
in the Nile Basin region – which comprises
Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda,
South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
This involves strengthening the role of ICT in
social development, expanding and improving
ICT infrastructure, establishing a supportive
legislative and regulatory environment for ICT
sector growth, and building the human capacity
necessary for ICT integration across all sectors.
Within the framework of this initiative, Egypt will
be able to transfer experience and best practices
– in areas including telecommunications
regulation and the establishment of technology
parks. Progress in these fields and related one
in the Nile Basin region is expected to open
new markets for Egyptian companies.
The initiative includes the establishment of a
high level committee on the ministerial level,
that will determine relevant public policies and
oversee the work of the following proposed
committees:
Nile Technological Committee for Community
Development: Comprising an expert in ICT
applications for community and sustainable
development from each member country, the
committee shall supervise the implementation
of activities related to the development of
technological skills, e-learning, e-content,
telemedicine, e-government, democracy and
governance, as well as projects related to
women and children and empowerment of
people with disabilities.
Nile Technological Committee for ICT
Infrastructure and Policies: Comprising
an expert in the field of infrastructure and
ICT policy from each member country,
the committee shall supervise the
implementation of activities relating to ICT
infrastructure, connectivity and accessibility
in partnership with the private sector.
Activities will include the establishment
of national computer emergency response
(CERT) teams, human capacity building in
the field of spectrum management, and the
development of legislative and regulatory
frameworks for telecommunications.
Nile Technological Committee for Business
Development: Comprising an ICT expert from
each member country, the committee shall
supervise the implementation of activities
relating to the formation of partnerships
between African institutions in areas including
research, promotion of entrepreneurship, and the
development of indicators and market studies.
Primary objectives:
Promoting cooperation with and among
Nile Basin countries to help them establish
information societies and knowledge-based
economies
Supporting integration and cooperation among
the countries of the Nile Basin to facilitate the
solving of common developmental challenges
Establishing an ongoing dialogue with the
countries of the Nile Basin on technical issues
of concern
Promoting a shared vision to address
developmental challenges through ICTs