Digital Bridge Africa: Redefining Africa's Future through Technology
A Roundtable Linking ICT, Entrepreneurship, and Development between Africa and the North
Accra, Ghana - 8-10 May 2003

Digital Partners, Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute, and the MIT Program on Internet & Telecoms Convergence co-hosted the Digital Bridge Africa roundtable in Accra, Ghana on May 8th and 9th, 2003. It was an historic gathering bringing together leaders from government, academia, IT firms, and social enterprises from Africa, the United States and Asia. This assemblage of leaders was made possible by the continued support of the United Nations ICT Task Force.

The conference began with a daylong roundtable discussion on the issues of social venturing, knowledge transfer, culture and gender issues, corporate responsibility, and policy formulation. The second day remained interactive, while experts in the fields of African culture, technology, government, and grassroots initiatives shared their analyses. Throughout the conference the discussions were lively and insightful, and participants stayed engaged.

The conference was launched by Nii Quaynor, Dorothy Gordon, and Awo Q. Sackey. This was followed by the Ghana New Venture Competition Award Ceremony. Then the dynamic roundtable discussion began with Peter Cowhey serving as facilitator. Prof. Cowhey kept the pace quick and subject matter relevant through a host of complex topics. The first challenge to be addressed was funding. An impressive panel was assembled, including Paul Maritz, former Microsoft Group Manager and leaders from the investment community in Ghana. The next session centered on knowledge transfer and capacity building, where the main focus was on developing local talent through universities, private institutions, and mentoring. The afternoon sessions were focused on culture and gender issues, private sector responsibilities and policy issues. In the policy panel Ghanaian Government officials shared the challenges faced in developing an implementable ICT policy and discussed issues surrounding the local regulatory framework.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for Afro-American Research at Harvard University, started the second day of the conference with a charismatic opening address. He discussed the importance and richness of African culture and how Encarta Africana can serve as a tool for education. During the next two sessions, social entrepreneurs and ICT leaders shared their programs from across Africa. Satish Jha, Director of Digital Partners, India, discussed "The Indian Experience" and lessons that may be applicable to Africa. The renowned scholar Kwame Anthony Appiah then offered his insights into culture and development. This session was followed later in the day by a panel discussing private sector involvement. The second day also provided case studies of innovative ICT projects in Africa. The cases revealed the extent of African ICT experimentation and demonstrated the potential that the continent has to reap large benefits from the digital world.

The panel on the WSIS (World Summit on Information Society) shed light on this major international effort. The panelists were able to share how the private sector can get engaged at the local and regional level to ensure that Africa has a voice during these international deliberations. Finally, the Honorable Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Communication and Technology, offered closing remarks.

The true challenge comes not in the formulation of ideas, but in their translation into action. Several steps surfaced which will ensure measurable progress is achieved. The delegates agreed to:

• encourage entrepreneurs utilizing technology to address social ills in Ghana and throughout Africa to apply to Digital Partners' Social Enterprise Laboratory (SEL) via the web-site http://www.digitalpartners.org/;
• volunteer to be a mentor to a local entrepreneur;
• volunteer to teach a class at a local university;
• contribute to the Social Venture Fund which will infuse much needed capital into West African social businesses.

The challenges, and opportunities, for ICT enterprises in Africa are vast. While we cannot immediately transform the policy, competitive, and infrastructure landscape, we can make real differences one entrepreneur at a time. Who knows where the next major ICT firm will emerge from? Why not from the continent of Africa?

As a result of the generous contributions from the UN ICT Task Force, social entrepreneurs from around the world have been sponsored to showcase their use of ICTs to address social needs to the participants of Digital Bridge Africa and Baramati Initiative in preparation for the World Summit on Information Society. This support has enabled the exchange of ideas to spur the formation of global best practices and provided the needed motivation to encourage like-minded individuals to strive to create a better world.