An Africa-wide Knowledge Societies for Sustainable Development in Africa opened this morning in the capital HARARE.
The forum, bringing together participants from 18 African countries highlighted the important the role of African National Information Programme (IFAP) governance structures in contributing towards universal access to information, by facilitating access to information and developing public domain content and developing digital skills.
“By doing so , the is forum hopes to contribute towards an Africa of good governance, democracy, respect of human rights, justice and the rule of law,” said Professor Hubert Gijzen, Regional Director of United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in remarks during the opening session.
Furthermore, the forum gave participants an update of the ongoing processes to enhance normative instruments to promote and widen access to knowledge and information in the public domain.
Practices of Mozambique and Zimbabwe were highlighted within the framework of the UNESCO- Korean – Funds –in- Trust project that aims to foster human and social development in the two Southern African neighbours and Rwanda, through the use of information and communication technology.
The Information For All Programme (IFAP), established by UNESCO in 2001 to provide a framework for international co-operation and partnerships in “building information and knowledge societies for all” hopes to play a critical role in attaining the continent’s Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want.
Knowledge societies form the cornerstone of many African countries as national development plans strive to transform many economies into knowledge economies in order to have a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.
“And these knowledge societies are based on four pillars – freedom of expression; universal access to information and knowledge; respect for cultural and linguistic diversity; and quality education for all,” explained the ROSA director, adding that these pillars are the bedrock of the UNESCO agenda as well.
As digital skills development and the conditions for creating appropriate content are at the forefront of achieving the sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “it is essential to explore options for countries to promote and facilitate ICT literacy, including popularising and building trust in ICT implementation and use”.
Prof Gijzen further underscored the promotion of the development of “human capital” for the information society, including an open, integrated and intercultural education combined with skills training in ICT, is of critical importance.
“ICT training should not be limited to technical competence but should also include awareness of ethical principles and values,” he added, explained this was critical in the face of fake news and irresponsible use of social media.
“We also need to be alert to the traits of abuse and misuse of ICTs and this presents major challenges of our values and we need to work on these challenges,” he said.
