Module 8 of the "Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders" (Academy) explores issues that influence investments in information and communication technology (ICT) deployment; highlights various financing mechanisms; and examines the different types of public private partnerships for funding ICT for development (ICTD) projects. As part of APCICT's continuous effort to ensure that the Academy modules are relevant and adds value, a new section has been added to reflect the global economic downturn.
Nations worldwide are affected by the financial crisis that threatens to roll back decades worth of development and jeopardize the significant progress made towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals. This current global crisis serves to remind us of our inter-connectedness and the risks emerging from a highly networked economy, made possible by the advent of ICTs. Yet, these very same ICT tools can be used to help overcome the crisis.
Section 1.3, entitled, "The recession – ICTs to the rescue" has been added to Module 8 of the Academy curriculum.
This section looks at the recession and stimulus spending by governments to create work. The problem is that this is artificial stimulus and there is concern that it may not last, and that it may not be sustainable. Other concerns such as 'peak oil', the fact that oil reserves may be drying up, are elaborated.
The section proceeds to look at ways in which ICTs present an opportunity to deal with these issues. The role ICTs can play in 'Green Growth' that promotes energy efficiency and alternatives, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and encourages economic growth at the same time, is discussed. And examples of green growth strategies and stimulus spending in Asia are provided.
The Academy is APCICT’s flagship programme that includes a comprehensive ICTD curriculum and over a dozen partners that are working with APCICT to roll out the Academy at the national level.
The Academy has been conceptualized, developed and implemented through a participatory and inclusive approach. At its conceptualization, over 20 countries participated in a comprehensive training needs assessment. And at the module development stage, over 60 government officers, academics and ICTD experts provided input.
There are currently eight modules available in three languages - English, Bahasa Indonesia and Russian, and two new modules on ICT for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change and ICT are being developed, based on demands from Member States.
Translations of the Academy modules into other languages are underway, and APCICT is also in the process of updating other modules.
For more information on the Academy click here
