European Commission

I’m visiting Nairobi, Kenya for the Internet Governance Forum, where I gave a speech on how we should take care of the Internet.

It’s the first time ever the IGF has been held in sub-Saharan Africa. And this gave me an opportunity to explore something that’s interested me for some time – the role of ICT in the developing world.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ll know that I am very passionate about the role that ICT can play in stimulating Europe’s economy. I am convinced that it can lift our economies, and provide smart, high-end jobs for the next generation.

But I’m equally convinced that it can do the same in the developing world. Supporting development has always included investing in infrastructure, which has historically meant things like the water supply, roads, electricity networks, or human capital. But in the modern world ICT is essential infrastructure too, without which our economy cannot function.

ICT is already a significant part of the developing world’s economy. Many developing countries are specialising in the new economy, supporting the global demand for ICT. While others are innovating to meet their own domestic demand. Although – or perhaps because – much of the continent of Africa never fitted a landline network, it has now embraced mobile technology all the more; just ten years ago, only 1% of Africans were within reach of a wireless voice network, but today that figure has ballooned to an incredible 65%. Indeed in some areas – like mobile payments in Kenya  – the nature of domestic demand has meant the technology has “leapfrogged” ahead of that in the developed world. Which is of immense use to a population, until now 95% unbanked, who can now use mobile payments to pay bills, send money to their families and much more.

This transformation, in spite of the many costs and practical obstacles of going mobile in Africa, shows just how highly valued it is being able to keep in touch. These technologies keep people connected, stimulate economic development, and provide jobs. And they also play a social role, whether it’s providing medical consultations via mobile to those otherwise out of reach, to supporting education projects, to giving farmers access to the data they need to respond to market surpluses and shortages. All in all, ICTs play a significant role in delivery of the Millennium Development Goals – as has been recognised in the MDG targets.

The most intelligent and sophisticated “ICT for development” projects don’t merely impose a pre-formed idea on the developing world, but adapt to its needs, advantages and capabilities. I was delighted to be able to visit three projects doing just that, together with my colleagues from the European Parliament Pilar del Castillo, Teresa Riera Madurell, and Sabine Verheyen.

First, Close the Gap, a not-for-profit organisation which started out in Belgium and the Netherlands. It seeks to bridge the digital divide by offering high-quality used computers to the South.  So far, it has collected over 160,000 machines which would otherwise simply be recycled or thrown out, and it has cleaned them, checked and configured them for re-use in places like schools and hospitals in the developing world.

I got the chance to see some of those computers in action in Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School, located in one of the poorest slum areas of Nairobi. Some of the 1500 schoolchildren there showed me a thing or two about how they use their computers before serenading me with a recorder ensemble (and then showing me their karate moves!)

But overall, it was fascinating to see the level of ambition these kids have – despite their backgrounds, their early exposure to ICT has expanded their horizons. When I asked them what they wanted to do, they didn’t just say farmer or carpenter; many of them said they wanted to work in computing.

I talk to one of the 1500 pupils at OLN School benefiting from ICT

Second, the WEEE project in Nairobi – set up to put defunct computers to good use. The Computers for Schools Project Kenya realised that it was a waste that they were too often thrown away – when the different hardware components should rather be collected and recycled, sold or disposed of safely, just like we do in the EU. It was my great pleasure to open the facility where this will be done – and to get involved myself, chucking some old plastic casings into the grinder: I’m told the resultant material will make someone a very attractive table-top.

A hands-approach to recycling old computers at the WEEE centre, Nairobi

Lastly, I met a really inspiring project, launched in Nairobi, for innovators to share and incubate their new ideas for ICT start-ups: i-Hub. Formed from the conviction that if you put enough smart people in a room, good things will happen, the project now has more than 5000 members, engaged in work from brainstorming ideas to finding funding (and enjoying the odd game of table football too).

I had the chance to talk to some of those entrepreneurs. They were very frank about the difficulties they face trying to build Nairobi’s Silicon Valley. The lack of seed capital to build a broad base for testing out (relatively small-scale) ideas. The high costs, and complex processes, to set up a business in Kenya.

But they were also open about the benefits of working in “Africa’s most innovation-friendly economy”. A legal framework that allowed space for new ideas while preventing chaos. And a government which has an attitude to openness and open data unparalleled on the continent, providing a valuable raw material from which to construct new ideas.

But most importantly, these innovators had the right attitude. A sense of unity and common purpose: because in spite of the tensions and differences between the 42 Kenyan tribes, ICT brings communities together, and provides these entrepreneurs with an 21^st-century digital identity, Kenyan or African more than tribal. A mindset where failure is not the end of the story but a learning opportunity. And an environment where people aren’t afraid to be open with their potential competitors because they really believe that “competition makes us all stronger“.

And when they each told me about their projects, I was clear how much Kenyan society stands to gain. From medical innovations like making it easier to find your local clinic and make an appointment, to audio text-messaging for the visually impaired, to projects targeting women and those from the slums.

All in all, a very fulfilling day looking at what ICT can do for developing countries – and a day which reminded me just how similar the opportunities and challenges are in Europe, too.

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Tags: Close the Gap, Computers for Schools, Development, Digital Agenda, ICT and development, iHub, Kenya, Nairobi, Neelie Kroes