Concept Paper

The concept of the Dakar Symposium

The aim of the Dakar Symposium, which will be held in June 2003, is to forge a strategy for larger-scale Community Multimedia Centre (CMC) development in Africa, by finding out more about how community radio stations across Africa are using ICTs. It will bring together representatives of CMCs, community radio stations, national and international development agencies, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The purpose is to exchange experiences and compare models, approaches and contexts; to identify needs and recommend measures to meet these needs for successful project implementation; to make recommendations for a coherent programmatic approach to CMC development in Africa that can serve as a rallying point for all partners and stakeholders including donors. Furthermore it will examine models of best practice and determine partnership strategies for programme development that ensures full community appropriation of NICTs, sustainability, networking and technical support systems.

The findings of the Dakar symposium can be expected to provide the impetus for a new international co-operative effort to empower and network disadvantaged communities through the integrated use of modern and traditional ICTs. This particular focus and approach is part of the global effort to transform this digital divide into a digital opportunity. Indeed, the preparatory process for the World Summit on the Information Society has highlighted just how essential the link is between ICT access at community level and the Millennium Development Goals.

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