Mozambican government endorses the CMC model in new science and technology strategy
07-09-2006 (Maputo)
© UNESCO
Mozambique’s new 10-Year Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation gives full backing and priority to the expansion of community multimedia centres and other related initiatives in the country.
The new strategy highlights the reality that facilities for the general public to use ICT-based services are rare in Mozambique. “SchoolNet sites, Provincial Digital Resource Centres and Community Multimedia Centres provide access points for only a limited number of people. Expansion of these centres to all parts of the country should be a top priority, as these centres will function as spearhead initiatives for introducing ICTs to various regions in Mozambique,” the strategy document states.
Mozambique’s new strategy further focuses on the need to identify innovative access mechanisms and low-cost providers in order to secure sustainability of rural knowledge initiatives. Integration of traditional media and new technologies along with other communication and information facilities like libraries and development resource centres at the community level is the guiding principle of UNESCO’s CMC approach.
“Well-defined business models are needed, and subsidy schemes should be considered along with public-private partnerships. In addition, further exploration is needed of innovative combinations of modern digital technologies and low-cost conventional technologies, such as combining Internet access with broadcast radio technology.” The strategy was designed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and approved by the Council of Ministers on 27 June 2006.
“We are very pleased to see how our work on the ground is making its way into policy and national strategies. In order to reach our development objectives the government’s endorsement and support are crucial,” says Ian Pringle, UNESCO’s international coordinator of the CMC Scale-up Initiative in Mozambique, Mali and Senegal.
Building on the success of pilot CMCs in over twenty countries, including several in Mozambique, the government, UNESCO and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation launched the CMC Scale-up Initiative for Africa in 2004. The aim is to take the success of CMC pilots to scale across the three countries – increasing impact and building long-term sustainability by developing a dynamic national network and creating a critical mass of facilities in each country, expanding both geographic coverage and reaching more people, especially those in remote areas.
There are presently sixteen CMCs in Mozambique, with another six planned before the end of the year. Alongside the involvement and endorsement of the government, the broad base of support for the CMC initiative has been critical to its success to date. Other key partners include Centro Informatica Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (CIUEM) and the Community Radio Forum in Mozambique, as well as IDRC and the international telecentre.org programme, Microsoft, One World and the Open Knowledge Network, SIDA and UNDP.
Mozambique’s new strategy further focuses on the need to identify innovative access mechanisms and low-cost providers in order to secure sustainability of rural knowledge initiatives. Integration of traditional media and new technologies along with other communication and information facilities like libraries and development resource centres at the community level is the guiding principle of UNESCO’s CMC approach.
“Well-defined business models are needed, and subsidy schemes should be considered along with public-private partnerships. In addition, further exploration is needed of innovative combinations of modern digital technologies and low-cost conventional technologies, such as combining Internet access with broadcast radio technology.” The strategy was designed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and approved by the Council of Ministers on 27 June 2006.
“We are very pleased to see how our work on the ground is making its way into policy and national strategies. In order to reach our development objectives the government’s endorsement and support are crucial,” says Ian Pringle, UNESCO’s international coordinator of the CMC Scale-up Initiative in Mozambique, Mali and Senegal.
Building on the success of pilot CMCs in over twenty countries, including several in Mozambique, the government, UNESCO and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation launched the CMC Scale-up Initiative for Africa in 2004. The aim is to take the success of CMC pilots to scale across the three countries – increasing impact and building long-term sustainability by developing a dynamic national network and creating a critical mass of facilities in each country, expanding both geographic coverage and reaching more people, especially those in remote areas.
There are presently sixteen CMCs in Mozambique, with another six planned before the end of the year. Alongside the involvement and endorsement of the government, the broad base of support for the CMC initiative has been critical to its success to date. Other key partners include Centro Informatica Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (CIUEM) and the Community Radio Forum in Mozambique, as well as IDRC and the international telecentre.org programme, Microsoft, One World and the Open Knowledge Network, SIDA and UNDP.
© UNESCORelated themes/countries
· 2006
· Access to Information: News Archives 2006
· Mozambique: News Archives 2006
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- Nina Bull Jorgensen, Communications Officer, UNESCO Maputo
- Polly Gaster, CMC Coordinator, Mozambique
- UNESCO
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