23 July 2001

USAID Official Praises African Role in Telecommunications

By Kathryn Ellis
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- African telecommunications policymakers are proving "vigorous and courageous" in their efforts to expand the benefits of information technology (IT) to their citizens, says U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) official Lane Smith.

Smith, who spoke at the 10th annual African Telecommunications and Information Technology Conference (AFCOM) on July 19, said, "The most striking feature of the Internet in Africa is not the role of technology but the role the African governments and African regulators have played by embracing this new technology."

Smith discussed his recent trip to South Africa, highlighting the progress that African governments and African regulators have made in advancing use of the Internet.

"I'm struck by the tremendous success Africa has experienced with the application of the Internet. ...," he said. "African policymakers have set a model for other countries to follow." Telecommunications ministers from 17 African nations attended the AFCOM meeting.

Speaking during the second day of the three-day event, Smith participated in a panel discussion on telecommunications regulation with officials from various African countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana.

During the discussion, he mentioned the USAID project known as the Leland Initiative, which is meant to expand Internet connectivity in 20 African nations. Smith, who has been working on the Leland Initiative since its inception, highlighted the project's first five years and charted its future course.

"When I look back over the last five years in Africa I see the crucial role the Leland Initiative has played in bringing the Internet to African countries. ...," he said. "During the next five years the Leland Initiative will continue to progress and will play an active role in developing the regulation process in Africa."

Smith explained that the U.S.-funded project is a $15 million U.S. government effort to extend full Internet connectivity to 20 African countries to promote sustainable development. The initiative builds on existing capacity with the ultimate aim of facilitating Internet access throughout each country.

According to a USAID fact sheet, the Leland Initiative aims to bring the benefits of the global information revolution to Africans through connection to the Internet and other Global Information Infrastructure technologies. Within its target countries, the project seeks to gain support for policy reform; facilitate low-cost, high-speed Internet access; and build networks for active users.

The Leland Initiative was named for former Congressman Mickey Leland (Democrat of Texas), who was an avid spokesman for people suffering from hunger both in the United States and throughout the world. During his six terms in Congress, Leland worked to bring greater attention to the problems of disease and hunger worldwide.

Leland generated public support for the Africa Famine Relief and Recovery Act of 1985 after a trip to assess conditions and relief requirements of an acute famine in sub-Saharan Africa. The legislation provided $800 million in food and humanitarian relief supplies.

In 1989, while he was leading a mission to an isolated refugee camp in Ethiopia, Leland was killed in a plane crash. Fifteen people died on the mission, including two members of Leland's staff as well as Ethiopian nationals.