Assignment 2

Concerning the penetration and the use of the Internet, data remians incomplete, in some countries we have only “guesstimates”. Can this statement apply to Morocco? Think of the exercise we did in class.

It is hard to measure the penetration and the use of the internet in a country if the appropriate techniques are not used effectively and if the indicators are not measured in the proper manner. In this case, we can speak about the issue of “guesstimates”, which provide incomplete data. On the other hand, there are many worldwide organizations that work hard to find accurate data about this issue such as the World Bank. In Morocco, the ANRT presents in its website all the studies conducted to collect the necessary data, about the ICTs sector in terms of use and penetration, that allows to have concrete and reliable statistics. Indeed, all the findings of the Observatory Reports are illustrated by graphics, which makes the study more concrete.

What does the digital divide mean for you? (100 word, checklist style)

Ø The digital divide is the unequal distribution of ICTs and access to information among the developing countries and less developed countries.
Ø The digital divide is a concept used by developed countries to describe the physical access to the internet and its related hardware and software by different countries in the world
Ø The digital divide portrays the gap that exist between the developed and the developing countries, and also within each category, in their access to information through ICTs
Ø The digital divide is the “disparity between the `technology-rich' and `technology-poor'”
Ø The digital divide describes the social and material inequalities, related to areas such as education, health care, access to resources and opportunities, that exist in some countries and which result on inequalities in internet access and use.

How can we measure the digital divide in Morocco? (100 word, checklist style)

In order to measure the digital divide in Morocco we need:
1. To divide the population into:
a. illiterate/intellectual
b. poor/middle-class/rich
c. Young/teenager/adult
2. To distinguish between the use of ICTs in:
a. Households
b. Businesses
c. Schools
3. Within each category, we need to measure the following indicators:
a. Presence of mobile phones
b. Number of PCs and internet users
c. Number of telecommunication providers
d. Method of access
e. Purpose of PC and internet use
f. Barriers to use ICTs
g. Comparisons between the different categories in terms of
i. ICTs use
ii. frequency of use
iii. purpose of use

How can we bridge the digital divide in Morocco? (250 word, checklist style)
Ø First, Morocco should conduct field studies in order to know the infrastructures needed before the introduction of any ICT in a specific region or institution.
Ø Second, extensive training are essential to make better profit from the use of ICTs and to not damage these technologies.
Ø Morocco should also adapt the ICTs to the culture of each region in Morocco, and to educate each citizen to know the great value of these ICTs for his/her life.
Ø In order to bridge the digital divide, Morocco should provide access to ICTs at an affordable price. For this reason, cybercafés should be present in popular neighborhoods and in rural areas.
Ø The Government should make a financial study to purchase as many software and hardware needed. For this aim, the government ought to look for help from the international organizations.
Ø ICTs should be available in schools and for all education purposes for free so that to move to a paperless and digital society. For this purpose, multimedia labs should be available and specialized teachers should be trained.
Ø The spread of electronic applications is also important in order to bridge the digital divide in Morocco

Dr. Najat Rochdi Talk: The role of ICTDAR and develeopment

· ICTDAR is a regional program of UNDP covering all Arab Countries

· Dr. Najat Rochdi is ICTDAR Regional Director and a Former Moroccan Deputy Minister, in charge of Small and Medium Enterprise’s Development in Morocco.

· ICTDAR was established to use ICT to
empower people
build people capacities and facilitate access to all sorts of knowledge
prepare the Arab Region as a land rich in human and natural resources; a land of dialogue, tolerance and entrepreneurial freedom

· Dr. Najat main ideas:

Poverty is about human development:
Access to education
Access to health services
Equity, gender balance, …

In 2002, the publication of a series of Arab human development reports started

Without knowledge there is no development

Development is about advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

The role of knowledge for development is:
Economic growth
Social development
Cultural enrichment
Political empowerment

It has been big discussions about the digital divide, but the real issue is knowledge divide

ICT means “The most appropriate technology for the society we are serving, and not necessary the latest and sophisticated technology”

Knowledge is about
Knowledge creation
Knowledge preservation
Knowledge dissemination
Knowledge utilization
Human needs
Human rights
Pluralism

The eight Millennium Development Goals represent commitments by all countries to work on:
poverty and hunger
ill-health
gender inequality
education
access to clean water
environmental degradation
climate change
HIV

ICTDAR pillars are:
Youth
Disabled
Partnership private sector
Regional cooperation
E-strategies, e-governance
SME’s
Women