South African ICT Sector Development Framework

framework


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	Framework Contents

-	Chapter 1
-	Chapter 2
-	Chapter 3
-	Chapter 4
-	Chapter 5
-	Chapter 6
-	Chapter 7
->	Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Going Forward Plan

The previous sections of this document provide a clear strategic framework for developing the ICT Sector in South Africa. An overall vision, goals and objectives are stated, along with specific strategies for achieving these objectives. Furthermore, for each strategy, particular actions are identified. The following actions are indicative of the implementation activities envisaged in moving forward. They are intended to provide clear direction to the ongoing implementation planning process.

This section provides a description of the "way forward" from the strategies and actions set out in the previous sections of this document. Specifically, this document sets out the priorities for the strategies and actions and consolidates the actions into a set of substantive initiatives for which varying degrees of funding commitments have been made.

Three priorities of initiatives have been identified:

Immediate initiatives will commence immediately following the launch of the strategy. In general terms, these initiatives are viewed as:

Having relatively high impact on sector development;
Being clearly within the domain of the stakeholder responsible for implementation;
Having well understood, and affordable, implementation costs; and
Capable of being moved forward quickly within existing budgets.

Short-term initiatives will commence within 12-18 months of the ICT Sector Development Framework launch. These are initiatives that require more discussion and development before they can be initiated but, nevertheless, are viewed as being of high priority relative to sector development.

Other initiatives have not yet been defined but will address all other strategies/actions not covered by the Immediate or Short-term initiatives. The intent is to define such initiatives shortly after strategy launch and commence them within 3 years, subject to funding availability.

The intent is to review the individual initiatives, their priorities and progress towards achieving the objectives on an annual basis. Funding for the initiatives will be confirmed/revised at this time. The strategies themselves will be reviewed in terms of overall impact at the end of the initial 3-year period.

Following is a list of the initiatives identified to-date (Note: details of the initiatives and their relationship to the strategies/actions is included in Appendix I):

ICT SECTOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

STRATEGIES SUPPORTED

Establish Governance and Organisational Approach (Immediate).

This initiative will investigate and establish an appropriate governance and organisational approach for implementation of the ICT Sector Development Framework. This will involve establishing the appropriate governance structure to guide implementation of the framework, including the respective roles of stakeholders from industry, government, labour and academia. The initiative also includes the establishment of an Implementation Entity that will undertake day-to-day strategy implementation activities.

1.1.1: Sustain Action Through Leadership and Inclusivity

Conduct an Impact Analysis of Current ICT Initiatives (Immediate).

This initiative will analyse, and assess the impact of, other ICT initiatives currently underway in South Africa relevant to ICT Sector development. The intent is to identify the potential synergies that may be created by leveraging current initiatives.

1.1.2: Establish a Framework for a Sustainable ICT Sector

Accelerate ICT Cluster Development (Immediate).

This initiative will select and implement major ICT projects in Gauteng and Cape Town, respectively, as a means to accelerate ICT development. The intent is to strengthen the capabilities of Gauteng and Cape Town and to assist them in becoming centres (or clusters) of ICT growth.

1.1.2: Establish a Framework for a Sustainable ICT Sector

Undertake Satellite Cluster Pilot.

This initiative will determine whether ICT capabilities can be successfully built up outside the main urban centres by linking existing capabilities in Gauteng and/or Cape Town to emerging ones in smaller centres (i.e. satellites).

1.1.2: Establish a Framework for a Sustainable ICT Sector

Support Information Exchange Within the ICT Sector.

This initiative will seek out and support a sector organisation, such as IISA, to take a lead role in developing, promoting and hosting an ongoing program of sector events for the exchange of information on technical, market, management, human resources, and other matters of importance to the ICT Sector. This initiative will also assist in developing an ICT innovation culture within the sector.

1.1.3: Foster ICT Sector Linkages

4.1.1: Create ICT Innovation Awareness

Review of Policies Affecting the ICT Sector.

This initiative will conduct a review of the policy environment of South Africa’s ICT Sector. The intent is to prepare to engage government in a comprehensive and systematic way to create the policy environment in South Africa that will permit the ICT Sector to take full advantage of the opportunities possible with evolving technologies and markets.

1.2.1: Create Dynamic Policies and Programs for the ICT Sector

Develop an ICT Sector Portal (Immediate).

This initiative will support the development of an ICT Sector Portal to provide Internet-based information, services and applications for ICT companies to assist the growth of the ICT Sector. The portal will be available to all companies in the ICT Sector.

1.1.3: Foster ICT Sector Linkages
1.3.2: Develop Information Networks
1.4.1: Communicate Market Trends and Opportunities
1.4.2: Market South Africa’s ICT Products and Services
4.1.1: Create ICT Innovation Awareness

ICT USAGE STIMULATION INITIATIVES

STRATEGIES SUPPORTED

Conduct an ICT Awareness Program.

This initiative will develop and deliver an awareness program directed at individuals, businesses, government at all levels and other organisations on the enabling impacts of ICTs.

2.1.1: Forge Cross-Sectoral Linkages

2.1.2: Engage Communities

2.3.1: Encourage Collaborative Development of Electronic Delivery of Government Services

Conduct a Cross-Sectoral Pilot.

This initiative will showcase a successful innovative ICT application that can be used as a role model for other sectors. The intent is to demonstrate the potential for ICT in another sector of the economy of strategic importance to South Africa, particularly with respect to partnering with the ICT Sector.

2.1.1: Forge Cross-Sectoral Linkages

4.1.1: Create ICT Innovation Awareness

Conduct a Smart Community Pilot.

This initiative will demonstrate the potential for ICT to support socio-economic development at the community level in South Africa. The intent is to develop and showcase a community that has successfully integrated ICT into its overall economic development plans and can demonstrate the broad application of ICT to community advantage. The selected community will be used as a role model for other communities.

2.1.2: Engage Communities
2.2.1: National Information Infrastructure Initiative
2.4.1: Information and Learning for all South Africans
2.4.2: Improve Opportunities for Disadvantaged Individuals
2.4.3: Improve Opportunities for Disadvantaged Areas

Participate in Planning a National Information Infrastructure Initiative.

This initiative involves contributing to planning the accelerated deployment of the information infrastructure that South Africa will need for ICT applications and content development throughout the country. It focuses primarily on the underlying (telecommunications) infrastructure that is essential to modern, network-centric applications, but also includes the IT infrastructure (e.g. computers, software and related components) that will also be required.

2.2.1: National Information Infrastructure Initiative

Establish Cooperative Mechanisms Between the ICT Sector and Government.

This initiative will establish the mechanisms whereby cooperation between government and industry can lead to stimulation of growth in the ICT Sector through increased use of ICT in government. Such cooperation will be achieved by creating a regular dialogue between the ICT Sector and senior officials in the various government departments engaged in ICT planning and procurement within the national government (e.g. the government CIO committee currently being established).

2.3.2: Direct Strategic Use of Government Procurement

HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

STRATEGIES SUPPORTED

Improve the Collection of ICT Labour Market Statistics (Immediate).

This initiative will improve the collection of information on the current ICT labour market to assist in the development of a long-term Human Resources Development Plan.

3.1.1: Strengthen the Capacity to Understand Labour Markets

3.1.2: Make Better Use of Labour Market Information

Phase 1: Re-skill Retrenched Workers.

The first phase of this initiative is designed to identify initiatives that selected other countries have undertaken to upgrade the skills of retrenched workers to enable them to participate in the knowledge economy, and provide an analysis of the relevance of these initiatives to South Africa.

3.3.4: Upgrade the Skills of Retrenched Workers to Enable them to Participate in the Knowledge Economy

Establish an ICT Youth Internship Program (Immediate).

This initiative will create a program to help graduates from tertiary education institutions, with non ICT-related degrees, but some ICT skills, and who are having difficulty finding employment, to find employment in the ICT Sector or ICT jobs in ICT-enabled sectors.