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Closing the Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa: meeting the challenges of the information age

State University of New York at Albany. Phone: 518–437–3946. Fax: 518-437-3952 gyamfi{at}albany.edu

Aims to suggest approaches that can be applied to close the digital divide between Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the rest of the world, including the provision of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, access to ICTs and the development of appropriate content and information literacy skills. Identifies some international initiatives to develop ICT infrastructure and proposes the development of telecenters, techmobiles and technology resource centers, and the use of the ‘old boy network' or ‘past students' associations’, to provide access to digital technology. Identifies the need to create Internet content in African languages, developing African language keyboards and conduct needs assessments of local users. Makes proposals for training teachers to teach information literacy skills, involving libraries in information literacy skills development and instituting mass information literacy programs. Concludes that implementing these approaches to closing the digital divide calls for strategic interventions by governments.

Key Words: Digital divide • Information and communication technology • Access • Information literacy • Content development • Sub-Saharan Africa

Information Development, Vol. 21, No. 1, 22-30 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0266666905051910


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