Africa Digital Week 2011

PRESS INFORMATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Africa Digital Week 2011
Conference, Workshop and Exhibition, 26 – 29 July 2011

 Accra, Ghana, May 31, 2011 - In July 2011, we will be organizing the premier Africa Digital Week in Accra, Ghana. Africa Digital Week 2011 is themed – “My Dream for A Digital Africa”. The objective of Africa Digital Week is to explore how new and emerging technologies can contribute to socio-economic development and good governance in Africa. It will be a place for discourse and debate on novel approaches to building a better Africa through new and emerging technologies.

The conference is under the auspices of the Ministry of Communication, Ghana and is being organized by African Institute for Development Informatics and Policy (AIDIP), Ghana; PearlRichards Foundation, Ghana and African E-governance Academy (AfegA) (an OSIWA and UNDP Initiative), Ghana. The week will have one conference, two workshops and a three-day exhibition. The Africa Digital Week is the first of its kind to be organised on the continent of Africa. The week-long event seeks to explore how modern technologies are being or could be harnessed for development in resource-poor contexts especially in Africa.

Africa Digital Week 2011 will be hosted in Alisa Hotel, Accra, Ghana, from 26 to 29 July, 2011. Delegates for this conference are expected from Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Liberia. Africa Digital Week will seek to:

• Discuss the experiences of African governments, private and non-governmental institutions in using new and emerging digital technologies (social media, mobiles and internet-enabled technologies) to interact and provide services to the consumers and citizens;
• Promote the strategic understanding of the role of digital technologies in achieving the millennium development goals and good governance in Africa and other developing countries;
• Educate participants on how to harness these new technologies (especially social media and mobiles) to achieve organisational or institutional objectives.

“Africa Digital Week 2011 will encourage open minds, critical thinking, self-examination, creativity, and sharing ideas” said Dr. Richard Boateng, Executive Director of AIDIP and PearlRichards Foundation. “We invite you to join us, and look forward to welcoming you. We believe your invaluable experience and insight will add to what is an invaluable discourse for Africa and other developing regions. We have no doubt it will be challenging and thought-provoking, as well as an entertaining experience”. Please visit the conference website to read more:  www.africadigitalweek.com.

 DIGITAL WEEK EVENTS
1)       A VIVA World Exhibition and Corporate Product Launch – An exhibition event to launch and showcase new and innovative technologies, services and products from entrepreneurs and African companies.  This is an opportunity to launch and exhibit new products and services. A special feature will be The Launch of VIVA Africa Multimedia – An Internet Television for the Internet Generation of Africa (www.vivaafrica.tv).

 2)       ECOWAS Youth and Graduates Conference
Theme: Social Media, The Youth and Development. The conference will examine ways in which capabilities and competencies of the youth and graduates can support business, development and good governance in Africa.

3)       AfegA E-Governance Workshop
Theme: New Technologies and Governance – “Can A Government Be Open without being Public?” The workshop will review case studies and policies of e-democracy and e-government across Africa. This workshop is being co-organized by the Africa E-governance Academy (AfegA).

 4)       Africa Digital Business Workshop
Theme: New Technologies, Business and Development. The workshop will critically explore the use of social media for business and non-profit institutions and the contribution of African Telecoms and NGOs to development in Africa.

5)       Policy Dialogue on ICT and Governance
Theme: New Technologies and Governance – Examining Africa’s Policy Readiness
A policy dialogue for policymakers, academics and civic society to explore electronic governance policies in Africa, especially in the advent of social media and mobile technologies. It will begin with an online policy engagement from 1-15th July (at www.africadigitalweek.com) and conclude with a panel discussion during the conference.

 6)       Launch of a book for the African Child – Book Title: The African Woman, A Role Model for the Girl Child.
This event will launch and donate a handbook of profiles of African women for the African Girl Child in junior and senior high schools. The objective is to inspire and empower girls into positions of leadership and achievement.

PAPER SUBMISSIONS
Submissions are welcome from students, practitioners, researchers, academics and doctoral/research candidates.   Submissions information - http://www.africadigitalweek.com/submissions.html

About AIDIP
The African Institute for Development Informatics and Policy (AIDIP) focuses on the conduct and dissemination of research and the advocacy and establishment of projects and policies concerning the adoption and usage of development informatics.

About PearlRichards Foundation
The PearlRichards Foundation creates and promotes ‘spaces’ for communicating and nurturing unique ideas and concepts into sustainable projects or business enterprises which have a positive impact on society and future generations.

About AfegA
The African E-governance Academy (AfegA) Secretariat seeks to promote the creation and transfer of knowledge concerning e-governance with a primary geographical focus on ECOWAS countries. AfegA is a UNDP and OSIWA co-funded initiative.

CONTACTS

Dr. Richard Boateng
African Institute for Development Informatics and Policy, Ghana, Website: www.aidipinstitute.org
PearlRichards Foundation, Ghana, Website: www.pearlrichards.org
Tel: +233-248-852-426 | editor@aidipinstitute.org