List of Community Computer Center (CCC) On-going Programmes

1. ECOWAS Regional Computer Society Consultation Exercise

The mission of the ECOWAS Regional Computer Society (ERCS) is to provide an avenue for the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and promote best practices within the region.

Establishment of the ERCS is in line with the regional ICT objective of CCC and will complement work currently being carried out. It will act as a means to facilitate the accessibility and dissemination of information to a wider audience through innovative e-products and services. It is envisaged that the ERCS will provide a platform for enhancing ICT revolution in West Africa.

The nascent structures for the establishment of the Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire chapters of the ERCS were discussed with IT professional groups and government authorities in the two countries in June 2015.

The Ghana chapter organized its maiden meeting in November 2015.

2. Strengthening the Business Information System (ECOBIZ)

Some initiatives were taken to broaden the scope of sensitization activities on the ECOBIZ system:

i) On-the-desk review and update of registered company data on the web site by ECOBIZ Implementation Assistants. The total number of registered companies to date is 7608.

ii) Continuation of process to introduce the electronic payment module into the ECOBIZ platform in collaboration with the Private Sector directorate and the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce. A meeting was organized to review a prototype developed by a consultant and next line of action will be a stake holders meeting to validate the prototype.

Continuous updating of the ECOBIZ database particularly during trade events taking place in Member States. In Nigeria, during the Kaduna International Trade Fair (29 April – 2 May 2015) 85 new companies were registered and 550 existing in the data base were updated.

3. Collaboration with regional and international partners:

Strategic meetings were held with international partners regarding the regulation of customs administration in Member States. Discussions were held with World Custom Organization (WCO). The following was agreed:

a) The need to further collaborate and take over the implementation of the customs interconnection project (PACIR). PACIR is under development with participating Member States: Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso.

b) The WCO is considering the proposal to adopt the CCC’s Centre of Excellency for the Automation of Trade (CEAT) in Lome, as WCO regional training centre. This proposal is currently under consideration.

Ongoing discussion on partnership with the World Custom Organization to provide training certifications for some customs’ officials in various aspects of custom’s modernization.

4. ALISA development:

ALISA is an ECOWAS Automated Transit Management Project which aims at automating regional transit trade by interconnecting the computer systems of national customs administrations in a network system for all member states in response to the requirements of the Inter-State Road Transit (ISRT) protocol and procedures. The automation of transit operations will bring more efficient movement of cargo and improve revenue control. The collection of transit data will allow creating a regional transit database that provides up-to-date and accurate statistics. The aim of the project is therefore to increase the operational capacity of the ECOWAS Commission through the introduction of a modern transit automated system in the member states, consistent with international standards and recommended practice.

The specific objectives of the project are to:

• Facilitate trade in the region;
• Improve the efficiency of customs operations;
• Simplify the transit environment in terms of procedures and documentation;
• Provide the ECOWAS Member States and Commission with the information necessary to set up a Regional Customs Database.

5. RVAIS development and implementation:

ECOWAS Regional Vehicle Administration Information System (RVAIS) is a unified Vehicle Administration platform within the region to provide free human, vehicular and goods movement with the aim of fulfilling the following objectives:

• Improve Vehicle and Driver Licences registration and renewal within the ECOWAS Member States;
• Have a centralised and harmonised Vehicle administration and data system in Member States;
• Provide coordination among the Vehicle and Driver Licences Administrators and other security agencies within and among Member States;
• Create a minimum vehicle and driver licences standard in the region;
• Achieve increase in vehicle and driver licences tax revenue through more efficient service delivery;
• Provide improved capacity and pool of well-trained IT personnel in the region to run the vehicle and driver licences offices;
• Deploy a centralised vehicle and driver licences Data Centre (DC) for Member States;
• Provide ease of movement and trade within the Region.

6. The ECOWAS Free Movement Information System (AKWAABA):

AKWAABA is part of the Trade and Transport facilitation program for Member States. The aim of AKWAABA is to increase confidence in the free movement of our citizens across borders while carrying out their legitimate businesses.

The proposed Akwaaba system will consist of an integrated Information Technology solution aimed at allowing free movement across Member States as well as enhancing trade across the region using biometric card identification as against the regular paper-based travel passport. In order to provide enabling environment for free human movement within the region, a computerised system at border posts within the region is considered relevant and necessary.

The components of Akwaaba, which will also include the incorporation of appropriate software life-cycle management module in each of the components of the System, are as follows:

a) Administration of Travel Certificates;

b) Cross Border Movement Administration.

7. The ECOWAS e-services project:

The e-services project seeks to equip the youth with ICT and entrepreneurship development skills through e-learning and training. The project will also aim to empower those who have gone through the scheme and who have the desire to set up their own small Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) ventures to realise their dreams.

Below are the component projects of the e-Services Initiative:

a) The ECOWAS ICT Entrepreneurship Development Project

b) The ECOWAS Cyber Corps (volunteers) Project

c) E-Learning Content Development Training Programme

d) Technical and Vocational Skills and Entrepreneurship Development through e-Learning Project

e) ECOWAS Community College e-Learning Project

f) The ECOWAS Excellence in E-Learning Awards

g) Career and Professional Development in the Private Sector through E-Learning

h) Career and Professional Development in the Public Sector through E-Learning

Each of the above projects has been succinctly described in separate project implementation documents (PIDs).

The objective of the ECOWAS e-services project is to provide a regional platform for technology-mediated education and training in all Member States aimed at fostering and nurturing an e-products and e-services industry in the region.

8.Survey and equipping of Youth Innovation hub

In a bid to ensure the development of Member States through Information and Communication Technologies, the Directorate has written to Member States of her intention to embark on a survey of Youth innovation hubs and identify areas to provide capacity development in terms of training and provision of equipment. Furthermore, the Directorate has identified Burkina Faso and Nigeria as pilot Member States for this activity having met all required criteria. The project is planned to cater for all Member States over the period of time.