PROGRAM 1:  INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FOR DEVELOPMENT (ICT4D)

Global Objective:
To facilitate the implementation of socio-economic development programmes of ECOWAS Institutions & Member States through a regional framework (constituting policy direction strategies and plans of action) in the direction and use of ICTs for development in the ECOWAS sub-region.

Program Achievement thus far:

i) Formation of National Computer Society in the Gambia, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.
ii) Adoption and approval of the Information Technology Policy document for ECOWAS by Management.

Program Justification

i) Decision establishing the Community Computer Centre 06/86
ii) Decision and Recommendation of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS).
iii) Strategic Goals and Objectives G.5.1 – Enhance the technical and analytical skills of staff in all relevant areas in order to create knowledge-based ECOWAS Institutions

Program Activities

i) Deployment of Sectoral Applications on the Intranet
ii) Continued support to deployment of ICTs for Development
iii) Development of IT Master Plan for ECOWAS Institutions
iv) Setting up of National Computer Society in ten Member States
v) Continued Partnership and Networking

Performance Indicators:

i) Timely production of Policy documents
ii) IT Master Plan document validated by Institutions.

SUB-PROGRAM 1.1:   DEVELOPMENT OF ECOWAS INSTITUTIONS IT STRATEGY AND MASTER PLAN

This program aims to develop an ICT Master Plan for all ECOWAS Institutions, Specialized Agencies and projects aligned with regional strategy. The Master Plan will define a vision for the use of ICT services as a strategic tool; review and finalize existing ICT Policy documents to support the administrative functions and business operations of all ECOWAS Institutions; and will align with the strategic vision of ECOWAS and be flexible to adapt to the dynamic changes in modern technologies.

The plan would require the review of the enterprise ICT Infrastructure, Resources and ICT document of ECOWAS (where it exists). It will highlight current strengths, weaknesses and identify/recommend improvement strategies. The plan will also set a roadmap covering all strategic areas of ICT operations.

The plan should describe the organizational structure, skill requirement and capacity building that it deems mandatory to be adopted, to enable the CCC coordinate the implementation of the ICT strategy. The description should identify the various organs to steer the project, their roles and their levels of intervention. The master plan should also set out the overall project risk and mitigation strategies.

Sub-Program 1.1   Activities

Activities to be carried out during the year include the following:

• Facilitating and working with the consultant during course of study
• Provision of information and necessary documentation
• Organisation of inception/meeting on the study
• Validation by the Commission
• Validated draft document by the Commission ready to be presented at a workshop for validation by representatives of Institutions.

Sub-Program 1.2:    IT PARTNERSHIP AND NETWORKING

The program aims to build partnership and networking with organizations (national, regional and international) to provide an avenue for the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and promote best practices within the region through promotion of interaction, learning and sharing of best practices in the ICT domain.

a) 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.

b) Benefits for partnering with FOSS organizations include;

i) Encourage the exploit of the use of Open Source in Member States to stimulate innovation;
ii) Develop capacity in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and establish strong, fruitful partnerships with FOSS advocacy groups such as the Free and Open Source Software Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA);
iii) Provide platform for ECOWAS governments, ICT Companies, academia and non-profit sector to exchange idea openly on how ICT can be used to accelerate development in the region.

Sub-Program 1.2     Activities

a) Study on the ECOWAS ICT Strategy Definition & Master Plan

Activities to be carried out during the year include the following:

• Facilitating and working with the consultant during course of study
• Provision of information and necessary documentation
• Organisation of inception/meeting on the study
• Validation by the Commission
• Validated draft document by the Commission ready to be presented at a workshop for validation by representatives of Institutions.

Participation is by resource persons who is expected to carry out study of all Institutions’ programmes and activities and come up with a comprehensive strategy and Master Plan for the Community that will be presented for adoption.

All the Institutions will be visited at the following locations: Abuja, Dakar, Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso, Accra and Lome.
b) 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.

There is a provision of a grant of $10,000 to be split between Member States who require support.

c) Free & Open Source Software for West Africa, Conference

In line with the ECOWAS programme on Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) with a global objective to promote inter-institutional cooperation and encourage best practices in ICT development within the ECOWAS sub-region with minimal cost, ECOWAS support for Free Software and Open Source is very important. Partnership with the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) and other associations will afford the promotion of free and open source software to boost use of ICT for development in the region at very low cost.

d) International Telecommunication Union(ITU)/United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) conference

There is the need for participation at the United Nation Economic Commission for Africa ICT fora. Such World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) are usually jointly organized by UNESCO, ITU, UNCTAD and UNDP in Geneva, Switzerland. The Forum provides structured opportunities to network, learn and participate in multi-stakeholder discussions and consultations on topical ICT issues. It is a major avenue that provides policy and technical guidance for harnessing information for development.

PROGRAM 2:    DEVELOPMENT AND STANDARDISATION OF SOFTWARE

Global Objective:
To promote international best practices in software development within the Commission and all Institutions of ECOWAS.

Program Achievements thus far:

i) Continued deployment of Microsoft Enterprise software
ii) Development of the Intranet system
iii) Deployment of the Collaborative Intranet System at the Commission
iv) Deployment of the Unified Communication System

Program Justification:
i) Decision establishing the Community Computer Centre 06/86.
ii) Strategic Goals and Objectives G.5.2.2 – Put in place a result-based management system in all areas, particularly in procurement, asset management, general administration, human resources, finance, budgeting, conferences, communication and in information technology
iii) Strategic Goals and Objectives G.5.2.4 – Upgrade and update the existing facilities to a world class enterprise information system (EIS), (information technology infrastructure, library, archiving, documentation process, mailing system and security), for enhanced informed exchange and productivity.

Program Activities:

i) Continued deployment of Collaborative Intranet System
ii) Deployment/Rollout of SAP
iii) Deployment of Applications on the Intranet
iv) System support for Trade Information System, RVAIS and other Sectoral database and data Centre operation.
v) Maintenance of existing systems

Performance Indicators:

i) Functionality of Intranet/Applications Systems
ii) Satisfaction levels of users on accessing the Intranet and deployed support systems/applications

SUB-PROGRAM 2.1:   DEVELOPMENT OF ECOWAS SUPPORT SYSTEM

a) Systems Development Activities (Intranet, Document Management, Work-Flows system, etc)

Capacity development for the implementation of the following development activities to address some vital IT needs indicated in the Maxwell Stamp consultants’ report and also listed below on office support technology that will yield major cost savings and are not addressed by SAP or wholly by the Intranet project. The development will be done through the use of open-source solutions which can be replicated in other ECOWAS Institutions/agencies.

i) E-Archiving
ii) Transport Management
iii) Building Management
iv) Security
v) Administration
vi) Document Management

b) Systems Development Activities (Intranet, Document Management, Work-Flows system, etc)

Acquisition of Open Source tools for the implementation of the following:
i) E-Archiving
ii) Transport Management
iii) Building Management
iv) Security
v) Administration
vi) Document Management

c) ECOWAN and RVAIS development Activities

Regional Vehicle Administration System (RVAIS) is aimed at providing an integrated and harmonised Vehicle Administration IT solution that will enable free movement across Member States as well as enhance trade across the region. RVAIS has been adopted as a regional project by the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) and it has been presented to the ECOWAS Committee on Transport and Trade facilitation. The project document has been written with an expression of interest being sent to the private sector for funding.

The establishment of an ECOWAS Wide Area Network (ECOWAN) designed to link all ECOWAS Institutions, Agencies, Projects and government offices in Member States in a wide area network capable of carrying data, sound and video.

Successful completion and validation of the study, the ECOWAS ICT Ministers have accepted and adopted ECOWAS as the e-Governance platform for the region and adopted an institutional framework for project implementation.

A main component of the ECOWAN project is the development of applications, the priority applications have been identified as flagship applications and these are those relating to the general needs of the community and those required by Institutions and technical departments for facilitating the conduct of their activities. They are mainly the applications to be used in establishing an ECOWAS information management system and the components of the Trade Information Systems (TIS) and the Opportunities Management System (ECOBIZ), the Agricultural Information System (AGRIS), the Administrative Service Information System (AMIS), etc.

In line with the management directives during budget defense in 2010, the ECOWAN and RVAIS project has been handed over to the Telecommunication and Transport Directorates respectively to lead while the Centre gives technical support.

Participation in the WARSO & RVAIS Development Activities

SUB-PROGRAM 2.2:    ACQUISITION AND SYSTEMS SUPPORT
a) Renewal and Support Fees for License

• Microsoft Enterprise Agreement
• Microsoft Exchange Online Mail System
• Manage-Engine Help-Desk/Monitoring System
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b) Acquisition of Systems/Licenses

The following Enterprise systems are to be acquired during the year:

i. Enterprise Anti-Virus
An enterprise anti-virus system to ensure that all systems are adequately protected

ii. Trados Language Memory System
In order to facilitate the prompt translation of document and enhance the speed of support of the Language Unit, the Trados system is to be acquired. The system increases the turn-over of translated document by making use of phrases of stored translated document in turning out machine assisted translation thus increasing the rate of turn-over of translated documents. The cost of acquisition includes the licenses, implementation and training (cost of trainer only)

PROGRAM 3:    DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF SECTORAL APPLICATIONS

Global Objective:
To facilitate the implementation of a cost-effective Trade Information System for the Community through the provision of technical assistance to Member States and ECOWAS Institutions on Community integration and Trade information projects.

Customs – ASYCUDA & Regional Trade Information System (RTIS)
External Trade Statistics – EUROTRACE, ECOTRACE and RTIS
ECOWAS Institutions – Information Technology, Office systems, Networking, Web
ECOWAS Units – Technology, Software Trade Liberalization Scheme

Program Achievements
i) At the instance of the WCO, the CCC under the ALISA project, took over the funding and management of the PACIR project funded by the EU for the interconnection of customs computer systems of Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. The PACIR project was subsumed under the ALISA project and is being extended to the remaining Member States;
ii) In collaboration with the WCO and UNCTAD steering committee and technical committee meetings were held to plan for project roll-out;
iii) Similarly, initial related technical training was organized for customs software developers to develop and provide the solution to the regional customs network for transit trade (ALISA) beginning with the four (4) pilot countries under the PACIR project.

Program Objectives:
i) Development of the software solution for the customs regional transit interconnection project for the central regional site and the four pilot country sites;
ii) Deployment of the embryonic regional customs transit network for the four (4) pilot countries; and
iii) Continuation of the training and up-skilling of staff of ECOWAS institutions in Abuja and other Member States on new ECOWAS organizational intranet and e-mailing system.

Program Justification:
i) Decision C/DEC.4/6/86 on the procedures for the centralization of Customs and Statistical data.
ii) Decision C/DEC.3/11/86 on the rules and regulations governing the modalities for the establishment of statistics on the external trade of ECOWAS Member States.
iii) Strategic Goals and Objectives G.5.1.3 – Develop a suitable and sustainable training program for meeting skill requirements.

Program Operational Activities:
i) Technical assistance to Member States;
ii) Technical assistance to ECOWAS institutions;

SUB-PROGRAM 3.1:    TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MEMBER STATES

Customs Interconnection (Implementation of the Regional Trade Information System)
The Ministers of Finance adopted the ALISA Customs Interconnection Project in November 2011 in Ouagadougou and called for its immediate implementation.
Therefore the activities under the RTIS includes training sessions and workshops for developers organized in collaboration the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as trainers is intended to assist the CCC and IT staff in customs administrations to provide a software solution to the envisaged regional transit network.

SUB-PROGRAM 3.2:    TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ECOWAS INSTITUTIONS
The sub-program aims at modernizing the organization’s network, its work environment and up- skilling the workforce. Technical deployment activities including modernization of the physical cabling and wireless local area networks (LANs) and software upgrading are accompanying measures already underway.

(a) The staff of ECOWAS institutions are to be trained by CCC staff on the administrative support systems – systems developed and deployed on the organisation’s intranet covering all institutions, agencies and projects. The training follows in the wake of the installation and deployment of the organisation’s intranet to be carried out in all other ECOWAS institutions in the five Member States of: Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Senegal and Togo by CCC staff.
SUB-PROGRAM 3.3:    OPERATIONALING OF THE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR AUTOMATION OF TRADE (CEAT), LOME
a) The budget includes communications costs (Internet & Telephone), fuel, vehicle maintenance, equipment maintenance, stationery and office equipment, office supplies and coordination activities etc.

PROGRAM 4:     E-LEARNING FOR ECOWAS MEMBER STATES AND INSTITUTIONS

Global Objective:
Organization of e-Learning training programs for Member States in the areas of ICT, science education and teacher training as a means to promote and upgrade the science and ICT skills in the region. The initiative is to enable the region to produce the necessary human resource material capable of participating in the information society and the global knowledge economy whilst contributing to the development and usage of e-service products in our region’s economy. Collaborative efforts are being pursued with governments, international, public and private organizations towards the achievement of this goal.

The programme equally promotes the up-skilling of ECOWAS institutions’ staff using e-learning methodology.

Program Achievements:
i) Launched the ECOWAS institutions and agencies staff e-Learning facility
ii) Collated inputs from Member States on Youth Innovation Hubs (YIHs) to assist with training and equipment.

Program Objective:
i) Equip and strengthen ICT innovation hubs in Member States; and train their youth members;
ii) Lay the foundation through training and up-skilling of youth members of the hubs and teachers in Member States on e-Content development not only for educational purposes but also to propel the creation of knowledge-based industries in Member States;
iii) Continue to promote e-learning training programs for staff of ECOWAS institutions;
iv) Survey e-learning facilities in other international organizations to inform the ECOWAS experience on best practices to adopt;
v) Create a knowledge bank for the ECOWAS Commission; and
vi) Establish a memorandum of understanding with the International Conferences Workshops and Exhibitions (ICWE), the foremost international network of e-leaning experts.

Program Justification:
i) Decision C/DEC.2/6/86 on the establishment of the CCC and the contribution it is to make towards the training of upper level staff with a view to introducing modern management techniques in activities at national level in Member States.
ii) Strategic Goals and Objectives G.5.1 – Enhance the technical and analytical skills of staff in all relevant areas in order to create a knowledge-based ECOWAS organization.

Program Operational Activities:
i) Training of youth in Member States in e-Learning, e-content development, ICT skills and knowledge working entrepreneurship development in collaboration with the International Conferences Workshops and Exhibitions (ICWE) and partners;
ii) Up-skill needy e-Learning researchers, practitioners and experts from the ECOWAS region by sponsoring their participation in e-Learning conferences to enable them present research/other papers and rub minds with experts from other regions – an aspect of training of upper level staff in Member States; and
iii) Promote knowledge acquisition among ECOWAS staff via e-learning.

SUB-PROGRAM 4.1:    E-LEARNING FOR ECOWAS MEMBER STATES
(a) Training of youth members and equipping of ICT innovation hubs in Member States. CCC and other IT staff of ECOWAS institutions and agencies will deliver the training to the youth in the innovation hubs to set the stage for e-Content development technology transfer to the youth and the teaching population.

(b) Survey of Youth Innovation Hubs in Member States to determine the appropriate assistance in skills training and equipment required to be delivered.

(c) Sponsoring of needy West African e-learning researchers, practitioners and experts to present their papers in conferences and to rub minds with international experts from other regions as a means to hone their skills and thereby nurture a crop of capable and experienced experts and practitioners. This activity also creates the avenue for the Commission to identify such experts and to collaborate with them on e-Content development technology transfer to Member States.

SUB-PROGRAM 4.2:     E-LEARNING FOR ECOWAS INSTITUTIONS

(a) The focus this program will be to promote the adoption and usage of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) by staff in ECOWAS institutions, agencies and projects. The goal is to orientate staff to modern learning opportunities and methods and thereby bring about their participation in the knowledge driven aspects of the information society. MOOCs are free online courses with unlimited participation and open access via the web. Anyone willing to take a course can access the website and sign up.

PROGRAM 5:     BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEM

Global Objective:
ECOBIZ is an online database which provides constantly updated information on business opportunities (demand and supply of goods and services) in West Africa. Its overall objective is the promotion of intra-community trade using ICT.
Program Objective:
i) Increase in the number of companies registered on ECOBIZ database
ii) Increased sensitization of the business community and the general public on ECOBIZ
iii) Widening the range of information available (information in business climate, investment, etc.)
Program Justification
i) Decision establishing the Community Computer Centre 06/86
Program Expected Results:
i) Increase in intra-community trade inflow
ii) Existence of an ECOBIZ database constantly updated and constituting a reliable source of information in West Africa
iii) Subscription to the ECOBIZ system by major companies operating in West Africa
iv) Effective use of ECOBIZ database in transactions in West Africa

SUB-PROGRAM 5.1:     ECOBIZ
Program Description:
ECOBIZ is a web portal which aims at facilitating promotion of trade and investment flows in ECOWAS region.
Program Overall Objective:
The main objective of the ECOWAS Business Information System is to facilitate promotion of trade and investment flows in the ECOWAS region through dissemination of information on ECOWAS protocols, agreements, etc, business and investment opportunities in the region, database of buyers and suppliers of goods and services from all Member states and also on relevant business and trade /investment information to the global community.
Program Specific objectives:
The specific objectives are to:
– Provide institutional information e.g. protocols, agreements, etc.
– Promote business and investment opportunities in the region.
– Build a database of buyers and suppliers of goods and services.
– Match buyers and sellers of goods and services.
– Make available and accessible relevant business and trade /investment information to the global community.
– Support business and investment decisions making by providing timely information on the regional investment climate.
Program Expected outcome
• Up-to-date Institutional information made available on the web portal;
• A sustainable web window readily resorted to by the business Community for relevant business and trade information in ECOWAS member States.
• Management of the ECOBIZ System to be entrusted to a private operator
• Increase in intra-regional trade and investment flow.
• Increased competitiveness of the region;

Program Performance indicators
• New version of ECOBIZ website launched with up to date and relevant investment information and an E-commerce module integrated into the portal
• Number of peoples visiting and making enquiries on the website
• Percentage increase in flow of trade and investment in the region
• The database and Number of buyers and sellers listed on the website:
• Matchmaking of buyers and sellers
Program Activities
• Preparation of Terms of reference for the development of new web portal
• Conducting the process for identification and selection of private sector operator, including preparation of management contract
• Monitoring activities of the private sector operator

SUB-PROGRAM 5.2:    INTEGRATION OF RESIMAO WEB SITES INTO ECOBIZWORLD PORTAL

Program Description:
This programme aims at assisting the West African Network of Agricultural Information Systems (RESIMAO) to have an online information system on agriculture, livestock and environment in order to merge all information systems on agriculture and trade of agro-sylvo-pastoral products put in place by other regional organizations in West Africa
Program Overall objective:
To promote trade in agricultural products in West Africa through enhancement of information systems on the market.
Program Specific objectives
a. To create a single agricultural information system for West Africa;
b. To improve effectiveness of all national agricultural information systems;
c. To prepare capacity building programmes for agricultural product producers and traders’ organisations;
d. To improve the business environment in the sub-region.
Program Expected outcomes
• ECOWAS Commission to ensure hosting of RESIMAO.net into its domain
• Enhancement of the volume of traded agricultural products and improvement of food security in West Africa.
• Improvement of RESIMAO efficiency

Program Performance indicators
• Number of operational national information systems on the market;
• Volume of agricultural products traded in the sub-Region;
• Quality of information available on the resimao.net websites;
• Contribution of producers and traders associations in the decision-making process relating to their activities in the sub-region.

Program Activities
• Monitoring the up-dating of RESIMAO data base
• Hosting and management of RESIMAO web site
• Organization of 2 coordination meeting with RESIMAO (Abuja and Niamey)

PROGRAM 6:     INSTALLATION OF INSTITUTIONAL ICT INFRASTRUCTURE

Global objective:
This program seeks to facilitate the deployment of efficient and cost effective ICT infrastructure and related technology services that will aid timely realization of the ECOWAS mandate. In line with the recommended action points for 2016, the program seeks to promote the deployment and support of ICT infrastructures that will facilitate competitive business environment for the Commission and other ECOWAS Institutions in 2016.
Program Goals:
a. To deepen the adoption of common ICT Operational Standards and Procedures that would enhance seamless exchange of data and information between ECOWAS Institutions, Agencies and Projects.
b. To introduce and encourage the use of standard Operational Framework in ICT Service delivery & Support across ECOWAS Institutions & Agencies;
c. To encourage exchange of relevant topical technical ideas and find solution to common technology challenges;
d. To identify latent skills among IT Specialists that can be mutually utilized for common good of ECOWAS and the Institutions and maximally utilize them.

Program Justification:
ECOWAS Strategic goal 5: To Reinforce Institutional Capacity in ICT of ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies;
Program Activities:
i. ICT Technical Committee Meetings:
(a) Burkina Faso (Ouaga)
(b)Abuja
ii. Technical Support to Lome, Center
iii. Network Support & Systems maintenance
iv. Monitoring Visit to ECOWAS Inst.
v. Technical Support to Some ECOWAS
Member States

Program Performance Indicators:
i) Seamless connectivity with ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies;
ii) 100% availability of Internet Service to Users;
iii) Timely & efficient ICT Support services to Users;

Program Outcome:
Expanded and Improved ICT Services & Infrastructure within the Institutions & Agencies.

Resources Needed:
The main resources needed are the equipment, CCC Personnel and the support of Consultants/Subject Matter experts as the case may be.