Malawi 2005

The it@ab workshop “Interregional Cooperation I” aimed at strengthening the it@ab network and build upon the positive results regarding business planning and business generation of the last it@ab workshop in Maputo in November 2004. The conference thus assisted it@ab to plan and implemented crucial activities for the future and the sustainability of the network in the SADC region.

The workshop consisted of two parts: First, a public opening and project presentation to the media with the Malawian Minister for Information and Tourism, Dr. Ken Lipenga, and second the it@ab conference on interregional cooperation with selected senior managers of it@ab member companies and institutions from throughout the SADC region.

The workshop took place in Mangochi, Malawi with 20 representatives from it@ab members out of 5 countries from the SADC region.

High level officials contributed to the success of the workshop. The Hon. Dr. Ken Lipenga, Minister of Information and Tourism (Malawi) emphasized during the opening session that the it@ab network is an amazing achievement in the field of ICT in Africa. He informed the audience about the involvement of Malawi in ICT for development in Africa including being part of the council of ministers for the preparation of World Summit on Information Systems in Tunis later this year.
The minister reminded the audience about the SADC declaration that calls for cooperation in ICT for development at the government level in SADC and that this is in line with cooperation that is promoted by the network.

Also as part of the official opening of the conference was a presentation of it@ab as it stands now by Prof. Thomson Sinkala, Chairman of it@ab as well as Derek Lakudzala as chief representative of it@ab Malawi and Managing Director of BUMAS International, which organized and hosted the conference. On behalf of the German government agency InWEnt – Capacity Building International, project manager Ms. Christiane Weber reiterated the reasons and objectives of Germany to support the it@ab network for the development of southern Africa.

The internal workshops following the public opening concentrated on the practical, target oriented agreements based on the Business Plan 2005-06 and the Project Planning Matrix designed for it@ab towards sustainability. The network set up standing committees for several key activities envisaged by the members to operate successfully in the sector of ICT in
southern Africa.

Main result of the it@ab conference on interregional cooperation definitely was the agreement by all members to intensify concrete collaboration in mutual business sectors as a means for the sustainable operations of the network in the medium-term future.

Christiane Weber
(Project Coordinator)