Internet Initiative for Africa

Project RAF/97/021 -- Start Year: 1997; Approved Budget: US$ 1,000,000; End Year: 2001; Implementing Agent: Gambia Telecommunications Multimedia Institute - GAMTEL Executing Agent: UNOPS.

Cost-Sharing Arrangements:

UNDP: $600,000.00

Gambia Government: $500,000.00

Govt. Inputs (in kind): $ 35,000.00

Brief Description:

The Gambia’s Internet Initiative is for a period of three years with a total budget of US$1,000,000. The project was conceived in the belief that access to reliable and up-to-date information is a prerequisite for sound decision making through out the sustainable human development policy process. 

It is also based on the Regional Internet Initiative for Africa which aims to establish Internet services, as well as, enhance Internet services in 10-12 Sub-African countries, as a means of strengthening economic and social development. These countries are: Angola, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, The Gambia, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome & Principe, Swaziland, Togo and Zaire.

Objectives:

The project will work with the Government, private sector, academics, NGOs, civil societies and UNDP Country Offices to create a favourable environment for the introduction or enhancement of the Internet in The Gambia. It will:

#install internet nodes with local servers to provide internet services through leased lines or small terminals, or small satellite earth stations; 

#build on existing capacity of the national PTTs, as well as enhance the capacity of the private sector and ISP’s to implement and manage the internet nodes;

#assist in designing marketing tools to sustain the implementation of the internet nodes

For more information on The Gambia's Internet Initiative project visit the UNDP-Africa Internet web site on http://www.undp.org/rba/menupage.htm and SELECT the Internet Initiative button