SDNP Cameroon Feasibility Study
THE CONCEPT
Sustainable Development (SD) means:Economic and Social Growth that does not exhaust the resources of the target country; that respects and safeguards the economic, cultural , and natural environment; that creates many incomes and chains of enterprises; that is nurtured by public policy, and that builds indigenous institutions that involve and empower citizens. It permanently enhances the capacity of a society to improve its quality of life especially by investing in human capital - in education, health, food security and well-being of the population. Sustainable Development projects must involve and strengthen elements of a self-sustaining civic society. (VITA DevelopNet News, Vol. 4 N0: 5 May, 1994 )
An operational definition due to HealthNet/Cameroon President S. Yunkap Kwankam, as quoted by Kate Wild is given below.
SDN aims at creating country-wide networks to provide information support to development activities in a sustainable fashion. Underlying a successful sustainable development network are: knowledge of the kinds of information people require for development decision-making; the capacity to obtain, assimilate and make available that information; and the establishment of connections among users and providers of information and people skilled in facilitating its use.
The SDN approach provides countries with opportunity to focus on information as a tool for empowerment of all sectors of society. It changes the direction of the traditional flow of information from the North to the South and provides developing countries with the tools to enable them select information appropriate to their own assessment of their needs. It thereby promotes self reliance. The involvement of local consultants and expertise mitigates in favour of sustainability. (Kate Wild: A Forward Strategy for UNDP's Sustainable Development Network Programme, Divonne, 1994)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE CONCEPT LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION PART ONE : THE STUDY CHAPTER ONE : POLICY ISSUES OF THE HOST COUNTRY 1.1. JUSTIFICATION 1.2. DESCRIPTION OF SUB-SECTOR 1.2.1. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION 1.2.2. NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATION 1.2.3. INFORMATION USERS AND PROVIDERS 1.3. HOST COUNTRY STRATEGY 1.3.1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1.3.2. THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN (NEMP) 1.3.3. THE NATIONAL COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY POLICY PLAN 1.3.4. THE NATIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS AUTOMATION, USE / MAINTENANCE STRATEGY 1.4. PRIOR AND ON-GOING ASSISTANCE 1.4.1. GOVERNMENT OF CAMEROON 1.4.2. DONOR SUPPORT: 1.5. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 1.5.1. CAMEROON GOVERNMENTAL FRAMEWORK 1.5.2. OTHER STAKEHOLDERS CHAPTER TWO : ANALYSIS OF DEMANDS AND NEEDS 2.1. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK (SDN) 2.1.1. POTENTIAL PARTNERS 2.1.2. THE SDN INFORMATION AND SERVICES 2.1.3. THE SOURCES AND USERS OF INFORMATION 2.1.4. MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP AND COLLABORATION CONSTRAINTS 2.2. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (SD) 2.2.1. MAIN SD INFORMATION ACTORS AND TARGET AUDIENCES 2.2.2. TYPES OF SD INFORMATION NEEDED 2.2.3. ACTUAL SOURCES AND MODES OF ACCESS TO SD INFORMATION 2.2.4. NECESSITY FOR NETWORKING AND CONNECTIVITY 2.2.5. CURRENT PROBLEMS AND NON-EXISTING SERVICES CHAPTER THREE : ASSESSMENT OF HOST COUNTRY TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES 3.1 TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN CAMEROON 3.1.1. THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM 3.1.2. AVAILABILITY OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE 3.1.3. AVAILABILITY OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR CAPABILITIES 3.2. EXISTING TELEMATICS NETWORKS 3.2.1. INTRODUCTION 3.2.2. OPERATIONAL "PUBLIC" NETWORKS 3.2.3. OPERATIONAL "PROPRIETARY" NETWORKS 3.2.4. NON-OPERATIONAL NETWORKS 3.3. SDN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NETWORKS 3.3.1. JUSTIFICATION FOR COLLABORATION 3.3.2. DISCUSSIONS HELD WITH KEY PARTNERS FOR COLLABORATION 3.4. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS 3.4.1. GENERALITIES 3.4.2. NETWORKING OPTIONS 3.4.3. REMARKS PART TWO : OUTCOMES OF THE STUDY CHAPTER I :OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS 1.1. STATUS 1.2. HOSTING SDN 1.3. SDN AS A CO-OPERATIVE NETWORK 1.4. SDN PILOT USERS' GROUP 1.4.1. NGOS 1.4.2. ENTERPRISES 1.4.3. ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS/RESEARCH INSTITUTES 1.4.4. COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS 1.4.5. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 1.4.6. INTERNATIONAL AND BILATERAL ORGANISATIONS 1.5. IMMEDIATE PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISEMENT 1.6. ENLARGEMENT OF THE SDN STEERING COMMITTEE 1.7. SEARCH FOR LOCAL EXPERTISE 1.8. SET UP A REGIONAL NODE IN DOUALA 1.9. INCREASING REGIONAL NODES 1.10. SUSTAINABILITY OF THE SDN/P AND PARTNERSHIP CHAPTER TWO : SET UP OF THE SDN 2.1. GLOBAL STRATEGY 2.1.1. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE 2.1.2. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES 2.2. FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURE 2.2.1. CENTRAL LEVEL 2.2.2. PROVINCIAL LEVEL 2.3. HUMAN RESOURCES 2.3.1. CENTRAL LEVEL 2.3.2. PROVINCIAL LEVEL 2.3.3. JOB DESCRIPTIONS 2.4. EQUIPMENT 2.4.1 HARDWARE 2.4.2 SOFTWARE 2.5. WORK PLAN 2.5.1. ACTIVITIES TO BE CONDUCTED 2.6. BUDGET PART THREE: ANNEXES ANNEX 2: THE SDN TERM OF REFERENCE (TOR) ANNEX 3: LIST OF TARGET AUDIENCE ANNEX 4: SAMPLE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE ANNEX 5: ANALYSIS OF THE SURVEY RESPONSES ANNEX 6: SURVEY TARGETED, CONTACTED AND RESPONDENT NUMBERS ANNEX 7: SURVEY TOWNS, CONTACTED AND RESPONDENT NUMBERS ANNEX 8: LIST OF RESPONDENTS BY TOWNS WITH CONTACT INFORMATION ANNEX 9: CITED PERSONALITIES WORKING IN THE DOMAIN OF THE ENVIRONMENT ANNEX 10: LIST OF ORGANISATIONS WILLING TO SUPPORT THE SDN. ANNEX 11: LIST OF CONTACTS FROM EXISTING NETWORKS ANNEX 12: THE EVENTUAL CAMEROON SDNP MAP ANNEX 13: BIBLIOGRAPHYLIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES FIGURES Fig. 1.1: NGOs Attitude vis-à-vis the Government Fig. 1.2: Practical Key Actors I Environment Fig. 1.3: Perceived Credibility and Capacity of the UNDP Fig. 1.4: Categories of Organisations Fig. 1.5: Main Sectors/Domains of Activities Fig. 1.6: Relative Importance of SDN Domains Fig. 1.7: Relative Importance of SDN Services Fig. 1.8: Organisations' Position Concerning Information within the SDN Fig. 1.9: Relative Importance of SD Topics Fig. 1.10: Domains of Perceived Needs of Information Fig. 1.11: Organisations' Appreciation of Telephone System (Reliability) Fig. 1.12: Organisations' Appreciation of Telephone System (Adequacy Fig. 1.13: General configuration of CAMPAC Fig. 1.14: HealthNet Cameroon Network Fig. 1.15: The RIO Network Fig. 1.16: The Cameroon Fido Network Fig. 1.17: The UNDP Network Fig. 2.1: CMFSDN: The Proposed Co-operative Network Fig. 2.2: Organisatios' Willingness to participate in the SDN TABLES: Table 1.1: Organisations' Willingness to Support the SDN Table 1.2: Nature of Support from Organisations Table 1.3: Main Actors and Target Groups in the SDN Table 1.4: SD Information within Government Institutions Table 1.5: Perception of the Main SD Topics Table 1.6: Basic Charges to Access CAMPAC X.25 Lines Table 1.7: Monthly Charges for CAMPAC X.25 Lines Table 1.8: Communication Costs (by Volume and Time) on CAMPAC X.25 Line Table 1.9: Respondents' Possession of Communication Equipment Table 1.10: Distribution of Computer Table 1.11: Modem Cost Estimates
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AB&CLC: Abalu-Bobga & Co. Law Chambers ACAN: Association des Clubs des Amis de la Nature ACATEB: Association Camerounaise des professionnels des Technologies Biomédicales ACL: Automation and Control Laboratory ACTEL: Agence Camerounaise de Telecommunication ADEID: Action pour un Dévéeoppement Equitable Integré et Durable ASAFE: Association pour le Soutien de l'appui à la Femme Entrepreneur AFEB: Africa Femmes Et Progrès AGRIS: Agricultural Research Information System AIF: African Internet Forum AIG: African Internet Group ALICO: American Life Insurance Company AMLB: African Medical Librarian Bulletin APC: Association for Progressive Computing APICA: Association pour la Promotion des Initiatives Communautaires AULPEF-REFER: Agence Francophone pour l'Enseignement Supérieur et la Recherche BBS: Bulletin Board Service CABECA: Capacity Building for Electronic Communication in Africa CAFOR: Cellule d'Appui et Formation Rurale CamFido: Cameroon Fido Network CAMPAC: Cameroon Package Switching Network CBO: Community Based-Organisation CDC: Cameroon Development Corporation CMBA: Conference Management and Business Associates CD-ROM: Compact Disc Read Only Memory CENADI: Centre National pour le Developpement Informatique CHT: Center for Health Technology CIPRE: Centre International Pour la Promotion de la Création CIRAD: Centre International de Recherche Agronomique CMFSDN: Cameroon Foundation for Sustainable Development and Networking CPE: Cameroon Public Expansion CPM: College Privé Montesque CPSS: Centre de Promotion Socio-Sanitaire CRS: Catholic Relief Services CU: Co-ordination Unit CuNet: Cameroon University Network DCIT: Direction Centrale de l'Informatique et teleinformatique DOH: Delegation of Health EIA: Environmental and Impact Assessment E-mail: Electronic Mail ENSP: Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique (National Polytechnic Institute) FAO: Food and Agricultural Organisation GEF: Global Environmental Facility GDP: Gross Domestic Product GNFido: GreenNet Fido Gateway GTZ: Germain Technical Corporation HNN: HealthNet News IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction an Development. ICASSRT: International Center for Applied Social Sciences, Research and Training IDD: International Direct Dial ILO: International Labour Organisation IMF: Internationl Monetary Fund. IraNet: Agricultural Research Institutes Network IRESCO: Institut de Recherche et de Science de Comportement LAN: Local Area Network LIFROM: Librairie Française Organisation et Methodes MAB: Man and Biosphere MC: Mother and Child MINAGRI: Ministry of Agriculture MINDIC: Ministry of Industrial and Commercial Development MINEDUC: Ministry of Education MINEF: Ministry of Environment an Forest MINEFI: Ministry of the Economy and Finance MINMAP: Ministry of Data Processing and Public Contracts MINREST: Ministry of Scientific and Technical Research MoH: Ministry of Health NCC: National Communication Council NEMP: National Environmental Management Program NEMPIS: National Environmental Management Program Information System NGO: Non-Governmental Organisation NOWEBA: North West Beefarmers Association NWCA: North West Cooperative Association OMNES: Joint Venture: Schluberger and Cable & Wireless Company OMS: Organisation Mondiale de la Santé ORSTOM: Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-Mer PAIDWA: Pan African Institute for Development, West Africa PAIDSG: Pan African Institute for Development, General Secretariat PADIS: Pan African Development Information System PSI: Population Service Internation PAESRUC: Project D'Appui à l'Enseignement Supérieur et la à Recherche dans les Universités du Cameroun. PMUC: Pari Mutuel Urbain Cameroon PVO: Private Voluntary Organisation QUALIFA: Quality Life Family Association RAAF: Reséau Africain d'Action Forestière R&D: Research and Development RENACAM: Réseau National Camerounais REFER: Réseau Electronique Francophone pour l'Education et la Recherche RNCFC: Régie Nationale Camerounaise des Chemins de feu SAP: Structural Adjustment Policy SAILD: Service d'Appui aux Initiatives Locales de Développement SIL: Societé Internationale de Linguistique SITA: Societé Internationale de Télécommunications Aeriene SD: Sustainable Development SDN: Sustainable Development Network SDN/P: Sustainable Development Networking Program SME/SMI: Small and Medium Size Enterprise / Small and Medium Size Industry SONARA: Societé Nationale de Rafinerie SYFED: Système Francophone d'Edition et Diffusion TCP/IP: Transport Control Protocol / Internet Protocol TRC: Technical Regional Committee TOR: Terms Of Reference UNCED: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. UNDP: United Nations Development Program UNEP: United Nations Environmental Program UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientic an Cultural Organisation UNHCR: United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNIC: United Nations Information Center UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation UNIS: United Nations Information System UNSO: United Nations Sudano-Saelian Office USAID: United States Agency for International Development USIS: United States Information System UUCP: Unix-to-Unix-Copy -Protocol VITA: Volunteers in Technical Assistance WAN: Wide Area Network WAGNE: Wagon Africain de Gestion de Nouvelles Electroniques WB: World Bank WFP: World Food Program WHO: Wealth Health Office WWF: World Wide Fund
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The report on the Feasibility Study for the Sustainable Development Network (SDN) in Cameroon is the cumulation of collaborative efforts of the Government of Cameroon, The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and HealthNet Cameroon.
The work was conducted by HealthNet Cameroon, with Derek Ajesam Asoh, Andre Mboule and Paul Nchoji Nkwi as principal consultants. They were assisted by Joseph Achoh Nkwain, Paddy Ndole, Rosaline Ejoh, Helen Akoh and Getrude Anchi Enci.
The Center for Health Technology (CHT), of the Ecole Polytechnique which hosts HealthNet Cameroon provided all the necessary logistics support. We are grateful to Prof. S. Yunkap Kwankam, Director of the CHT, who is also President of HealthNet Cameroon.
The study was co-ordinated by Derek Ajesam Asoh, Network Manager, HealthNet Cameroon.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
The concept of a Sustainable Development Network (SDN) brought into existence in 1989 has steadily been gaining ground in many countries of the world. It was noted that, in order to achieve Sustainable Development (SD), developing countries needed to devise strategies and policies aimed at mastering information and communications technologies so as to promote the sharing of ideas, experiences and computer-based data on aspects related to Sustainable Development on the national as well as global level.
The first major objective of the SDN concept has been to help developing countries acquire the national capacity to implement Sustainable Development through the powerful vehicle of information sharing. Holding in RIO in 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) adopted Agenda 21 - a comprehensive plan, aimed at supporting developing countries' efforts to implement the recommendations of the conference.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was given the responsibility to implement the concept of Sustainable Development. The UNDP responded with Capacity 21, a broad plan of action to help developing countries formulate economic, social and environmental goals, plans, programmes and policies that lead to Sustainable Development.
A number of countries, benefiting from this UNDP initiative, have launched processes that will help them set up their own SDNs. This includes Cameroon, where, as in other countries, the first phase is a feasibility study.
This report presents the results of the feasibility study carried out by HealthNet Cameroon, under a HealthNet/UNDP Contract: SC No: 95-UNDP-01, SSA No: 95-006. The study, conducted in accordance with the Terms Of Reference (TOR); was focused on three main issues:
1. Analysis of strategies and policies adopted by Cameroon in response to the concerns stated in Agenda 21 of The United Nation's Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED),
2. Analysis of potential actors and assessment of demands and needs for Sustainable Development (SD) Information
3. Assessment of present technical capabilities of Cameroon (existing networks and state of computer-mediated communication systems).
MAJOR FINDINGS
The study established the following major points concerning the SDN in Cameroon:
Sub-sector
The subsector concerned is information and its proper and timely integration in the planning, policy and decision making processes in Cameroon, with regard to environmental management, assessment, analysis and monitoring of the environment as a key indicator of sustainable development.
Government Policy
The government of Cameroon has initiated an ambitious plan in response to Agenda 21. This is the National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP), being elaborated, and to be executed by the Ministry of the Environment and Forest (MINEF)
Credibility of the UNDP
The support of the UNDP to the government of Cameroon is strongly felt and appreciated in many sectors. This has earned the UNDP due credibility of being one of the most generous donor to the country.
Donor Support
Apart from the UNDP support, the government of Cameroon has benefited from a wide variety of international support, aimed at assisting the government in one way or the other better manage its natural resources. Major support within the past ten years has also come from the World Bank (WB), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Global Environmental Facility (GEF), German Technical Co-operation (GTZ), World Wide Fund (WWF), British Council, Africa 2000, United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), and the Governments of Canada, Israel and Netherlands.
Potential SD Partners
Various local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Business Organisations, Academic and Research Institutions, Communal Groups and Co-operatives, Government Agencies, Donor Institutions, Professional Groups, and Foreign NGOs were identified as potential SD Partners.
SDN Partners Support
Many of the potential partners indicated their willingness to support the SDN. The support indicated is mainly material.
Domain of Activities
The potential SD partners identified are engaged in varied activities such as Education, Commerce, Agriculture, Production, Health, Industry, Services and Environment.
Information Needs and Sources
There is sufficient need for information on Sustainable Development by the above partners relating to financial resources, environmental issues, government policies, appropriate technologies, laws and regulations and directories of organisations. Specific topics of information needs include such topics as flora and fauna, bio-diversity, natural parks, pollution, population, natural resources, energy, employment, health, quality of life and education. The relative importance of SDN Services such as those listed below was established: communication with colleagues, access to various databases, access to software, forum for debate and discussion on SD, distance learning, classified adverts and forum for lodging of complaints on SD.
Available Information
There is enough information in the country, but it is not adequately managed because of the lack of awareness of its availability. Lack of institutional co-ordination and standardization, appropriate technology for access and financial problems are the major constraints to the free flow and exchange of information.
Telecommunication Capabilities and National Backbone
The telecommunication system is generally adequate although its reliability could be improved. The Cameroon Packet Switching Network (CAMPAC) does provide an appropriate backbone for electronic networking within the country. CAMPAC has regional centers in the capital cities of four of the ten provinces of the country: Yaounde, Douala, Bafoussam and Garoua. ACTEL is the government agency responsible for national telecommunications while INTELCAM is charged with the international communications. Problem areas are; ACTEL is noted for its inability to install telephone lines promptly, while INTELCAM is noted for its prohibitive charges for international access. These two factors have seriously hampered the evolution of networking in the country.
National Center for the Development of Computer Systems (CENADI)
The government has put in place a National Center for the Development of Computer Systems. CENADI is the executing agency for "The National Computer Technology Policy plan", adopted by the government in 1990 which has as its main purpose, to establish a Central Control Policy for Information Systems acquisition in the areas of material and human resources development. Unfortunately, CENADI's structure has been a major setback, in all efforts to carry out the above activities. That CENADI is ill-structured, and hence cannot perform its duties is demonstrated by the fact that since its creation in 1966, CENADI has been 'married' six times to various ministries. Four of these marriages have taken place within the last 11 years.
Existing Telematics Networks
There are more than a dozen isolated networks in Cameroon. Only three (HealthNet, CamFido and RIO) of these networks are public operational. The others are public or proprietary non-operational and proprietary operational. There is a total lack of in-country communication among the networks (public and/or proprietary), except between HealthNet and CamFido where limited exchange of local mail is possible.
SDN Collaboration with Existing Networks
The existing networks are generally in agreement for some form of collaboration with the SDN. The general demand by most of the networks has been for the UNDP to organize a round table conference, in which the participants from all the networks, including the SDN could address the issue of collaboration.
Availability of Local Expertise
The success of any networking initiative depends, to a great extend on the availability of local expertise to manage it. While there is moderate availability of local expertise in Cameroon with DOS and UNIX based networking skills, there is sufficient expertise for the maintenance and repair of computer hardware. Development of software for communication purposes is totally absent, although the current trend is towards modification of existing software to suit local needs.
Availability of Software and Hardware
As software mention above, there is no production of communication hardware. The required hardware, mainly modems and computer equipment, is readily available. The cost of this hardware is still very high, probably because of the high importation taxes. A government decision to lift the high taxes levied on these and other related hardware will result in many people being able to afford electronic communication systems.
Popular Awareness and Computer Literacy Level
The concept of information sharing through electronic networking is still very new to many Cameroonians. There has been little publicity, and the degree of awareness is not high despite the fact that the technology has existed in the country for close to three years now. The computer literacy level is considerably low, and it is not uncommon to find computers in most offices with only one or two persons capable of using them.
Given the above findings, the following are the major recommendations:
MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS
Status of SDN
The SDN
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