ICT for Enhanced Governance and Development in Africa : The Potential of Debt-for-Development Exchanges

This paper argues three main points. First, that deficient governance in African economies is a principal cause of their poorer economic conditions. Second, ICT can be used to enhance governance, and in turn development, in African economies. Third, ICT projects aimed at enhancing governance in African countries are most suited for funding through debt-for-development exchange programs. The reasons are that such programs: (1) are saleable to, and within, donor countries and institutions; (2) align very well with, and complement, the goals of development aid; (3) are financially self-sustaining; (4) cut waste, and yield efficiencies and economic growth in the recipient countries; (5) could be apt for private sector participation and investments; and (6) can be a possible way of solving the basket cases that many African economies have been in the past