The East African Community (EAC) secretariat has adopted an Information Communication (ICT) policy which will enhance modern internal operations that will also enable easy linkage of information to partner states. During a three-day stakeholder’s workshop to review the draft EAC corporate ICT and website/portal policy held recently in Moshi, Tanzania, officials underscored the importance of the policy saying that it would lead to better performance and faster decision making processes within the community. “The ICT policy and procedures would act as a reference guide on proper use and maintenance of ICT systems at the headquarters” the EAC Principal Administrative Officer, Abdul Katabaro said He added that the policy should guide electronic information exchange between the EAC organs, institutions and partner states and the rest of the world, and to contain disaster recovery plans to ensure continuous availability of ICT services at the EAC. Katabaro reiterated EAC’s commitment to ensure that information and communication technology is developed to the highest possible levels and applied effectively in order to enhance performance within the community. Emmanuel Dusenge, an official from the Ministry In-charge of Science and Technology, Office of the President, informed the workshop that Rwanda had eagerly embraced ICT and was striving to become the regional ICT hub. He called upon the delegates to emulate Rwanda’s experience to develop ICT in their respective countries. Aggrey Nkondola, the EAC Principal Information Technology Officer disclosed that the final draft policy document covers all aspects of ICT related issues at the EAC, including the management, roles and responsibilities, infrastructure, environment, website and web portal, security, human resource development, health and safety. He promised that the EAC secretariat will develop the necessary ICT operational procedure guidelines for the users. Ends
