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All talk and plenty of
action
“To initiate, encourage, support,
and conduct research into the problems of the developing regions of the
world and into the means for applying and adapting scientific, technical
and other knowledge to the economic and social advancement of those
regions.”
THIS NOBLE mouthful is the mission statement of the International
Development Research Centre, created by the parliament of Canada in 1970
with the aim of helping developing countries use science and knowledge to
find answers to their problems. Maureen O'Neil, current president of the
IDRC since 1997, is no stranger to the often fuzzy line between policy and
action.
By Paul Furber Freelance IT Writer |
Her charm and attractiveness hides a fierce devotion to
economic and social development. She was previously Interim President of the
International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development and Deputy
Minister of Citizenship for the Government of Ontario.
O'Neil currently serves on the Board of Directors of the
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA), is
co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Digital Divide Supervisory Committee,
and is a member of the Markle Foundation’s Global Digital Opportunity
Initiative.
At the Acacia conference O'Neil granted me an audience,
patiently explaining issues with a quiet confidence that comes from the
years of the work the IDRC has done in communities across Africa. She
brushes off the ambivalence of the South African Ministry of Communications
towards the Acacia conference.
“I think all ministers like to feel their problems are on the
way to being solved, but they still need to be open to critique. Of course
all countries have their own agenda but what's important for the IDRC is
that we provide support where it's necessary. The political environment must
be open because that's where innovation occurs.”
Action has happened
She is also dismissive of the criticism that Acacia is all
talk and no action. The action, she says, has already happened.
“The Acacia conference is talk – it's the feedback
from what's been going on, the applied research and results from the
projects we've sponsored. But holding a conference like this provides
opportunities for people who would not have otherwise met to be able to
network. For example, there are people working in the regulatory and policy
environments who can meet each other and discuss common issues.
I think our policy work is very important. Policy makers and
regulators across Africa have not been keeping up with technology and the
general public is starting to ask: what is the purpose of a regulatory
framework? All such frameworks can be dressed up in “public good” clothing
but more often that not, telecoms regulations just provide a source of
income for officials on the other side of the table.”
But the rapidly changing nature of technology has also
changed Acacia's own focus somewhat, says O'Neil.
“Acacia began with an emphasis on the Internet and Internet
access but it has expanded and changed just as the technology has changed.
Mobile technology has definitely changed the way we look at certain issues.
I think the next big thing will be in the handheld arena – enabling
communities with small, robust devices.”
O'Neil says that a future focus for the IDRC is to enable the
environment for business. “There's a prevailing attitude on this continent
that private business is somehow bad – I'm not talking about public-private
partnerships – just privately-owned business. That must change. Business is
the means that people can realise their imagination and existing regulations
in Africa are not friendly for business. As in telecoms, the existence of
regulations is more a money-earner for officials than for enabling a healthy
business environment.”
Can projects like Acacia really change government policy?
O'Neil is pragmatic.
“We can't change policy directly but we can provide the
resources and build the people networks that can.”
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