Development of ICT Infrastructure for CNRST, UO and UPB in Burkina Faso
Since 2000 Sida/SAREC has supported the University of Ouagadougou (UO), the Polytechnic University of Bobo Diolasso (UPB) and the National Science and Technology Research Centre (CNRST) in Burkina Faso. The Sida assistance initially consisted of cooperation in research projects and support to students post graduate studies in Sweden and Burkina Faso.
In 2002 Sida/SAREC decided to assist the three academic institutions to improve their Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) infrastructure which are regarded as essential tools for the scientific and academic work. The objective of the first phase of the project was to identify ICT needs and priorities in the three partner institutions. The objectives of the subsequent phase was to provide the required ICT infrastructure, develop capacity to maintain, develop and use the infrastructure and provide a library information system for the three partner institutions.
In March 2002 the three Burkinabé Institutions in partnership with, and supported by Sida/SAREC, started a survey of the needs and priorities for ICT development in the three institutions. This resulted in a series of detailed reports describing the situation with reference to ICT in the three institutions. Following the study and analysis, a draft ICT policy document was prepared in September 2002 by a working group with 12 members.
With assistance from the Department of Computer and System Sciences (DSV) of the University of Stockholm, (financed by Sida) this was further reviewed in 2003 by a working group composed of five staff members of the three partner institutions. The result of all this was a draft ICT Development Policy and Master Plan for its implementation, which were subsequently adopted by the three partner institutions by the end of 2003 (see http://www.univ-ouaga.bf/html/partenariat/frcoopInternationale.html). In 2004 Sida agreed to provide 14 million SEK for four of the sub-projects included in the Master Plan aiming at:
- Building and improving the physical network infrastructure
- Strengthening ICT Units at the 3 institutions, and,
- Human Resources Development including training of technicians, SW developers and the end users.
- Establishment of a library information system for the three partner institutions.
The project has suffered from several delays due lengthy bureaucratic procedures, misunderstandings and periods when Sida funding has been frozen due to inadequate financial reporting for activities related to the Sida/SAREC research cooperation. At present most of the infrastructure has been ordered and some of it is also installed. It is expected that the network shall be up and running by mid 2009. Some training has been provided (which has contributed the strengthening of the ICT units) but most remains to be done in 2009. Initially analysis of requirements for the library system has been carried out and a Swedish expert has been identified, who will assist the partners in this field during the next few months. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
