Workshop on “Establishing public private partnerships for ICT initiatives” Amman, 26 February - 1 March 2007 Workshop on “Establishing public private partnerships for ICT initiatives” Amman, 26 February - 1 March 2007 ESCWA Building Partnerships in ICT Abdulilah Dewachi Regional Advisor on ICT

ContentContent 1. Introduction 2. Guiding Principles 3. Model for partnership and entrepreneurship 4. Modes of partnerships 5. Partnership in the context of the WSIS Process 6. Regional status on partnerships 7. Proposed Modality for RPoA Partnerships 8. Examples from ESCWA

1. Introduction The fast growth and development of the ICT sector has resulted in a high rate of new business starts in the developed countries. Developed countries have managed to breed a constant flow of new high-impact firms, the kind that creates value and stimulate growth by bringing new ideas to market, through new technologies, new business methods, or simply new and better ways of performing new tasks. Such firms do not just emerge as a natural by-product of free- market institutions. Nor are they the result of any single factor. In all instances, they are the result of a multifaceted system for nurturing high-impact partnerships and entrepreneurship.

2. Guiding Principles 1. Partnerships should be specific commitments by various partners intended to contribute to, and reinforce the implementation of a specific objective, or a set of objectives; 2. Partnerships are of a voluntary, self-organizing nature; they are based on mutual respect and shared responsibility of the partners involved; 3. Partnerships should have a multi-stakeholder approach and involve a range of actors in a given area of work; partners usually involve governments, regional groups, local authorities, non- governmental /civil society organizations, international institutions and the private sector; 4. Each partnership should define its intended outcome and benefits; it should have clear objectives and set specific measurable targets and time frames for achievements; 5. Available and/or expected sources of funding should be identified; at least the initial funding (seed money) should be assured at the time of launching the partnership.

3. Model for partnership and entrepreneurship

4. Modes of partnerships (1/2) National Bilateral Regional Global Inter Government with Government Government with NGOs Government with private sector (ppp) Private sector with private sector NGO with NGO Intra

4. Modes of partnerships (2/2) Sources for financing (national, regional, FDI); The role of banks; Venture capitals if the partnership is for a venture type project; Return on investments calculations; Marketing (promoting) ideas and projects; Incubation for an initial period; The expected role of government(s); The legislative, regulatory and investment environments. The following points should be considered:

5. Partnership in the context of the WSIS Process WSIS Geneva 2003: The partnership model was influenced by: Declaration Plan of action WSIS Tunis 2005: The partnership model was prepared and presented in Damascus during November 2004 at: The Second Regional Preparatory Conference on WSIS (Partnership for Building the Arab Information Society)

6. Regional status on partnerships (1/2) Success barriers Cultural – the old advice of avoiding partners, especially relatives and friends Behavioral – reluctance towards team working and sharing credits – information selfishness Historical - failures in partnerships

6. Regional status on partnerships (2/2) Present investment priorities in the region Estates Trade Services Traditional Industries Knowledge related industries

Project maturity The maturity level of the project is reached after the following steps are taken: 1. The preparation of a detailed project document with SWOT analysis; 2. A promotion campaign and pledging for funds; 3. Commitment of one or more parties to the project and the creation of a partnership; 4. Provision of seed money for a pilot implementation phase or an initial phase of the project; 5. Designation of a project manager.

7. Proposed Modality for RPoA Partnerships (1/2) ICT Partnerships Online (IPO) Or ICT Partnerships Portal (IPP)

7. Proposed Modality for RPoA Partnerships (2/2)

Partnership in ESCWA ICT projects Networking academies for Iraq ’ s universities 5 Regional Networking Academies 40 Local Networking Academies Project Budget: $5 million Partners: ESCWA UNESCO Cisco Lebanese American University (LAU) Iraq ’ s Ministry for Higher Education and Scientific Research Five major Iraqi universities

Partnership in ESCWA ICT projects ICT in Iraq ’ s basic education 1 ICT Development Centre for computer literacy training of trainers and e-learning 5 ICT Training Cenres in 5 Governorates 5 e-Caravans for mobile training in rural areas 10 Pilot schools (one boys and one girls schools in each governorate) Project Budget: $4 million Partners: ESCWA UNESCO Iraq ’ s Ministry of Education Others