1. ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS
Policy and Regulation Forum for the Pacific Honiara, Solomon Islands, April 2010
Assessment and Review of the National ICT Policies of the Pacific Island Countries (2)
Eric Lie
MACMILLAN KECK
ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS

2. Country assessment Status of national ICT policies in the region
Overview
ICT legal and regulatory framework
Status of national ICT policy
Substance and structure
Process (Development, Adoption, Implementation, Review)
Observations
Strengths and limitations
Recommendations for consideration

3. Assessment summary Strengths
Recognition of importance of a national ICT policy
Substance and structure
Substantive issues in common
Most structural elements in place

4. Assessment summary Strengths
Key issues addressed in the goals and objectives of the national ICT policies of the region
Country
Access and infra-structure
HRD & public awareness
Legal and regulatory framework
Governance and supply of public services
Industry & commercial growth
Traditions, cultures and languages
Cook Islands 
Fiji
RMI
(draft)
FSM
PNG
Samoa
Tonga

5. Assessment summary Strengths
National ICT policy structure elements in the PICs
Country
Policy
Statement
Strategic Plan
Background
Vision
Goals and Objectives
Strategies & activities
Timetable
Institutional responsibilities
Resources available
Monitoring & reporting
Cook Islands 
Fiji
RMI (draft)
FSM (draft)
PNG1
Samoa
Tonga

6. Assessment summary Strengths
Process
Institutions responsible identified
Importance of resource mobilisation recognised
Assessments and consultations undertaken

7. Assessment summary Strengths
Overview of National ICT Policy adoption in the region
Country
National ICT policy adopted
No national ICT policy adopted
Adopted
Evaluation (Review)
Draft prepared
Consultation
performed
Assessment performed
Cook Islands 
Fiji
Kiribati
RMI
FSM
Nauru
Niue
Palau
PNG
Samoa
Solomon Is.
Timor Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Total 5 3 7 6

8. Assessment summary Limitations and Risks
Substance and structure
Lack of clear links between national ICT policy and overall development policies
Challenge of emerging issues
Regional collaboration dimension absent
Absence of a strategic plan
Risks to policy implementation

9. Assessment summary Limitations and Risks
Process
Limitations of external trigger for policy development
Lack of stakeholder and high-level political support (or ICT champion)
Risk of delays in policy development and adoption
Shortage of resources (human and financial)
Lack of human resources skilled in policy-making
Predominance of one-off, narrowly-focused assistance
Lack of funds for policy implementation
Absence of resource planning
Risks to policy development and implementation

10. Assessment summary Limitations and Risks
Process (con’t)
Absence of timeframe for adoption of national ICT policy
Absence of communications strategy to increase public awareness of the importance of a national ICT policy
Limited use of reporting and feedback mechanisms during implementation
Difficult to measure progress and policy success

11. Assessment summary Recommendations
Country level
Examine existing national vision statements and overall national development policies and establish links with them in the national ICT policy
Develop and adopt a national ICT strategic plan in tandem with the national ICT policy
Establish a timeframe for the development and adoption (or review) of a national ICT policy

12. Assessment summary Recommendations
Country level (con’t)
Ensure institutional competence
Ensure that the responsible institution has the necessary political support to carry out its task
Ensure that the responsible institution has adequate resources for its task and the appropriate mandate to carry it out
Ensure policy-makers have the requisite policy-making skills and experience to analyse and transform inputs into an effective and successful national ICT policy

13. Assessment summary Recommendations
Country level (con’t)
Embark on a resource planning exercise that identifies the resources necessary (i.e. in terms of funding and human resources) as well the potential sources of such resources and the implications associated with their use
Identify avenues for obtaining the necessary funding and training (e.g., policy-making, legal, technical, etc.)
Consider involving potential partners and donors in the national ICT policy development process

14. Assessment summary Recommendations
Country level (con’t)
Initiate stakeholder consultations at an early stage in the development process
Build public awareness to promote government accountability and increase the level of political commitment
Develop and use independent procedures for project monitoring, reporting and feedback in order to arrive at objective results
Review and revise national ICT policies periodically in order to ensure they remain relevant

15. Assessment summary Recommendations
Regional level
Continue regional support in the area of ICT policy and regulatory development
Common declarations, technical assistance, workshops, …
Promote coordination and information sharing in the development of ICT policies and strategic plans
Facilitate the development of collaborative policy responses to existing and new ICT related challenges

16. Assessment summary Recommendations
Regional level (con’t)
Develop resources for sustained capacity building in the area of ICT policy-making
e.g. providing the ICT resource centre with resources to address ICT policy related needs, allowing it to act as a forum for information exchange and the coordination of twinning programmes or secondments …
Facilitate coordination between donors/partners and recipient countries to allow for effective resource planning
Promote a “holistic” approach to ICT policy development assistance

17. ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS
Thank you
Eric Lie
MACMILLAN KECK
ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS