- What is the CePRC?
The Canadian e-Policy Resource Centre (CePRC) serves as a focal point
for consolidating Canadian expertise and resources to support the
efforts of African countries to develop national e-strategies and
e-policies.
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What resources are provided?
The CePRC provides African policy makers with off-the-shelf resources
on Canada’s policies and strategies including strategy papers,
reports and surveys on the following themes: Telecommunications policy
and regulation; E-commerce and Internet governance policy; Connectivity
program policies i.e. applications in health and education; E-government
policies; Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) policy
issues, Information Society metrics and analysis, Spectrum management
policy; and ICT security policies.
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What services are provided?
The CePRC will respond to specific requests with tailor-made solutions
and will engage Canadian policy experts or local African policy experts
on a consultancy basis for approved projects.
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How can I request a resource or service?
Information on available off-the-shelf resources and services is
provided through this web site (www.ceprc.ca).
Information on specific services can also be requested by contacting
the CePRC directly, info@ceprc.ca.
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What are the objectives of this initiative?
The CePRC aims to support the efforts of African countries to develop
national e-strategies and e-policies. As part of Canada’s commitment
to the G-8 Africa Action Plan, the CePRC furthers the policy agenda
of the Digital Opportunity Task
Force by mobilizing global efforts to bridge the digital divide
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How do I become a partner?
Any Canadian organization or individual with expertise in e-policy
or e-strategies should contact the CePRC Secretariat if they wish
to contribute products or services to the CePRC.
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Who are the current partners?
Industry Canada is leading this initiative, in cooperation with the
Canada School of Public Service (CSPS), who is hosting the CePRC Secretariat.
Currently, various government departments are contributing resources
and expertise to the CePRC. Representatives from each of the following
government organizations are members of the Board
of Governors and provide strategic direction to the initiative:
Industry Canada, Canadian International Development Agency, Foreign
Affairs and International Trade, Treasury Board Secretariat, Public
Works and Government Services, Canadian Heritage, Statistics Canada
and Natural Resources Canada.
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Is funding provided for specific projects?
Funding will be provided for selected projects which support the
development of national e-strategies and e-policies in Africa. Projects
need to focus on specific policy issues and aim at helping policy
makers in African countries build their expertise. Projects could
include organizing seminars, workshops, or engaging Canadian government
or non-government personnel or local African experts on a consultancy
basis. Priority will be given to smaller scale projects in the range
of $25,000 - $50,000 that clearly demonstrate relevance to capacity
building in ICT policy development.
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Who can submit projects?
Individuals, government and non-government organizations from African
countries are eligible to submit projects.
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To whom do I submit a proposal?
Project proposals should be submitted to the Economic
Commission for Africa - (ECA). The ECA will liaise with the CePRC
as well as with the ePol-NET Secretariat in analysing proposals. A
Request for Assistance Form in MS Word format
is also available from the CePRC.
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When can I submit a project for consideration?
Projects will be considered on an on-going basis.
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What is the process for approving projects?
The Economic Commission for Africa and CePRC Board of Governors will
assess each project against specific criteria including feasibility,
amount of funding requested, other resources leveraged, scalability
and potential impact.
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How is CePRC related to ePol-NET?
The Canadian e-Policy Resource Centre (CePRC) was created as Canada’s
specific contribution to ePol-NET, funded through a $10 million contribution,
over three years, from the Canada Fund for Africa. A portion of this
contribution was provided to the United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa (ECA) to establish an African regional centre for ePol-NET.
The ECA’s ePol-NET regional centre will coordinate African demand
for expertise in ICT for development, as well as reach out to national
and sub-regional networks for the supply of knowledge within Africa.
ePol-NET consists of national virtual centres of expertise as well
as regional virtual centres around the world. These centres are focal
points for the dissemination of off-the-shelf information to policy
and regulatory experts in developing countries. The ePol-NET secretariat,
located in Ireland will distribute proposals to interested partners
and, coordinate the response to requests requiring a high degree of
involvement and/or multi-disciplinary effort.
