The Catalysing Access to ICT in Africa (CATIA) programme aimed to enable poor people in Africa to gain maximum benefit from the opportunities offered by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and to act as a strong catalyst for reform. It supported a package of strategic activities to improve affordable access to the full range of ICTs, from Internet to community radio. This programme focussed on the need for ICTs to address social and economic development issues. It worked to help build capacity across Africa to achieve sustainable change.

CATIA was a three-year programme of the Department for International Development (DFID) in close collaboration with other donors and role players (e.g. Sida, IDRC, CIDA and USAID). It was implemented in close coordination with the Canadian government’s Connectivity Africa initiative. CATIA was managed by Atos Consulting from a programme office in Johannesburg, South Africa. The programme ended in August 2006 although OKN and the Pro-Poor Broadcasting component are continuing until April 2007.

The CATIA programme consisted of nine distinct component projects. These are:

Catalysing informed ICT policy and regulatory reform:

• 1a - Low-cost VSAT: Facilitating low-cost satellite Internet access across Africa (Component 1a)
• 1b - ISPAs and IXPs: Robust African Internet backbone with exchange points (IXPs) at the core and strong African ISP associations (Component 1b)
• 1c - ICT Policy Advocacy: Well-informed, lively and inclusive policy debates across Africa, shaping the local policy environment (Component 1c)
• 1d - Pro-Poor Broadcasting Policy: Positive policy environments for radio broadcasting across Africa (Component 1d)
• 1e - Policy and regulatory capacity building: An African-led network of institutions actively strengthening African expertise involved in setting ICT related policy (Component 1e)
• 1f - International ICT decision-making: Increased capacity for African developing countries to participate in international ICT decision-making (Component 1f)

Strategic Practical Interventions:

• 2a - Low cost computers and open source software: Support for low cost computers and open source software in Africa (Component 2a)
• 2b - Networking African radio stations: Stronger network of community radio, FM and public service radio stations across Africa, offering good pro-poor radio programmes (Component 2b)
• 2c - Open Knowledge Network (OKN): A thriving African-based Open Knowledge Network, catalysing the creation and exchange of local content (Component 2c)