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The
Community Computer Centre (CCC) of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) was established following
Decision C/DEC.2/6/86 of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers
in June 1986.
Information and Communication Technologies play a central
role in the communication strategies of any Institution. The
computer and databases nowadays constitute powerful
knowledge acquisition tools indispensable in strengthening
ECOWAS and its image. They are moreover necessary for the
ownership of integration and its requirements by the people
of the Community. Hence the importance of the ECOWAS
Community Computer Center (CCC) which began in June 1996 in
application of a Decision of the Council of Ministers.
The
Community Computer Center had the mission of being a
knowledge tool at the service of all users of the Community
Member States and to pursue the community policy on
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
Attached
to the Cabinet of the Vice President which supervises it,
the CCC, placed under the authority of a Director, saw its
role redefined by the Revised Treaty of 1993 which assigned
it a cross-cutting dimension to serve as a catalyst in all
sectors of integration. It has the special duty of:
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promoting
and strengthening relations and enhancing information
flow within the rural populations, women, youth
organizations, socio-professional organizations
including in particular associations of press men and
women, businessmen and women, workers and trade unions;
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promoting
a permanent exchange of information and documentation,
establishing community data networks and databanks,;
building the scientific and technological capacities
with a view to reaching socioeconomic transformations
indispensable for the improvement of the quality of life
of the populations;
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ensuring
a sound application of science and technology with a
view to the development of agriculture, transport,
communication, industry, health and hygiene, energy,
education and labor in a bid to preserve the environment;
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reducing
dependency on foreign technology through the promotion
of an individual and collective technological
independence; cooperating towards the development of the
acquisition and dissemination of appropriate
technologies and strengthening existing scientific
research institutions, etc.
The CCC
has helped in achieving the following:
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It has
built the capacity of Member States and ECOWAS
Institutions for the effective use of the recently
purchased and installed ICT equipment (training courses
on Microsoft Office software, ECOWAS mail, ECOSUITE,
(ECOWAS Intranet).
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It has
improved the access of National Units and community
Institutions to Internet.
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It has
strengthened Information Systems on the trade and
markets opportunities available at national and regional
levels ECObiz.
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