Dar es Salaam (TZ)/Berlin (GER), February 2011 - The competition for the third TIGA Technology in Government Awards 2011 has opened. The awards are organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and supported by the government of Finland. This biennial event recognises African governments' effective use of ICTs for public services and raises awareness of the role of ICTs for the development process. The deadline for entries is 28 February 2011. The awards will be granted at this year's eLearning Africa event in Tanzania.
One of the awards - in the category on "Improved Educational Services Through the Use of ICTs" - is organised jointly with the eLearning Africa Conference and Scholarship Trust.
The TIGA Awards are presented to African governments and institutions based on the Continent that are engaged in initiating, developing, and implementing ICTs for public service, thereby contributing to the development of the Information Society in Africa.
In 2009, twelve innovative projects from ten African countries won a TIGA award, amongst them the "Women Healthcare Mobile Unit Project" of the Ministry of Communication and IT of Egypt. The project provides educational resources and tools to radiologists, radiographers, surgeons, and other health professionals in managing breast cancer.
Botswana's Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology was rewarded for its "Connecting Communities - Kitsong Centre" project, which enables rural communities to gain access to eServices and develop an ICT culture.
eLearning Africa, 6th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training is being held from 25-27 May 2011 at the Mlimani City Conference Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
