Information and Communication Technology in Africa
This MIT seminar examines how information and communication technology has spread across Sub-Saharan Africa and the policy choices shaping that growth. Sessions are discussion-based, drawing on assigned readings about telecommunications infrastructure, mobile technology adoption, and government regulation across the region. Students examine case studies of specific countries and technologies, debating the tradeoffs between private investment, state control, and international aid programs. The course pushes students to think about how they personally might contribute to ICT policy or development work in Africa, whether through business, government, or nonprofit channels. Materials, available through MIT OpenCourseWare, include the syllabus and reading list used in the seminar. There are no video lectures; the course structure relies on peer discussion of primary and secondary sources, making it best suited to self-directed learners willing to do the reading and think through the policy questions on their own.