Feasibility assessment for the development of a mobile applications sector in Afghanistan
Alexandre Plichon, Rodolphe Baudeau, Alice Bodreau · 2014
Afghanistan has made significant progress in its development since 2001. Yet, these achievements remain continually fragile because of a volatile security situation and limited human capacity. The government supports the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and is adopting technologies to expand service delivery and support good governance. The potential in this sector is vast with guaranteed high returns for employment opportunities, generating foreign investment, and producing government revenue. Recognizing the capacity and potential in this sector, infoDev embarked on a feasibility study to gauge the ICT and mobile applications sector in Afghanistan. The feasibility aimed to map and understands the current business environment for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the ICT sector and assesses the overall ecosystem for business incubation. The study also measured the opportunity to create and support a vibrant mobile applications-focused incubator. The study notes that increased awareness, relevant skills, and access to practical experience in the mobile industry are a top priority. As such developers need access to tools that are localized. Finally, an alternative application distribution mechanism, which enables access to a greater market and capacity to bill services, is essential. The report provides a synopsis of the mapping of the ecosystem and a survey of current initiatives and existing gaps. Recommendations and a roadmap for designing future programs targeting mobile entrepreneurs are also included in the report.