In an effort to encourage innovations in the country, the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology (MCIT) has started the DEWAE (Innovation Beacon) programme and will give away cash awards ranging between $2000 to $80,000 for innovative solutions in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The DEWAE programme aims to develop a culture of innovation through the use of ICTs.
DEWAE is mainly expected to address the problems and challenges faced in delivering government services efficiently and effectively and developing effective ways for the government to deliver quality services on time, using ICT and mobile technologies as enabling tools.
It is expected that the development of ICT and mobile technology based solutions will address various governance and public service challenges. It will also help to strengthen the culture of innovation in the country and be an effective catalyst for sustained development of the country's ICT industry sector.
The MCIT said that DEWAE programme has been planned at a cost of five million dollars ($5m).
Through the DEWAE programme, the MCIT will announce several challenges and will seek proposals from the citizens to come up with innovative ideas and solutions.
There will be four categories under which the awards will be provided: Mobile Government, Mobile Technology, Young Technologist and Innovators (Student), and ICT Champion Awards.
Amirzai Sangin, Minister of Telecommunication and IT said, "Awards will be in the form of cash prize. The cash prizes are $2000, $5000 and $80,000. Whoever presents the best solution for solving the problems of governmental institutions via use of computers and mobile technologies will be awarded with the $80,000 cash prize.
According to MCIT, the programme of DEWAE will run for three years and will give away 200 awards. The programme has been financed by the World Bank and the Afghanistan Information Management Services (AIMS) is contracted by MCIT to implement and manage the programme.