Mapping the Factors Influencing the Sustainability of Public Access Computing in Africa to the ACE Framework: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Information and communication technology (ICT) has been widely used in attempts to address the diverse range of socio-economic challenges in Africa. Included in these initiatives is the establishment of public access computing (PAC) venues. PAC venues are spaces where the general public has access to computers and/or the Internet and are established to address ICT access in underserved and marginalized communities. Despite the good intentions of such interventions, the success and sustainability of PAC initiatives remain a challenge. A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed to determine the common challenges faced by PAC initiatives in Africa as well as the recommendations based on PAC success stories. These challenges and recommendations are subsequently evaluated against the Access, Capacity, and Environment (ACE) framework for PAC developed by Gomez. It is shown that the recommendations for PAC in Africa do not necessarily correspond to the identified challenges. In addition, a number of challenges and recommendations are identified that are not represented in the ACE framework. It is suggested that the ACE framework is extended to incorporate these factors in order to make it more relevant for PAC in Africa.