The National Communication Act, 2012, established the Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF) or the Fund. In line with the law, and in exercise of the powers vested upon the Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services (Hon. Justice. Michael Makuei Lueth), by Presidential Decree No. 33/ 2020, the Minister aligned the Fund as a Secretariat under the oversight of the Director General of the National Communication Authority. The same order maintained the Secretary General of the Fund.
I am therefore, delighted to be the given the second opportunity to be the Secretary General of the Fund. I welcome this opportunity and pledge total commitment in supporting the development and deployment of reliable and affordable communication services in underserved/ unserved and remote areas.
Under the able guidance of the Director General of the Authority, the Fund is determined to bridge the digital divide between the center and rural areas through the delivery of ICT services to cover the entire population of South Sudan with special emphasis on underprivileged groups and hard-to-reach communities.
To enable this, we shall continue to seek the support and collaboration of all stakeholders. And from the global best practice, our leadership at the Fund shall always embrace evidence-based decision-making to enable informed decisions on projects that the Fund shall prioritize, in line with the USAF Draft Strategic Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 and our core mandate.
Through the plan, we pledge total commitment in upholding the Fund’s vision: “Reliable and Equitable Communications Services for all” and the Fund’s mission: “To Facilitate and Support the Development and Deployment of Reliable and Affordable Communication Services in underserved/ unserved and remote areas”. In upholding our vision and mission, we will continue to seek the support and collaboration of all stakeholders.
We therefore call upon all interested stakeholders both private and public to help drive the development and deployment of ICTs that will cover the entire population of South Sudan, through attraction of investments from and collaborations with both local and international organizations as well as local participation in ICTs at individual and business levels. We approve the focus of the SMP and believe the Fund is positioning itself to design and implement programmes and projects that will fast-track provision of reliable and equitable services to the entire population of South Sudan.
Thank you!
Eng. Emmanuel Mabe Michael
The Secretary General