• 6-4 To promote a participative approach with all the stakeholders of the ICT sector through the establishment and supervision of the National ICT Advisory Council. Developing the role of NATCOM The role of NATCOM is principal in the implementation of this policy as it is tasked by law with ICT regulation as well as the enablement of growth in the ICT sector. This is in line with ECOWAS harmonisation principles but requires that NATCOM be adequately equipped with qualified staff and appropriate modern regulatory equipments. In particular, NATCOM must secure ICT tools to monitor all operators and develop a national information system with all pertinent statistics about the ICT sector. It must also undertake an annual ICT survey to ensure its activities and regulations are tailored for sector growth/development. 6-5 Developing Statistics Sierra Leone Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL), (formerly Central Statistics Office) established by statistics and census Statistics Act 2002) serves as the central authority for the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of statistical information on socio-economic activities. There is the need for SSL to employ more ICT tools in data collection surveys and in analysis and dissemination of information. The website also needs to be updated to make it more interactive and to provide intuitive navigation and search capabilities for easier access to statistical data. Additionally, SSL also requires a research and development unit to ensure continual growth in its core skills and areas of competence. 6-6 Developing Standards Bureau The Standards Bureau has a key role in the development of the ICT sector. As the office responsible for establishing standards in imported goods and equipments, the Bureau’s human resource needs to be strengthened to be in a position to ensure that all imported equipments meet international type approval standards. In the area of electronic equipments, it is especially important that the Bureau must be able to adequately enforce the type approval standards determined by NATCOM for all electronic equipments (imported or otherwise) and to do so in collaboration with the Centre for ICT Intelligence once it is established. 6-5 Setting up a National ICT Advisory Council A National ICT Advisory Council shall be created by the Government on the recommendations of the Ministry of Information and Communications to ensure a participatory approach for the development of the ICT sector. The Council shall be tasked with giving guidance to all stakeholders on sector related matters including the following: • Formulating ICT objectives and implementation plans; • Development of national ICT standards and guidelines; • Coordination of national ICT initiatives and projects; ICT Policy of Sierra Leone Page 36 / 63