• Establish mechanisms and working groups, as needed, to coordinate ICT activities among all stakeholders, including Government, the private sector, civil society and development partners. • Establish a Universal Service Fund (USF) to promote universal access to ICT applications and services at an affordable price. The Fund will also facilitate the growth of national ICT infrastructure, training and production of local multimedia: o Monies to support a USF may be raised from Government’s annual budget, a percentage of annual revenue earned by all licensed operators, and from development partners. o An Advisory Committee made of stakeholders from the sector, including the Regulator for the ICT sector, operators and service providers, civil society, consumer associations and Government ministries, will administer the USF. This Committee will advise the MCST on the most efficient and effective utilisation and operation of the USF. o All licensed operators, broadcasters, service providers, content developers, public access ICT telecentres, schools, hospitals, rural clinics and others will be eligible to receive funds from the USF depending upon the programmes and initiatives selected each year by the Fund Advisory Committee in conjunction with the MCST. o Projects will be selected through established criteria. Key among the criteria will be project sustainability, cost-effectiveness and applicability to the lives of Basotho. 4.1.2 Strategic Planning and Resource Mobilisation The MCST’s ICT Department is charged with formulating national/Government ICT usage strategies by developing plans in consultation with stakeholders. This process will entail the: • Establishment of an ICT cadre for coordination of ICT activities. • Development of a Master plan for the national implementation of the ICT policy. ICT Policy for Lesotho 49