FIGURE 1 : CLUSTERING ICT PRIORITY AREAS INTO STRATEGIC PILLARS • ICT leadership • Human Capital Development • ICT Infrastructure Development • Responsive ICT Legal regulatory Framework • Universal Access to ICT and ICT related Services • ICT Industries Development Innovation and Human Capital Development ICT Industry Development and EBusiness ICT Infrastructure Development E-Government and Growth Sector Development • E-Government Services • ICT in Priority Growth Sectors • National Security • International Cooperation 1.2 The National ICT Master Plan It has become necessary to develop a National ICT Master Plan. The main objective is to develop a National ICT Master Plan in order to operationalise the National ICT policy. The National ICT Policy which has been develop to give direction to ICT development in the country aims to support the Malawi Growth and Development strategy MGDS II goal of wealth creation and poverty reduction through a sustainable economic growth and infrastructure development. The Malawi National ICT Policy establishes “a framework for deployment, exploitation and development of ICT” aimed at building a modern vibrant knowledge economy needed for accelerated socio-economic growth. The aim of the Government of Malawi is to establish an integrated approach to ICT resource mobilization, allocation and utilisation that will ensure synergy and help realize economic growth and development. The National ICT Policy covers inclusive provision of ICT services to be not only in urban areas but also in the rural areas and to the vulnerable groups. Vital to addressing this concern the policy seeks to strengthen the formulation of an appropriate regulatory and legal framework aimed at 15