From bogus@does.not.exist.com Tue Apr 17 18:11:16 2007 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Tue Apr 17 18:11:16 2007 Subject: No subject Message-ID: Can Information and communication technologies (ICT) make a valuable contribution to achieving development outcomes? If so, how can this best be done? The use of ICT to improve how goods are produced and services are delivered is a feature of everyday life in high-income countries. The issue, in relation to developing countries, is not whether it is worthwhile trying to make use of ICT. As ICT, used appropriately, have the potential to vastly improve productivity, the issues for developing countries is how best to use ICT to achieve development objectives, given the operating constraints that may apply. These operating constraints vary greatly form country to country. The challenge for the development community both those designing / administering donor aid programs and those delivering them, is to work out appropriate ways that ICT can be used to provide more leverage for the development efforts now being made. http://cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=13 4&Itemid=3 For more new additions, please go to http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&Itemid=3&topid=5&Item id=3 Gender and ICTs --------------------- GENDER, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: AN ANALYTIC STUDY By Nancy Hafkin & Nancy Taggart This is a 2001 major study on ICT and Gender by Nancy Hafkin and Nancy Taggart, Academy for Educational Development. According to the authors, "the time is ripe to act to ensure that women in developing countries can enter the information age. Although women in developing countries have had little contact yet with the new technologies, it is clear that these technologies offer substantial possibilities to improve the lives of women and their families. There are opportunities in employment, particularly in the area of IT-enabled services and in entrepreneurship, both in applying IT to existing businesses and in starting new businesses based on technology services. http://cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=13 5&Itemid=64 ------ Kgautswane Community: Advancing Rural Women's Development By Antony Trowbridge This submission, on behalf of the community of Kgautswane, offers evidence of how their women have succeeded in meeting the following key objectives: a.. To share experiences how ICTs have been used to facilitate rural women ’s participation · To share experiences how organisations have combined for empowering rural women. · To debate issues of governance and other factors that impact on quality of life a.. To identify challenges for making ICTs accessible to rural women · To identify how ICTs have been used to deal with real issues · To share best practices on working collaboratively · To analyse and strategize future directions and initiatives for participation a.. To explore and strategize the strengthening information and communications b.. Training and Capacity Building for Management for Development c.. To share experiences how ICTs have been used to facilitate rural women ’s participation http://cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&task=viewarticle&artid=14 3&Itemid=64 For more new additions, please go to http://cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=articles&Itemid=64&topid=3 ---------- OTHER QUALITY INFORMATION CINSA collects specific community ICT news from a number of sources and places it on the portal for your convenience. We have also added a new section that you may wish to contribute to: Projects and experiences. Here YOU can share your successes and challenges for the benefit of others. ********************* Free Banner Advertising ------------------------------ CINSA is introducing banner ads on their site and welcome applications from businesses with social responsibility programmes and other interested parties. This is a chance for you to showcase your work to a growing SADC-wide community ICT audience, as well as, academics and ICT practitioners. This will be free of charge for the first three months should you be interested. If you are interested please email ngunga@sangonet.org.za **************** Upcoming ICT events: --------------- IMPLEMENTING THE WSIS ACTION PLAN CONFERENCE A unique conference for policy-makers, ICT activists and action-oriented private sector organisations, hosted by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation. Presentation proposals are invited, covering the topics outlined above. Proposals should be sent to Sean Moroney, AITEC Africa (sean@aitecafrica.com), including a brief outline and the presenter’s CV summary. DATE: 25-26 March 2004 VENUE: Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, For more information email sean@aitecafrica.com or visit www.aitecafrica.com ------------ KENYA NATIONAL ICT CONVENTION Intended to develop a detailed consensus between government, Civil Society and the private sector on the country’s national ICT policy. In addition, the Convention with showcase East African national and regional ICT projects in order to attract donor support or private sector investment, this conference is not limited to region or country. DATE: 22-26 March VENUE: Also the Safari Park Hotel For more information visit www.aitecafrica.com or email info@aitecafrica.com ------------- BUILDING & BRIDGING COMMUNITY NETWORKS: KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATION & DIVERSITY THROUGH COMMUNICATION The Committee of the “ Building & Bridging Community Networks: Knowledge, Innovation & Diversity through Communication” conference issues a call for your participation in an exciting opportunity to network with others engaged in: community networking, community informatics and community technology research, practice and policy. This international conference will help a range of people with different roles to share their knowledge about: the use of community technologies to build and sustain healthy communities; and the development of networks to achieve this goal. DATE: 31st March – 2nd April, 2004 VENUE: Old Ship Hotel, Brighton, East Sussex, England For more information visit http://www.cmis.brighton.ac.uk/research/seake/cna/ ----------- CERTIFICATE IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY, REGULATION AND MANAGEMENT Offered by the LINK Centre, School of Public and Development Management, University of the Witwatersrand - Southern Africa's the leading research and training body in the field of information and communications technology policy, regulation and management. It provides an essential background to the understanding the regulatory and policy issues and challenges in the rapidly changing telecommunications and broadcasting sector. DATE: April and June 2004 VENUE: Johannesburg For more information visit http://link.wits.ac.za -------- NEPAD AND ISSUES AFFECTING THE YOUTH: SOUTH-NORTH RELATIONS AND THE DIGITAL DIVIDE The aim of the conference is to provide an insight on the pros and cons of the achievements of the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) objectives and also, how the European Union-Africa partnership can address and meet the challenges of the importance of Information Technology (IT) in youth education, as a development priority for both the African and Western communities. Date: 18-19 June 2004 Venue: Europa-Universität Viadrina, Frankfurt/Oder, Germany For more information visit http://www.ayf.de/Int-Conf-04.pdf ----------- THE 8TH WEST AFRICA INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION - AITEC WEST AFRICA 2004 AITEC GHANA, Ministry of Communications and Technology and Leaders in West African ICT industry will host The 8th West Africa ICT conference and Exhibition to facilitate a knowledge and information sharing platform on the future of ICT in West Africa and its developmental impact. Date: 1-2 June, 2004 Venue: Accra International Conference Center, Accra-Ghana Call for Papers Individuals and organizations are invited to submit proposals for Conference and Workshop Presentations at AITEC WEST AFRICA 2004. The theme for AITEC 2004 is: "BUILDING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH ICT" ----------- OEKONUX CONFERENCE In Project Oekonux [http://www.oekonux.org/] and in the neighboring OpenTheory [http://www.opentheory.org/] different people with different opinions and different methods study the economic and political forms of Free Software. An important question is, whether the principles of the development of Free Software (without exchange in the core, self-organized, common and unlimited participation in the production knowledge) may be the foundation of a new economy, which is no longer based on the dogma of economic scarcity. New economy may also mean the basis for a new form of society. Date: 20-23 May 2004 Venue: Department of Philosophy at Vienna University ------------------------ YOUR EVENT HERE …. Send us your events to appear in this newsletter, in particular some countries in SADC are currently highly underrepresented, please help us address this. ************** FEEDBACK ---------------- Joseph George attended the Mpumalanga provincial Thetha (Thethas are SANGONeT ICT discussion forum for the civil society currently being run in South Africa only but intended to be replicated into other countries in the SADC region) in Nelspruit on ICTs and the Global Information Society. The theme for this Thetha was “ICTs and the Global Information Society” – as it was for the two previous provincial Thethas. Mr. Andre Vianello, a Deputy Director in the Provincial Government of Mpumalanga gave a presentation. A man with some 30 years experience in IT and industry certification from CISCO, Novell and Sun, he has been in government for the past 8 years. He shed light on the provincial government's strategy on ICTs - he mentioned the challenges faced and clarified how the concept of e-governance is being considered at provincial level. He also spoke about the provincial government's new website due to be launched in late March. Dr Lulama Makhubela, Director of Research and Development, National Development Agency (NDA) who has published more than 30 research journal articles and contributed to three books, worked with WSIS in Paris, at the UNESCO headquarters and at different times in the EU, Canada and the US gave a very good insight into the development imperatives of ICTs. She spoke at length on the social issues that need to be addressed through application of ICTs and raised several important points in relation to ICTs and development. Mr. Danny Moalosi, Programme Officer, National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) had an excellent interactive presentation on Community Participation through ICTs with specific reference to broadcasting. He gave a brief history of community radio in South Africa and shed light on the diverse forms of current media ownership. He explained the three tiers of broadcasting - Community, Public, and Commercial as laid out in the 1993 IBA Act. He made a powerful statement on using limited ICT resources to achieve results and exhorted the audience to do the same. The next Thetha will be held on Tuesday, 6 April 2004, from 09h00-13h00 at SANGONeT's new offices at 76 Juta Street in Braamfontein. Its theme will be "Survival & Prosperity in the NGO Sector - The Role of Technology in Strengthening Organisational Capacity". If you are interested in participating in the Thetha, please contact Martha Thibedi or Refilwe Rakhibane at SANGONeT before 2 April 2004: Tel: (011) 403-4935 / E-mail: thetha@sangonet.org.za Participation in the Thetha is free of charge. For more information on Thetha - The SANGONeT ICT Discussion Forum, please visit the SANGONeT website http://www.sangonet.org.za --------- Sandra Roberts attended the Dimitra/ Womensnet conference on ICTS in the Service of Good Governance, Democratic Practice and Development for Rural Women in Africa. Held near Lanseria airport outside Johannesburg, the conference brought together a large amount (about 50) of largely international women who were tasked with finding ICT strategies that would benefit rural women. She found the experience incredibly beneficial for networking and knowledge sharing. We (CINSA) organised for interviews to be taken from various people attending the conference. These are available online at: http://www.cmfd.org/sections/ruralwomen.html Knowledge sharing was for her the greatest benefit as she learned a good principle about setting up Community ICT organisations: do the groundwork, use organisations that are already successful in the community and get buy-in from the community. If there is no buy-in possibly ICT is not the solution for that community. ICT is not the ‘cure all’ for every situation. A simple concept, but Community ICT projects would probably be a lot more successful if more people applied it in practice. SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES OF ANY ICT EVENT WHICH YOU HAVE ATTENDED RECENTLY, EMAIL sandra@sangonet.org.za ************** JOBS ------- GOT JOBS OR VACANCIES TO ADVERTISE, EMAIL sandra@sangonet.org.za *********** OPPORTUNITIES ----------------------- Prix Arts Electronica: To mark its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2004, Ars Electronica has expanded its international competition for cyberarts to include a new category called "Digital Communities." The category encompasses the wide-ranging social consequences of the Internet as well as the latest developments in the domain of mobile communications and wireless networks. 40,000 Euro in prize money will be awarded to six exemplary initiatives that are furthering the development of an Open Society. The deadline for submissions is March 26, 2004. For more information visit http://www.aec.at/en/prix/index.asp -------- CALL FOR PAPERS: The Community Informatics Research Network Inc. (CIRN) calls for papers to its 2004 Inaugural Conference and Colloquium with the overall theme, 'Sustainability and Community Technology: What Does this Mean for Community Informatics?, at the Monash Centre, Prato, Italy, 29 September - 1 October, 2004. www.ciresearch.net/prato2004 Papers (full length for blind peer review and discussion or position papers) from researchers and practitioners are invited. Possible topics include: a.. Defining 'sustainability' in a community technology context: is it an adequate concept? What are its meanings and how are they relevant? b.. Are there alternate concepts, which are more practicable, and how are they linked to the life of communities and community networking? c.. Sustainability and the Digital Divide: Friend or Foe? d.. The political economy of community technology sustainability: dependency on government, and funders' understanding of 'sustainability' e.. Community Technology Sustainability in different spheres: developed, developing countries: are there universal principles? f.. The sustainability criteria of national and international financial institutions and donors: Explanations and Critiques g.. Indigenous and first nations people and the sustainability of community networks h.. Gendered technology and the sustainability of community networks i.. Is there a connection between sustainability and 'social capital'? j.. Time, virtual space, geography and network sustainability k.. Power relationships in networking and their impact on sustainability l.. The policy dimensions (dementia) of sustainability ## A special issue of Community Informatics: A Global E-Journal will be prepared as part of this event and contributors to the event will be encouraged to submit their papers for either the peer-reviewed or the commentary section of the journal. Please submit your 2-page application by 1 April 2004 to: Marcus Foth at m.foth@qut.edu.au ------------ CALL FOR PROPOSALS ------- THE THIRD RESEARCH ON KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS (ROKS) COMPETITION DEADLINE: MARCH 26 "Understanding the Social and Public Policy Dimensions of Transformative Technologies in the South" The Research on Knowledge Systems (RoKS) initiative of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation is launching a competition to support research on the social equity and public policy challenges of transformative technologies faced by developing countries. The focus is on how social equity and the human condition is being affected by emerging technologies, as well as on what mechanisms and learning processes are in place or have been developed to assist governments and public stakeholder groups engaged in the decision-making processes associated with these new technologies. We recognize that new knowledge is not neutral and is embedded in specific social contexts; it can offer opportunity, but can also constrain human activity. **************** OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS ---------- The latest issue of the Southern African Journal of Information and Communication in now available. It demonstrates the research benefits of our association with prominent international academics. In this issue Professor Dale Hatfield has written a stimulating paper on Spectrum Commons, and Vodacom Visiting Professor William Melody has again published his annual address on The Next Generation Internet and Its Governance. He has also worked with local LINK associates and staff to present a fascinating assessment of The Significance of the VANS Sector. More information http://link.wits.ac.za/ DATABASE ---------------- The CINSA portal will soon publish a database of community ICTs, ICT practitioners and ICT service providers, if you wish to appear on this valuable publicity resource, please email cinsa@sangonet.org.za ************** If you would like any of the items mentioned in this newsletter and have no access to the Internet, please email cinsainfo-owner@lists.sn.apc.org including the title of the item you wish to receive. **************** To unsubscribe or change subscription details, email cinsainfo-owner@lists.sn.apc.org ------=_NextPart_000_0024_01C411A5.D443B6A0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Newsletter no = 1
SADC Community Informatics = Newsletter no3,=20 March 2004   =20

*************

 

EDITORIAL

----------------

 

What=20 is CINSA?

The=20 Community Information Network for Southern Africa (CINSA) is a project=20 supporting community ICT initiatives in the SADC region. The aim is to = build a=20 sustainable network of community ICT projects in the 14 SADC member = states -=20 Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, = Mauritius,=20 Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, = Zambia, and=20 Zimbabwe. CINSA is currently funded by the Open Society Initiative for = Southern=20 Africa (OSISA), and the International Development Research Centre=20 (IDRC).

 

CINSA=20 supports community ICT projects / initiatives ---- such as telecentres,=20 community multimedia centres, community radio stations, community = information=20 resource / access centres and the like. Its mandate is to serve those = projects /=20 initiatives located within the SADC region = through:

 

=D8      =20 Research

=D8      =20 Networking

=D8      =20 Facilitating=20 training

=D8      =20 Service=20 brokerage

=D8      =20 Facilitating=20 technical support and project evaluation, = and

=D8      =20 Creating=20 an online (and soon offline) information resource base.=20

 

CINSA=20 has set up three nodal points in the SADC region, one in Zambia (hosted = by the=20 e-Brain Forum) and one in Tanzania (hosted by TANGO), in addition to the = secretariat (hosted by SANGONeT, which is also the project implementing=20 organisation) in South Africa. The regional nodes focus on information = gathering=20 from a regional perspective, and on strengthening the network by = building local=20 capacity. They are a catalyst for spearheading local community ICT = network=20 activities and supporting ICT advocacy campaigns in the region.=20

 

Why=20 should you join CINSA?

Individually,=20 CINSA network members / partners benefit = through:

=D8      =20 a wealth=20 of expertise and knowledge generated by the = network

=D8      =20 harnessing=20 the intra-network experience into specific = actions

=D8      =20 discounted=20 rates from specific service providers including communication networks = and=20 training providers

=D8      =20 specific=20 ICT skills training and research = opportunities

=D8      =20 publicity=20 in the form of the portal, listserv, newsletter and presence in a = SADC-wide=20 database

=D8      =20 project=20 management support, and

=D8      =20 recommendation=20 for funding to donors

 

Thus=20 CINSA has provided and facilitated both technical and ICT-related policy = advocacy training to managers and people involved with the initiatives;=20 continues to provide space for members to publicize and network = themselves;=20 provides specialized project management (sustainability consultancy, = project=20 ideas, proposals developments and providing websites) and other = brokerage=20 services (discounted fees from suppliers and service providers including = energy=20 / equipment suppliers, internet service providers as well as training=20 providers.

 

CINSA is=20 also working on producing CD ROMs as a flagship project to provide = network=20 members with resources 'feedback of experiences' offline. Another = service=20 envisaged is the facilitation of donated websites to members. CINSA=92s = future=20 focus will be to transform or incubate =91member projects=92 into = technology skills=20 pools, community telecommunications providers and resource / training = centres.=20 For more information on specific activities undertaken by the network = kindly=20 please visit our portal http://www.cinsa.info=20

 

Membership=20 and requirements

Any=20 community initiative that uses the tools of ICT for development = qualifies to=20 become a member of CINSA. Currently membership to CINSA is free i.e. there are = no=20 fees set for joining the CINSA network, just submit your = information=20 by calling the Project Manager CINSA, Mr. Ngunga Tepani on (+27 11) 403 = 4935 or=20 email to; ngunga@sangonet.org.za 

 

If you=20 live or happen to be in South Africa, you may want to visit us at = SANGONeT,=20 Ground floor, 76 Juta Street Braamfontein Johannesburg, South=20 Africa.

 

A=20 community ICT project is a community-level initiative that provides = broad access=20 to the benefits of ICTs to support community development. Organisations = that=20 qualify as CINSA members include:

=D8      =20 community=20 ICT projects such as telecentres; community radio stations, MPCCs, CMCs, = etc.;

=D8      =20 ICT-related=20 networks;

=D8      =20 ICT-related=20 research organisations and

=D8      =20 training=20 institutions

 

CINSA=20 partners include:

=D8      =20 donors,

=D8      =20 ICT=20 service providers,

=D8      =20 regulatory=20 bodies and

=D8      =20 non-ICT=20 networks like NGO coalitions

 

Your=20 feedback or support

If you=20 are interested in becoming a member of CINSA or our partner, we would = appreciate=20 your feedback on what would be the criteria and a suitable membership = fee. We=20 are suggesting US$ 100 per annum with full, free benefits to all the = services=20 CINSA is or will be offering. Kindly please send your comments / = feedback to sadc-idiscussion@lists.= sn.apc.org

 

Interested=20 donors, funders and sponsors kindly please donate to us by contacting = the=20 Project Manager ngunga@sangonet.org.za

 

We look=20 forward to your involvement,

 

Ngunga=20 Tepani

Project=20 Manager CINSA

 

*************

OPPORTUNITIES=20 ABOUND FOR COMMUNITY ICTS!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------= -------

 

CINSA is=20 looking for organisations to serve as case studies.  Please contact Sandra Roberts = on sandra@sangonet.org.za if you = would=20 like your organisation to serve as one, or can recommend an organisation = to=20 us.  REMEMBER that you can = always=20 place information about your organisation on our portal in the database = and=20 under the projects and experiences section. 

 

CINSA=20 has a limited number of copies of the ABC Ulwazi publication Community = Radio:=20 the people=92s voice available for community organisations that would = benefit from=20 them.  In addition, we = also have a=20 limited number of the OSISA publication Cyber law for Civil Society: A = Resource=20 Guide for South African organisations. =20 Please contact Ngunga Tepani on ngunga@sangonet.org.za if you = would=20 like a copy of either. The OSISA publication is also available from http://www.osiafrica.org 

 

We=20 invite submissions for the CINSA Database from CICT initiatives, please = email=20 cinsa@sangonet.org.za if=20 you would like to be included. =20 Currently, we are still experiencing technical problems with the = database=20 itself, but if you email us, we will contact you once it is up.  The database provides the = option of you=20 entering your own data into it, so you can say exactly what you = want.   =

 

**************

JOIN=20 CINSA

-----------------

CINSA=20 would like to invite Community ICTs to join us, free of charge to access = all the=20 benefits of belonging to CINSA.  = We=20 have hard copy and online tools to help community ICTs survive and = prosper.  Additionally, we provide = specialised=20 project management and brokerage services and would like to invite = interested=20 parties to contact us.  We = are=20 looking for new members for our network (no membership fee is currently = payable)=20 and want to help community ICTs with research, training, skills = exchange,=20 service brokerage, facilitating technical support and project management = assistance.  To join, = email ngunga@sangonet.org.za 

 

***************

NEW=20 ADDITIONS TO THE CINSA PORTAL:

 

Advocacy=20

--------------

ICT=20 A RIGHT, A MEANS OR AN END TO = DEVELOPMENT?

This=20 article by Michael Boadi gives some critical thoughts on ICT as a medium = of=20 communication and providing access to communication, which is a = right.  Ghana is taken as the case = study in this=20 article. =20

http://cinsa.info/portal/inde= x.php?option=3Darticles&task=3Dviewarticle&artid=3D131&Itemid= =3D60

 

For more=20 new additions, please go to http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.= php?option=3Ddisplaypage&Itemid=3D59&op=3Dpage&SubMenu=3D= =20

 

Research=20 pieces

-------------------

REVIEW=20 OF BASIC ICT SKILLS AND TRAINING SOFTWARE FOR EDUCATORS IN=20 AFRICA

 

By=20 Tina James, et al.

This=20 study aims to assist African educators by identifying suitable training=20 materials to develop basic information and communications technology = (ICT)=20 skills. Such skills include basic computer literacy, the use of e-mail = and the=20 Internet, software for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and = the=20 creation of Websites. This study looks at 'content-free' ICT software = tools and=20 applications i.e. tools that can be used to develop appropriate content. = Examples would include standard office packages such as word processing, = spreadsheets, databases, the creation of Web-based materials, and = presentations.=20 It is restricted to materials available on the Web, via CD- ROMs or on=20 diskettes. The study tests the appropriateness of ICT skills software = for use in=20 an African context, addresses the needs of African Educators requiring=20 professional development. This is taken to include those in pre-service=20 training, as well as those educators in in-service training who may have = been=20 'left behind' by the digital revolution. The study also set out to = develop an=20 evaluation framework that could be used by other evaluators to assess = the=20 appropriateness of basic ICT skills software in their own=20 environments.

http://cinsa.info/portal/index= .php?option=3Darticles&task=3Dviewarticle&artid=3D137&Itemid=3D= 3

 

-------

ICT=20 & DEVELOPMENT - HELP OR HINDERANCE

 

By=20 Richard Curtain

From=20 the executive summary:

Can=20 Information and communication technologies (ICT) make a valuable = contribution to=20 achieving development outcomes? If so, how can this best be done? The = use of ICT=20 to improve how goods are produced and services are delivered is a = feature of=20 everyday life in high-income countries. The issue, in relation to = developing=20 countries, is not whether it is worthwhile trying to make use of ICT. As = ICT,=20 used appropriately, have the potential to vastly improve productivity, = the=20 issues for developing countries is how best to use ICT to achieve = development=20 objectives, given the operating constraints that may apply. These = operating=20 constraints vary greatly form country to country. The challenge for the=20 development community both those designing / administering donor aid = programs=20 and those delivering them, is to work out appropriate ways that ICT can = be used=20 to provide more leverage for the development efforts now being=20 made.

http://cinsa.info/portal/index= .php?option=3Darticles&task=3Dviewarticle&artid=3D134&Itemid=3D= 3

 

For more=20 new additions, please go to

http://www.cinsa.info/portal/index.p= hp?option=3Darticles&Itemid=3D3&topid=3D5&Itemid=3D3=20

 

 

Gender=20 and ICTs

---------------------

GENDER,=20 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: AN ANALYTIC=20 STUDY

By Nancy=20 Hafkin & Nancy Taggart

 

This is=20 a 2001 major study on ICT and Gender by Nancy Hafkin and Nancy Taggart, = Academy=20 for Educational Development. According to the authors, "the time is ripe = to act=20 to ensure that women in developing countries can enter the information = age.=20 Although women in developing countries have had little contact yet with = the new=20 technologies, it is clear that these technologies offer substantial=20 possibilities to improve the lives of women and their families. There = are=20 opportunities in employment, particularly in the area of IT-enabled = services and=20 in entrepreneurship, both in applying IT to existing businesses and in = starting=20 new businesses based on technology = services.

http://cinsa.info/portal/inde= x.php?option=3Darticles&task=3Dviewarticle&artid=3D135&Itemid= =3D64=20

------

Kgautswane=20 Community: Advancing Rural Women's = Development

By=20 Antony Trowbridge

This=20 submission, on behalf of the community of Kgautswane, offers evidence of = how=20 their women have succeeded in meeting the following key objectives: 

  • To share experiences how = ICTs have=20 been used to facilitate rural women=92s = participation=20
=B7        =20 To=20 share experiences how organisations have combined for empowering rural=20 women. =B7        =20 To=20 debate issues of governance and other factors that impact on quality of=20 life
  • To identify challenges = for making=20 ICTs accessible to rural women=20
=B7        =20 To=20 identify how ICTs have been used to deal with real = issues

=B7        =20 To share = best=20 practices on working collaboratively

=B7        =20 To=20 analyse and strategize future directions and initiatives for=20 participation
  • To explore and = strategize the=20 strengthening information and communications
  • Training=20 and Capacity Building for Management for = Development=20
  • To=20 share experiences how ICTs have been used to facilitate rural = women=92s=20 participation

http://cinsa.info/portal/inde= x.php?option=3Darticles&task=3Dviewarticle&artid=3D143&Itemid= =3D64

 

For=20 more new additions, please go to

http://cinsa.info/portal/index.php?option=3Darticles&am= p;Itemid=3D64&topid=3D3=20

 

----------

OTHER=20 QUALITY INFORMATION

CINSA=20 collects specific community ICT news from a number of sources and places = it on=20 the portal for your convenience.  = We=20 have also added a new section that you may wish to contribute to: = Projects and experiences. Here = YOU can=20 share your successes and challenges for the benefit of=20 others.

 

*********************

Free=20 Banner Advertising

------------------------------

CINSA is=20 introducing banner ads on their site and welcome applications from = businesses=20 with social responsibility programmes and other interested parties.  This is a chance for you to = showcase=20 your work to a growing SADC-wide community ICT audience, as well as, = academics=20 and ICT practitioners.  = This will be=20 free of charge for the first three months should you be interested. If = you are=20 interested please email ngunga@sangonet.org.za=20

 

 

****************

Upcoming=20 ICT events:

 

 

---------------

IMPLEMENTING=20 THE WSIS ACTION PLAN CONFERENCE

 

A=20 unique conference for policy-makers, ICT activists and action-oriented = private=20 sector organisations, hosted by the Commonwealth Telecommunications=20 Organisation. Presentation proposals are = invited,=20 covering the topics outlined above. Proposals should be sent to Sean = Moroney,=20 AITEC Africa (sean@aitecafrica.com),=20 including a brief outline and the presenter=92s CV=20 summary.

 

DATE:=20 25-26 March 2004

VENUE:=20 Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi,

 

For more=20 information email sean@aitecafrica.com or visit = www.aitecafrica.com

 

------------

KENYA=20 NATIONAL ICT CONVENTION

Intended to = develop a=20 detailed consensus between government, Civil Society and the private = sector on=20 the country=92s national ICT policy. In addition, the Convention with = showcase=20 East African national and regional ICT projects in order to attract = donor=20 support or private sector investment, this conference is not limited to = region=20 or country.

DATE: 22-26 = March=20

VENUE: Also = the Safari=20 Park Hotel

 

For more = information=20 visit www.aitecafrica.com or = email info@aitecafrica.com<= /SPAN>

 

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BUILDING=20 & BRIDGING COMMUNITY NETWORKS: KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATION & DIVERSITY = THROUGH=20 COMMUNICATION

The=20 Committee of the =93 Building & Bridging Community Networks: = Knowledge,=20 Innovation & Diversity through Communication=94 conference issues a = call for=20 your participation in an exciting opportunity to network with others = engaged in:=20 community networking, community=20 informatics and community technology research, practice and policy. This = international conference will help a range of people with different = roles to=20 share their knowledge about: the use of community technologies to build = and=20 sustain healthy communities; and the development of networks to achieve = this=20 goal.

DATE:  31st March =96 2nd April, 2004 =
VENUE:=20 Old Ship Hotel, Brighton, East Sussex, England =

For=20 more information visit http://www.cm= is.brighton.ac.uk/research/seake/cna/=20

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CERTIFICATE=20 IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY, REGULATION AND=20 MANAGEMENT

 

Offered by=20 the LINK Centre, School of Public and Development Management, University = of the=20 Witwatersrand  - Southern = Africa's=20 the leading research and training body in the field of information and=20 communications technology policy, regulation and management.  It provides an essential = background to=20 the understanding the regulatory and policy issues and challenges in the = rapidly=20 changing telecommunications and broadcasting=20 sector.

DATE:=20 April and=20 June 2004

VENUE:=20 Johannesburg

For=20 more information visit http://link.wits.ac.za

 

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NEPAD AND=20 ISSUES AFFECTING THE YOUTH: SOUTH-NORTH RELATIONS AND THE DIGITAL=20 DIVIDE

 

The aim of=20 the conference is to provide an insight on the pros and cons of the = achievements=20 of the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) objectives and = also, how=20 the European Union-Africa partnership can address and meet the = challenges of the=20 importance of Information Technology (IT) in youth education, as a = development=20 priority for both the African and Western=20 communities.

 

Date:=20 18-19 June 2004

Venue:=20 Europa-Universit=E4t Viadrina, Frankfurt/Oder,=20 Germany

For=20 more information visit http://www.ayf.de/Int-Conf-04.= pdf

 

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THE 8TH=20 WEST AFRICA INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE AND=20 EXHIBITION - AITEC WEST AFRICA 2004

 

 

AITEC=20 GHANA, Ministry of Communications and Technology and Leaders in West = African ICT=20 industry will host The 8th West Africa ICT conference and Exhibition to=20 facilitate a knowledge and information sharing platform on the future of = ICT in=20 West Africa and its developmental impact.

 

Date:   1-2 June,=20 2004

Venue:=20 Accra International Conference Center, = Accra-Ghana

 

Call for=20 Papers

 

Individuals=20 and organizations are invited to submit proposals for Conference and = Workshop=20 Presentations at AITEC WEST AFRICA 2004. The theme for AITEC 2004=20 is:

 

"BUILDING=20 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH=20 ICT"

 

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OEKONUX=20 CONFERENCE

 

In Project=20 Oekonux [http://www.oekonux.org/] and in the neighboring OpenTheory=20 [http://www.opentheory.org/] different people with different opinions = and=20 different methods study the economic and political forms of Free=20 Software.

 

An=20 important question is, whether the principles of the development=20 of

Free=20 Software (without exchange in the core, self-organized, common and = unlimited=20 participation in the production knowledge) may be the foundation of a = new=20 economy, which is no longer based on the dogma of economic scarcity. New = economy=20 may also mean the basis for a new form of society. =

 

Date:=20 20-23 May 2004

Venue:=20 Department of Philosophy at Vienna = University

 

 

------------------------

 

YOUR=20 EVENT HERE =85.

 

Send us=20 your events to appear in this newsletter, in particular some countries = in SADC=20 are currently highly underrepresented, please help us address=20 this.

 

 

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FEEDBACK

----------------

Joseph=20 George attended the Mpumalanga provincial Thetha (Thethas are SANGONeT = ICT=20 discussion forum for the civil society currently being run in South = Africa only=20 but intended to be replicated into other countries in the SADC region) = in=20 Nelspruit on ICTs and the Global Information Society.=20

 

The theme=20 for this Thetha was =93ICTs and=20 the Global Information Society=94 =96 as it was for the = two previous=20 provincial Thethas. Mr. Andre Vianello, a Deputy Director in the = Provincial=20 Government of Mpumalanga gave a presentation. A man with some 30 years=20 experience in IT and industry certification from CISCO, Novell and Sun, = he has=20 been in government for the past 8 years. He shed light on the provincial = government's strategy on ICTs - he mentioned the challenges faced and = clarified=20 how the concept of e-governance is being considered at provincial level. = He also=20 spoke about the provincial government's new website due to be launched = in late=20 March.

 

Dr Lulama=20 Makhubela, Director of Research and Development, National Development = Agency=20 (NDA) who has published more than 30 research journal articles and = contributed=20 to three books, worked with WSIS in Paris, at the UNESCO headquarters = and at=20 different times in the EU, Canada and the US gave a very good insight = into the=20 development imperatives of ICTs. She spoke at length on the social = issues that=20 need to be addressed through application of ICTs and raised several = important=20 points in relation to ICTs and development.

 

Mr. Danny=20 Moalosi, Programme Officer, National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) had an = excellent interactive presentation on Community Participation through = ICTs with=20 specific reference to broadcasting. He gave a brief history of community = radio=20 in South Africa and shed

light on=20 the diverse forms of current media ownership. He explained the three = tiers of=20 broadcasting - Community, Public, and Commercial as laid out in the 1993 = IBA=20 Act. He made a powerful statement on using limited ICT resources to = achieve=20 results and exhorted the audience to do the = same.

 

The next=20 Thetha will be held on Tuesday, 6 April 2004, from 09h00-13h00 at = SANGONeT's new=20 offices at 76 Juta Street in Braamfontein. Its theme will be "Survival = &=20 Prosperity in the NGO Sector - The Role of Technology in Strengthening=20 Organisational Capacity". If you are interested in participating in the = Thetha,=20 please contact Martha Thibedi or Refilwe Rakhibane at SANGONeT before 2 = April=20 2004: Tel: (011) 403-4935 / E-mail: thetha@sangonet.org.za=20

Participation=20 in the Thetha is free of charge. For more information on Thetha - The = SANGONeT=20 ICT Discussion Forum, please visit the SANGONeT website http://www.sangonet.org.za=20

 

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Sandra=20 Roberts attended the Dimitra/ Womensnet conference on ICTS in the = Service of=20 Good Governance, = Democratic=20 Practice and Development for Rural Women in=20 Africa. 

 

Held near = Lanseria=20 airport outside Johannesburg, the conference brought together = a large=20 amount (about 50) of largely international women who were tasked=20 with finding ICT strategies that would benefit rural women.  = She found=20 the experience incredibly beneficial for networking and knowledge = sharing. =20 We (CINSA) organised for interviews to be taken from various people = attending=20 the conference.  These are available online at: http://www.cmfd.org= /sections/ruralwomen.html

 

Knowledge = sharing was=20 for her the greatest benefit as she learned a good principle about = setting up=20 Community ICT organisations: do the groundwork, use organisations that = are=20 already successful in the community and get buy-in from the = community.  If=20 there is no buy-in possibly ICT is not the solution for that = community. =20 ICT is not the =91cure all=92 for every situation.  A simple = concept, but=20 Community ICT projects would probably be a lot more successful if more = people=20 applied it in practice. 

 

 

SHARE=20 YOUR EXPERIENCES OF ANY ICT EVENT WHICH YOU HAVE ATTENDED RECENTLY, = EMAIL sandra@sangonet.org.za=20

 

**************

 

JOBS

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GOT JOBS=20 OR VACANCIES TO ADVERTISE, EMAIL sandra@sangonet.org.za=20

 

 

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OPPORTUNITIES

-----------------------

Prix Arts=20 Electronica: To mark its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2004,=20 Ars

Electronica=20 has expanded its international competition for cyberarts to include a = new=20 category called "Digital Communities." =20 The category encompasses the wide-ranging social consequences of = the=20 Internet as well as the latest developments in the domain of mobile=20 communications and wireless networks. =20 40,000 Euro in prize money will be awarded to six exemplary = initiatives=20 that are furthering the development of an Open Society.  The deadline for submissions = is March=20 26, 2004.  For more = information=20 visit http://www.aec.at/en/prix/in= dex.asp

 

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CALL FOR=20 PAPERS: =20

The=20 Community Informatics Research Network Inc. (CIRN) calls for papers to = its 2004=20 Inaugural Conference and Colloquium with the overall theme, = 'Sustainability and=20 Community Technology: What Does this Mean for Community Informatics?, at = the=20 Monash Centre, Prato, Italy, 29 September - 1 October, 2004. www.ciresearch.net/prato2004=

 

 

Papers=20 (full length for blind peer review and discussion or position papers) = from=20 researchers and practitioners are invited. Possible topics=20 include:

  • Defining=20 'sustainability' in a community technology context: is it an adequate = concept?=20 What are its meanings and how are they = relevant?=20
  • Are=20 there alternate concepts, which are more practicable, and how are they = linked=20 to the life of communities and community = networking?=20
  • Sustainability=20 and the Digital Divide: Friend or Foe?=20
  • The=20 political economy of community technology sustainability: dependency = on=20 government, and funders' understanding of=20 'sustainability'=20
  • Community=20 Technology Sustainability in different spheres: developed, developing=20 countries: are    =20 there universal principles?=20
  • The=20 sustainability criteria of national and international financial = institutions=20 and donors: Explanations and Critiques=20
  • Indigenous=20 and first nations people and the sustainability of community=20 networks=20
  • Gendered=20 technology and the sustainability of community=20 networks=20
  • Is there=20 a connection between sustainability and 'social=20 capital'?=20
  • Time,=20 virtual space, geography and network = sustainability=20
  • Power=20 relationships in networking and their impact on=20 sustainability=20
  • The=20 policy dimensions (dementia) of = sustainability=20

 

 

## A=20 special issue of Community Informatics: A Global E-Journal will be = prepared as=20 part of this event and contributors to the event will be encouraged to = submit=20 their papers for either the peer-reviewed or the commentary section of = the=20 journal.

 

Please=20 submit your 2-page application by 1 April 2004 to: Marcus Foth at m.foth@qut.edu.au=20

------------

 

CALL FOR=20 PROPOSALS

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THE THIRD=20 RESEARCH ON KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS (ROKS) = COMPETITION

DEADLINE:  MARCH = 26

 

"Understanding=20 the Social and Public Policy Dimensions of Transformative=20

Technologies=20 in the South"

The=20 Research on Knowledge Systems (RoKS) initiative of the International = Development=20 Research Centre (IDRC) in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation=20 <www.rockfound.org> is launching a competition to support research = on the=20 social equity and public policy challenges of transformative = technologies faced=20 by developing countries. The focus is on how social equity and the human = condition is being affected by emerging technologies, as well as on what = mechanisms and learning processes are in place or have been developed to = assist=20 governments and public stakeholder groups engaged in the decision-making = processes associated with these new technologies. We recognize that new=20 knowledge is not neutral and is embedded in specific social contexts; it = can=20 offer opportunity, but can also constrain human  = activity.

 

 

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OTHER=20 ANNOUNCEMENTS

----------

 

The latest=20 issue of the Southern African Journal of Information and Communication = in now=20 available.  It = demonstrates the=20 research benefits of our association with prominent international = academics. In=20 this issue Professor Dale Hatfield has written a stimulating paper on = Spectrum=20 Commons, and Vodacom Visiting Professor William Melody has again = published his=20 annual address on The Next Generation Internet and Its Governance.  He has also worked with local = LINK=20 associates and staff to present a fascinating assessment of The = Significance of=20 the VANS Sector. =20

 

More=20 information http://link.wits.ac.za/

 

 

DATABASE

----------------

The=20 CINSA portal will soon publish a database of community ICTs, ICT = practitioners=20 and ICT service providers, if you wish to appear on this valuable = publicity=20 resource, please email cinsa@sangonet.org.za

 

 

**************

If you=20 would like any of the items mentioned in this newsletter and have no = access to=20 the Internet, please email cinsainfo-owner@lists.sn.apc.org = including the=20 title of the item you wish to receive. =20

 

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To=20 unsubscribe or change subscription details, email cinsainfo-owner@lists.sn.apc.org

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