May 2007 - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] Media Bill
by Wainaina Mungai 05 Jun '07

05 Jun '07

This debate is now on the right track thanks to Brian, Alice, Dr. Ndemo and Bill; I would ask that the government to consider a structure that gives the media representatives greater visibility in the Media Council and the Advisory Board e.g. having the Chairperson as a member selected by the media or a different model that makes them bodies more "media". Hoping we can all now work to protect the media from government extremes (as the case of Citizen Radio/TV) and protect the people of Kenya from the extremes of a lawless media (as was in the case of blackout given to Martha Karua/Water Ministry and many others). Neither side should be using threats or propaganda. --- Wainaina Mungai Made in Kenya Network P. O. Box 72031 - 00200 Nairobi. Kenya. Tel: +254-20-780669 Cell: + 254-722-811171 http://www.madeinkenya.org/ or Community Access Point (Subukia) subukia(a)madeinkenya.org http://www.madeinkenya.org/projects/ictother.php > -------Original Message------- > From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Media Bill > Sent: 21 May '07 22:26 > > Dear all > > In my opinion, the justification for our media bill would be the policy > vacuum in the media sector and an outdated existing legislative > framework characterised by often times conflicting laws with regards to > the access and dissemination of information. > > Therefore the presence of an implementable legislative framework allows > for the establishment of, for example, professional bodies, which > would monitor professional and ethical conduct and practices, while > protecting consumers. The media sector, I am sure does agree that the > absence of self and or co-regulatory measures in the sector would and > has resulted in many governments, ours included, to consider applying > sometimes unfavorable/draconian regulatory measures (we have seen this > played out in in various aspects/instances) in order to protect Kenyans > rights to dignity, privacy, etc > > I would agree and join Brian in urging the media and all stakeholders > including consumer networks to, quoting Brian, " take hold of the > olive leaf extended by this government - and the goodwill that is > present at the Ministry - and ensure that we have a good if not a great > Media Act" > > > > best > alice > Note: The above comment are entirely personal and do not reflect any > position of the organisations I am affiliated with. > > > Brian Longwe wrote: > > To all, > > > > I would like to take a little bit of your "airtime" and lay down a > > slightly different perspective with regards to the Media Bill that is > > under discussion. (Although my comments relate to any Bill that is > > put before Parliament.) > > > > First and foremost my personal position is that I welcome the move to > > put a law in place that governs the 4th estate. On a recent radio > > input I emphasized that any sector law has two sides to it: > > 1) It defines and protects a particular constituent group e.g. > > Communications Industry (Communications Act '98), Childrens Bill etc... > > 2) It protects society and the Kenyan populace in general from harm > > caused by the parties covered under the Act/Bill > > > > Therefore taking these two elements into consideration I would > > encourage that the media fraternity (and all other stakeholders) take > > this opportunity to engage with the process and ensure that we put in > > place a good if not excellent law/Act. > > > > I will give a short story to illustrate my point: > > > > In 1997, the Kenya Communications Bill was published - it aimed to > > regulate, govern and facilitate the growth and development of the > > communications sector. For those of you who recall, the first draft > > was a nightmare and if that is what eventually became the law - we > > would still be living in the dark ages of blind control. > > > > There was a lot of activity surrounding this bill. I remember a > > number of public forum discussions that sought to provide government > > with opportunity to shed light on some of the less clearer parts of > > the bill (i.e. most of it) but also to hear from the public and > > stakeholders what their views and opinions were. The Institute of > > Economic Affairs played a key role in a number of these fora. > > > > Eventually it became abundantly clear that there was a lot of talk > > but very little action. So a group of non-profits, Insitute of > > Economic Affairs, Econews, FemNet and East African Internet > > Association got together and went clause by clause through the draft > > and came up with a very comprehensive set of submissions that > > addressed what we felt were the key/crucial parts of the Bill. > > > > As many of you know, in the commonwealth law system any bill of > > parliament must go through a series of readings. This allows both > > fellow parliamentarians as well as the public to provide input along > > the process. Public input into the process is normally handled by a > > select committee of parliamentarians who are responsible for > > capturing and channeling the inputs into the process and where > > necessary making amendements/changes to the draft. > > > > In our case, we made an appointment to see the House committe - at > > the time chaired by Hon. Shem Ochuodho - and the Chair of the EAIA at > > the. Mr. Suchindranath Aiyer then presented the paper to the House > > Committee. At the end of the presentation our group was > > unceremoniously thrown out (paper, submissions and all). I guess that > > was the governance style of the day (read - KANU). > > > > Nevertheless we didn't give up and decided to use all means possible > > to "squeeze" in our submissions. There were breakfast, lunches and > > cocktails held for parliamentarians - none of which seemed to yield > > much. Eventually it was too late - the Bill had gone for 2nd reading > > - and passed without any changes - now only the Minister and > > President could make any changes. But we didn't give up..... > > > > At the end of the day we were able to find a way of getting the draft > > to the then Minister - Hon. Ntimama. He read through our comments, > > understood all of them and passed them to the Attorney General to > > incorporate. The Kenya Communications Act '98 - which has governed > > our communications sector for the past 9 years consists of almost > > every single point that we had in our draft. As an individual I will > > always have respect and admiration for Ntimama - he was truly > > concerned and focused on this role. > > > > I have told this long story to make one strong point. As a country we > > need good laws to ensure that not only our present - but our future > > and that of our children can be brighter than our present. I would > > strongly encourage the media and all other stakeholders to take hold > > of the olive leaf extended by this government - and the goodwill that > > is present at the Ministry - and ensure that we have a good if not a > > great Media Act. > > > > Regards, > > > > Brian > > > > > > > > On May 21, 2007, at 10:14 AM, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: > > > > > >> Dear All, > >> I feel compelled to respond to Kanja's surprising response to the > >> Media > >> Bill. Media especially MOA has decided to distort information with > >> blatant > >> disregard of a journalist's cardinal rule (objectivity) to poison the > >> People of Kenya with lies and propaganda; > >> > >> Here are the Facts > >> . > >> The Bill was drafted by stakeholders among then Kanja himself; > >> The content especially on the code of conduct for journalist were > >> transposed from the current code of conduct with the Media Council; > >> All stakeholders were kept informed throughout the stages of the > >> Bill > >> and Kanja as the former Chair of MOA received letters informing him > >> of the > >> progress; > >> The Bill does not seek to control, it simply gives some teeth to the > >> Media council to regulate professional journalists; > >> Regulation is not control (think, we all are free to drive but we > >> must > >> drive on the left hand side); > >> Without regulation you have quacks as journalists who may plunge the > >> country into chaos (just listen to Venacular FM stations to > >> understand why > >> we need professionalism in Journalism and remember what happened > >> with Hope > >> FM); > >> The controversy in the Bill arises from funding. MOA and KUJ did > >> not > >> want to fund the Advisory Board and the Media Council instead they > >> asked > >> the Government to finance; and > >> Government funding comes with certain strings as you all > >> understand and > >> even if you were to fund you will expect the recipient to adhere to > >> certain rules (we have gone through this with the World Bank even > >> though > >> we did not like it). > >> > >> > >> Bitange Ndemo > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> ---------------------------------------------- > >> This message has been scanned for viruses and > >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > >> believed to be clean. > >> --------------------------------------------- > >> "easy access to the world" > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/ > >> mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40isisweb.nl > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40apc.org > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org >

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MediaBill2007.pdf - Adobe Reader]
by alice 04 Jun '07

04 Jun '07

Hi all See attached the media bill currently under discussion in PDF format. best alice

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Apple TV + YouTube = What's Next
by Alex Gakuru 31 May '07

31 May '07

[BusinessWeek.com] Top News May 31, 2007, 10:06PM EST Google and Apple's deal to show video clips is a major step in the race to bring Net entertainment to TV by Arik Hesseldahl <snip> In the high-stakes race to bring Internet entertainment from the PC to the TV, Apple and Google were already at the head of the pack. By joining forces, the electronics maker and search giant just extended their lead. On May 30, Apple (AAPL) Chief Executive Steve Jobs said Apple TV, the company's newly introduced device that transmits digital entertainment to television sets, will begin carrying clips from Google's (GOOG) YouTube. For Apple, the addition of content from an already popular video-sharing site could help sell more Apple TV units, says Tim Bajarin, president of technology consultant Creative Strategies. "With YouTube, [Jobs] might have struck a new nerve and in the process gotten more interest," he says. Big Plans And it's likely to be a harbinger of future cooperation between the two companies, especially considering their existing ties. "You can't rule out more collaboration," Bajarin says. Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Google adviser Al Gore sit on Apple's board of directors. The companies have a history of collaboration. A Google Maps application, complete with satellite photos, was one of the headline features Jobs demonstrated when he first unveiled the iPhone in January (see BusinessWeek.com, 1/10/07, "The Future of Apple"). <snip> <http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2007/tc20070530_192371.ht…> --------------------------------- Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!

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[Fwd: Re: [Idlelo2] M$ Vendor Lockin In Kenyan Schools]
by alice 31 May '07

31 May '07

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Idlelo2] M$ Vendor Lockin In Kenyan Schools Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 15:00:27 +0200 From: Derek Keats <dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za> Reply-To: dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za Organization: University of the Western Cape To: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)kenet.or.ke> CC: idlelo2(a)fossfa.net References: <1180342013.14919.6.camel@dkeats-laptop> <57593.212.49.74.175.1180505214.squirrel(a)mail.kenet.or.ke> Another way to view the same information...... Microsoft pulls marketing coup in Kenya School children in Kenya will grow up dependent on foreign-created proprietary software, transferring the innovation transactions arising from educational use of technology out of Africa to the developed world thanks to the latest marketing Coup from license vendor Microsoft. The digital freedom of Kenyan children has been given away in this manner in the misguided belief that free licenses will give more access to computer technology. Microsoft Corporation pulled off the coup by playing on the ignorance of the Ministry of Education about alternatives to Microsoft licenses that provide as good or better access to software while respecting the freedom of Kenyan school children. Higher education education institutions are also to be victims of the ploy to gain control of future markets for licenses to Microsoft software. Under the arrangement, Microsoft will work with organisations currently in charge of supplying computers to the institutions to first install the programmes on the machines, thus creating its future customers with the bulk of the cost of this marketing being born by the victims. Learning institutions in the developing world have often avoided becoming marketing victims to license vendors such as Microsoft because of license fees that are locally unaffordable. Lacking awareness of the long term implications, it seems that education institutions in countries such as Kenya are easy prey to this latest marketing strategy from one of the world's most predatory near-monopolies. With the free licenses, schools can use the computer technology to create the next generation of unfree dependents and customers for Microsoft licenses among teachers and students. This type of loss leader is common among companies entering a new market. Mr Mark East, the general manager for Microsoft’s International Education Solutions Group, said the main drive for offering the fees waiver was the lack of computer uptake in the region’s education system. He made no mention of the tremendous marketing value for Microsoft of this ploy, nor did he mention the cost to Africa of transferring all of its innovation transactions out of the continent. Mr East said the company learnt a lesson from Ghana, where an attempt to use school teachers to market Microsoft licenses to school children ran into trouble. “In Ghana our approach first was to build capacity for teachers but we came to learn that even after training the teachers they still didn’t have this basic tool—the computer,” he said. His words somehow create the impression that having access to software without cost, which is also available in the form of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), somehow leads to the de novo generation of computers. It remains unclear how this de novo computer generation works, but perhaps Steve Balmer will come and invoke some form of hitherto unknown magic. On Wed, 2007-05-30 at 09:06 +0300, Dorcas Muthoni wrote: > Microsoft waives software license fees for schools > > Schools in Kenya will have more access to computer technology, with a > free license deal from the world’s leading software producer. > Microsoft Corporation forged the deal through the Ministry of Education > to allow local schools and higher education institutions to use the > company’s software free of charge. > Under the arrangement, Microsoft will work with organisations currently in > charge of supplying computers to the institutions to first install the > programmes on the machines . > Learning institutions in the developing world have often been held back > from using legitimate copies of common software such as Microsoft’s > Windows operating system and Office application suite because of license > fees that are locally unaffordable. > > With the free licenses, schools can use the computer technology to build > capacity among teachers and students. > Mr Mark East, the general manager for Microsoft’s International Education > Solutions Group, said the main drive for offering the fees waiver, was the > lack of computer uptake in the region’s education system. > > Mr East said the company learnt a lesson from Ghana, where its approach to > increasing computer usage in schools ran into trouble. > “In Ghana our approach first was to build capacity for teachers but we > came to learn that even after training the teachers they still didn’t have > this basic tool—the computer,” he said. > > More>> > http://bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1232&Itemid=4… > > > _______________________________________________ > Idlelo2 mailing list > Idlelo2(a)fossfa.net > http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2 -- ------------------- Prof Derek W. Keats Executive Director, Information and Communication Services The University of the Western Cape, P. Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa Email: dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za Skype: dkeats Yahoo: derekkeats Web: http://ics.uwc.ac.za http://avoir.uwc.ac.za http://digitalfreedom.uwc.ac.za Ph +27 21 959 2304 Cell +27 82 787 0169 Fax: +27 21 959 1201

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[Fwd: Submit your paper today - 2nd Annual Connecting Rural Communities Africa Forum]
by alice 31 May '07

31 May '07

2nd Annual Connecting Rural Communities Africa Forum 2007: Bridging the digital divide through sustainable ICT connectivity 21- 24 August, Grand Regency, Nairobi, Kenya HOSTED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION OF KENYA www.cto.int <http://mailer.eddiction.co.uk/_webscripts/emaillog.php?789c4b49ca4cb135b254…> Dear Colleague, Come and network with ICT giants from Africa and beyond, hear African Ministers perspectives on bridging the digital divide and understand best practices for delivering universal ICT access across rural Africa. You are personally invited to share your insight, expertise and practical experience at Africa's leading forum which analyses proven strategies for bridging the digital divide through sustainable ICT connectivity. If you would like to contribute to this forum as speaker please contact Mani Rai by email (m.kaur-rai(a)cto.int <http://mailer.eddiction.co.uk/_webscripts/emaillog.php?789c458b410a80300c04…>) today to discuss speaker opportunities. Presentation topics you may wish to cover:- Optimal regulation strategies to promote rural connectivity Creating the right environment to attract foreign investment How to best harness and utilise ICT to deliver socio-economic benefits to rural communities Analyse current projects which seek to bridge the digital divide The opportunity to advance rural connectivity through mobile, internet and satellite and enhance access to key services, content and applications Speaker Faculty Includes: Hon. Dr. Maua Daftari, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure, Tanzania Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Mr. Michael Joseph, Chief Executive Officer, Safaricom Mr. Vitalis Olunga, Chair, GSM Africa Interest Group Mr. William Hearmon, Chairman, African CDMA Forum Dr. Bashir Gwandu, Director, Nigeria Communications Commission Mr. Wilson Muyenzi, Project Manager - eRwanda Project, Rwanda Information Technology Authority Mr. Kevit Desai, Director of Engineering Centurion Systems, and ICT Governor, Kenya Private Sector Alliance Mr. Rauno Granath, Head of New Growth Markets, Nokia Siemens Network Dr. Richard Gakuba, e-Health Co-ordinator, King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda Mr. Amadou Diallo, Division Manager for Energy and ICT, African Development Bank Dr. Hashim Twaakyondo, Director, African Virtual University Senior Representative, Ericsson Speakers subject to final confirmation: Hon. Min. Mutahi Kagwe, M.P. Mukurweini, Minister for Information and Communications, Kenya Engr John N Waweru, Director General, Communications Commission of Kenya We hope you will join us. Yours sincerely, Mani Rai Click here to unsubscribe <http://mailer.eddiction.co.uk/_webscripts/emaillog.php?789c1d8a3b0a80301005…>

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did u know elearning conference is in town?
by Rebecca Wanjiku 30 May '07

30 May '07

E-learning experts in town For the last two days, Safari Park hotel has been abuzz with techies, government representatives and e-learning advocates comparing notes. Its the second e-learning Africa conference and from the choice of the venue, its not a place for ordinary men and women to just walk in and participate in sessions, or exhibitions. Oops! Did I forget to say that you need about sh 22,000 to get in? Yes, it is the participation fee. How many people can afford the fee? Who are the people who need to know much about e-learning opportunities and appreciate the technology out there? From the ambience, this is not a place for the poor chaps with bad breath and brown teeth. If anything, they may just as well suggest that the fee is better off in their pockets than with conference organizers. For instance, the press room has no computers because it is assumed that the local journalists and bloggers would use their laptops, and take advantage of the wireless hotspot. Reuben Kyama, a local journalist, could only say we are sending a message when asked why there is no properly equipped press room or area for bloggers and journalists. So, who are the real winners in this conference? Ends Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!

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M$ Vendor Lockin In Kenyan Schools
by Dorcas Muthoni 30 May '07

30 May '07

Microsoft waives software license fees for schools Schools in Kenya will have more access to computer technology, with a free license deal from the world's leading software producer. Microsoft Corporation forged the deal through the Ministry of Education to allow local schools and higher education institutions to use the company's software free of charge. Under the arrangement, Microsoft will work with organisations currently in charge of supplying computers to the institutions to first install the programmes on the machines . Learning institutions in the developing world have often been held back from using legitimate copies of common software such as Microsoft's Windows operating system and Office application suite because of license fees that are locally unaffordable. With the free licenses, schools can use the computer technology to build capacity among teachers and students. Mr Mark East, the general manager for Microsoft's International Education Solutions Group, said the main drive for offering the fees waiver, was the lack of computer uptake in the region's education system. Mr East said the company learnt a lesson from Ghana, where its approach to increasing computer usage in schools ran into trouble. "In Ghana our approach first was to build capacity for teachers but we came to learn that even after training the teachers they still didn't have this basic tool—the computer," he said. More >> http://bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1232&Itemid=4…

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[Fwd: (Fwd) Needed: Experts for Incubator Business Management and Support
by alice 30 May '07

30 May '07

------- Forwarded message follows ------- To: Jane Møller Larsen <jml(a)ict.danishmanagement.dk> Subject: Needed: Experts for Incubator Business Management and Support Incubator Business Management and Support (IGAD/Horn of Africa) From: Jane Møller Larsen <jml(a)ict.danishmanagement.dk> Date sent: Tue, 29 May 2007 12:14:24 +0200 Keywords: Dear Sir/Madam, Please also distribute this to personal contacts and networks where you believe that experts could find interest in this. Thank you in advance. ______________________________________ ______________________________ We are presently looking for experts who have an interest in the following position: Project title: Incubator Business Management and Support (IGAD/Horn of Africa) Application deadline: Friday 1 June 2007 Contract duration: 60 man-days Company: Danish Management A/S (http://www.danishmanagement.dk/) for the RICTSP/COMESA (and for this specific assignment IGAD). ______________________________________ ______________________________ General information: The objective: To assist local Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the IGAD countries to integrate ICT tools in their daily business operations, by improving the availability of e-business solutions specifically adapted to their needs, in order to promote e-business cooperation among them and thereby increase economic integration in the region and thus enhance growth and competitiveness. Scope of work: The incubator project will cover all IGAD countries which National Working Groups are established and have finalized their country strategies for incubator project development. At this time these countries are: Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan. In subsequent calls, however, it is anticipated that all countries covered by the IGAD programme Estimate, namely, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan will have fulfilled the requirements for accessing the grant. The Short Term Expert will provide business incubation support services and project management support as follows: Develop an IGAD regional and national strategies for implementing incubator projects; Based on EDF procedures, review and refine the call for proposals (using EDF rules and procedures) taking into account the proposed regional and national strategies; Publish the Call for Proposals and respond to queries concerning the call for proposals especially with regard to the EDF rules and procedures; Receive the applications and conduct all necessary administrative evaluation; Review and refine the evaluation criteria; Consititute the application evaluation team and conduct preliminary meetings to familiarize them with the evaluation criteria; Facilitate the application evaluation meeting and collect results of the application evaluation for collating. Submit the results of the evaluation with recommendations to the RAO for the winning applications. On approval of winning applicants, award the grant and conduct preliminary meetings with the grantees to evaluate the relevance of the business plans and assist them to refine them and commit to targets and reporting periods. Monitor implementation of the projects providing support and any training deemed relevant to the projects; Evaluate the projects and produce Report on Incubator Activities in IGAD. Results: 1. IGAD Incubator Project implementation strategy. 2. Speedy implementation of the Call for Proposals. 3. Efficient administration of the Grants provided. 4. Incubator Project Monitoring and Evaluation Reports. Total amount of man-days: 60 Regions/Countries to visit: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia (Kenya) Estimated contract start: 1 September 2007 Profiles of the Experts: Education: Masters/University degree in either Business Management or Business Information Systems, or similar relevant education. Skills and Specialism: The Short Term Expert must have experience in business planning, application of ICT in business development and have familiarity working with NGOs, Government agencies, business entrepreneurs and business associations. The Short Term Expert will be specialized in working with EDF procedures. Experience: The Short Term Expert must have at least 10 years of progressive working experience in the business and ICT sub-sector. Working experience with incubator projects and EDF procedures in the ESA region will be an added advantage. Language: The short-term expert will have an excellent command of English with good report writing skills. Knowledge of French will be an added advantage. Eligibility (who can apply?): EU citizens and citizens from: Angola, Burundi, DR Congo, Malawi, Rwanda, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan AND citizens of the ACP member states: http://www.acpsec.org/en/acp_states.htm Background information: Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD): http://www.igad.org/ COMESA: http://www.comesa.int/ Business Incubation; Promoting ICT-Enabled Entrepreneurship: http://www.infodev.org/en/Topic.8.html UNIDO SME Panel during the WSIS: http://www.unido.org/doc/19585 INTERNET BUSINESS CENTRES SPRING UP ACROSS THE CONTINENT: http://www.balancingact- africa.com/news/back/balancing-act52.html Please find ToR enclosed If you find the position of interest and your - or one of your proposed expert's - profile complies with the stated criteria, please contact us immediately and send us a short professional presentation of yourself and an updated CV with relevant similar experience (stating your age, nationality, languages spoken, education and exactly in what you are an expert). Send your application to: ictjobs(a)danishmanagement.dk. NB: Only short-listed candidates will receive notice. Contact person: Jane Moeller Larsen Danish Management A/S Margretheholmsvej 2 1432 Copenhagen, Denmark Phone: +45 70 200 298 Direct: +45 35 250 655 Kind regards, Jane Moller Larsen ------- End of forwarded message ------- ------------------------------------------------------ Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director Association for Progressive Communications anriette(a)apc.org http://www.apc.org PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109 Tel. 27 11 726 1692 Fax 27 11 726 1692

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intellectual property article
by Rebecca Wanjiku 29 May '07

29 May '07

Friends of Development May Narrow WIPO Development Agenda Proposals By William New The developing countries that in 2004 proposed an agenda for reform of the World Intellectual Property Organization toward stronger consideration of developing country needs are exploring a compromise in advance of the next WIPO meeting on the issue, according to government sources. About 70 proposals, some seen as far-reaching, are slated for consideration at the 11-15 June Provisional Committee on Proposals Related to a WIPO Development Agenda (PCDA). Informal discussion by the Friends of Development about refining the proposals is being received positively by other governments, several officials from non-Friends nations said. An informal non-paper, was recently filed with the WIPO secretariat and circulated to regional groups for discussion. The Friends are 15 countries, supported by others, seeking substantive changes to WIPOs mandate. The confidential non-paper is intended to present a way forward and make the remaining proposals more manageable, according to an official from a Friends of Development country. It contains about 24 proposals, including to renew the mandate of the PCDA for two years to monitor implementation and continue negotiations. We merged similar proposals, softened the language on some we knew were difficult to achieve consensus on, the official said. The idea is to retain as much substance as possible without having to undergo excessive negotiation on the rhetoric of it. We want to facilitate consensus and see if we can move forward. Other important issues will be what happens next, including ensuring accepted proposals are actually worked into WIPOs programme and budget process. Possible suggestions include strengthening national capacity to: ensure a balance between protecting intellectual property rights and acting in the public interest, protect local innovations, and monitor legislative assistance given by WIPO, a source said. Other possible proposals, the source said, include: asking WIPO to consider ways to help smaller economies increase their access to medicines and food; negotiating an international instrument for protecting traditional knowledge and genetic resources; preserving and boosting access to material in the public domain; and considering a way within WIPO to discuss new ideas to promote innovation, including open collaborative projects that might lead to public goods. Still other possibilities would address exceptions and limitations to international IP rules, technology transfer, prevention of anti-competitive practices, and ways of measuring the impact of WIPO treaties on all countries. The June meeting will be the second and last this year before recommendations go to the September-October annual WIPO General Assembly. The assembly will decide how to proceed on the proposed development agenda, but there has been a sense that substantive progress should be made this year if discussions are to continue. The first meeting, in February, saw agreement on a package of less-controversial proposals (IPW, WIPO, 23 February 2007). We want to be constructive, the Friends official said. The outcome should be measured by the qualitative breadth and scope of the agreed content, not by a mere mathematical total count of agreed recommendations. William New may be reached at wnew(a)ip-watch.ch. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- TV dinner still cooling? Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.

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MOBILE PHONES REVOLUTIONIZE AFRICAN BANKING
by alice 28 May '07

28 May '07

From Balancing Act MOBILE PHONES REVOLUTIONIZE AFRICAN BANKING Mobile phone banking is expanding across the region from South Africa to Kenya and is putting the poor directly in control of their own finances like never before. In Africa, traditional banking is not a viable option for many of the poor and those living in rural areas. High fees, low education and literacy, as well as long distances between banking facilities get in the way of simple transactions. According to the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), an estimated 80 percent of those living in the United Nations-designated least developed countries (LDCs) are unbanked. However, technologies like mobile phone banking are contributing to overcoming these constraints. Only 1 billion of the world`s 6.5 billion people have bank accounts, according to CGAP, yet about 3 billion have mobile phones. CGAP figures these new technologies will open the door to more than 2 billion people worldwide who currently do not have access to banking services. Thanks to a $26 million partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched in February, CGAP hopes to discover how to best use technology to deliver banking services to the poor around the world and "make it possible for people anywhere, anytime, to have access to all kinds of financial services," says Elizabeth Littlefield, chief executive officer of CGAP. "Poor people are very willing to use mobile phones as a basis for moving money around. In places like the Congo, mobile phones are used to transfer money around the country, circumventing the banking system as well as the more traditional money transfer," she said. According to Gautam Ivatury, a microfinance specialist and manager of the CGAP technology program, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone, there are an estimated 3 million mobile phones yet only 20,000 bank accounts, indicating a huge potential for mobile banking. The bottleneck in delivering microfinance services such as savings accounts, money transfers, and loans to the poor has been the cost of "making tiny little transactions" in sometimes rural areas using traditional banking practices. Yet mobile phones and other technology can cut the cost of such transactions and make widespread microfinance economically feasible. (SOURCE: AGOP)

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