April 2010 - KICTANet

FW: World Bank Frees Up Development Data
by Edith Adera 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

This might be of interest ============== World Bank Frees Up Development Data data.worldbank.org Bank Group offers free access to more than 2,000 financial, business, health, economic and human development statistics via a new website: data.worldbank.org. An initial 330 indicators are available in French, Spanish and Arabic. Experts say open access policy will foster innovation, support evidence-based policymaking April 20, 2010-The World Bank Group said today it will offer free access to more than 2,000 financial, business, health, economic and human development statistics that had mostly been available only to paying subscribers. The decision─part of a larger effort to increase access to information at the World Bank─means that researchers, journalists, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), entrepreneurs and school children alike will be able to tap into the World Bank's databases via a new website, data.worldbank.org. Experts say the Bank's open data initiative has the potential to stimulate more evidence-based policymaking in developing countries by bringing more researchers and innovative analysis into the development process. The move is also likely to stimulate demand for data and increase countries' capacity to produce it, they say. And, for the first time, data will be available in languages other than English, with an initial 330 indicators translated into French, Spanish and Arabic. "It's important to make the data and knowledge of the World Bank available to everyone," World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick said. "Statistics tell the story of people in developing and emerging countries and can play an important part in helping to overcome poverty." --- You are currently subscribed to ipdet as: csinha(a)idrc.ca To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-2526524-8408522.36ba67c18ba0fc70726bd9e5e78bbe2c(a)lists.worldbank.org Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank --- You are currently subscribed to ict4d-futures as: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ict4d-futures-75952T(a)dgroups.idrc.ca

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Networking sites fail to protect children from, abuse, says CEOP head
by alice 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

Networking sites fail to protect children from abuse, says CEOP head Adam Fresco Social networking sites including MySpace and Facebook are leaving l children vulnerable to abuse from paedophiles by refusing to embed a free online safety button on their sites allowing users to report abuse, according to the senior policeman responsible for child protection online. Jim Gamble, head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) which devised the “report button”, has launched an unprecedented attack on the sites saying that it is time for them to stop hiding behind excuses and put their money where their mouth issign up to its free abuse button. After years of trying to get them to use CEOP’s free abuse button, which links children and teenagers to advice sites for bullying or abuse, as well as directing them to counsellors and law enforcement staff, Mr Gamble said that he had had enough of their “red herrings”. Yesterday Bebo announced that it would be using the CEOP button. In the past three years 5,000 investigations have been initiated because of information received from someone using the button and 800 arrests made. Mr Gamble said: “We want to see the big sites doing the same thing. We have spoken to some of them and they are trying to pull relationships with CEOP closer to the surface but that is not good enough. “We give them the button to put on every page. Will children be safer? Yes. If you have not got this button, the question is why not. “We are saying it’s time to up your game and stop hiding behind red herrings of technical difficulties. We have to draw a line in the sand and do the right thing and if you don’t we will continue to badger and demand these environments are made safer." He said he did not accept any of the rhetoric about technical difficulties. Mr Gamble said: “If you wanted to put a tiny advert in, see how technically difficult that would be! “We want a visible deterrent and reassurance and a button that tells children ‘you are only one click away from advice (and) help’.” He argued that any referrals from the links are monitored by CEOP free of charge and so does not put any pressure on staff of networking sites. Sir Hugh Orde, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said that he would encourage other sites to copy Bebo and embed the CEOP Report button. Mr Gamble added that he was worried that some of the social networking sites were so big that he had no influence over them at all, so was instead appealing to the people that occupied senior positions in the “multimillion dollar companies to do the right thing for the right reasons”. “What they sacrifice is space for advertising. It is easy to say the right thing but this is about demonstrable leadership.” Asked if the social networking sites were putting children at risk, he said: “If you are a paedophile or someone that goes out to engage children under false pretences and bullies them into meeting in the real world, are you going to want to go into an environment where you know there is an online partnernship with law enforcement or an environment with no visible partnership? “If it was me I know where I would go. If you are a burglar and go down a road of big houses that are all identical, do you burgle the ones with an alarm or without? From The Times His purpose was to deter paedophiles from entering social networking sites. “Children deserve protection because they are vulnerable.” Agreeing that he was speaking about MySpace and Facebook, he added: “There are one or two very large social networking sites that encourage children to frequent these environments because it generates millions in advertising revenue. “The time has come for these few organisations to catch up with the rest. There is a duty of care and responsibility that must lie with a few social networking sites that have not done what others have done and put child safety first. “I know Facebook and MySpace have teams of people trying to protect children, I don’t understand why they don’t accept professional support from credible sources with access to law enforcement with executive authority.” Richard Allan, Director of Policy for Facebook, said that the company was having ongoing discussions with CEOP to find the best way to protect its users. He said that his site had automated systems to detect unusual behaviour from users and anyone seeking to “befriend someone else for unpleasant purposes” would be warned or banned. It also had its own automated reporting system. One of the practical issues it had was that a lot of the complaints would not be relevant to CEOP. “Clearly CEOP do not want that traffic and that is a practical issue we have. Our interest is absolutely about creating a safe environment, that is our bread and butter.” A spokesman for MySpace said: “The safety of users is of paramount importance to MySpace. We have robust procedures in place to protect young people on our site, and worked directly and closely with CEOP to establish our Report Abuse processes in the UK. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with CEOP in the future.” Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement. Times Online Services:

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UNDESA 2010 Report on egovernance
by Dandjinou Pierre 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

FYI, Now available from UN DESA Web site: http://www.unpan.org/egovernment.asp The 2010 United Nations e-Government Survey: Leveraging e-government at a time of financial and economic crisis was completed in December 2009 and launched in early 2010. The report presented various roles for e-government in addressing the ongoing world financial and economic crisis. The public trust that is gained through transparency can be further enhanced through the free sharing of government data based on open standards. The ability of e-government to handle speed and complexity can also underpin regulatory reform. While technology is no substitute for good policy, it may give citizens the power to question the actions of regulators and bring systemic issues to the fore. Similarly, e-government can add agility to public service delivery to help governments respond to an expanded set of demands even as revenues fall short. Since the last edition of the survey, in 2008, governments have made great strides in development of online services, especially in middle-income countries. The costs associated with telecommunication infrastructure and human capital continue to impede e-government development. However, effective strategies and legal frameworks can compensate significantly, even in least developed countries. Those who are able to harness the potential of expanded broadband access in developed regions and mobile cellular networks in developing countries to advance the UN development agenda have much to gain going forward. Pierre Dandjinou eGovernance Advisor Strategic Consulting Group www.scg.bj

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Eassy completes final splice
by McTim 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

Eassy completes final splice By Paul Vecchiatto, ITWeb Cape Town correspondent Johannesburg, 20 Apr 2010 Construction of the East Africa Submarine Cable System (Eassy) was completed yesterday, with the northern and southern halves spliced together at sea early yesterday morning. A statement issued by the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), Eassy's largest shareholder, says the so-called "final splice" took place a few days ahead of schedule, at 4am on Monday. The installation phase of the project, which started in Maputo, Mozambique, in December 2009, was completed on board the cable-laying vessel, Ile de Batz, in the Indian Ocean, just off the east African coast. Chris Wood, CEO of WIOCC, says: "Now that this critical stage of the project has been completed successfully and ahead of time, we will start system testing almost immediately. Once this is finalised, we are looking forward to connecting our first customers to the network from July 2010. "At WIOCC, we are also working with our shareholders to deliver high-speed, fibre-optic connectivity, not just to the Eassy landing stations, but deep into the interior of Africa. This will enable us to satisfy the growing customer demand for end-to-end service and provide improved geographic reach." Connectivity to Europe "A key difference between Eassy and other sub-Saharan systems is that our system will deliver connectivity to Europe, via a direct route through the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea," says WIOCC CTO Ryan Sher, chairman of Eassy's Technical Working Group. "Eassy will be the first east coast system to connect directly to Europe, minimising the time taken for traffic from Africa to reach the key Internet peering points in Europe and North America, and vice-versa." Sher says the vast majority of international traffic is IP- and Internet-based, and with most African traffic destined for Europe and the US, where the most popular content and applications are located, the ability to deliver content faster gives Eassy and its customers a competitive edge in the market. "Other east coast systems use longer routes, via the Middle East or India; our optimised routing means that we are able to offer the lowest latency service to our customers," Sher says. James Wekesa, WIOCC's chief commercial officer, says: "At WIOCC, we are offering connectivity from as little as 2Mbps for one month, up to multiple Gbps wavelengths for the lifetime of the system, thereby levelling the playing field for small, medium and large organisations." http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32376:e… -- Cheers, McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel

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Project Universal subtitles
by alice 20 Apr '10

20 Apr '10

A very interesting project has been launched: Universal Subtitles (http://blog.universalsubtitles.org/) Please advertise it and help to develop this idea. The project is supported by Mozilla Drumbeat (http://www.drumbeat.org/) Subtitles and Captions for Every Video on the Web Here’s the problem: web video is beginning to rival television, but there isn’t a good open resource for subtitling. Here’s our mission: we’re trying to make captioning, subtitling, and translating video publicly accessible in a way that’s free and open, just like the Web. Our approach: * Make a simple and ubiquitous way to request, create, and translate subtitles for any video * Work with others to define open protocols so that whenever subtitles for a video exist, any website or video player will be able to retrieve them * Create a community space for people who subtitle video, to encourage contributions and facilitate collaboration Tools we’re building 1) Subtitle Widget: We’re developing an incredibly user friendly interface for adding captions to almost any video on the web (without the hassle of re-transcoding or re-uploading). We’ll be launching a demo very soon, but here’s a sneak peek: Subtitles and Captions for Every Video on the Web Here’s the problem: web video is beginning to rival television, but there isn’t a good open resource for subtitling. Here’s our mission: we’re trying to make captioning, subtitling, and translating video publicly accessible in a way that’s free and open, just like the Web. Our approach: * Make a simple and ubiquitous way to request, create, and translate subtitles for any video * Work with others to define open protocols so that whenever subtitles for a video exist, any website or video player will be able to retrieve them * Create a community space for people who subtitle video, to encourage contributions and facilitate collaboration Tools we’re building 1) Subtitle Widget: We’re developing an incredibly user friendly interface for adding captions to almost any video on the web (without the hassle of re-transcoding or re-uploading). We’ll be launching a demo very soon, but here’s a sneak peek: 2) Universal Subtitles Protocol: A new open standard that will allow clients such as Firefox extensions, desktop video players, websites, or browsers to look up and download matching subtitles from a whitelist of subtitle databases when they play video. 3) Collaborative Subtitling Site: An online community for collaboratively subtitling and translating the world’s videos (like a Wikipedia for subtitles). The site will have special tools for versioning, incentives for different types of collaboration, and all subtitles created here will be available in any context via our open protocol. The site will exist to encourage dynamics like: * Formation of teams for subtitling a program, or a topic. * Tracking which subtitling or translation tasks are the most requested, and mobilizing volunteers. * Volunteers recruiting their friends for help transcribing or translating a video. * Splitting large tasks into smaller parts -- Centro de Tecnologia e Sociedade FGV Direito Rio Center of Technology and Society Getulio Vargas Foundation Rio de Janeiro - Brazil -- Centro de Tecnologia e Sociedade FGV Direito Rio Center of Technology and Society Getulio Vargas Foundation Rio de Janeiro - Brazil plain text document attachment (message-footer.txt) ____________________________________________________________ You received this message as a subscriber on the list: governance(a)lists.cpsr.org To be removed from the list, send any message to: governance-unsubscribe(a)lists.cpsr.org For all list information and functions, see: http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ anriette esterhuysen - executive director association for progressive communications p o box 29755 melville - south africa 2109 anriette(a)apc.org - tel/fax + 27 11 726 1692 http://www.apc.org ======================================= APC Forum is a meeting place for the APC community - people and institutions who are or have been involved in collaboration with APC, and share the APC vision - a world in which all people have easy, equal and affordable access to the creative potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve their lives and create more democratic and egalitarian societies. _______________________________________________ apc.forum mailing list apc.forum(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/apc.forum

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Committee for Broadband Plan Development
by John K. Njoroge 20 Apr '10

20 Apr '10

Dear Gilda: Like the Committee of Experts (COE) which has now given us a Constitution for Kenya, I think one the Committees that can and should be formed as we move forward, is a Committee for Broadband Plan Development. It is time for us to boldly talk of ‘Connecting Kenya’. This Committee can be given a clear mandate and timeline for this momentous task. (Ofcourse it can be referred to as a working team) A best way would be a Committee set-up like KENIC or indeed the COE i.e. Institutional representation as well as key individual representatives of the Public/ People or Internet Community. Like the USA’s Broadband Plan: Government can influence the broadband ecosystem in four ways: 1. Design policies to ensure robust competition and, as a result maximize consumer welfare, innovation and investment. 2. Ensure efficient allocation and management of assets government controls or influences, such as spectrum, poles, and rights-of-way, to encourage network upgrades and competitive entry. 3. Reform current universal service mechanisms to support deployment of broadband and voice in high-cost areas; and ensure that low-income * ‘Kenyans’* can afford broadband; and in addition, support efforts to boost adoption and utilization. 4. Reform laws, policies, standards and incentives to maximize the benefits of broadband in sectors government influences significantly, such as public education, health care, *‘agriculture’* and government operations. John .K. Njoroge Directorate of e-Government On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 4:31 PM, <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> wrote: > Hi, > > They are: > > 1. Gilda Odera (Chair) > 2. Sammy Burachara > 3. Nik Nesbitt > 4. Victor Kyalo (Joint Secretary) > 5. Peres Were (Joint Secretary) > 6. Dickson Ogola (Secretariat) > Headed by Sylvester Kasuku, Infrastructure Advisor at the OPM. > > The team is mandated to form committees (I prefer to call them working > teams), > to come up with the required strategies/advise/recommendations for various > issues in the sector. These committees will be formed by persons from both > private and public sector. > Those with strengths in various capacities will be called upon to drive the > committees. The committees are as wide/narrow as required. > The team is to ensure that the silo way of operation is set aside through > mechanisms to be put in place by way of actionable recommendations. > > Best, > > Gilda > > > > Quoting Harry Delano <harry(a)comtelsys.co.ke>: > > > > > Hey Gilda, > > > > Thanks a lot for these positive comments, > > > > Apparently, I suppose we need to be exposed to all these good teams, > being > > put up out there, > > so that we can interact, and all these good suggestions and comments > > presented.. > > > > Maybe for a starter, can you please unveil/unmask this "six" man/women > team > > - so that we can > > know them..? > > > > Harry > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry <kictanet-bounces%2Bharry>= > comtelsys.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On > > Behalf Of godera(a)skyweb.co.ke > > Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 11:39 AM > > To: harry(a)comtelsys.co.ke > > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Who is ICT Board? - Capacity Building > > > > > > Listers, > > > > I think this is a very healthy debate for the industry. > > Esther, whereas whatever body will face the same queries over their > mandate, > > in my view, what is most important is that each respective body plays it > > part to the full and possibly even surpass the expectations of the > industry. > > As long as they are all forging towards one goal (making Kenya the ICT > Hub > > in Africa)in all their activities, the industry will have gained. > > What is important is that all these bodies do not fight each other, > rather > > complement one another to grow this industry. > > We must all work together for good of this industry and nation. > > > > Gilda Odera > > Chair, BPO/ITES Working Group at the Office of the Prime Minister > > > > (For those not aware, a group of 6 persons from Private Sector and > > Government was recently put together for a two year term to advise on all > > these issues > > being raised in this list. Your views are being noted.) > > > > Quoting Esther Muchiri <emuchiri(a)andestbites.com>: > > > > > Good suggestions Harry, but while I am not a pessimist, I have a > > > feeling that with time, whatever body will be formed will still face > > > the same attacks/questions from the industry on the mandate etc > > > > > > > > > > > > Perhaps the upcoming public forum will begin to shed some light in the > > > direction ICT development in Kenya should follow? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: kictanet-bounces+emuchiri=andestbites.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+emuchiri <kictanet-bounces%2Bemuchiri>= > andestbites.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > ] On Behalf Of Harry Delano > > > Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 6:21 PM > > > To: emuchiri(a)andestbites.com > > > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Who is ICT Board? - Capacity Building > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Lilian, > > > > > > > > > This is so comprehensive.. Hope, notes are being taken from these > > > resourceful discussions coming in. > > > > > > > > > > > > Mine, is just a proposal. Clearly, the different agencies existing, > > > happen to work within some form of > > > > > > mandate in their own areas of jurisdiction or so, whether the mandates > > > are competing mandates or > > > > > > a duplication, it may be quite difficult to just "merge" them.. > > > > > > > > > > > > Clearly, Listers - one thing that is now clear, is that ICT is a huge > > > phenomenon, that cuts' out across > > > > > > the entire spectrum of Govt and ministries - beyond INFOCOM. This > > > means, stakeholders from other > > > > > > Govt. sectors need to be brought into the fold to harmonize strategy.. > > > > > > > > > > > > I suppose therefore, this may call for an oversight body - to which, > > > each of the Govt agencies can have a > > > > > > representation. This oversight, could encompass reps, from all > > > sectors, private , and govt. All interests > > > > > > should be declared as a pre-requisite to serving on this panel for > > > purposes of accountability and > > > > > > transparency.. > > > > > > > > > > > > If in order, I could float some names for such a body, such as:- > > > > > > > > > > > > * National ICT Task Force - (NICTAF) > > > * National ICT Agency of Kenya - (NICTAK) > > > * National ICT Oversight Board -(NICTOB) > > > > > > Other names are welcome.. > > > > > > > > > > > > Harry > > > > > > > > > > > > _____ > > > > > > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry <kictanet-bounces%2Bharry>= > comtelsys.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] > > > On Behalf Of Lilian Karanja > > > Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 11:43 AM > > > To: harry(a)comtelsys.co.ke > > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Who is ICT Board? - Capacity Building > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yes, Robert.......I see. > > > > > > > > > > > > Certainly, what GoK needs is ICT Governance. "Without governance you > > > do not produce good decisions consistently. 'Governance' in the > > > context of the management of ICT crafts a clear framework in which > > > decisions are made, who makes the decisions about business and > > > technology developments, who has input into the decision-making process > > and how the decisions are formed". > > > > > > > > > > > > In my opinion, the ICT Board (under Min. Of Info Comm), the > > > Directorate of e-Government (under OP), the GITS Department (under > > > Min. Of Finance), and both the CCK and NCS (both under Min. Of Info > > > Comm) seem to have related ICT goals and objectives. They > > > (unfortunately) don't seem to oftenly collaborate in their > > > decision-making. I personally like the idea of a KITA like SITA/RITA. > > > Sometime ago, the Directorate of e-Government seemed to come-up into a > > > KITA (in the way we think of SITA/RITA), but did not 'mature' into the > > institution envisioned. > > > > > > GoK ICT Governance Decisions would ideally focus on: > > > > > > . Determining the strategic approach to e-government and ICT > > within > > > GoK > > > > > > . How the e-government initiatives should be used in GoK, to > > improve > > > services, reduce costs, develop the community, etc > > > > > > . How fundamental e-government and ICT is to GoK and the > country > > at > > > large > > > > > > . The way e-government and ICT is to be managed (e.g. by what > > > mechanism and how resources are to be managed) > > > > > > . The way investments are to be made and policies on realising > > and > > > sharing benefits > > > > > > . How the required skills are to be procured (through > strategic > > > partnerships, in-house, through consortium, etc) > > > > > > . The principles that underlie the ICT architecture > > > > > > . Setting priorities and determining e-government and ICT > > > investment programmes > > > > > > . Managing the foundations and regulations regarding the core > > > elements of the infrastructure: > > > > > > o Personnel - who will be responsible for their professional > development > > > and where certain skills should reside > > > > > > o Methods and techniques - what project/programme management, > > development > > > and operations management standards should be used > > > > > > o Charging mechanisms and services standards (performance > management) > > > > > > o Information - standards to enable the effective sharing of > information > > > > > > > > o Core applications - intranet, finance systems, payroll, registries > > and > > > personnel standards, etc > > > > > > o Technical - network, consolidated service desk, data standards > > > > > > o Security > > > > > > o Legal > > > > > > > > > > > > This has conspicuously missed within GoK, in the past years. We look > > > to GoK greatly to spur 'mwananchi' by keenly committing to 'add value' > > > to broadband so that their attitude, confidence and appreciation > > > towards the use ICTs and the Internet increases (especially in the > > > rural areas, as they access Government e-Services), thus creating an > > > Internet Community and an IT culture. Am not sure we necessarily need > > > support from outside to do this, even donor funds (we don't need). We > > > can do it on our own, as we (Kenya) are, now, known to be an emerging > > > knowledge economy. GoK can lead the way to create a Kenyan way > > > 'working with'and using ICT. We have so many Youth (any way), who are > > > jobless! Lets purposefully develop capacity of these young and use them > > sufficiently. > > > > > > > > > > > > I rest my case, and I apologise for any misunderstandings. > > > > > > > > > > > > LILIAN > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Tue, 4/6/10, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > > > > > > > > From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> > > > Subject: Who is ICT Board? - Capacity Building > > > To: "Lilian Karanja" <l_wkaranja(a)yahoo.com> > > > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > Date: Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 12:32 AM > > > > > > Hi Lilian, > > > > > > > > > > > > Just wanted to clarify an issue, government has some of the best > > > trained ICT fellows and I know because I have regularly interacted > > > with them for over 10 years. Do not be deceived by the fact that they > > > are no fancy websites or iphone applications the men and women who > > > keep the government systems running are basically miracle workers. > > > > > > > > > > > > How they do it is beyond my comprehension and the last thin they need > > > is a capacity building what they need like all with the other areas of > > > government is a co-ordinator or a Deputy Prime Minister IS. Hon Raila > > > has definitely moved government efficiency a notch higher and without > > > a "dream team" or expatriate consultants all he did was dust off the > > diamonds within. > > > > > > > > > > > > Government has a beautiful retention strategy which is we pay you for > > > 2 hours a day and we expect you to only deliver the paid for work, if > > > you are unable to find something profitable to do with the balance 6 > > > hours then that is your problem. > > > > > > > > > > > > What we need is a deputy prime minister information systems or ICT or > > > BPO whatever the name of which KICTB has proven not to be to "desilo" > > > (term coined by Dr. Ndemo during the PM Round table meeting) the > > > government activities. > > > > > > > > > > > > Can you government ICT gurus stick your heads out and defend your > > > selves, I know many of you are on this listing, so be warned that next > > > time I need to put the record strait on your behalf I will actually > name > > names. > > > > > > > > > Robert Yawe > > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > > Kenya > > > > > > Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____ > > > > > > > > > From: Lilian Karanja <l_wkaranja(a)yahoo.com> > > > To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > Sent: Mon, 5 April, 2010 16:58:41 > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Who is ICT Board? Hijacked > > > > > > > > > Dear PS: > > > > > > > > > > > > It is a little discouraging to hear you say that the issues discussed > > > in this topic are 'kuchongoana tu'. We look up to you, and others in > > > Government and also in the private sector who are so passionate about > > > the use of ICTs and the Internet to create opportunities for all, in > > > Kenya, and see that ICT remains a reliable vehicle for economic growth > > > and development. So, please don't stop listening to us, patiently and > > > we beseech you to continue in your wisdom in dealing with these > matters. > > > > > > > > > > > > This topic, 'Who is ICT Board?' as well as that of 'eGovernment is it > > > a myth or reality?' have raised important questions that should be > > > addressed with 'a big heart' and an open mind. As you have noted, a > > > town hall meeting is good and always welcome. However, moving forward, > > > it needs to be clear how ICT Board interacts with Government and how > > > it promotes the existence of an Institutional Framework for ICT > > > management in Government. Clearly, the ICT Board manages of a huge > > > chunk of donor funds for ICT growth in Kenya, eGovernment and the > > > likes (through the KTCIP), but still the Government lags behind in > their > > ICT technical know-how and skills. > > > > > > > > > > > > While one of their mandate (the ICT Board) is Capacity Building > > > (Providing GoK and other stakeholders with skills, capacity and > > > funding for anchor implementation of ICT projects for development) > > > over time we have only seen laxity in the management of ICT by > > > Government i.e. poor websites, unsatisfactory performance of legacy > > > systems, inconsistent DNS & IP address management, meagre IT Security > > > (web, network, etc), little or no R&D and M&E of ICT & eGovt, etc. But > > > may be it is not deliberate laxity, it is that the Government Officers > > > who manage IT issues in Government are not continuously trained in all > > pertinent areas to raise experts and skillful personnel. > > > > > > > > > > > > I hope this is an area ICT Board can address, when they say that part > > > of their mandate is Capacity Building, otherwise we have Government > > > Officers who cannot do much to use broadband properly and > > > strategically as well as make eGovernment a reality. The cabilities of > > > these Officers should be close to, if not better than those in the > > > private sector. And when GoK finally has real experts and engineers in > > > ICT, a retention strategy MUST be adopted to keep them and recompense > > > them accordingly. This is the future of Government IT, 'people who are > > knowledgeable and focused on a bright future'. > > > > > > > > > > > > LILIAN > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Sun, 4/4/10, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > > > > > > > > > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Who is ICT Board? Hijacked > > > To: "Lilian" <l_wkaranja(a)yahoo.com> > > > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > Date: Sunday, April 4, 2010, 9:42 AM > > > > > > Barrack, > > > Several posts have come by on the role of ICT and I think it will be > > > wise if we sorted this in a town hall meeting similar to one we had on > > Malili. > > > Honestly it feels as though some Neanderthal decided to create these > > > agencies without putting some thought to it. Criticisms are good only > > > when you point out where there are gaps. > > > > > > The other day I posted a policy proposal for comments but only one > > > person did respond. What it means then is that this forum ni ya > > kuchongoana tu. > > > Which really is unfortunate. I have four other policy proposals that > > > I really think should push through then arouse sufficient interest > > > from the membership here. > > > > > > > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > > > > > This is truly "Jicho Pevu", i think some answers to this questions > > > > are very much in order as we celebrate Easter, can someone provide > > > > us with a list of all agencies involved in ICTs and ICT4D so that we > > > > can do some tooth comb analysis, i saw a post from Paul on what the > > > > board has achieved early this year, that was very much in order we > > > > need something from NCS as well plus any other agencies. > > > > > > > > Regards > > > > > > > > On Sat, Apr 3, 2010 at 12:50 PM, Vitalis Olunga <volunga(a)yahoo.com > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=volunga@yahoo.com> > > wrote: > > > >> There is also another body , National Communications Secretarait. > > > >> What is the diffrence between NCS and ICT Baord and how do the two > > > >> bodies relate with respect to advisory services to the governement > > > >> on ICT matters? > > > >> > > > >> Regards > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> Vitalis > > > >> > > > >> ________________________________ > > > >> From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> > > > > > > > >> To: volunga(a)yahoo.com > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=volunga@yahoo.com> > > > >> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kictanet@lists.kictanet. > > > or.ke> > > > > > > > >> Sent: Sat, April 3, 2010 12:03:22 PM > > > >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Who is ICT Board? Hijacked > > > >> > > > >> Hi, > > > >> I rest my case on this issue, the ICT Board is a monolith, Try > > > >> reading this... (pdf file), as I feared it is mandated to do > > > >> anything and everything under the sun that could be called ICT > > > >> which includes your microwave oven and copier. > > > >> Functions of Kenya ICT Board > > > >> The core functions of Kenya ICT Board as documented in the Kenya > > > >> Gazette Legal Notice No 26 of the May 2007: > > > >> . To advice the government on all relevant matters pertaining to > > > >> development, coordination (remember the PM post) and promotion of > > > >> ICT industries in the country. > > > >> . Promote both locally and internationally the opportunities for > > > >> investments in ICT technology . Facilitate and manage ICT > > > >> industrial incubation parks and technology parks together with > > > >> associated facilities on sites, estates and land. > > > >> . Partner with agents within and without the country to carry out > > > >> such functions as it may consider necessary. > > > >> . To transform and empower society through deployment and use of > ICTs. > > > >> . Carry out any other activity to promote and develop ICT products > > > >> and services. > > > >> Have a restful Easter as we await the limited range 4G, yes you > > > >> guessed it I still have a 3G issue and I am in Nairobi. > > > >> Regards > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> _______________________________________________ > > > >> kictanet mailing list > > > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kictanet@lists.kictanet. > > > or.ke> > > > > > > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > >> > > > >> This message was sent to: otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=otieno.barrack@gmail.com > > > > > > > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > >> > > > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail > . > > > com > > > >> > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Barrack O. Otieno > > > > Geneva > > > > Skype: barrack.otieno > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > kictanet mailing list > > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kictanet@lists.kictanet. > > > or.ke> > > > > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bitange@jambo.co.ke> > > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo > > > > .co.ke > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > > > > This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by > > > > Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. > > > > --------------------------------------------- > > > > "easy access to the world" > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > > > 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)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=kictanet@lists.kictanet. > > > or.ke> > > > > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > This message was sent to: l_wkaranja(a)yahoo.com > > > <http://us.mc452.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=l_wkaranja@yahoo.com> > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/l_wkaranja%40yaho > > > o.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------- > > This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: harry(a)comtelsys.co.ke Unsubscribe or change > your > > options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40comtelsys.co.ke > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------- > This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: kabogojn(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kabogojn%40gmail.com >

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FYI - Malili to be fenced
by robert yawe 19 Apr '10

19 Apr '10

Hi Listers, I have just found out that the Technology Park in Malili is to be fenced, interesting Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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FW: NEW DUBAI VISA REGULATIONS
by Edith Adera 19 Apr '10

19 Apr '10

What does the Government of Kenya have to say about this new Visa rule for Kenyans? _________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specilaist International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international +254- 20- 2713160 ext 3406 or +1-613-696-3406 | eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:+1-613-696-3406eadera@idrc.or.ke> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> ________________________________ From: Sales and Marketing Support [salesandmarketingsupport(a)carlsonwagonlit.co.ke] Sent: 19 April 2010 11:49 Subject: NEW DUBAI VISA REGULATIONS [cid:image001.jpg@01CAC1B9.78A39F20] <http://www.bunsontravel.com/> April 19th, 2010 To all our Esteemed clients, Greetings from CWT Kenya! NEW<http://www.goalert24.com/readnews.aspx?id=1357288&eid=100191962&sid=207068&…> DUBAI VISA REGULATIONS Please Note that all Kenyan nationals are requested to submit their education certificate not below university degree in order to apply for Dubai visa as per Immigration new rule. Diplomas are also not accepted, only Bachelor and above can apply for Dubai till further instruction. Please contact us for more details. Sincerely, [cid:image002.jpg@01CAC1B9.78A39F20]<http://www.bunsontravel.com/> No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.801 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2812 - Release Date: 04/15/10 09:31:00

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Internet Gvernance Policy training now receiving applications
by Nnenna Nwakanma 19 Apr '10

19 Apr '10

> FOSSFA, in collaboration with Diplo will be holding a face to face Internet > Governance Policy Training. > This is part of the pre-conference trainngs of the fourth African Conference > on FOSS and the Digital Commons - IDLELO 4. > > There are only 25 seats available, out of which half has already been > taken. The organisers are supporting accommodation costs for trainees and > covering other costs for 4 days. > > Kindly visit: http://idlelo.net/content/pre-conference-training-programme to > register. > Then send application to acpinfo(a)diplomacy.edu > Nnenna Nwakanma | Founder and CEO, NNENNA.ORG | Consultants Information | Communications | Technology and Events | for Development Rue des Jardins, Près de Ste Cecile | Tel: 225 27144 | Fax 224 26471 Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (+225) | http://www.nnenna.org | nnenna(a)nnenna.org Your multi-lingual development and event partners across Africa.

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On Cyber Security
by Matunda Nyanchama 18 Apr '10

18 Apr '10

I am glad that discussions are planned on this subject. I'll be glad to add my voice based on my experience in North America & SA that spurns various sectors. NB: I'll may be presenting at the ICT Security Summit in Mombasa planned for May 11~14, 2010. If there is interest and a forum organized, I offer to speak on a topic of interest on the subject of cyber protection. This could be a day in the week following the end of the conference. Shukrani. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.”- George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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