- KICTANet - KICTANet

Work plan and budget
by alice＠apc.org 09 Aug '05

09 Aug '05

Dear All Attached is the work plan for KICATNET that was discussed during the monthly meeting held last week. I would like to urge all those organisations that took responsibility for the various activities to kindly work out the budgets and send them to me. For example, One world is organising the sms broadcasts Re; Consumer awareness. Wainaina please develop a budget for this. KIF for the 2006 national convention, etc etc thanks and kind regards Alice Wanjira National Coordinator, Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA) Association for Progressive Communications (APC) alice(a)apc.org http://www.apc.org http://www.catia.ws

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Autoreply: [Kictanet] Fwd: [CI] FW: [WSIS CS-Plenary] WSIS-Gender Caucus e-discussion: Gender issues in the Tunis Phase
by lkraft＠idrc.or.ke 08 Aug '05

08 Aug '05

Thank you for your email. Sorry I am unable to respond until my return. I am away from 8/8/05 to 26/8/05. For any urgent requests/queries, please contact Florence Etta on email address fetta(a)idrc.or.ke, or call her on Tel: (254)20 - 2713160/61.

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Fwd: [CI] FW: [WSIS CS-Plenary] WSIS-Gender Caucus e-discussion: Gender issues in the Tunis Phase
by Florence Etta 08 Aug '05

08 Aug '05

fyi and participation Cheers, FE >X-Spam-Score: 1 >X-Spam-Score: 1 >Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 11:26:25 -0400 >X-MS-Has-Attach: >X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: >Thread-Topic: [WSIS CS-Plenary] WSIS-Gender Caucus e-discussion: Gender >issues in the Tunis Phase >Thread-Index: AcWbTUCJIVF1Z1xzSROpi81oZBZ0ow== >From: "Gurstein, Michael" <gurstein(a)ADM.NJIT.EDU> >To: <communityinformatics(a)vancouvercommunity.net> >Reply-To: communityinformatics(a)vancouvercommunity.net >X-Loop: communityinformatics(a)vancouvercommunity.net >X-Sequence: 1104 >X-no-archive: yes >List-Id: <communityinformatics.vancouvercommunity.net> >List-Help: <mailto:sympa@vancouvercommunity.net?subject=help> >List-Subscribe: ><mailto:sympa@vancouvercommunity.net?subject=subscribe%20communityinformatics> >List-Unsubscribe: ><mailto:sympa@vancouvercommunity.net?subject=unsubscribe%20communityinformatics> >List-Post: <mailto:communityinformatics@vancouvercommunity.net> >List-Owner: <mailto:communityinformatics-request@vancouvercommunity.net> >List-Archive: <http://vancouvercommunity.net/lists/arc/communityinformatics> >Subject: [CI] FW: [WSIS CS-Plenary] WSIS-Gender Caucus e-discussion: >Gender issues in the Tunis Phase > >"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns:st1 = >"urn:schemas:contacts"> > >-----Original Message----- >From: plenary-admin(a)wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org] On >Behalf Of Susana Fernandez >Sent: July 20, 2005 7:27 PM >To: plenary(a)wsis-cs.org >Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] WSIS-Gender Caucus e-discussion: Gender issues >in the Tunis Phase > >Dear Colleagues, Partners and Friends, > > > >The WSIS Gender Caucus is organizing an email-based discussion forum on >identifying and integrating gender perspectives into the WSIS >deliberations at PrepCom3 in September and the Tunis Summit in November. > > > >BACKGROUND INFORMATION > >========================== > >This discussion, organized and moderated under the Electronic Networking >Project component of the WSIS Gender Caucus, will be for a period of three >weeks, from July 25th to August 13th 2005. > > > >This online discussion is aimed at furthering the efforts of the Gender >Caucus to integrate gender perspectives and concerns into the WSIS >deliberations, and to further explore the concrete measures that will >enable us to achieve this integration. > > > >As we move towards Tunis 2005, we call for your participation to help >create a collective understanding of gender perspectives in four critical >areas: > > > * Internet Governance: >There is a general agreement that we need to adopt a multi-stakeholder >approach to Internet Governance. The recently released WGIG report also >underscores the importance of gender balanced representation in all >aspects of Internet Governance, if we are to have a system that is >equitable and democratic. In addition, the gendered construction of all >technology makes it imperative that we embed gender concerns in the >evolution of the Internet. Hence it is vital that we engage in the current >debates on a multi-lateral vs. multi-stakeholder approach, and public >versus private leadership in Internet Governance. These issues are raised >in the WGIG report and will form the backdrop of our discussions as the >report raises many questions How does Internet Governance concern the >interests of women? What do gender equality advocates think about these >issues? What are the important issues related to Internet Governance with >which gender equality advocates and women s rights activists must be engaged? > > > * Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and WSIS: >Many argue that the WSIS process reflects a strong technologically >deterministic approach to development. In this scenario we have to bring >development agenda back into WSIS. Some suggest that an MDG focus, for >which the WSIS was in fact mandated by the UN General Assembly, is a good >peg to achieve this. However, there are others who feel that such a focus >on MDGs is limiting and constraining on ICTD opportunities presented by >WSIS. Such debates raise interesting questions - Do investments in >technology and structural changes implied in ICTD frameworks provide a new >way to look at global debates on development priorities and development >assistance? Can MDGs be achieved without such investments in enabling >technologies and consequent structural changes? Are such opportunities for >structural and institutional change the best time to get gender >perspectives and concerns considered? > > > * Funding and Financing Mechanisms for ICTD: >Markets and the private sector have rightly taken much of the credit for >the IT revolution. The question however, is Are market mechanisms adequate >to take the benefit of the new ICTs to everyone, especially disadvantaged >groups, such as women? Is it enough for the role of public institutions to >be restricted to providing a regulatory environment that enables private >investment in meeting goals of social equity? What is the role of public >and community finance in providing for not just cheap/free connectivity >but also appropriate technology (telecom, software, hardware) and >capacity? Does the basic technology infrastructure and capabilities >represent a global public good, like education, that needs to be provided >to all as a public responsibility? Or will such efforts of extensive >public investments undercut the innovation-incentive system represented by >market-based strategies, and thus be counter productive? How are issues of >costs and coverage of rural/far flung areas of special significance for >women? How critical are interoperability and interconnection of >infrastructure at regional, sub regional and national levels for reducing >cost of access? > > > * Implementation and Follow-up of WSIS: >For gender equality advocates it has been easy to adopt a gender sensitive >approach at the level of ideals and principles. But it seems that there is >a difficulty in pushing for this approach into specific plans of action. >In the WSIS documents as one moves on from the preambles and opening >statements through plans of actions and to actual implementation, the >references to lofty ideals of gender equality rapidly diminish. It is >therefore important for us to discuss which organizations should play a >pivotal role in the implementation stage, and which other organizations >should play necessary supplementing roles? Which ones are poised to take >up the responsibility, and what is their record on gender issues? Which >ones can be expected to represent the interests of women better/ what >should be the role of specialized agencies representing women s interests >like the UNIFEM? What principles should be laid down to ensure a >gender-equal representation in any multi-stakeholder body, which will have >an implementation/ follow up role? > > > >WHAT DO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE > >============================= > >Our discussions have a two-fold objective: > * We hope that this discussion will enable us to identify, discuss and > integrate gender perspectives into the upcoming WSIS deliberations in > Geneva (prepcom 3) and Tunis. > * We would like to create a space for wider participation of women in > the WSIS process. >We hope that our discussions will provide us with deep and significant >insights that will enable the Gender Caucus to develop well-articulated >position papers on crucial issues at stake at WSIS which can be used for >advocacy-based activities at WSIS. > > > > > >HOW TO PARTICIPATE > >=================== > >Joining this discussion list is very easy! > > > >Just send a blank email to ><mailto:mailadmin@genderwsis.org>mailadmin(a)genderwsis.org > > > >You will automatically be subscribed to the 4 discussion lists running >concurrently (one for each theme namely, Internet governance; Millennium >Development Goals and WSIS; Funding and Financing Mechanisms for ICTD; >Implementation and Follow-up of WSIS). > > > >CONTACT US > >=================== > >The discussion list is being moderated by Anu Mundkur from IT for Change. >Email: <mailto:anu@ITforChange.net>anu(a)ITforChange.net > > > >If you face any subscription problem, please contact the WSIS Gender >Caucus Electronic Consultant Taran Rampersad at ><mailto:cnd@knowprose.com>cnd(a)knowprose.com or the WSIS Gender Caucus >Manager Susana Fernandez at ><mailto:sfernandez@genderwsis.org>sfernandez(a)genderwsis.org > > > >For more information about the forum, visit the WSIS Gender Caucus website ><http://www.genderwsis.org>www.genderwsis.org > > > >We would be grateful if you could help us disseminate this call for >participation to your networks, organizations or to individuals that may >be interested to engage in these issues. > > > >Thank you, and looking forward to some interesting and useful discussions >soon. > > > >Susana Fernandez > >WSIS Gender Caucus

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Who employs the deaf?
by Wainaina Mungai 04 Aug '05

04 Aug '05

Does any of you know who would employ a deaf person? We run free SMS broadcasts to people with hearing impairment and would love to get info that would help them secure employment..or other relevant info. Is any other KIPList/KICTANet member offering ICT solutions to people with disabilities? For instance, ITAC Consulting has software solutions for the blind. Regards, Wainaina ==== Technical and Product Development Manager Oneworld International 4th Floor, Kimathi House Nairobi. [SMS4theDEAF] : If you have hearing impairment or are deaf, type the words DEAF ON and send to the number 560 on your Safaricom line. You will then receive free News alerts via SMS. To stop receiving the news, please send DEAF OFF.

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Electricity Bills
by James Kagwe 04 Aug '05

04 Aug '05

KPLC have come up with a most efficient way of letting you know your outstanding bill. To get your current bill, email the first part of your account number i.e for account number 12345-01, type 12345 in the subject field and email it to <mailto:bill@kplc.co.ke> bill(a)kplc.co.ke. Alexander Forbes Financial Services (EA) Ltd 9th floor, Nation Centre, Kimathi Street P. O. Box 52439 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 - 216 986 Fax: (254) 20 - 219 519 Confidentiality Warning ======================= The contents of this e-mail and any accompanying documentation are confidential and any use thereof, in what ever form, by anyone other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify actuaries(a)aforbes.co.ke and delete it immediately from your system.. Alexander Forbes Financial Services (EA) Limited from whom this e-mail originates accepts no responsibility for losses or damage as a result of any viruses and it is your responsibility to check attachments (if any) for viruses.

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Fw: [DigAfrica] Telkom Kenya won't last 2 years?
by alice＠apc.org 04 Aug '05

04 Aug '05

----- Original Message ----- From: "Chifu" <chifu2222(a)msn.com> To: <DigAfrica(a)yahoogroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 9:36 PM Subject: [DigAfrica] Telkom Kenya won't last 2 years? With losses upto $64.9m, firm won't last 2 years JAINDI KISERO The EastAfrican Telkom Kenya is in dire straits. That is the conclusion of PKF Consulting, which was appointed by the government in March to conduct a due diligence into the financial affairs of the troubled giant parastatal. The report, obtained exclusively by The EastAfrican, says that if Telkom were to be left in its current state, there would be adverse financial implications for both the company and the government. The consultants found that Telkom is in distress, with losses ranging from Ksh3 billion ($38.9 million) to Ksh5 billion ($64.9 million) per year. The report says that if nothing is done, the shareholders' funds will eventually read negative, rendering the company technically insolvent. It adds that the cash flow position will deteriorate, predicting that in its present state, Telkom will not be able to sustain its operations beyond two years due to operating losses, cash flow crunch and inability to borrow any further funds. Without quick action to address its problems, government guarantees may be required for the company to attract funding from the financial sector. A financial analysis of Telkom's operations conducted by the consultants showed that revenues have been on decline since the year 2001, mainly as a result of a rapid decline in the number of new landline connections, a clear sign that Telkom is losing to the two mobile phone operators. The state-owned company's problems have been compounded by the fact that its fixed costs have been increasing exponentially, mainly as a result of a bloated workforce and the costs associated with large fixed asset investments. While the company's gearing ratios (debt to total capital) have remained relatively low, averaging 11 per cent, the report by PKF says that it is only so because the company's accounts have not adequately recognised additional liabilities including stocks and debtors provisions, additional tax and pension liabilities and investment revaluation, and the continuing loss making patterns. The consultants also found that key financial ratios of the company have deteriorated, mainly because of Telkom's inability to collect debts on a timely basis, as a consequence of which the company has been experiencing difficulty in settling its short-term outstanding obligations. The company is owed hundreds of millions of shillings by some its subsidiaries. For instance, the report notes inter-company and related debtor accounts include an amount of Ksh964 million ($12.5 million) for the Gilgil Telecommunications Institute (GTI). Yet the evidence is that itself GTI is broke and relies on Telkom to finance its operational activities. The report also notes that there exists a corporate tax liability of Ksh1.6 billion ($20.7 million) on the books of Telkom relating to the defunct Kenya Posts and Telecommunications (KPTC). The consultants say the government lent Telkom $33 million in 2000 to facilitate the acquisition of the Safaricom licence, which will have to be paid within two weeks of its privatisation, according to an agreement signed with the government. >From a review of the company's long term loans, the consultants note that, although a "Paris Club" debt rescheduling arrangement between the company and the government was arrived at, to reschedule Telkom's long term loans where Telkom would only pay 40 per cent of the loans, the agreements have yet to be signed. Based on an actuarial valuation conducted on the scheme by Alexander Forbes as at June 30, last year, on the pension scheme for Telkom employees, the total actuarial deficit amounted to Ksh8.1 billion ($105 million) after excluding the outstanding contributions to net assets. The total pensions liability as per Telkom's balance sheet as at June 30, 2004 - excluding the impact of potential retrenchment of - staff amounts to Ksh4.2 billion ($54 million) resulting in a shortfall of Ksh3.8 billion ($49 million). In the report, PKF has proposed that a provision be made to adjust Telkom's liability to the actuarial position. The consultants also found that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) had issued tax assessments for corporation tax amounting to Ksh28.2 billion (including interest and penalties amounting to Ksh20.3 billion). However, these assessments are being contested by Telkom and their tax advisers. The report says that the management of Telkom believes that there is a possibility that the government may waive the penalties. Source: East African Dig Africa site welcomes you to join us at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/Digafrica Also if you are interested to join a Swahili/English discussion group click http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/kiswahili -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS a.. Visit your group "DigAfrica" on the web. b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DigAfrica-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Fw: ISOC Kenya Chapter
by alice＠apc.org 03 Aug '05

03 Aug '05

Hi All We had discussed ISOC during our planning meeting on 29th. Attached is a concept note seeking support from KICTAnet members. thanks alice ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michuki Mwangi" <michuki(a)kenic.or.ke> To: "Alice Munyua" <alice(a)apc.org> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 1:42 PM Subject: ISOC Kenya Chapter > Alice, > > Kindly find attached herewith a request for support to launch the ISOC > Kenya Chapter event scheduled for 11th August 2005.KENIC is facilitating > the establishment of the ISOC chapter by providing the secretariat > functions. > > We sincerely apologize for the short notice and look forward to your > favorable response. > > > > Best Regards, > > -- > Michuki Mwangi > KENIC. >

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Info on VOIP in the USA
by Wainaina Mungai 03 Aug '05

03 Aug '05

http://www.state.gov/e/eb/adcom/47331.htm Voice Over Internet Protocol: Status and Industry Recommendations Presented as Guidance to the U.S. Department of State By the Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy (April 21, 2005)

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Fwd: Putting Technology to Work in the Community Sector
by Florence Etta 03 Aug '05

03 Aug '05

Hi all, Maybe the next ICT Convention (2006) should focus on the theme above; see below. Sorry for cross posting. Cheers, FE > >Putting Technology to Work in the Community Sector >Sydney, 14th - 15th November 2005 > >http://communityweb.ngogeeks.com/Abstracts2005.html > >A conference for community and non-government workers will show it's >not only corporate giants and dotcoms that can successfully harness >the power of the World Wide Web. > >Representatives from community agencies and NGOs around the country >will come together in Sydney in November to share their experiences >of employing information and communication technologies (ICTs) for >community building and improved service delivery. > >Making Links 2005 - "Putting technology to work in the community >sector"' will be held on 14 and 15 November 2005 at the University of >Technology Sydney (UTS). Participating NGO and community workers will >gain an understanding of the application of ICTs in community work, >as well as the fundamental tools for website development. > >Call for papers Papers are invited from community sector or NGO >workers with ICT successes - or lessons - to share within the themes: >NGOs and IT; >Community Building and Social Capital; >Web Development; and >hands-on technical workshops. >Registrations: Open 27 July 2005 > > >Jill Sergeant >Website Officer > >Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) > >PO Box 51 King St Newtown NSW 2042 > >Ph: 02 8568 1106 >Fax: 02 9557 9867 >Switchboard: 02 9557 9399 > >www.afao.org.au > > > >-- >Marcus Foth >MA(DigitalMedia) BCompSc(Hons) BMultimedia >m.foth(a)qut.edu.au - http://www.vrolik.de/ > >Research Associate >Creative Industries Research and Applications Centre >Queensland University of Technology (CRICOS No. 00213J) >Creative Industries Precinct, Brisbane QLD 4059, Australia >Phone +61 7 3864 3800 - Fax +61 7 3864 3723 >http://www.creativeindustries.qut.edu.au/

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Minutes KICTANET Planning meeting 29 July 2005
by alice＠apc.org 03 Aug '05

03 Aug '05

Dear All Please find attached minutes of our July planning meeting held on 29th July 2005 at the jacaranda hotel. If there any comments please send them to us. The minutes were prepared by Aida Kamau-CATIA 1C thanks all Alice Wanjira National Coordinator, Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA) Association for Progressive Communications (APC) alice(a)apc.org http://www.apc.org http://www.catia.ws

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