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Call for Proposals: Commissioned Case Studies on ICTs, Climate Change and Development
by Alice Munyua 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

This is a call for proposals for the writing of commissioned case studies on the topic of ICTs, climate change and development. Proposals should be submitted by 11th February 2011. BACKGROUND Recognising both the growing impact of climate change in developing countries and the growing role of ICTs, Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is funding a two-year project on ICTs, climate change and development. The project is coordinated by the University of Manchester's Centre for Development Informatics (project web site: www.niccd.org) As part of the project, a series of short case studies will be commissioned and written during 2011 on various aspects of this topic. Case studies should be original and evidence-based analyses of already-implemented (i.e. not proposed) initiatives related to ICTs and climate change in developing countries. They could be related to use of ICTs in climate change mitigation, monitoring, adaptation or strategy in developing countries. The case studies should be 1,500-2,000 words in length, and aimed at a "reflective practitioner" audience. They should provide a brief description of the initiative, but focus mainly on analysis (of impacts, enablers/constraints, and lessons learned/recommendations including - where applicable - reflections on scaling up). Selected authors will be commissioned to write the case study using the following template format: - Title& Author(s) - Initiative Overview (including classification according to project ICCD Overview Model*) - Application Description (hardware / software / telecommunications) - Formal Drivers (e.g. climate change issue faced) and Objectives/Purpose for ICT usage - Stakeholders involved - Impact: Costs and Benefits - Evaluation: Failure or Success - Enablers / Critical Success Factors - Constraints / Challenges - Recommendations / Lessons Learned - Further Information *Available from: http://niccd.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/overview-model-of-icts-climate-change… PROCESS / TIMESCALE We require proposals to be sent electronically by 11th February 2011, and aim to confirm accepted proposals by the end of February. Proposals will be selected on the basis of quality and value-added of the proposal; expertise of the author(s); and with a view to ensuring overall geographical and topic coverage. First drafts of the case studies will be due by the end of April 2011. Final drafts will be due by the end of June 2011. Finalised copies of the case studies will be made available online and disseminated via the project network. It is also our intention to publish select case studies as part of a book to be produced at the end of the project in 2011. PAYMENT Authors will be contracted by the University of Manchester to produce a draft version of the case study, followed by a finalised version that acceptably meets quality requirements following draft review comments. A payment of £600 (British pounds) will be made on acceptance of the final draft of the case study. PROPOSAL Proposals should be sent to: niccd.project(a)gmail.com by 11th February 2011. They should consist of the following: a) Title of proposed case study, and author(s). b) 300-500 word executive summary of the case study's rationale, focus and content. The executive summary should highlight the importance and value-added of the proposed case study to the ICTs, climate change and development field. d) Two-page CV for each proposed author focusing particularly on past publication and contract research experience in ICCD or related areas. Reference to sample publications that demonstrate relevant writing experience would be an asset. You are welcome to contact us in advance of the deadline if you have any queries at niccd.project(a)gmail.com. This call can be found at: http://www.niccd.org/casecall.htm Richard Heeks& Angelica Ospina Climate Change, Innovation and ICTs Research Project --

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Doing Business in Kenya, Beating the numbers...
by Collins Areba 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

Hello listers, I think this is the appropriate forum to raise this. The IFC has done a commendable job of detailing how hard it is to establish a business in Kenya (Here is the link http://bit.ly/fXZydd ) , from registration of the legal entity to making of the seal after the whole incorporation thing. It takes anything from at the very least 15 days, which leads me to the question, Since all of this is just data, What can we do to: 1: Cut by half the number of days within, say two years. and then ... 2: Cut it all into a one day affair... I may not be very well versed with operations at the registry but im still trying to understand why .... a) One pays Ksh100 for a "search" if the systems have been automated so far... and . b) Why it cant just be put online like the KENIC domain name search and just be made that easier. Regards,

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Re: [kictanet] Mobile Monday - 17th January 2011
by James Muendo 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

Hi, I believe you day is coming on along well. Monday the 17th Nov 2010 we would like to invite you an event that will be at the iHub Nairobi (Directions: Its on the 4th floor, Bishop Magua Centre,Right Opposite Uchumi Hyper,Ngong Road, ),at 6pm, Where the Guest Speakers will be from Pesapal,we will discussing, E-commerce ecosystem in Kenya* *.Bring a friend or 2.To register, http://bit.ly/eFL7v1 Want to know more about Mobile Monday and any Events,visit http://mobilemonday.co.ke/ or follow us on twitter @MobileMondayKe or if you are on LinkedIn we also there http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3503680 -- James M. Muendo P.O Box 28016 - 00200, Nairobi. Mobile: +254725567508 skype:tim.rick | Twitter: Mmuendo | gtalk: timrick<http://muendoshead.blogspot.com/>

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List of Bus companies Online
by Henry Okatch 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

Hi all Does anyone know where I can get a list of all long distance bus companies in Kenya Online that is I will appreciate -- Warm Regards Henry Cell +254721899572 _______________________________________________________________________________ *Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up, it knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a gazelle or a lion. When the sun comes up, you better start running. - In "The World is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman*

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statehousekenya.go.ke
by Collins Areba 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

FYI ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Collins Areba <castorkenya(a)gmail.com> Date: Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 8:04 PM Subject: statehousekenya.go.ke To: pkukubo(a)gmail.com, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Hello and I hope this finds you OK and in good health. Please have a look at the attached photos viz a viz statehousekenya.go.ke<http://statehouse.go.ke>website. I took two days off and decided to give it a makeover, now all i need is an email address i can forward the script (php) and db (sql) for the site. (its done in wordpress). or just login for file transfer and db on an accessible server. I think we are in agreement that what is online from a design / web dev perspective is horrendous. (With all due respect to the developer). Consider this a gift from a kenyan patriotic enough to be pissed at the image being potrayed by those doing this, (that there are no competent web developers in the country). Kind Regards, Areba.

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[AfTLD-Discuss] PRESS RELEASE: AfTLD to Hold 5th Annual African ccTLD Event in Accra, Ghana
by Joe Kiragu 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

Begin forwarded message: > From: "Eric Akumiah" <eric(a)aftld.org> > Date: January 17, 2011 10:33:02 AM GMT+03:00 > To: aftld-discuss(a)aftld.org > Subject: [AfTLD-Discuss] PRESS RELEASE: AfTLD to Hold 5th Annual > African ccTLD Event in Accra, Ghana > > AfTLD to Hold 5th Annual African ccTLD Event in Accra, Ghana > > 15 January 2011 Accra, Ghana. The African Top Level Domains > Organization > (AfTLD), the association of African country code top level domains > (ccTLDs), announces its 5th Annual African ccTLD Event. The event > which > will be held in Accra, Ghana from 17 to 23 April 2011 will be hosted > by > the National > Information Technology Agency (NITA) of Ghana with the support of the > Ministry of Communication and other local sponsors. The event will > include a five-day technical training workshop on Secure Registry > Operation Course (SROC) , an initiative of ICANN, ISOC and NSRC > which will > be held in English and French, a policy workshop to review ccTLD > activities on the continent and the AfTLD Annual General meeting. > The SROC > workshop is in line with AfTLD’s theme of “Enhancing Internet > Management > in Africa” and is part of AfTLD’s ongoing effort to enhance capacity > of > ccTLD managers in the Africa region to manage their registries > efficiently > and in a cost effective manner. Previous workshop o Initial Registry > Operation Course (IROC) and Advanced Registry Operation Course > (AROC) in > French and English have been in > various cities across Africa for ccTLD manager within the region. The > Security Registry Operation Course (SROC) is most crucial in the > wake of > heightened cyber security attacks to registries and other national > infrastructure. The Policy Workshop will access the current > situation of > ccTLDs in Africa in the light of the Pailles Declaration made during > the > ccTLD stakeholder meeting in Mauritius in March 2009. AfTLD’s five > year > strategic plan will be unveiled and discussed by policy makers and > other > ccTLD stakeholders on the African Continent. Several speakers on ccTLD > across the globe will speak at the workshop. At the AfTLD > Annual General Meeting, a number of new policies proposed by the board > will be discussed and voted on by formal members of AfTLD. > > More details including registration page, detailed event program, > hotel > and venue information will be available on the AfTLD website shortly > at > http://www.aftld.org. > > You can find a pdf copy of this press release at > > http://http://www.aftld.org/docs/Accra2011_prepress.pdf > > For enquiries on sponsorship and other issues please contact AfTLD > General > Manager at secretariat(a)aftld.org. > > About AfTLD > AfTLD was established in 2002 to act as a focal point for African > Country > Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) > managers in coordinating, formulating, developing and presenting a > unified > approach to issues related > to the Domain Name System. AfTLD also presents a forum for sharing > ideas > between the regions Internet community with an aim of promoting the > utilization of national country’s Top Level Domains. > > About ICANN > CANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit > corporation > with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the > Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and > develops policy on the Internet’s unique identifiers. > (http://www.icann.org) > > About ISOC > The Internet Society (ISOC) is a nonprofit organization founded in > 1992 to > provide leadership in Internet related standards, education and > policy. We > are dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of > the > Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world. > (http://www.isoc.org) > > About NSRC > Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) is a non-profit activity that > has > worked since the late 1980s to help develop and deploy networking > technology in various projects throughout Asia/Pacific, Africa, Latin > America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and the New Independent > States. (http://www.nsrc.org) > > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by KeNIC MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > > Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC) > > _______________________________________________ > aftld-discuss mailing list > aftld-discuss(a)aftld.org > http://lists.aftld.org/mailman/listinfo/aftld-discuss Joe Kiragu Administrative Manager Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) "Where the internet begins in Kenya" kiragu(a)kenic.or.ke -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by KeNIC MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC)

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ICANN News Alert -- Fellowship Application Round Opens for ICANN Public Meeting 41 in Amman, Jordan
by Alice Munyua 16 Jan '11

16 Jan '11

News Alert http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-14jan11-en.htm Fellowship Application Round Opens for ICANN Public Meeting 41 in Amman, Jordan Program Ensures Global Representation at ICANN's Public Meetings 14 January 2011 MARINA DEL REY, California: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is launching the 13th round of the Fellowship program applications for its 41st Public Meeting to be held Amman, Jordan on 19-24 June 2011. Priority in selection is given to applicants who are current residents of developing and least developed nations and interested in participating in ICANN and its supporting organizations and constituencies, or are representatives in the Business, Academic and Private sector looking to find support and gain information on how to have their voices heard in the Internet community and ICANN. More information regarding terms and conditions, as well as eligibility is available online at http://www.icann.org/en/fellowships/ or email at fellowships(a)icann.org regarding any questions about this process or program. The Fellowship program will assist in covering airfare, hotel and a stipend for those individuals selected to participate in this ICANN meeting. Recipients will be expected to actively participate in and contribute to ICANN processes, both at the meeting and in the future. As always, registration for ICANN's meetings is free for anyone wanting to attend. Applications for the meeting in Jordan will be accepted from 00:00 UTC on 17 January 2011 until 00:00 UTC on 26 February 2011. What Is ICANN? To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer - a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn't have one global Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet's unique identifiers. ICANN doesn't control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn't deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet's naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. _______________________________________________

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Kenya Losing Out on Intellectual Rights
by Matunda Nyanchama 15 Jan '11

15 Jan '11

While on the subject of IP; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kG3KiijpUw ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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On standing on shoulders of giants
by Matunda Nyanchama 15 Jan '11

15 Jan '11

Friends Great discussion on the above subject. Yes, we need entrepreneurs; and NO, not everyone can be one. In the latter case, we need risk capital and entrepreneurial injection to make the ideas a success. There is also a famous article that once appeared in Havard Business Review titled "Why Entrepreneurs Don't Scale"; they should hatch ideas, demonstrate that the ideas can be commercialized and step off and leave business leaders and managers scale up the business. We have a short supply of the latter and need to invest in their development. There is also the environment in which ideas thrive; a technical idea, hatched by a technical person doesn't necessarily turn out as would be intended. The path to development is a graveyard of many, many initiatives that started and died; but later some (with luck) are picked up by others that had a more well-rounded understanding of the same or when the right time had come. How do we increase the chances of success of ideas? I think we need to co-locate technical (e.g. product, service creation), business (business viability, etc.) and law (confines of law: securing IP, formalizing org, etc.) faculties/institutions. The informal interactions amongst students, researches, and faculty in these areas can be an incubation laboratory for many an enterprise. The knowledge exchange (informal and otherwise), relationships forged and trust engendered can be the foundation for long term business success. This suggests that they way we are building and deploying our institutes of higher learning and research doesn't fit with the above scenario. Example: faculty of commerce at UoN shouldn't have moved to Kabete but stayed alongside engineering or both should have moved to the same location; ditto for law. Someone once asked what happens when you put an engineer, sociologist, lawyer, accountant, etc together! The answer: something much bigger than the sum of the individual parts! We need environments where players (with difference background) can interact more and on an ongoing basis. Today, we have universities operating out of high-rise towers where students jet in for class and take off thereafter, with little time to be with colleagues, consult with faculty or simply hang out with others attending a seminar here or another there, in one's line of study or not. Ideally we need campus/research zones, complete with residential facilities, sports, seminar rooms, labs; alongside industrial parks and business advisory centres. Just some thoughts! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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Re: [kictanet] KEnic down-Basics of IXPs
by McTim 15 Jan '11

15 Jan '11

Hi Badru, On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 7:38 PM, Badru Ntege <ntegeb(a)one2net.co.ug> wrote: > McTim > > Allow me to comment on your perception of failure. Failure only in comparison to KIXP, not absolute failure.....sorry to have ruffled your feathers. > > The UGIX was put up to keep local traffic local and save on bandwidth costs. > > Has the UG IX done so ?? Yes it has. indeed, most of the time. This week, for example, we have seen some examples of operators sending their traffic to EU and back, and not peering locally. > > Im of the school of thought that you do not need a Board and a full time office to make sure that an Ethernet switch is working and switching packets. you correct it doesn't NEED it, but need and WANT are different things originally, as you know it was to have a staff and active org behind, it's just that operators weren't willing to pay the port charges to support such an outfit. > > The switch is in a secure place and thus has never been compromised so why spend unnecessary many on extra security. > > The history of UIXP was due to the local industry politics at the time and thus we had a very open and non restrictive policy. open to licensed operators only IIRC. We also went for the low cost route and thus have a free IX to anyone who wants to peer as long as they can deliver their connectivity to the IX. I still believe that is the way to go. And as longer as we go that way we will have to sacrifice on some cosmetic addons which do not enhance the flow of TCP IP packets. To my mind, its not just about traffic flows, it's about value added services. Here in KE, we have root servers, NTP servers, an Akamai node (I think, but am not 100% on that one), .com and .net servers, route reflectors, looking glasses, a nascent CSIRT, etc. I guess my point is that KIXP is more like LINX in London, or AMSIX in Amsterdam than it is like UIXP. I think this is a good thing, and should be applauded. My mail was in reaction to Robert who was calling for more government involvement/control of peering in Kenya. I think you would agree that this is not desirable. The IX is an Ethernet switch and it will always be that. Yes we do not have government intervention apart from the fact the the regulator is providing free hosting for the IX. > > On power issue I would like to challenge again since if you look at stats over the period up time visa vi downtime we will be in the higher 90's. but the again power is a major challenge across all industry in UG. We both know that when the switch goes down, it may be many hours or even days (historically) before anyone notices. In the past, customers of peers have noticed and taken it upon themselves to go and reboot the switch after power losses. > > Lets have some fact based comparisons please. I believe what is happening to KIXP is coping with growth. It has become a victim of its own success and time for Kenya to think of a KIXP-2 with links to KIXP-1. There is a redundant location now, AND a second, completely separate peering mesh exists in Mombasa. This is another value add that an active KIXP/TESPOK brings. -- 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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