- KICTANet - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] Progress Report Implementation Of The Mckinsey BPO/ITES STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS
by Edwin Onchari 11 Mar '11

11 Mar '11

Alright then, thanks Paul. Hope that the views of stakeholders whom the proposition is meant to boost have some input/insight as well. Best Regards, Edwin From: paulkukubo(a)ict.go.ke [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 11:54 AM To: Edwin Onchari; Paul Kukubo Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] Progress Report Implementation Of The Mckinsey BPO/ITES STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS We shall actually be using Bellagio to recraft the direction. Sent from my BlackBerryR smartphone provided by Airtel Kenya _____ From: "Edwin Onchari" <eonchari(a)lynxbits.com> Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:46:22 +0300 To: 'Paul Kukubo'<pkukubo(a)ict.go.ke> Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: RE: [kictanet] Progress Report Implementation Of The Mckinsey BPO/ITES STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS Hello Paul, Thank you for the prompt response, and I look forward to getting clarifications on the study. On the Bellagio event, shall I assume that we now have a revised value proposition for Kenya for the sector, and if so, could you kindly share the same? I believe it is critical for industry players to align their organizations' strategies with the country's value proposition and where necessary offer input on the same. Also, will it be possible to have the deliberations transmitted to social media outlets for the stakeholders that will not be attending the event to follow the proceedings, and input? Best Regards, Edwin From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Paul Kukubo Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 6:32 AM To: Edwin Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Progress Report Implementation Of The Mckinsey BPO/ITES STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS Listers Edwin, thank you for your email. Will provide a comprehensive response later. Meanwh fiilend attached an update on the forthcoming Kenya ICT Board Value Proposition Summit to be held in Bellagio Italy next week which I have also written about severally. Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 Fax: +254 20 2211962 website: www.ict.go.ke local content project: www.tandaa.co.ke, www.facebook.com/tandaakenya twitter:@tandaaKENYA BPO Project: www. doitinkenya.co.ke Digital Villages Project: www.pasha.co.ke personal contacts _______________ Cell: + 254 717 180001 skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo personal blog: www.paulkukubo.co.ke personal twitter: @pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 5:22 PM, Edwin Onchari <eonchari(a)lynxbits.com> wrote: Listers, For the benefit of those that closely follow the outsourcing sector goings on, this progress report was posted on the KICTB website. Access to such information minimizes unnecessary queries by the private sector to the concerned agencies and affords all stakeholders a standard script to read from. As I read this report and while 50% of 70% of the recommendations have been achieved, I feel that the following status points need further clarification: 1. Under the "Launch a go-to market campaign to bring investors" - from the 12 or so targeted international events in 2010, what are the success numbers? How many firms have expressed interest in investing/outsourcing to Kenya? Did they partner/expressed interest to partner with any firm in Kenya? Did they have contacts of these organizations in Kenya? Did Kenyan firms send have their profiles included in any marketing materials by the board at these events? 2. Prioritize large scale operators - Is this strategy working? How many operations that are under this threshold are successfully doing business in Kenya? Is the lack of 250 seat capacity operations as a result of lack of business, limited access to funding or lack of industry knowledge? 3. Government commitment to the industry - are the special economic zones extendable to foreign firms only or has this been applied to local firms that have onshore (Kenyan company outsourcing to a Kenyan firm) work? What is the criteria for special economic zone exemptions? Which agency is responsible for which licenses, exemptions, etc? 4. Improve the international perception of Kenya.as the country awaits for a NASSCOM type body to emerge - Does this report recommend then that the BPO/ITES working group assumes the role of the industry body? Does the board/ working group have guidelines for the industry? 5. Is the BPO syndicate committee in place? Who are the members and what are their roles? Best Regards, Edwin M Onchari 0720755951 eonchari(a)lynxbits.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: pkukubo(a)ict.go.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pkukubo%40ict.go.ke

1 0

Progress Report Implementation Of The Mckinsey BPO/ITES STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS
by Edwin Onchari 11 Mar '11

11 Mar '11

Listers, For the benefit of those that closely follow the outsourcing sector goings on, this progress report was posted on the KICTB website. Access to such information minimizes unnecessary queries by the private sector to the concerned agencies and affords all stakeholders a standard script to read from. As I read this report and while 50% of 70% of the recommendations have been achieved, I feel that the following status points need further clarification: 1. Under the "Launch a go-to market campaign to bring investors" - from the 12 or so targeted international events in 2010, what are the success numbers? How many firms have expressed interest in investing/outsourcing to Kenya? Did they partner/expressed interest to partner with any firm in Kenya? Did they have contacts of these organizations in Kenya? Did Kenyan firms send have their profiles included in any marketing materials by the board at these events? 2. Prioritize large scale operators - Is this strategy working? How many operations that are under this threshold are successfully doing business in Kenya? Is the lack of 250 seat capacity operations as a result of lack of business, limited access to funding or lack of industry knowledge? 3. Government commitment to the industry - are the special economic zones extendable to foreign firms only or has this been applied to local firms that have onshore (Kenyan company outsourcing to a Kenyan firm) work? What is the criteria for special economic zone exemptions? Which agency is responsible for which licenses, exemptions, etc? 4. Improve the international perception of Kenya.as the country awaits for a NASSCOM type body to emerge - Does this report recommend then that the BPO/ITES working group assumes the role of the industry body? Does the board/ working group have guidelines for the industry? 5. Is the BPO syndicate committee in place? Who are the members and what are their roles? Best Regards, Edwin M Onchari 0720755951 eonchari(a)lynxbits.com

2 2

Draft Media Bill 2010 Report
by Grace Githaiga 10 Mar '11

10 Mar '11

Dear Listers Greetings. Please find attached a report of our discussion on the draft media bill 2010. KICTANET had requested for an extension from the Ministry to present the reports by 25th March, 2011. In light of this, it will not be possible to hold a physical meeting to validate. We therefore request you to comment/validate the report online. The dates for this exercise are from today evening March 10 to March 15th. We will then have another five days for the ICCK report. KICTANET appreciates your regard to this matter. Rgds Grace ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!

1 0

Safaricom launch training facility for mobile applications development
by Andrea Bohnstedt 10 Mar '11

10 Mar '11

In co-operation with Strathmore. Looks interesting - and for those who had wondered about the digital villages, this project gets a mention, too: http://www.ratio-magazine.com/201103103862/Corporate-Press-Releases/Kenya-P… Regards, Andrea -- Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt> Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com Find/post East Africa careers<http://www.ratio-magazine.com/careers/index.php> Find/post conferences, workshops, trainings, other business events<http://www.ratio-magazine.com/businessevents/index.php>

1 0

AfTLD takes on .Africa ( EN / FR )
by Joe Kiragu 10 Mar '11

10 Mar '11

English Wednesday, 8 March 2011 Africa Top Level Domains (AfTLD) organisation has today announced its decision to seek a mandate from the African Union (AU) Commission and to apply to ICANN to manage the .africa registry. AfTLD has listened attentively to many calls in Africa asking AfTLD to play a leading role in developing, managing and running the .africa top level domain for the region. AfTLD has responded by first undertaking a detailed assessment of the new gTLD landscape and making a commitment to work with the AU Commission, ICANN and others to secure a mandate to run .africa. For the full story please go to http://www.aftld.org/html/english/news_dotafrica.html Français Mercredi 8 mars 2011 L'organisation de domaines de niveau supérieur de l'Afrique (AfTLD) a aujourd'hui annoncé sa décision pour chercher un mandat de la Commission africaine des syndicats (AU) et pour s'appliquer à ICANN pour contrôler l'enregistrement de .africa. AfTLD a écouté attentivement beaucoup d'appels en Afrique demandant à AfTLD pour jouer un rôle principal en développant, en contrôlant et en courant le domaine de niveau supérieur de .africa pour la région. AfTLD a répondu par la première entreprise une évaluation détaillée du nouveau paysage et de faire fonctionner de gTLD un engagement avec une Commission, de l'ICANN et les autres pour fixer un mandat pour courir .africa. Veuillez aller à http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home& trurl=http://www.aftld.org/&lp=en_fr&btnTrUrl=Translate pour la nouvelle détaillée Regards, Joe Kiragu for AfTLD -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by KeNIC MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC)

1 0

Can Kenyans Watch Internet TV?
by waudo siganga 10 Mar '11

10 Mar '11

I wanted to subscribe to an Internet TV Service at [1]http://livestreamdirect.com/11/ but on the list of countries given at the subscription site Kenya is conspicuously missing, although Uganda and Tanzania are there. Are there any official constraints to Kenyans watching Internet TV? Waudo References 1. http://livestreamdirect.com/11/

1 0

Local content in broadcast material
by Ngũgĩ Kĩmani 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

@Wamuyu: I just noted that in your email below, the TV programmes you refer to are all aired on Citizen TV. Makes me remember that there was a [proposed] directive that CCK would require broadcasters to have 40 percent of local content in their broadcast material: http://www.cck.go.ke/regulations/downloads/xBroadcastingx_Regulationsx_2009… . I wonder if this has been effected yet, and if other TV/FM stations are complying. -- Ngũgĩ Kĩmani | Fundi wa Mitambo | 0772 576846 | http://www.mafundi.co.ke/home On 6 March 2011 14:50, Wamuyu Gatheru <wamuyu(a)soko-id.co.ke> wrote: > > If however, he does want to be a local, besides eating in Njuguna's and > visiting Kiamaiko, he can watch our great soaps. Actually, I recommend these > for Kenyans who could be loosing touch with the mass culture. To catch up > with what the kids are up to listen to 97.1 FM (one FM), watch Machachari, > Sakata (great dancing) and Tahidi High. For all age groups watch Papa > Shirandula, Mother in Law, the Wedding Show and the energised evangelical > programmes on Sunday morning. So without getting too dusty in Kiamaiko, Bob > can catch the Kenyan drift. > > regards, > Wamuyu > > > -- > Soko ID Co. Ltd > Tel: +254 (0)721 468699 > http://www.soko-id.co.ke/ > > Soko ID is an innovative company that supports public organisations and > promotes the Kenyan heritage on the internet. >

2 1

African mobile space force to reckon
by Harry Hare 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

Dear All, Some very interesting stats here http://bit.ly/hAi2ea according to admob Africa's mobile ad impressions have overtaken Western Europe while Nokia is still the leading mobile handset manufacturer in Kenya despite a slip in market-share. Happy reading. Kindest Regards Harry Hare Director eDevelopment House : : 604 Limuru Road Old Muthaiga : : P O Box 49475 00100 Nairobi : : Kenya T +254 20 3741646/7 : : C +254 725 650044 Training : : Research: :Consultancy: : Publishing

1 0

2011 IGF dates 27 to 30 September
by Alice Munyua 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

Dear all, Dates for the sixth 2011 United Nations Internet Governance Forum (UN-IGF) have now been confirmed. The IGF will take place on 27th to 30 September 2011 in Nairobi at the UN Gigiri. We wish to have strong participation of all stakeholders and would particularly like to encourage industry, civil society and policy makers and who would bring to it expertise, partnerships, and best practices. We hope to leverage, build upon, and enrich the 2011 IGF, by extending the benefits of the IGF programming to begin to build a foundation for young people within the context of the East African Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF) which will prepare them to participate meaningfully and constructively as IGF youth Ambassadors. Best Alice //

6 5

Fwd: [Afpif] Peering Coordinators Day - Call for Presentations
by Michuki Mwangi 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

<apologies for cross posting> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Afpif] Peering Coordinators Day - Call for Presentations Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:30:59 +0300 From: Michuki Mwangi <mwangi(a)isoc.org> Reply-To: mwangi(a)isoc.org Organization: ISOC To: afpif(a)afpif.org <Please distribute widely> Dear Colleagues, This is a Call for Presentations and Tutorials for the APIF Peering Coordinators Day meeting to be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 10th June 2011. The Peering Coordinators day is a one-day event capacity building event and a precursor to the main AfPIF event scheduled for August, 2011 in Accra, Ghana. The objective of the peering coordinators day is to develop the technical & business capacity of African Peering managers involved in establishing and implementing peering relationships and agreements. Further, it will also seek to identify the technical challenges as well as the solutions for regional interconnection, including Internet Exchange Points. The event is open and will be of particular interest to Peering Coordinators, Business development Managers, Internet providers and operators, telecommunications regulators, content providers, Internet Exchange Point (IXP) Operators, infrastructure providers, Data Center Managers, National Research and Education Networks, Carriers and Transit providers. The AfNOG 12 and AfriNIC 14 meetings will precede the event - please see www.afnog.org. This is an open call to present at the event on technical issues related to regional Interconnection, Peering and Traffic Exchange. If you are interested in presenting: Please submit proposals online at: http://www.isoc.org/openconf/afpif/ * Submission Deadline is 10th April 2011 * Notification of Acceptance is 18th April 2011 * AfPIF Peering Coordinators Day 10th June 2011 Guidelines: The following topic and presentation areas are under consideration for the event. - Peering and Transit Essentials - Peering Architecture and Technical Requirements - Peering Commercials and Contract negotiations - Traffic Flow Analysis for Large Networks - Content Deployment and Caching Techniques in Africa - Technical Peering Configurations and Best Practices - African Cross-border Interconnection - Regional Carrier Technical Solutions - Internet Exchange Points & Research and Education Networks Best Practices and Updates - Building Carrier Neutral Data Centers Tutorials are usually 1 to 2 hour sessions, while presentations may last between ten (10) and thirty (30) minutes with room for Q&A. The Internet Society will facilitate the necessary logistics. The Internet Society’s staff and a select panel of community experts will make selection decisions. Selected presenters will be contacted by the Internet Society to coordinate the logistics. *** Presentations that contain any sort of marketing and commercial content are usually not encouraged at such meetings. For any further queries, please contact mwangi(a)isoc.org We look forward to your contribution and participation. Best regards, Michuki Mwangi Africa Bureau - Regional Development Manager Internet Society www.InternetSociety.org _______________________________________________ Afpif mailing list Afpif(a)afpif.org http://lists.afpif.org/mailman/listinfo/afpif

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Bob Collymore; Yet to arrive
by Betty Mwangi 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

Mark what problem are you experiencing exactly - the system is not down Please contact me directly on 0722 514780 Rgds Betty Sent from my iPad On Mar 7, 2011, at 10:24 AM, "Mark Okuttah" <mokuttah(a)ke.nationmedia.com> wrote: > M-PESA is down again . > > Okuttah > > From: kictanet-bounces+mokuttah=nation.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Betty Mwangi > Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 9:51 AM > To: Mark Okuttah > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bob Collymore; Yet to arrive > > Gentlemen, > > Just to clarify the MPESA platform is the Vodafone money transfer platform you may have seen historically. There are many benefits from having the system centrally hosted but we do continue to review the pros and cons to ensure that the platform remains on the cutting edge of technology and also benefits from economies of scale through sharing resources with the other countries in which MPESA has been rolled out to. > > Best rgds > > Sent from my iPad > > On Mar 5, 2011, at 12:18 PM, "Odhiambo Washington" <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> >> >> On Sat, Mar 5, 2011 at 12:07, Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)swiftkenya.com> wrote: >> >> Betty, >> >> On 3/5/11 7:38 AM, Betty Mwangi wrote: >> > Thanks Solomon >> > >> > Indeed there was an outage on M-PESA last evening whereby the >> > connectivity between the local servers and the database in Germany >> > temporarily failed. This was resolved last evening and apologies for the >> > inconvenience >> > >> >> <rant> >> >> From a technical stand-point the statement above can be easily >> interpreted as a technically flawed design IMHO. It almost states that >> the M-PESA services are "entirely" dependent on connectivity to Germany. >> >> I doubt if this is the case and you may want to clarify. If it is the >> case - i have to say its quite a challenge on your hands to provide an >> efficient service for a local service that depends on international >> connectivity. >> >> </rant> >> >> Michuki. >> >> >> I was going to rant about this too, but I decided not to, because something hit my mind: Since I have a Safaricom WiMax link which I use only for Int'l VoIP, them having to rely on DB servers in Germany is a good thing for me (perhaps) - that they will ensure my Int'l link never goes down:-))) >> >> The negative side to what Betty said is simply something about Kenya's IT infrastructure. That Safaricom does NOT have faith in having their servers hosted locally, since they don't trust having their servers in Kenya. Now, that is another minus for Safaricom! >> >> -- >> Best regards, >> Odhiambo WASHINGTON, >> Nairobi,KE >> +254733744121/+254722743223 >> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ >> Damn!! >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: bmwangi1(a)safaricom.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bmwangi1%40safaricom.c… > Note: > All emails sent from Safaricom Limited are subject to Safaricoms Email Terms & Conditions. Please click here to read the policy. > > DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. > > Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Nation Media Group. > > To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit http://mobile.nation.co.ke to read news on your mobile phone. ##################################################################################### NOTE: All emails sent from Safaricom Limited are subject to Safaricom�s Email Terms & Conditions. Please click here to read the policy. #####################################################################################

4 3

Informative Website
by Eric Kirimi 08 Mar '11

08 Mar '11

Hallo Listers, I found this informative webinars website and thought you would be interested http://www.brighttalk.com/ regards, Eric. K

2 1

free virtualization training classes
by Paul Roy 08 Mar '11

08 Mar '11

Folks, For those who have been asking for free virtualization training please book and attend the following fee classes http://blogs.technet.com/b/systemcenter/archive/2011/03/07/microsoft-virtua… regards, Paul Roy. Technology Strategist, Microsoft Corp.

1 0

Kenya Blogger Invites President Kagame to an event through Twitter and he came
by Twahir Mohamed 08 Mar '11

08 Mar '11

Dear Listers, Below is a link that has the story above.........shows how social media has increased and african leaders paying more attention to opinions on the blogsphere http://bit.ly/eFlXQ3 -- Twahir

1 0

Usage Reports from Safaricom for Prepaid Customers
by Edwin Onchari 07 Mar '11

07 Mar '11

Listers, Is anyone aware, where on the Safaricom site I can access usage on my prepaid line. Lately, my faithful KSHS 100 weekly credit gets used up mighty fast. I would like to view the history on my account to ensure that I am not being ripped off somehow. Do any of the other Telkoms have this facility? Edwin

6 10

ICANN board response to GAC on new gTLDs
by alice＠apc.org 07 Mar '11

07 Mar '11

Dear all Please find attached ICANN's board response to the GAC score card on new gTLDs. best alice

1 0

The Death of Cybercafes?
by Edith Adera 07 Mar '11

07 Mar '11

Listers Just back from Ghana where I was impressed to see that cybercafes are still alive (e.g. BusyInternet)...as my experience in Kenya is that it's hard to find a functional cybercafe within easy reach with cutting edge services and programs (PDF etc)....most are closing down with Internet available on the mobile (with aggressive competition). So outside the office set-up and with minimal home connections...one has almost no options for innovation. Is it a good thing that cybers are dying in Kenya and broadband is yet to reach homes? what needs to be done differently to inform our efforts on digital villages etc? Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> [https://email.idrc.or.ke/owa/attachment.ashx?id=RgAAAAANayfd3%2b2VQYZo%2flc…]

11 12

Bob Collymore; Yet to arrive
by robert yawe 07 Mar '11

07 Mar '11

Hi Listers, I had a chance to catch my namesake Robert Collymore's on the bench interview rerun with Jeff Koinange and it was quite enlightening especially from how he answered the questions. For some reason Jeff was too mellow seems like he had been given a script which was unfortunate, his interview of one Kaguta Museveni was more punchy. As I listened to the interview it became clear that Bob has still not arrived in Kenya, he is here physically but his heart must have been lost in transit, airlines keep doing it with peoples luggage, he needs a chance to arrive. I would suggest that first someone takes him across to Njuguna's preferably after Mututho, best would be if it was with a non-safaricom supplier or staff member as he needs an orientation in Kenyanism. After this he needs to visit Kiamaiko and also watch a soccer match at Dandora or Kibera stadiums then he will be better placed to comment on the Kenyan. He might even be allowed to get aware with using terms like Kubafu and peculiar to describe us. Unlike MJ, Bob has come to occupy the sit at the top of an existing ivory tower that Micheal built, from where the view can be very deceiving and his lieutenants are likely to insulate him from what is happening on the ground. If he genuinely wants to sort our the rote within Safaricom and move the organisation into the future then he must descend from the ivory tower and order his heart back via express courier otherwise his stay shall be short and uneventful. You cannot appreciate the bigger picture if you have no contact with the sectoral one, the pixels make the picture. Just my take from the answers he gave to the soft questions that where rolled towards him. Regards Bob akaribishwe kimtaa Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

11 12

Re: [kictanet] Bob Collymore; Yet to arrive
by Betty Mwangi 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

Thanks Emmanuel - kindly send me your contact details so we can investigate this further - we do appreciate your feedback and are keen to ensure resolution. Rgds Sent from my iPad On Mar 5, 2011, at 6:00 AM, "Emmanuel Khisa" <oloo.khisa(a)googlemail.com> wrote: > Not to beat down a man who is "already down", I submit that the problem with Mpesa airtime has been a problem for more than one month on and off and the problem is much bigger than last Sunday's update. It is crucial for Safaricom to be honest with itself, and seek to once and for all fix this problem. Its not just affecting them, its affecting multiple other industries... > > My take. > > On Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 9:36 PM, Betty Mwangi <bmwangi1(a)safaricom.co.ke> wrote: > Thanks for this information Njeri - please can you send me the details of the outlets that failed to serve you so that we can take immediate action. Further we would like to assure you that M-KESHO is operational and if you experience any problems please do not hesitate to contact me. > > Regarding Mr Ouma's e mail below it is true that following the network upgrade last weekend there was a fault with M-PESA airtime top up for self and this has also been resolved. Please send me your contact details so that we can look into your specific issue if the problem is persisting. > > We apologize for the inconvenience. > > Best rgds > > Betty Mwangi - Thuo > > > Sent from my iPad > > On Mar 4, 2011, at 6:39 PM, "Njeri" <njeri.rionge(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke> wrote: > >> I wanted to load 40k last week and was only able to do so by going to three outlets, then sending it was another issue, not to mention some told me mkesho is now mkesho kutwa. :-) >> >> Sent from my iPhone. >> >> Njeri >> >> www.njeri-rionge.com >> >> On Mar 4, 2011, at 18:22, Michael Bullut <michael.bullut(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> The MPesa service is currently down... I tried depositing some funds an hour ago at two agents in Westlands and they told me the system is unavailable... >>> >>> On Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 3:03 PM, Michael Ouma <benomnta(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >>> If this was facebook, I would said "like this" comment. >>> >>> I can't top up my credit via mpesa neither can I top up another number via the same mpesa since last week. >>> >>> Michael Ouma >>> Journalist >>> Kenya >>> Tel:+254-725-537823 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> "Do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave a trail," - Ralph Waldo Emerson >>> >>> >>> From: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> >>> To: benomnta(a)yahoo.com >>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>> Sent: Fri, March 4, 2011 8:36:30 AM >>> Subject: [kictanet] Bob Collymore; Yet to arrive >>> >>> Hi Listers, >>> >>> I had a chance to catch my namesake Robert Collymore's on the bench interview rerun with Jeff Koinange and it was quite enlightening especially from how he answered the questions. >>> >>> For some reason Jeff was too mellow seems like he had been given a script which was unfortunate, his interview of one Kaguta Museveni was more punchy. >>> >>> As I listened to the interview it became clear that Bob has still not arrived in Kenya, he is here physically but his heart must have been lost in transit, airlines keep doing it with peoples luggage, he needs a chance to arrive. >>> >>> I would suggest that first someone takes him across to Njuguna's preferably after Mututho, best would be if it was with a non-safaricom supplier or staff member as he needs an orientation in Kenyanism. After this he needs to visit Kiamaiko and also watch a soccer match at Dandora or Kibera stadiums then he will be better placed to comment on the Kenyan. He might even be allowed to get aware with using terms like Kubafu and peculiar to describe us. >>> >>> Unlike MJ, Bob has come to occupy the sit at the top of an existing ivory tower that Micheal built, from where the view can be very deceiving and his lieutenants are likely to insulate him from what is happening on the ground. >>> >>> If he genuinely wants to sort our the rote within Safaricom and move the organisation into the future then he must descend from the ivory tower and order his heart back via express courier otherwise his stay shall be short and uneventful. You cannot appreciate the bigger picture if you have no contact with the sectoral one, the pixels make the picture. >>> >>> Just my take from the answers he gave to the soft questions that where rolled towards him. >>> >>> Regards >>> >>> Bob akaribishwe kimtaa >>> >>> >>> Robert Yawe >>> KAY System Technologies Ltd >>> Phoenix House, 6th Floor >>> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 >>> Kenya >>> >>> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> This message was sent to: michael.bullut(a)gmail.com >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/michael.bullut%40gmail… >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Warm regards, >>> >>> Michael Bullut. >>> >>> --- >>> >>> Cell: +254 723 393 114. >>> Google Talk: michael.bullut >>> Twitter: @Kipsang >>> Blog: http://kipsang.wordpress.com/ >>> Email: michael.bullut(a)gmail.com >>> >>> --- >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> This message was sent to: njeri.rionge(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njeri.rionge%40ignitec… >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: bmwangi1(a)safaricom.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bmwangi1%40safaricom.c… > Note: > All emails sent from Safaricom Limited are subject to Safaricom’s Email Terms & Conditions. Please click here to read the policy. > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: oloo.khisa(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > Oloo Khisa > P.O. Box 24324-00100 > Nairobi > 0721321086/0734321086 > http://ke.linkedin.com/in/olookhisa > ##################################################################################### NOTE: All emails sent from Safaricom Limited are subject to Safaricom�s Email Terms & Conditions. Please click here to read the policy. #####################################################################################

1 0

Apply now for ICANN's Leadership Positions: Introducing the Nominating Committee (NomCom)
by Alice Munyua 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

Dear all, (apologies for cross posting) Please see below an announcement below from ICANN's nominating committee. They are seeking to fill leadership positions with people with skills and interest in multi stakeholder policy development as well as internet governance in general. For example, the At Large Committee (ALAC) would be a very interesting entry point for people interested in a broad range of issues, ccNSO (Country Code Names Supporting Organization) works mainly on (country code top level domains) ccTLDs, while the gNSO focuses on policy development for generic names. Would be great if we could get more of us involved! best Alice ------------------- Apply now for ICANN's Leadership Positions: Introducing the Nominating Committee (NomCom) The NomCom is an independent committee that, over a three-year cycle, is responsible for the selection and appointment of half of the voting members of ICANN's Board of Directors as well as members of ICANN's policy making Supporting Organizations and Advisory Councils. The 2011 NomCom is currently seeking volunteers willing to join ICANN's leadership and help shape the future of the Internet. The application process for the following positions is now open: * At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) (3 seats, Africa; Asia/Australia/Pacific; and Latin America/Caribbean Islands regions) * Generic Names Supporting Organization Council (GNSO) (2 seats) * Country Code Names Support Organization Council (ccNSO) (1 seat) * Board of Directors (2 seats) Information about the qualifications and experience required for these positions is available on the NomCom website http://nomcom.icann.org/positions-2011.htm Self-nominations are welcome, or you can suggest a candidate -- if you know someone who could help lead development of policy for the Domain Name System, then the NomCom wants to hear from you! Visit the NomCom website http://nomcom.icann.org/ for details of how to apply http://nomcom.icann.org/apply or how to recommend an expert http://nomcom.icann.org/suggest/ for a position. NomCom Chair, Adam Peake <ajp(a)glocom.ac.jp> would be pleased to answer any questions a potential candidates may have. Closing date for applications 4 April 2011. END --

2 1

Fwd: Jobs in Mobiles and Finance / Mobiles and Agriculture with GSMA in London
by Alice Munyua 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Jobs in Mobiles and Finance / Mobiles and Agriculture with GSMA in London Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 15:52:17 +0000 From: Richard Heeks <richard.heeks(a)manchester.ac.uk> To: Richard Heeks <richard.heeks(a)manchester.ac.uk> Job 1: Mobile Money for the Unbanked Programme Coordinator Department Development Fund Location London Salary Competitive Assesment Interview/psychometric Reporting to Programme Director Deadline: 10th of March *Description* The MMU Coordinator role is primarily a role supporting the members of the MMU team, as well as the various activities and programmes that the MMU team runs. On top of this the chosen candidate will be expected to contribute ideas for impactful mobile money industry events and workshops with the rest of the MMU team and then will be responsible for transforming these ideas into successful working sessions. This person will be responsible for creating and issuing the agenda (with input from the MMU team), preparing materials in advance, arranging logistics, communicating with members and driving attendance to the each session and also work with the Knowledge Manager to ensure that appropriate content is effectively disseminated to the wider MM community post the event. The MMU Coordinator will also be responsible for gathering appropriate feedback and carrying out analysis on the data collected from our stakeholders to ensure that we are effectively meeting their needs, having the right impact and also suggesting ways to improve our Programme activities so that we continue to raise the bar. There are currently two main events each year, which the MMU Coordinator will be expected to attend (currently planned for Singapore, June 2011), and then approximately three regional events each year (across Asia, LatAm and Africa -- Coordinator attendance TBC). They will also be responsible for customer relationship management for the MMU Programme, ensuring a database of our contacts is maintained and managed. They will also be the first line of contact for queries from existing members or enquiries from potential members of the MMU Programme. The MMU Coordinator will support the Programme Manager to complete programme management tasks such as status reporting, financial planning, etc., including tollgate reporting to our sponsors at the Gates Foundation. They will also be responsible for supplier contracting and managing the invoice payments process with the Finance teams, to ensure all suppliers are contracted and managed appropriately. They will also be responsible for supporting the team during peak periods, either for administration support (e.g. booking meetings, travel, etc.) or more ad hoc tasks (to be agreed with the Coordinator and the Programme Manager). The MMU Coordinator will also be responsible for ensuring that MMU is appropriately represented in wider Mobile Money events, through ensuring good coordination with their opposite number from the wider MM theme. The MMU Coordinator will be an integral part of the MMU team and will be exposed not only to the operational side of the Programme but also on helping to shape our activities and strategy, e.g. they will be expected to contribute ideas for how we can continue to increase our impact on the mobile money industry. They will work closely with the Programme Manager to ensure that the strategy and operational plans are regularly reviewed and any modifications are effectively communicated to the wider Development Fund and beyond as appropriate. The MMU Coordinator will also be given their own MMU project to complete, which will require research (this may be a primary research such as an interview for the MMU Newsletter with a key player in the industry, or secondary research based on existing published materials). The scope of this will be agreed with the Programme Manager, based on the programme's needs as well as the Coordinator's own interests and aspirations. They will have significant exposure to the key players in the mobile money industry and will be expected to have a keen interest in learning about the role of mobile communications to bank the unbanked, and growing their own network in this space. The MMU Coordinator will report to the Programme Manager. *Context* GSMA -- Mobile Money for the Unbanked Programme (MMU) The MMU Programme is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal of the Programme is to provide mobile money services to 20 million new unbanked people who are living on sub $2 per day by 2012. Furthermore, MMU will strive for mobile money to 1) be considered mainstream business for mobile operators, 2) be extensively available to those who have been previously unbanked, and 3) extend the reach and reduce the costs for formal financial services such as savings, insurance and credit. The Programme will achieve its aims by working closely with key industry bodies (regulatory bodies and financial institutions) as well as a number of mobile network operators (GSMA members) who have the opportunity to make the biggest impact within the mobile money space. MMU will also work to raise advocacy for mobile money more broadly within the industry, by ensuring that key industry developments, learnings and best practice are appropriately packaged and shared. MMU will convene the industry in a series of Working Groups and Sub-Groups, in order to better understand and resolve key issues facing mobile money. It will also provide grant funding to mobile money projects, in order to foster innovation and accelerate deployments, and the MMU team will work closely with these projects to ensure their success. The right candidate will join a young, dynamic, high performing team (currently 5 people strong, from financial services, telecommunications and strategy consulting backgrounds). There will be extensive travel opportunities, particularly within developing markets across Asia, Latin America and Africa. *Criteria* GSMA - The Person The role requires an individual who is a well organized team player, with a desire to learn about mobile money and play a role in supporting the development of this industry through our Programme. Specifically: - Drive and proactivity - demonstrates a "can do" attitude, and eager to identify and suggest ways of improving existing processes - Previous experience of working on a large Programme and knowledge of programme management practices - Very conscientious -- sets high personal standards and shows excellent attention to detail - Highly professional -- comfortable interacting with internal and external stakeholders, including C-level executives - Demonstrates a will to learn about the industry (by active participation in team meetings, with questions or insight about MMU industry) - Good knowledge of MS Office (Excel, Word and Powerpoint) - Basic analytical skills - Able to quickly grasp new concepts and ideas - Willingness to travel on an international basis - Excellent cultural awareness and a desire to work with teams around the world - language skills highly desirable Click here to complete an application form for this position https://infocentre.gsm.org/cgi-bin/jb_job_apply.cgi?jb_job_id=dev-lon-210&j… Fund <https://infocentre.gsm.org/cgi-bin/jb_job_apply.cgi?jb_job_id=dev-lon-210&j…> Job 2: mAgri Coordinator *Role Details* __ Role Title: mAgri Coordinator *Reporting to: mAgri Director* Company: GSMA Development Fund ** * Location: London* ** *About the GSMA Development Fund* ** The GSMA Development Fund exists to accelerate economic, social and environmental development through the use of mobile technology. We believe that providing tangible, accessible mobile services to people in developing countries is invaluable to society and can help improve people's lives. The Development Fund leverages the industry expertise of the GSMA and its members, as well as the development expertise of international agencies and non-profit organisations to accelerate mobile services in six areas: Mobile Agriculture, Mobile Money for the Unbanked, Green Power for Mobile, mWomen, Mobile Health and Mobile Learning.Together with our partners, we incubate and replicate new mobile services in communities where they can make a positive difference. We believe that "doing good, is good business" and that with more than 3 billion users, 'base of the pyramid' markets are the future for mobile growth and innovation. The mobile industry is therefore uniquely positioned to deliver economic and social value to these markets. In order to drive developments in this area the Development Fund's role is to catalyse innovation, drive market scaling and increase knowledge networking to achieve the following objectives: ·Increase the number of effective, scalable and replicable development initiatives using mobile technology in emerging markets. ·Implement these initiatives in a scalable and sustainable fashion, bringing socio-economic benefits to individuals and communities. ·Increase awareness among governments and the development community of how GSM voice and data networks act as an agent of development and can be used to bridge the digital divide. http://www.gsmworld.com/developmentfund/index.shtml ** *Programme Description * ** ** GSMA -- Mobile Agriculture (mAgri) The GSMA Development Fund's Mobile Agriculture (mAgri) initiative has been established to catalyse the deployment of mobile solutions to serve the agriculture sector. To date, focus has been to engage with mobile operators and their partners to accelerate the availability of agriculture information based services through mobile to farmers (mFarmer services). In partnerships with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, the mAgri programme has supported and piloted two projects in Africa and India. We are due to launch a second phase of mAgri programme -- mFarmer sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal of the mFarmer programme is to work with mobile network operators and partners to support the launch of quality agricultural VAS that will be accessed by over 2 million smallholder farmers. The programme aims to provide a sustainable way for farmers to obtain critical life-enhancing agricultural information that can help them improve their farm productivity and income. The mFarmer programme will achieve its aims by working closely with mobile network operators (GSMA members) and other public and private sector agriculture organisations who are implementing agricultural VAS. Through an open application process, the mFarmer programme will award challenge funds, technical assistance and an electronic content database to selected mFarmer projects, in order to foster innovation and accelerate deployments. The mAgri team will work closely on the ground with these projects to ensure their success. The mAgri team will also work to raise advocacy for mobile agriculture more broadly within the industry, by ensuring that key industry developments, learnings and best practices are appropriately packaged and shared; and convene the industry in order to better understand and resolve key issues facing mobile agriculture initiatives. The right candidate will join a newly forming, young, dynamic, high performing team. There will be travel opportunities, particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa. *Role Description* ** ** The role will encompass: ·*Programme management support*(40%) - the mAgri Coordinator will work with the mAgri team to create a robust programme management structure to support the new programme and will be actively involved in tasks such as status reporting and financial reporting. They will be responsible for supplier contracting and managing the invoice payments process with the Finance teams, to ensure all suppliers are contracted and managed appropriately. They will support the grant management co-ordination and work closely with the grant management partner and applicants. They will also be responsible for customer relationship management for the mAgri Programme, ensuring a database of our contacts is maintained and managed. They will be the first line of contact for queries from existing members or enquiries from potential members of the mAgri Programme. They will also be responsible for supporting the team during peak periods, either for administration support (e.g. booking meetings, travel, etc.) or more ad hoc tasks (to be agreed with the Coordinator and the Programme Director). ·*Marketing support (20%) *- The mAgri Coordinator will work closely with the mAgri team and marketing team to raise the profile of the mAgri programme. They will be responsible for co-ordinating marketing plans, establishing and maintaining the presence of the mAgri programme on-line, studying industry trends, and co-ordinating knowledge management with the wider team. The mAgri Coordinator will be an integral part of the mAgri team and will be exposed not only to the operational side of the Programme but also on helping to shape our activities and strategy, and they will be expected to contribute ideas for how we can continue to increase our impact on the mAgri industry. They will work closely with the Programme Director to ensure that the strategy and operational plans are regularly reviewed and any modifications are effectively communicated to the wider Development Fund and beyond as appropriate. ·*Events and workshop co-ordination*(20%) - The mAgri Coordinator will work with the mAgri team to create successful knowledge transfer sessions (for example, working groups, webinars, workshops). This person will be responsible for all logistical planning and execution including issuing the agenda (with input from the mAgri team), preparing materials in advance, arranging logistics, communicating with members and driving attendance to the each session and also work with the mAgri team to ensure that appropriate content is effectively disseminated to the wider mAgri community pre, during and post the event. The mAgri Coordinator will also be responsible for gathering appropriate feedback and carrying out analysis on the data collected from our stakeholders to ensure that we are effectively meeting their needs, having the right impact and also suggesting ways to improve our Programme activities so that we continue to raise the bar. The person will have significant exposure to the key players in the mobile agriculture industry and will be expected to have a keen interest in learning about the role of mobile communications to serve the agriculture sector, and growing their own network in this space. The mAgri co-ordinator will also spend 20% of their time supporting the GSMA Development Fund more widely and helping to co-ordinate GSMA Development Fund cross-programme activities, as directed by the Managing Director of the Development Fund. *GSMA Package* ** ** Salary band £28-£35k, subject to experience Bonus up to 10% of salary The GSMA is able to provide suitably motivated candidates with a first class working environment, access to all of the key decision makers in a one of the planets largest and most progressive industry's and the content to keep a curious mind engaged. Many of our alumni have now taken key roles in the development of the industry. How to apply Name: Clare Kibbey Contact form or email: jobs(a)gsm.org Application deadline: Fri, 25/03/2011 Job 3: mAgri Manager *Role Details* Role Title: mAgri Manager Reporting to: mAgri Director Company: GSMA Development Fund Location: Sub-Saharan Africa (location tbd) *About the GSMA Development Fund* The GSMA Development Fund exists to accelerate economic, social and environmental development through the use of mobile technology. We believe that providing tangible, accessible mobile services to people in developing countries is invaluable to society and can help improve people's lives. The Development Fund leverages the industry expertise of the GSMA and its members, as well as the development expertise of international agencies and non-profit organisations to accelerate mobile services in six areas: Mobile Agriculture, Mobile Money for the Unbanked, Green Power for Mobile, mWomen, Mobile Health and Mobile Learning. Together with our partners, we incubate and replicate new mobile services in communities where they can make a positive difference. We believe that "doing good, is good business" and that with more than 3 billion users, 'base of the pyramid' markets are the future for mobile growth and innovation. The mobile industry is therefore uniquely positioned to deliver economic and social value to these markets. In order to drive developments in this area the Development Fund's role is to catalyse innovation, drive market scaling and increase knowledge networking to achieve the following objectives: ? Increase the number of effective, scalable and replicable development initiatives using mobile technology in emerging markets. ? Implement these initiatives in a scalable and sustainable fashion, bringing socioeconomic benefits to individuals and communities. ? Increase awareness among governments and the development community of how GSM voice and data networks act as an agent of development and can be used to bridge the digital divide. http://www.gsmworld.com/developmentfund/index.shtml *GSMA -- Mobile Agriculture (mAgri)* The GSMA Development Fund's Mobile Agriculture (mAgri) initiative has been established to catalyse the deployment of mobile solutions to serve the agriculture sector. To date, focus has been to engage with mobile operators and their partners to accelerate the availability of agriculture information based services through mobile to farmers (mFarmer services). In partnerships with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, the mAgri programme has supported and piloted two projects in Africa and India. We are due to launch a second phase of mAgri programme -- mFarmer sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal of the mFarmer programme is to work with mobile network operators and partners to support the launch of quality agricultural VAS that will be accessed by over 2 million smallholder farmers. The programme aims to provide a sustainable way for farmers to obtain critical life-enhancing agricultural information that can help them improve their farm productivity and income. The mFarmer programme will achieve its aims by working closely with mobile network operators (GSMA members) and other public and private sector agriculture organisations who are implementing agricultural VAS. Through an open application process, the mFarmer programme will award challenge funds, technical assistance and an electronic content database to selected mFarmer projects, in order to foster innovation and accelerate deployments. The mAgri team will work closely on the ground with these projects to ensure their success. The mAgri team will also work to raise advocacy for mobile agriculture more broadly within the industry, by ensuring that key industry developments, learnings and best practices are appropriately packaged and shared; and convene the industry in order to better understand and resolve key issues facing mobile agriculture initiatives. Th right candidate will join a newly forming, young, dynamic, high performing team. *Programme Description* The GSMA Development Fund is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to work as a manager across multiple mFarmer projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. The role will encompass: ? Technical Assistance (70%) -- work directly with potential grantees to develop grant applications (which will include operational and business plans for the mFarmer projects) that can be presented to the Fund Panel. Support operators which have received funding from the mFarmer Fund and work onsite as a consultant/technical advisor to develop and implement their service strategy, robust business and operational plans, share lessons learned in other markets, and troubleshoot key challenges. Ensure the agricultural service is designed and implemented to provide a high-quality of service and impact to farmers; and can be scaleable and sustainable. Provide IT/systems assistance for the integration of an electronic content database. Develop and manage key stakeholders relationships critical for the programme's success, including mobile phone operators, value added service providers, agriculture institutes and donor agencies. Understand and develop new business models and partnerships. ? Best practice and knowledge sharing (15%) -- Help define the overall GSMA mAgri advocacy strategy. Extract key learnings and analytics from each mFarmer project deployment and raise advocacy for mobile agricultural services more broadly within the industry, by ensuring that key industry developments, learnings and best practices are appropriately packaged and shared. This could be in the form of writing case studies and online reports and conducting knowledge sharing sessions via working groups, webinars and workshops (in collaboration with the other mAgri team members). ? Programme and project monitoring (15%) -- Define project plans, milestones and success measures; prepare timely and comprehensive analysis of progress against metrics and milestones. Prepare progress and financial reports, as required. Manage third party monitoring and evaluation services. Liaise with a third party grant management organisation to contract grants and ensure contractual obligations are met. *Role Description* - Consultancy and business development experience - Outstanding general and project management skills - Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills - Proven track record of achievement under a range of challenging situations (ideally in multiple countries, especially developing countries) - Experienced or passionate in agriculture development and the role of mobile technology - Experience of the mobile telecoms sector and development sector is desirable - Experience of designing or implementing new IT systems is desirable - Excellent relationship management and cultural awareness skills, able to work equally well in a CEO boardroom or a local village - Driven, proactive and conscientious professional - Excellent analytical skills - Willingness to travel on an international basis How to apply Name: Clare Kibbey Contact form or email: jobs(a)gsm.org Application deadline: Fri, 25/03/2011

1 0

2011 Anita Borg Change Agent Awards Nominations Open
by Dorcas Muthoni 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

2011 Anita Borg Change Agent Awards Nominations Open *Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology Honors Individuals **Advancing Women’s Participation in the Creation and Use of Technology Worldwide* *PALO ALTO, Calif. — February 22, 2011, —* The *Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology <http://www.anitaborg.org/>* announced today it has opened the *Call for Nominations<http://anitaborg.org/initiatives/awards/change-agent-awards/> * for the *Anita Borg Change Agent Awards<http://anitaborg.org/initiatives/awards/change-agent-awards/> *. The Change Agent Awards celebrate the accomplishments of technical women from, and who work in, developing countries. These awards are designed to recognize up-and-coming leaders that impact or advance women’s participation in technology. Three individual awards will be given to women in computing that demonstrate leadership within their communities, expand opportunities and influence the careers of girls and women in technology, and demonstrate impact on advancing women’s participation in technology. Each winner will receive up to $5,000 in travel reimbursement to attend the *Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing <http://www.gracehopper.org/>*. Past winners have come from Bahrain, Brazil, Egypt, Georgia, Haiti, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. The Change Agent Awards are sponsored by Google. *The awards will be presented on November 11, 2011 at the Grace Hopper Celebration in Portland, Oregon. Nominations will be accepted until May 2, 2011 at **http://anitaborg.org/initiatives/awards/change-agent-awards**/.* *About the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI)* The Anita Borg Institute provides resources and programs to help industry, academia, and government recruit, retain, and develop women leaders in high-tech fields, resulting in higher levels of technological innovation. ABI programs serve high-tech women by creating a community and providing tools to help them develop their careers. ABI is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization. ABI Partners include: Google, Microsoft, HP, CA, Cisco, First Republic Bank, IBM, Intel, Intuit, Lockheed Martin, National Science Foundation, National Security Agency, NetApp, SAP, Symantec, Thomson Reuters, Wilson Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, Motorola Foundation, Yahoo, Amazon, Facebook, and Raytheon. For more information, visit * www.anitaborg.org*. *Media Contact:** **Jerri Barrett** **650-857-6095** **jerrib(a)anitaborg.org*

1 0

Cybercafes dieing? Not soon
by james ratemo 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

I totally agree that cyber cafes may not die any soon in the peri urban centres and rural areas. Despite the mobile Internet guys still need additional services that can only be available in digital villages/cyber cafes. An example is the SoftKenya Digital Village in Kenya which I and my friends recently initiated...people want to do research, primt, scan, laminate docs, apply for KRA pin online and others simply come to be helped to join facebook and open email accounts....there is still enormous potential in this field. The catch phrase is value adding, variety and innovation. And the fibre optic cables should be extended further deep into towns On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 9:35 PM, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > Robert, > You are right. Cyber Cafes may die in Nairobi CBD area but in low income > neighbourhoods and rural centers they are still relevant. Go to Korogocho > and see what Altawon is doing. At Mukuru Kwa Njenga the Cyber Cafe there > provides more than what we traditionally knew cyber cafes for. If our > definition of Cyber Cafe is the same, then some digital villages in > Kangundo, Malindi, Kioge, Tsiekuru etc are basically Cyber Cafes. > > The value proposition for such centers is increasingly becoming viable > with such new concepts as impact outsourcing (those who may be interested > to see model impact outsourcing centers can check with me next month). A > bit of field visit would enhance our discussion in this list. > > > Regards > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > I disagree with your assertion that cybercafes are closing down if > > anything they > > are mushrooming and in more seats that before, in the building where our > > offices > > are we used to have a single cyber on the 2nd floor in the past 12 months > > 2 have > > opened on the ground floor replacing a bookshop and a pharmacy each with > > over 30 > > stations. > > > > The availability of mobile on the phone is actually a plus for the cyber > > business as it creates a more aware market who end up spending more time > > and > > money as they need to download staff, print, cd burn etc. > > > > Unless you have an iPad the experience of browsing on your phone is still > > not as > > good as on a large 17" screen. > > > > Finally, many of thus opening cybers today have a better understanding of > > the > > business than the me too crowd that used to run them before. Any cyber > > cafe > > that does not charge automatically for printing is doomed to close soon. > > > > As more knowledgeable investors come into the cyber cafe business expect > > to see > > more of them coming up and with the right tools for monitoring and > > generating > > revenue such as protocol based billing. I visited a cyber in Rongai > where > > billing was bandwidth based as they where using a Safaricom 3G > connection. > > > > Regards > > Robert Yawe > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > Kenya > > > > > > Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.or.ke> > > To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Sent: Wed, 2 March, 2011 19:12:16 > > Subject: [kictanet] The Death of Cybercafes? > > > > > > Listers > > > > Just back from Ghana where I was impressed to see that cybercafes are > > still > > alive (e.g. BusyInternet)...as my experience in Kenya is that it's hard > to > > find > > a functional cybercafe within easy reach with cutting edge services and > > programs (PDF etc)....most are closing down with Internet available on > the > > mobile (with aggressive competition). So outside the office set-up and > > with > > minimal home connections...one has almost no options for innovation. > > > > Is it a good thing that cybers are dying in Kenya and broadband is yet to > > reach homes? what needs to be done differently to inform our efforts on > > digital > > villages etc? > > > > Edith > > > > ________________ > > Edith Ofwona Adera > > Senior Program Specialist > > ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program > > International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le > > développement international > > Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa > > Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera > > eadera(a)idrc.or.ke | www.idrc.ca| www.crdi.ca > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > > 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://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)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" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jratemo(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jratemo%40gmail.com > -- James Ratemo ICT reporter, The Standard Newspaper, P.O Box 49990-00100, Nairobi Cell Phone: 0724960649 OR 0731960649 Other Emaili-jratemo(a)standardmedia.co.ke or jratemo(a)gmail.com Website:www.ictcradle.com. Twitter accounts: kenyacurrent and jratemo Skype account:ratemoj Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? No one.

1 0

Re: [kictanet] KCSE Performance
by Jotham Kilimo Mwale 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Hi Akich, I found the list you are asking for from The Standard online home page. I have attached the document. Regards, Jotham --- On Thu, 3/4/10, Akich Kwach <kwach(a)archway-productions.com> wrote: From: Akich Kwach <kwach(a)archway-productions.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE Performance To: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Cc: "alewela" <alewela(a)ict.go.ke>, "ke users" <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 1:01 AM _filtered #yiv689680575 { font-family:Wingdings;} _filtered #yiv689680575 { font-family:Cambria Math;} _filtered #yiv689680575 { font-family:Calibri;} _filtered #yiv689680575 {margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt;} #yiv689680575 P.MsoNormal { MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;FONT-FAMILY:"serif";FONT-SIZE:12pt;} #yiv689680575 LI.MsoNormal { MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;FONT-FAMILY:"serif";FONT-SIZE:12pt;} #yiv689680575 DIV.MsoNormal { MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;FONT-FAMILY:"serif";FONT-SIZE:12pt;} #yiv689680575 A:link { COLOR:blue;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR:blue;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 A:visited { COLOR:purple;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR:purple;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 SPAN.EmailStyle17 { FONT-FAMILY:"sans-serif";COLOR:#1f497d;} #yiv689680575 .MsoChpDefault { FONT-SIZE:10pt;} #yiv689680575 DIV.Section1 { } #yiv689680575 OL { MARGIN-BOTTOM:0in;} #yiv689680575 UL { MARGIN-BOTTOM:0in;} Many thanks Barnabas for sharing this valuable information. Would you be having the list of top 100 candidates national and provincial categories with names of schools in which the candidates sat for their KCSE exams? If you do, kindly share it. The way the list is published in the media only gives incomplete information. Would you imagine if they announced the names of the winners during the Olympic Games and then they only play the national anthem without mentioning the countries they represent, (in our case the Index numbers represent schools). In the case of Olympic games, one has to go through the catalogue and find out which country is represented by such a flag; similarly, in the case of KCSE relults, those few who knows index numbers for various schools. I am of the view citizens should never be denied information they deserve. All in all your Ministry (MoE) and the KNEC has made good progress by incorporating ICT tools while releasing results. This has greatly saved parents and candidates the costs of running to schools, (some of them miles away) for their results. May God bless this nation to keep moving in the right direction at competitive speed. Akich Kwach ----- Original Message ----- From: Barnabas K. Sang To: kwach(a)archway-productions.com Cc: alewela ; ke users ; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 9:26 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE Performance Thought would be of interest to you. Kind regards B. K. Sang _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kwach(a)archway-productions.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kwach%40archway-produc… -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jokilimo%40yahoo.com

2 2

ICT RELATED - Wikileaks.ch -- Viewing cable 07NAIROBI4246, KENYA - DOING BUSINESS THE CHINESE WAY
by S.Murigi Muraya 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

Nothing new to most of us but interesting dossier all the same.. http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2007/10/07NAIROBI4246.html Viewing cable 07NAIROBI4246, KENYA - DOING BUSINESS THE CHINESE WAY Reference ID: 07NAIROBI4246 Created: 2007-10-30 08:08 Released: 2011-03-01 21:09 Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Origin: Embassy Nairobi UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 004246 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS USTR - BILL JACKSON STATE FOR AF/E, AF/EPS AND EB/CIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ECPS EFIN KCOR CH KE SUBJECT: KENYA - DOING BUSINESS THE CHINESE WAY REF: NAIROBI 4202 NAIROBI 00004246 001.2 OF 002 Sensitive-but-unclassified. This cable is not for release outside USG channels. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Chinese firms selling into Kenya's information and communications technologies (ICT) sector are throwing a lot of money around, according to industry contacts. Indeed, Chinese influence may be so great that it is distorting important investment decisions in the country. Putting aside corruption, Chinese ICT vendors are difficult to beat on price and quality, and therefore often win government procurement tenders. However, companies that buy Chinese equipment often find that they end up paying the piper later due to poor after-sales service. End summary. ¶2. (U) In the course of gathering information for reftel report on developments in Kenya's information and communications technology (ICT) sector, interesting anecdotes emerged about the way Chinese firms do business in Kenya. ---------------------------- China "Re-Colonizing Africa" ---------------------------- ¶3. (SBU) "The Chinese are re-colonizing Africa for natural resources," according to Michael Joseph, the Amcit CEO of Safaricom, Kenya's largest and most successful mobile phone company, speaking to U.S. Mission staff on October 18. Joseph diverged from his brief on Kenyan efforts to build FONN, a new terrestrial national fiber optic network (reftel), to say the project is an example of how "the Chinese are driving the ICT agenda in Kenya." FONN, he said, was poorly planned - consciously so, in his view, so that Chinese companies could get fatter contracts. As noted reftel, FONN will extend all the way to the borders of Kenya's neighbors, which means it will traverse vast tracts of virtually empty land in Kenya's northern and western reaches. Two Chinese firms and one French firm have been awarded contracts to construct the network. According to Joseph: "We don't need fiber to Garissa (in sparsely populated Northeast Province), we need it in Nyeri" (a bustling market town just north of Nairobi). --------------------------------------------- ---- Chinese Stuff: Good and Cheap, But Service Stinks --------------------------------------------- ---- ¶4. (SBU) Joseph went on to describe the use by Chinese ICT vendors of concessional credits from the Chinese government to lock up contracts - nothing new there. Echoing the views of many industry contacts, he said the quality of the ICT equipment provided by companies like Huawai and ZTE is pretty good, and their prices are low. But he used a monosyllabic expletive beginning with "S" to describe after-sales service. When there are equipment problems later, he said, the Chinese run for the door, and matters are made worse by the language barrier. Safaricom purchased equipment last year from Huawei, but the deal was too good to be true. Huawei effectively reneged and only delivered half the equipment promised in the contract. Joseph went to China personally, eventually got the Huawai CEO to admit that the company had lied, and then forced it to cancel the contract. ---------------------------------------- Chinese Buying Politicians and Influence ---------------------------------------- ¶5. (SBU) More insidious, said Joseph, is that "the Chinese" (by this we believe he meant Chinese firms, not the government) are "funding the political agenda" of Kenyan politicians and ministers. When he returned from China after cancelling the Huawei contract, he was summoned to the office of Mutahi Kagwe, the Minister of Information and Communication, and told the cancellation put all Chinese foreign assistance to Kenya at risk. He also received phone calls from different ministers with no responsibility for ICT who insisted that he reconsider the cancellation. One was the Minister of Immigration, who hinted that Joseph, a foreigner, might have work permit problems if he cancelled the contract. He held his ground. Joseph said that whenever he meets with a Chinese firm, "within 20 minutes" he receives calls from various Kenyan ministers or members of parliament lobbying on behalf of the company. ¶6. (SBU) Another likely manifestation of the undue influence and NAIROBI 00004246 002.2 OF 002 unfair play by the Chinese, said Joseph, was the recent Phase II expansion of the CDMA fixed wireless service being rolled out by Kenya's monopoly fixed line phone company, Telkom Kenya (see reftel). Because of Telkom Kenya's state-owned status, the project by law should have been put out for public tender. But instead, the Kenyan government quietly and unilaterally awarded the contract to Huawei, the Chinese company that did Phase I. Separately in August, the CEO of one of the country's largest internet service providers confirmed the details of the deal, which he said raised eyebrows throughout the industry. --------------------------------------------- ---- Telkom Kenya Looking for Non-Chinese Tech Partner --------------------------------------------- ---- ¶7. (SBU) Asked about China's influence in the ICT sector on October 18, the more restrained CEO of Telkom Kenya, Sammy Kirui, insisted that the Chinese "can't throw their weight around too much." He echoed Joseph's assessment that Chinese equipment is decent quality and low price. But like Joseph, he complained that "you pay down the line" in terms of poor after-sales service. As a state-owned entity, he said, Telkom has to follow government procurement procedures, and "the Chinese always do well on government tenders." After Telkom is privatized (reftel), however, it will have more flexibility to procure equipment on the basis of factors beyond price, such as network compatibility. The company already counts Huawei as a "strategic technical partner", but has issued an expression of interest for a second such partner. Huawei rival ZTE, also a Chinese company, is pressing hard, but Kirui insists that the company's second strategic tech partner must be non-Chinese. ------------------------------------------ Finding Ways Around the Chinese Juggernaut ------------------------------------------ ¶8. (SBU) More emphatic is the Permanent Secretary of Information and Communications, Dr. Bitange Ndemo. Ndemo, a talented former U.S.-resident business executive, has repeatedly lamented the inability of U.S. firms to win Kenyan government tenders. A strong proponent of U.S. technology, he is resorting to creative ways to circumvent a tender process which he sees as handcuffing the country by virtually guaranteeing that it is forced to buy low-cost Chinese equipment, without heed to other important factors, such as after-sales service and network compatibility. Ndemo recently signed a memorandum of agreement for a public-private partnership with a Saudi firm that for the most part sells and services U.S.-made equipment. The deal calls for the construction of at least one $30 million data center that will complement the roll-out of the national fiber network. By structuring the relationship in this way, Ndemo believes he can legally buy the equipment and technology most appropriate for Kenya, without having to pander only to the lowest price seller. ¶9. (SBU) More generally, Ndemo regularly expresses concern about the influence of China in the ICT sector. Without providing details, he has told Econ/C many times that he and other senior technocrats are under constant pressure from their own ministers and the country's senior political leadership to buy Chinese. ------- Comment ------- ¶10. (SBU) The views and anecdotes conveyed by people like Joseph and Ndemo put a bit flesh on the bones of the oft-repeated (but seldom proven) contention that Chinese companies play dirty. Most disturbing in this case is the idea that Chinese influence is so great that it's actually distorting critical investment decisions in Kenya's all-important ICT sector. For further investigation is the role of the Chinese government. We wonder if it simply turns a blind eye to the dirty work of Chinese firms, or if it actively contributes to the problem. Ranneberger ...

1 0