- KICTANet - KICTANet

Media Bill 2007.
by mucheru＠wananchi.com 04 Jun '07

04 Jun '07

Bwana PS, I have read today's papers and I do agree with you that we have everything to worry about. This is particularly because in part I agree with the newspaper reports regarding the Communications Amendment Bill. My fear and worry is that this very serious matter is now going to be politicized and we shall not have a soberly thought-out change in our laws. I have to say as one who participated in the policy formulation process am disappointed because most of the recommendations we made and agreed on seem to have been left out in the gazetted bill and things we totally were unhappy about were left in. Basically we have the original draft the government gave without taking our views which we presented into account. Let me give examples; 1) The definition of a broadcaster and broadcasting (page 1205) both paragraphs are vague and ambiguous. Internet Protocol services can be defined as broadcasting (or not). Laws need to be very clear. This has all sorts of implications especially with the convergence of technologies. Which licence an Internet service provider should get is not clear. Today you can watch BBC and CNN news online. YouTUBE ( http://www.youtube.com ) and many other multimedia sites offer video and other services, Radio stations and POD Casts are streamed online. We raised these issues and we were ignored. 2) Certification Authority (page 1236/7) - certification authority. This is very useful for e-commerce and online trading. With the revised legislation, Internationally recognised and globally accepted certification authorities such as Verisign can only be recognised in Kenyan law if they apply for a licence from CCK. E-commerce is also international. This will put Kenya in an Island and with globalisation this is not workable 3) On the top level domain (.ke) (page 1236/7) - Today CCK already regulates KENIC through the sitting on its board and I do not see the need for increased regulation. .ke is faced with competition from other domain names and we must ensure regulation of the same does not discourage it's use. Registrars locally are able to administer top level domains without CCK and this will not change. These are just a few points to explain my point - the list is not exhaustive I would also like to go on record and state in summary that if the Amendments are passed, am afraid the COST of regulation in Kenya will be so high for example CCK will have the obligation to manage and determine suitable content for the country. Secondly, the cost of monitoring and storing all content in Kenya will not only be astronomical but I also believe impractical and will create a significant "grey market" So Bwana PS, what can be done to incorporate some of the recommendations to the otherwise much needed Communications Amendment Bill. -- Joseph Mucheru mucheru(a)wananchi.com > From: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 15:03:12 +0300 (EAT) > To: <mucheru(a)wananchi.com> > Subject: [kictanet] Media Bill 2007. > > Dear All, > If you read today's papers, you have everything to worry. It is being > alledged that the ICT Bill is worse than the Media Bill and That > Government did not consult. I know you all participated in many ICT fora > discussing just what is being criticised. After the first reading we have > another go at it but not to kill it at inception. > > I need not tell anyone that this Bill will unlock the ICT potential in > this country. Where were these people when you sacrificed your time to > have a just legislation in place? > > On Broadcasting, Kenya has one of the most liberal laws in place. We have > tried to have a frequency in Britain, China, the USA on reciprical > relations in vain. We toned down stakeholder's requirement on restrictive > cross media ownership by adopting South Africa Model but these people want > nothing but jungle laws in a democratic country. > > Since you access internet, please check, there is no country in the world > that does not have some sort of media regulation. In fact opponents of > these Bills should be asked to name at least one country that has no > regulation in media. > > Regards > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40wananchi.com

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TWO NEW FIBRE CONTENDERS – THIS TIME IT’S SOUTHERN AFRICA
by alice 02 Jun '07

02 Jun '07

TOP STORY FROM BALANCING ACT: TWO NEW FIBRE CONTENDERS – THIS TIME IT’S SOUTHERN AFRICA _____________________________________________________________________ One new major fibre project came into the light of day last week and further details emerged about another. The first is an ambitious initiative to create a Southern African fibre network on the back of the South African Power Pool transmission network: for Expressions of Interest for building it see the Jobs and Opportunities column at the bottom of this week’s issue. The second is WAFS, a Telkom South Africa-managed project that seeks to connect South Africa to Nigeria to relieve capacity problems on SAT3. Russell Southwood investigates. African Dark Fibre Communications Ltd is at an advanced stage of negotiation with the South African Power Pool companies to lay fibre to connect the member countries. In this week’s issue it has issued a request for Expressions of Interest from contractors. Phase 1 of the project is to complete and interconnect the fibre optic networks of three national electricity utilities with one another as well as to a competitive high-capacity undersea cable or equivalent. Phase 1 of the Project is scheduled for completion before the end of 2008. The three companies that to be linked would be South Africa’s Eskom, Zimbabwe’s ZESA and Zambia’s Zesco. The latter two companies are already selling their domestic fibre capacity. A 2001 World Bank study recommended the VSAT communications system with a long-term plan to go over to fibre. The South African Power Pool’s network capacity management system between the three countries is currently handled by VSAT. The fibre across the network would replace the existing VSAT system. Peter Cole, African Dark Fibre Communications said:”Southern Africa is one of the last places on the planet to have access to competitive bandwidth. That’s what we’ll be providing.” The West African Festoon System (WAFS) is a Telkom South Africa-managed project that has already completed its feasibility phase. The WAFS project aims to connect countries along the western coast of Africa from Nigeria to Namibia. At present, only Angola, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and South Africa have signed up although the project’s promoters want to attract telcos in both Namibia and Nigeria to complete the route. The managing agent for the project is Telkom South Africa which will either connect via Botswana (who may become another consortium member) or Namibia. The consortium has already conducted a feasibility study and met in February 2007 to finalise the tendering process for the project. It appears that it will have the same governance structure as the SAT3 cable as well as also being managed by the same company Telkom SA. Prices on the cable have not yet been fixed. One of the purposes of building the cable is to ensure that some of the countries along its route have some redundancy capacity if there is a failure on the SAT3 cable and that inter-African traffic can be moved off of SAT3. Further information was sought from Telkom South Africa but in time-honoured fashion it has not come back to us, not even to say ‘we have nothing to say’. What do those communications people all get paid for? A report on MyADSL last week quotes Department of Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri from her budget speech last week saying that fair access to international submarine cables was key to driving down international bandwidth rates. This follows President Thabo Mbeki saying that low international calling rates were essential for attracting business to South Africa. Matsepe-Casaburri said:“It is Government policy that the cost of access to international connectivity is affordable and that all arrangements regarding access or use of international cables and/or facilities do not unfairly exclude others from use of or access to the cables.” The minister named 1 November 2007 as the date from when the exclusivity provisions contained in the SAT-3 agreement or arrangements entered into shall be declared null and void in South Africa. The minister further said that she directed ICASA to prioritise and urgently prescribe a list of essential facilities, ensuring that the electronic communications facilities connected to the SAT-3 submarine cable can be accessed soon. Is it going to happen this time or should we advise you to watch the horizon for flying pigs? South African politicians seem to talk a good game when it comes to delivering cheaper international bandwidth but thus far – despite being the people that run the country – have delivered nothing. These same politicians seem able to change the CEO of the company but have been powerless all these years to address an issue they say is so pressing. Is it surprising that countries like Kenya are sceptical when the same South African politicians talk commandingly about open access and cheaper fibre in the context of the EASSy protocol? There are also a couple of interesting rumours swirling round the edge of fibre developments on the continent…Firstly, fibre prices in Reunion, the French colony in the Indian Ocean will fall to US$620 a meg at the end of this year. How does that compare to what you’re currently paying? Telkom South Africa customers might wish to ask their supplier how their current charges are distance-related? For the purposes of fair comparison, they might also add that Mauritius Telecom is offering capacity at US$3000 per meg and below for volume. Those working on SAT3 inside Telkom know its prices must come down so when is it going to happen? The second rumour is that Infraco will build a several terabit international fibre in order to address the current pricing deadlock.

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[Fwd: MediaBill2007.pdf - Adobe Reader]]
by alice 01 Jun '07

01 Jun '07

The media bill, attached. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [kictanet] MediaBill2007.pdf - Adobe Reader] Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 12:34:15 +0300 From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> Organization: Association for Progressive Communications (APC) To: alice(a)apc.org Hi all See attached the media bill currently under discussion in PDF format. best alice _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40apc.org

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Re: [kictanet] Media Bill 2007.
by Kagwe James 01 Jun '07

01 Jun '07

Dear all, A very good example of abuse of media freedom is what is happening with the MUNGIKI issue. Everything done out there by any criminals is blamed on MUNGIKI even before it has been properly investigated. Please do not mistake me in this.... I ain't saying that they are not criminals, for heavenly sake they are, but that we should make sure we confirm they are the ones who did it before we report. The result is that even thugs will do anything and make sure they at least mention the word MUNGIKI to their victims. Also because of the upsurge of the reports on MUNGIKI we are actually glorifying their actions and making them feel they are real heroes. The way it is being reported.... you would think there is no government or police or that the government is doing absolutely nothing about it. Something definitely needs to be done about media freedom... the aim I hope is not to clip their wings or fix them, but to make them always think deeply of what they are reporting before they go on air. This happens in any profession and journalism should not be an exception. -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=aforbes.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=aforbes.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Brian Longwe Sent: 01 June 2007 02:51 To: Kagwe James Subject: Re: [kictanet] Media Bill 2007. Bwana Ndemo, I could not agree with you more. I have been appalled and dismayed at the outrageous response that has come about regarding the Media Bill. The mere fact that it is a Bill means that this is the time for whoever has anything to change/remove/add should do it. It is not yet a law until it has passed public review, parliamentary review and government review. I was even shocked today to hear some politicians who I used to have respect for referring to it as a draconian law designed to stifle and control - I don't even think the individual had any idea about the background and origin of the Bill. I think it's time for truth and clarity to come forth. Brian On May 31, 2007, at 8:57 PM, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: > Dear All, > Our media continue publish one sided stories. In my view it is > important > that we shed some light on the Media Bill and the Integrity of the > Industry. > > It should be obvious that integrity in media is of great importance > to the > public, to individual journalists and their institutions, and to the > health of the media enterprise. The increasing social, economic, and > political significance of media has led to greater demands that > journalists and their institutions be held accountable when using > public > funds. Media subjects and their families expect journalism to do > what is > necessary to minimize the risks posed by irresponsible reporting. > Society > rely on the honesty and competency of professionals, and society's > confidence in and support for media rests on public trust in the > integrity > of journalists and their institutions. It is incumbent upon the media > community to create and nurture an environment that both promotes high > ethical standards and preserves public trust in journalistic inquiry. > > Yet, all is not well in the media community. Several high-profile > incidents, ranging from blatant disregard for the principal of > objectivity, to the fabrication of articles, to the death of > breadth of > subjects outside politics, have raised concerns about the integrity of > those engaged in media. During the past year, we have seen too many > instances of media misconduct, like the front page pictures of > Matheri's > innocent children. Another leading daily fabricates a story that an > opposition leader visits State house. Who will forget the Hope FM > incident where innocent lives were lost yet the Government was > blamed for > not taking action in advance. Incidents such as these have in > most cases > tainted the noble profession of journalism. The Media Bill is indeed > Media Council Bill just like the Nursing Council Act, Medical > Practitioner's Act, etc. Lawyers, Pharmacists, Architects, > Engineers all > subscribe to some Act of Parliament to guard against their own > excesses > and the consumers. > > In the past few days we have witnessed Media at its worst - > manipulating > public opinion - by only telling one side of the story in the process > breaching their own ethical standards. Check all articles on Media > Bill. They have even gone to the extent of gathering a number of > activists and calling such meetings as stakeholder. Government > which is a > major stakeholder (supplies 90% of the news through KNA to Media > houses) > is not even invited. Not one of those meeting that they have > entertained > the other side of the of the story. This indeed should be the very > reason > why the Media Council must step in to advise on media's > responsibilities. > > In Tanzania where the same process is going on, views are analyzed > from > both sides. Media does not retract on their word. Despite the > fact media > developed the current Media Council Bill, they continue to argue that > Government did not consult stakeholders. You now understand why a > good > constitution was defeated. Should we allow a few individuals to make > decisions that affect our future? There is imminent danger if > media is > not regulated simply because they have not managed to regulate > themselves > without statutes. Do you want to see another Hope FM scenario? > Vernacular stations are preaching Venom and if it gets worse, you > know who > the media will blame. > > Our only hope is that we are increasingly becoming a knowledge > society and > Internet with or without print and electronic media will enable us to > communicate. Media has refused to publish alternative views on the > Media > Bill. Luckily they cannot mislead everbody. > > > Ndemo > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40isisweb.nl _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jkagwe%40aforbes.co.ke

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

31 May '07

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

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

31 May '07

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

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

31 May '07

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

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

30 May '07

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

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

30 May '07

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

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

30 May '07

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

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