- KICTANet - KICTANet

Internet Governance Forum
by alice＠apc.org 30 Oct '06

30 Oct '06

A reminder for those who want to follow events at the Internet Governance Forum being held from 30 October to 2 November in Athens, Greece that you can read APC blogs at: http://blog.apc.org/en/events- list.shtml?conds[][short_id........]=5042107 And follow Feminist Talk at: http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml The official IGF website is http://www.intgovforum.org/index.htm

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ICANN seeks input on transparency and accountability
by alice＠apc.org 28 Oct '06

28 Oct '06

(Apologies for cross posting) ICANN has announced a new public comment forum and list of questions related to principles of transparency and accountability: http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-16oct06.htm "Responses are sought by October 31, 2006. Based on the responses received and other research, a first draft of the principles will be published for community comment in November, 2006. It is hoped that the Management Operating Principles will be adopted by the Board as part of the Strategic Plan at the Sao Paulo meeting." Among the specific questions ICANN is asking is, "What standards of transparency are appropriate in ICANN operations and activity?" The obvious answer is that the appropriate standard of transparency is set by ICANN's Bylaws: "the maximum extent feasible". It's impossible to tell from the announcment if someone at ICANN wants to change that standard. It's odd that this is intended for inclusion in ICANN's Strategic Plan. The only non-spam comments submitted to ICANN's previous public forum on the draft Strategic Plan were mine, related to exactly this issue. But until now, ICANN has entirely ignored them: http://forum.icann.org/lists/stratplan-draft-comments/msg00000.html http://forum.icann.org/lists/stratplan-draft-comments/ Comments can be sent to <principles-comments(a)icann.org>, and can be viewed at <http://forum.icann.org/lists/principles-comments/>.

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CONVERGENCE: The importance of convergence in the ICT policy environment
by alice＠apc.org 27 Oct '06

27 Oct '06

In the occasion of the Internet Governance Forum, the Association for Progressive Communications is launching three new papers on key ICT policy and internet rights issues. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CONVERGENCE: The importance of convergence in the ICT policy environment By Kate Wild This paper looks at the meaning and importance of convergence and considers some of the challenges to implementing it, along with strategies for overcoming them. It also provides a global perspective on regulating convergence and broadband from ITU and then it looks at experiences in North America and Europe as well as regional and country approaches in Africa. http://rights.apc.org/documents/convergence_EN.pdf (English) http://rights.apc.org/documents/convergence_FR.pdf (French) --------------------------------------------------------------------- OPEN ACESS: Lowering the costs of international bandwidth in Africa By Mike Jensen This paper was commissioned by the APC as part of the Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa initiative and to contribute to APC's efforts to promote open access to ICT infrastructure in Africa. According to the author, a variety of factors are responsible for the lack of acess to bandwith in Africa, but the biggest cause is the high cost of international connections to the global telecommunication backbones. http://rights.apc.org/documents/open_access_EN.pdf (English) http://rights.apc.org/documents/open_access_FR.pdf (French) --------------------------------------------------------------------- WSIS: Whose information society? Developing country and civil society voices in the World Summit on the Information Society By David Souter This paper summarises a study of developing country and civil society participation and influence in WSIS that was commissioned by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). As well as analysing participation, the study looked at the impact of WSIS on international ICT decision-making in general and makes recommendations to all main actors about how future decision-making might become more inclusive of developing countries, nongovernmental actors and their concerns. http://rights.apc.org/documents/wsis_EN.pdf (English) -------- FRANÇAIS -------- Les nouveaux thèmes émergents d'APC en anglais en français A l’occasion du Forum sur la gouvernance de l’internet (FGI), l’Association pour le progrès des communications lance trois nouveaux articles sur les thèmes fondamentaux des politiques de TIC et des droits d’internet. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CONVERGENCE : L’importance de la convergence dans le contexte des politiques des TIC Kate Wild La première partie de ce document porte sur le sens et l’importance de la convergence et sur certains des problèmes associés à sa mise en oeuvre, ainsi que sur les stratégies qui permettent de les surmonter. La deuxième partie présente un survol de la régulation de la convergence et de la bande passante par l’Union Internationale des Télécommunications (UIT) et s’intéresse aux expériences en Amérique du Nord et en Europe ainsi qu’à certaines approches régionales et de pays d’Afrique. http://rights.apc.org/documents/convergence_EN.pdf (Anglais) http://rights.apc.org/documents/convergence_FR.pdf (Français) --------------------------------------------------------------------- ACCÈS OUVERT : Abaisser les coûts de la bande passante internationale en Afrique Mike Jensen Cette analyse a été commandée par APC dans le cadre de Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa et pour contribuer aux efforts d´APC pour promouvoir l´accès ouvert à l´infrastructure de TIC en Afrique. Selon l’auteur, la situation actuelle de la bande passante en Afrique est attribuable à un certain nombre de facteurs, mais elle est due essentiellement au coût élevé des connexions internationales vers les dorsales de télécommunication internationales. http://rights.apc.org/documents/open_access_EN.pdf (Anglais) http://rights.apc.org/documents/open_access_FR.pdf (Français) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Uniquement en anglais: WSIS: Whose information society? Developing country and civil society voices in the World Summit on the Information Society By David Souter This paper summarises a study of developing country and civil society participation and influence in WSIS that was commissioned by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). As well as analysing participation, the study looked at the impact of WSIS on international ICT decision-making in general and makes recommendations to all main actors about how future decision-making might become more inclusive of developing countries, nongovernmental actors and their concerns. http://rights.apc.org/documents/wsis_EN.pdf (English) A. Wanjira Munyua National Coordinator, Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA) Association for Progressive Communications (APC) alice(a)apc.org http://www.apc.org http://www.catia.ws

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RE: [Kictanet] Kenya on the rising
by David Musoke 27 Oct '06

27 Oct '06

Eric is that magazine on-line????? Kezio-Musoke David -----Original Message----- From: John Walubengo [mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 4:17 PM To: David Musoke Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Kenya on the rising On behalf of the 'silent' Kenyans... Allow me to accept your (Eric's) compliments. I haven't read the magazine but it is nice to hear that it potrays a bright (i did not say orange;-)) future. i think Kenyans can 'do it'. They are doing it in the US/SA/Europe and many other places. With the right focus and effort, things will eventually begin to happen locally as well. walu. --- Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> wrote: > Dear Kenyan Colleagues, > > You must be proud of yourselves, i just got a copy of the > lat edition > of the Computer and Communication Africa (CCA) for 2006 > and the lead > story is "Kenya's drive to become ICT powerhouse" and > much more on > Kenya. > > While i have being familiar with the momentum there i was > amazed when > i read the stories about the pace of engagement. In some > ways this > confirms my believe that Africa has pockets of excellence > but what we > need is SPEED to SCALE and definately you guys are on a > FASTRACK. We > are with you and i want to personally congratulate the > level of > engagement from the various constituencies and not > belittling the > others by singling out the exemplary leadership of the > PS, Dr. Ndemo > and Hon. Minister, Mutahi Kagwe. > > Thanks to AITEC for throwing the spotlight @ http:// > new.aitecafrica.com/ and not to promote AITEC but i think > we should > all get copies of the hardprint....:-) > > Go Kenya. > > > Eric M.K Osiakwan > Executive Secretary > AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) > Tel: + 233.21.258800 > Fax: + 233.21.258811 > Cell: + 233.244.386792 > Handle: eosiakwan > Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North > Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North > Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ > Slang: "Tomorrow Now" > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/jwalu%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ 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/dmusoke%40newvision.co.ug

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Kictanet Planning Meeting - 9th November Jacaranda Hotel
by Judy kimiti 27 Oct '06

27 Oct '06

Dear Member, Please Find attached the agenda for the next KICTANet Planning Meeting which will be held on 9th November 2006, 3:00pm, Jacaranda Hotel As alot of members who had expressed interest in the Fibre Presentation by KDN where not able to attend, Mr Kai Wulff, has accepted to join us and give us the presenation at the above mentioned meeting. Please note because of time constraint, we shall have the presentation at exactly 3:30pm and will run for 30min. Those who are interested in joining this presentation are urged to be at the meeting on time. For logistics purposes, please RSVP your attendance to the undersigned. Yours Faithfully Judy Kimiti KICTANet Tel: 4453671 / 2 Cell: 0722 - 716020 Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

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Fw: [Kictanet] Re: India's Weaknesses
by alice＠apc.org 26 Oct '06

26 Oct '06

----- Original Message ----- From: "Vincent Waiswa Bagiire" <vincent(a)cipesa.org> To: "Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet" <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 11:37 AM Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Re: India's Weaknesses > Dear All, > > I am a newcomer on this list thanks to Alice and I look forward to being > engaged in the discussions. > > Regards, > Vincent > > Bill Kagai wrote: >> On 10/25/06, waudo(a)signet.co.ke <waudo(a)signet.co.ke> wrote: >>> there is very little linkage between what the ICT training institutions >>> (including Universities) are producing and the requirements of the >>> industry either now or in the foreseeable future. >> >> Check out www.jkuategovacademy.ac.ke to see how PPPs are trying to >> address this linkage. >> >> The JKUAT Academy is the only one that has developed its curriculum >> based on actual Govt environment and in line with the E-Govt Strategy >> paper. >> >> PS. Sorry, I could not resist the marketing opportunity offered by >> this discussion. >> >> -- >> With Kind Regards, >> Bildad Kagai >> MD - Circuits & Packets Communications Ltd >> Content & Training Partner - JKUAT E-Government Academy >> Suite B2, Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue >> P. O. Box 20311 - 00200 >> Nairobi, Kenya >> Tel. 254 20 2728332 >> Fax. 254 20 2726965 >> Cell. 254 724 226600 >> URL. www.circuitspackets.co.ke >> URL. www.JKUATEgovAcademy.ac.ke >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/vincent%40cipesa.org > > > -- > Vincent Waiswa Bagiire, > Director, CIPESA > Plot 30, Bukoto Street, P.O. Box 26970 Kampala > Tel: 256-41-533057 > Fax: 256-41-533054 > Cell: 256-77-702256 or 256-71-702256 > Email: vincent(a)cipesa.org > www.cipesa.org > > > >

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Planning Meeting Minutes
by Judy kimiti 26 Oct '06

26 Oct '06

Dear Member, Please find attached the 12th October Kictanet Planning Meeting Minutes Thank you Judy Kimiti KICTANet --------------------------------- Try the all-new Yahoo! Mail . "The New Version is radically easier to use" The Wall Street Journal

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Re: [Kictanet] Re: India's Weaknesses
by Eric Osiakwan 25 Oct '06

25 Oct '06

Waudo said "Perhaps something could be done now before we find ourselves in India's position" We all know that one of the demons that has held back Africa's rise is the DE-LINK between industry and academia (research) and also with governments. Prof. Ernest Wilson's (of Maryland University) squad model makes the argument that you need a constant interaction between these constituencies for growth and innovation to take place. He argues that Silicon Valley is a clear example. My proposition therefore as a way to answer the question above is to leverage the BPO opportunity. Most African governments are at least on board the BPO wagon so my idea is, lets establish the BPOs in the University environment given the current public policy favouring. The BPO companys can take advantage of cheap but good student labour whiles they build the real estate for their operations using university land on a "build operate and handover basis". The Universities then get real estate which they use for their long term expansion of physical infrastructure. The BPO companies get their work done cheaply and when they migrate in the long term, much value would have being gained. The University students get work experience for the long term job market entry and also interim cash to support their University education. This also gives the non-computer related students some basic skills and exposure and for the CS, EE etc students, they build their internal capacity not only to take calls and do word processing but more technical stuff. They would soon be writing software for those BPO companies. Mostly importantly this becomes the nucleus of the government/academia/private sector LINKINING which would grow into other areas. Hence the value proposition of the BPO banwagon is, it gives us a foot into the door but we must move up the value chain very quickly or we would end up doing the low end jobs which would make us less competitive in the Knowledge economy. When I proposed this to my Ghana Cyber Group friend (Yaw Owusu, leading the way with a private TechPark in Ghana) whom i have cced on this mail, he said, then the Tech Parks (BPOs + more) should be in the University/Research Environment and his example of been able to acquire land from the Ghana CSIR which is close to the University of Ghana would be a good prototype. This is the story am going to be telling at the the first University Leaders Forum in Cape Town to which governments, academic leadership, private sector and Civil Society has being convened. Eric here ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: waudo(a)signet.co.ke Reply-To: Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 09:53:47 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time) >Thanks to PS Ndemo for bringing this out. As for Wafula's question, the >work force survey undertaken by the CSK earlier this year revealed that >there is very little linkage between what the ICT training institutions >(including Universities) are producing and the requirements of the >industry either now or in the foreseeable future. Certainly there appear >to be no mechanisms to facilitate such linkage. Perhaps something could be >done now before we find ourselves in India's position. > > >Kind Regards >Waudo Siganga > >On Wed, October 25, 2006 9:22 am, TONY WAFULA wrote: >> Good lesson , though wonder whether as a country we are ready to address >> manpower shortage in this area. Just the other day Safaricom's Micheal >> Joseph was lamenting about the same...are we checking what our >> Universities are offering in relation to our projected needs? >> >> Regards >> >> Wafula >> >> bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: >> Hi Edith, >> You must have been blogging. >> >> Regards >> >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >>> Certainly, a great lesson to learn from. >>> >>> Thanks for sharing the article! >>> >>> At / À 12:56 PM 10/24/2006, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote / a écrit: >>>>Dear All, >>>>I think there are good lessons to learn from the article below. >>>> >>>>Regards >>>> >>>>Ndemo. >>>> >>>> >>>>October 17, 2006 >>>>Skills Gap Hurts Technology Boom in India >>>>By SOMINI SENGUPTA >>>> >>>> >>>>TIRUCHENGODE, India >>>> >>>> As its technology companies soar to the outsourcing skies, India is >>>>bumping up against an improbable challenge. In a country once regarded >>>> as >>>>a bottomless well of low-cost, ready-to-work, English-speaking >>>> engineers, >>>>a shortage looms. >>>> >>>>India still produces plenty of engineers, nearly 400,000 a year at last >>>>count. But their competence has become the issue. >>>> >>>>A study commissioned by a trade group, the National Association of >>>>Software and Service Companies, or Nasscom, found only one in four >>>>engineering graduates to be employable. The rest were deficient in the >>>>required technical skills, fluency in English or ability to work in a >>>> team >>>>or deliver basic oral presentations. >>>> >>>>The skills gap reflects the narrow availability of high-quality college >>>>education in India and the galloping pace of the country's >>>> service-driven >>>>economy, which is growing faster than nearly all but China's. The >>>> software >>>>and service companies provide technology services to foreign companies, >>>>many of them based in the United States. Software exports alone expanded >>>>by 33 percent in the last year. >>>> >>>>The university systems of few countries would be able to keep up with >>>> such >>>>demand, and India is certainly having trouble. The best and most >>>> selective >>>>universities generate too few graduates, and new private colleges are >>>>producing graduates of uneven quality. >>>> >>>>Many fear that the labor pinch may signal bottlenecks in other parts of >>>>the economy. It is already being felt in the information technology >>>>sector. >>>> >>>>With the number of technology jobs expected to nearly double to 1.7 >>>>million in the next four years, companies are scrambling to find fresh >>>>engineering talent and to upgrade the schools that produce it. >>>> >>>>Some companies are training faculty members themselves, offering courses >>>>tailored to industry needs and improving college labs and libraries. >>>> They >>>>are rushing to get first choice of would-be engineers long before they >>>>have completed their course work. And they are fanning out to small, >>>>remote colleges that almost no one had heard of before. The country's >>>> most >>>>successful technology concerns can no longer afford to hire only >>>> >>>> >>>>_______________________________________________ >>>>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/eadera%40idrc.or.ke >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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/bitange%40jambo.co.ke >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/twaf78%40yahoo.com >> >> >> >> WITH COMPLIMENTS OF ANTHONY WAFULA >> >> --------------------------------- >> All-new Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done >> faster._______________________________________________ >> 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/waudo%40signet.co.ke > > > >_______________________________________________ >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/eric%40afrispa.org > -- Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" --

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African choices...critical voices...crossing borders...African stories... harnessing local knowledge in Africa
by alice＠apc.org 25 Oct '06

25 Oct '06

This issue of The Soul Beat looks at the role of communication in harnessing local knowledge in Africa. The edition covers a range of project descriptions, strategic thinking documents and materials related to local knowledge specifically in the fields of agriculture, sustainable development and health. >From the SOUL BEAT AFRICA partnership - Soul City and The Communication Initiative ...African choices...critical voices...crossing borders...African stories... *** Subscribe to The Soul Beat - http://www.comminit.com/africa/soul-beat-subscribe.html or e-mail Seipati Fountain sfountain(a)comminit.com *** EXPERIENCES http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences.html 1. LinKS Project This project is a regional programme working in Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, that aims to enhance rural people's food security and promote sustainable management of agrobiodiversity. The project is called LinKS, because it explores the linkages between the crucial issues of local knowledge systems, gender roles and relationships, food provision, and the conservation and management of agrobiodiversity. LinKS aims to strengthen the capacity of institutions in the agricultural sector to apply approaches that recognise men and women farmers' knowledge in their programmes and policies. It does this through training, research and communication and advocacy. LinKS is administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/Pds82006/experiences-3950.html Contact Dr. Sachin Das linkstz(a)africaonline.co.tz OR Estevão Filimão Estevao.Filimao(a)fao.org OR Dr. Patricia Musi faolinks(a)agric.uniswa.sz 2. Traditional Knowledge and Community Healthcare - Nigeria Organised by the Fantsuam Foundation, this programme involves drawing and building on the health knowledge possessed by local people, especially women. Specifically, the project works with women in rural Nigerian communities in order to understand various traditional healthcare practices and introduce best practices and safer techniques for selected treatments. The purpose of the project is to produce a written catalogue of traditional medical wisdom, the content of which is largely generated by local people. http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds32003/experiences-2447.html Contact John Dada johndada(a)fantsuam.com 3. Sahel Oral History Project - Africa This project by the UK-based SOS Sahel is an oral history project that took place in eight African countries in an effort to record the culture, history, and environment of the Sahel through the recollections, experiences, and perceptions of its people. The aim was not only to record indigenous knowledge but also to develop a practical methodology which could then be incorporated into development planning, project implementation, and evaluation. By talking with - mostly ageing - farmers, pastoralists, refugees, and others, researchers hoped to gain a better understanding of traditional land-use practice, land tenure, farming and pastoral systems, the causes of desertification, and other aspects of Sahelian life. http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds092003/experiences-2134.html Contact Siobhan Warrington Siobhan.warrington(a)panos.org.uk AND otp(a)panos.org.uk OR Risha Chande risha.chande(a)panos.org.uk 4. Desertification 2002 - Southern Africa Organised by the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN), this regional network works to halt the spread of southern African deserts and enhance rural livelihoods. The purpose of the project is to provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge between scientists, development practitioners, and dryland community members; to generate an understanding of the value of linking local knowledge with scientific research; to interpret and disseminate information; and to offer working examples of community action. It does this by linking communities, field practitioners, governments, and scientists through a website, conferences, workshops, training, and community exchanges. http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds32003/experiences-2291.html Contact info(a)drfn.org.na 5. Community Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge - Kenya Implemented by the Kyanika Adult Women Group (KAWG), this two-year project aimed to conserve the diversity of Kitete - a bottle gourd that is found in virtually every aspect of the Kamba people's traditional and cultural life - and its associated indigenous knowledge. The project involved the collection and sharing of knowledge about the Kitete through resource centres. Here, recorded materials, documents, and a collection of Kitete samples and seeds are available for use by members of the local community and others. Other activities include storytelling by elders - sharing myths, songs, dances, riddles, poems, and drama as well as listening to taped materials, looking at photographs, watching videos and reading written reports. http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds32003/experiences-2282.html Contact Yasuyuki Morimoto y.morimoto(a)cgiar.org 6. Indigenous Knowledge Program - Sub-saharan Africa The World Bank's Indigenous Knowledge (IK) programme aims to facilitate dialogue between local communities, NGOs, governments, donors, civil society, and the private sector. This dialogue is intended to help bring indigenous/traditional knowledge into the activities of development partners and to optimise the benefits of development assistance, especially for the poor. The programme works primarily through a website that provides resources on IK such as a database on indigenous/ traditional knowledge and practices with over 200 case studies, a report on IK for development and videos, which document success stories in applying indigenous practices. The programme also supports over 15 resource centres across Africa that focus on the identification and dissemination of indigenous/traditional knowledge and practices. http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds32003/experiences-2331.html Contact Nicolas Gorjestani ngorjestani(a)worldbank.org OR Reinhard Woytek rwoytek(a)worldbank.org 7. Aang Serian - Tanzania Aang Serian, which means "House of Peace" in the Kiarusha language, is a non-profit cultural organisation that aims to promote and protect indigenous knowledge. It focuses on education in an effort to raise the self-esteem of young people, to empower them to work together for a peaceful future, and to promote environmentally and socially sustainable development. The organisation has established a community college with a curriculum covering indigenous knowledge. They also undertake research in collaboration with other NGOs and have formed an international network of organisations that work to improve education for indigenous peoples while simultaneously preserving and promoting indigenous knowledge. http://www.comminit.com/africa/experiences/pds32003/experiences-2233.html Contact aang_serian(a)hotmail.com OR Gemma Enolengila enolengila(a)yahoo.co.uk OR Yunus Rafiq mrafiq(a)indiana.edu OR Bob Webzell bob(a)webzell.co.uk STRATEGIC THINKING http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking.html 8. Grandmothers Promote Maternal and Child Health: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems' Managers by Judi Aubel This article looks at the importance of community elders as knowledge providers in the context of child health. The results of experiences in Asia and Africa illustrate how change can be brought about from within indigenous knowledge systems when key actors in those systems, i.e. the indigenous knowledge managers, are involved in deciding if and how to combine global knowledge with traditional knowledge. http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1846.html 9. The Utilization of Indigenous Knowledge in Range Management and Forage Plants for Improving Livestock Productivity and Food Security in the Maasai and Bargaig Communities of Kibaha by Nelson Kilongozi, Zabron Kengera and Samwel Leshongo By examining how the Maasai and Barbaig communities have traditionally cared for their livestock and environment, the report suggests ways to sustain indigenous knowledge and incorporate this with conventional, 'scientific' techniques of livestock care and land management. The authors recommend that policymakers and development workers should continue to recognise, identify, validate and document indigenous pastoral techniques and integrate them into conventional management approaches for pastoral land and should encourage knowledge sharing among the pastoral communities to allow them to expand their existing knowledge. http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1902.html 10. Gender, Local Knowledge, and Lessons Learnt in Documenting and Conserving Agrobiodiversity Research Paper No. 2006/69 by Yianna Lambrou and Regina Laub This paper explores the linkages between gender, local knowledge systems, and agrobiodiversity for food security by using the case study of LinKS, a regional FAO project in Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania over a period of eight years. The project aimed to raise awareness on how rural men and women use and manage agrobiodiversity, and to promote the importance of local knowledge for food security and sustainable agrobiodiversity at local, institutional, and policy levels. They did this by working with a diverse range of stakeholders to strengthen their ability to recognise and value farmers' knowledge and to use gender-sensitive and participatory approaches in their work. http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2006/thinking-1828.html 11. Indigenous Management of Wetlands: Experiences in Ethiopia by Alan Dixon Using the case study of a wetlands project in Ethopia, this study discusses how the stability of wetlands has been undermined by development initiatives that ignore indigenous knowledge. The study states that while neither indigenous nor scientific knowledge alone can solve the problems of development, they can be complementary sources of wisdom in wetland management. The research recommends that maintaining an effective network for sharing local knowledge and experimenting with new techniques should be a key principle of sustainable wetland management. In addition non-governmental organisations and donors should introduce reviews of varying local knowledge, to support these networks. For example, they could organise meetings between members of the wetland farming community to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different management techniques. http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2005/thinking-1390.html 12. ICTs in Namibia's Communal Area Conservancies by Carol Murphy and Sandra Slater-Jones This article describes the use of participatory GIS (Geographic Information Systems) in Namibia's Communal Area Conservancies. The approach used by the Conservancy Programme, according to the authors, is innovative in not only capturing local knowledge of an area through participation of local residents, but in improving the spatial accuracy of maps through a geo-referencing procedure. The procedure involves village mapping workshops and careful recording to capture indigenous knowledge with regard to local area names, the spatial location of resources such as grazing, cropping and useful plant species, as well as wildlife sightings and movements. http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2005/thinking-1400.html MATERIALS http://www.comminit.com/africa/materials.html 13. Toolkit I: Capitalising on Local Knowledge - Methodological Overview & Case Studies by Noel Oettle and Bettina Koelle This Toolkit is designed to give decision-makers in government and donor agencies an overview of the concept of community-to-community knowledge exchanges, as well as practical approaches to their use in developmental processes and programmes. The volume contains case studies from Africa that aim to illustrate the successes achieved with the approach as well as the challenges faced during implementation. http://www.comminit.com/africa/materials/ma2006/materials-3054.html 14. Toolkit 2: Capitalising on Local Knowledge - Guidelines for Implementation by Noel Oettle and Bettina Koelle This Toolkit is designed to provide practical guidance in designing and implementing community-to-community exchange visits. It is intended for practitioners and service providers who wish to implement knowledge exchange processes. It is also aimed at students and development professionals who would like to better understand how the methodology is implemented. http://www.comminit.com/africa/materials/ma2006/materials-3055.html 15. Unleashing the Power of Knowledge for Meeting MDGs and Sustainable Development in Africa Fundamental Issues for Governance by Jacques L Hamel The paper critically reflects on the notion of knowledge, African knowledge, African knowledge economies (AKEs), African knowledge societies (AKSs) and African knowledge policies for sustainable development. Its purpose is to contribute to sustainable development thinking in the African region and open a new front in the development discourse. http://www.comminit.com/africa/materials/ma2005/materials-2534.html LINKS http://www.comminit.com/africa/links.html 16. Tanzania Indigenous Knowledge Database This is a database that has been established to enhance sharing and dissemination of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) information, experiences and practices in Tanzania. http://www.comminit.com/africa/links/linksngos/links-1645.html 17. Creating & Exchange of Local Agriculture Content (CELAC) This Ugandan organisation aims to develop agricultural content from rural farmers for dissemination through digital technologies, radio, and print. http://www.comminit.com/africa/links/linksngos/links-1709.html *** To view archived editions of The Soul Beat Newsletter see http://www.comminit.com/africa/soul-beat-archives.html Subscribe to The Soul Beat Extra - your e-journal focussed in each alternate month on Community Radio or Edutainment. If you would like to receive the Soul Beat Extra on Community Radio or Edutainment please contact Seipati Fountain sfountain(a)comminit.com We would love to hear from you: Please send us your comments by going to http://www.comminit.com/africa/comments.html or email Anja Venth aventh(a)comminit.com For more comments on the Soul Beat Africa website see http://www.comminit.com/africa/comments_aboutus.html *** . *** A. Wanjira Munyua National Coordinator, Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA) Association for Progressive Communications (APC) alice(a)apc.org http://www.apc.org http://www.catia.ws

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Fw: [Catia_team] Engaging policy makers and regulators in Africa - theCATIA experience
by alice＠apc.org 25 Oct '06

25 Oct '06

FYI ----- Original Message ----- From: "Claire Sibthorpe" <csibthorpe(a)usa.net> To: "Lists: Catia_team" <Catia_team(a)catia.ws> Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 1:27 PM Subject: [Catia_team] Engaging policy makers and regulators in Africa - theCATIA experience > > Engaging policy-makers and regulators in Africa > - the CATIA experience > > October, 2006 > > Media release > > For the past three years the Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa programme > (CATIA) has worked towards strengthening the context for the vibrant > adoption and use of ICTs in Africa. The programme has been set up with > nine > components, each with its particular advocacy aim, in countries as diverse > as Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Senegal. > > CATIA has shown that one of the most effective ways to have an impact on > the ICT policy landscape in Africa is by collaborating in > multi-stakeholder > processes, where experiences, perspectives and resources can be shared, > and > a common agenda shaped. > > Equally important, however, is how advocates engage policy-makers and > regulators. These experiences have been documented in an article entitled > 'checks and balances', which can be downloaded off the CATIA website > (www.catia.ws) > > Some of the key findings of the article are: > > * The distinction between policy-makers and regulators is not clearly > felt in some countries in Africa. Reasons include a lack of 'checks and > balances' or political instability, amongst them. Even in liberalised > environments, such as Kenya or South Africa, the independence of a > regulator > can be challenged by the state; > * Policy-makers and regulators are key to any ICT policy advocacy > process. However, having a policy influence may mean targeting influential > officials in government who may not be policy-makers or regulators > themselves; > * The direct involvement of policy-makers and regulators in activities > is an important way of ensuring the sustainability of advocacy > initiatives. > Advocates need to provide policy and regulatory officials with a sense of > buy-in and confidence in their work. Advocates need to demonstrate that > they > are serious; > * Developing informal relationships are often more effective than > formal engagements; > * Advocates need to nurture a culture of 'honest brokerage' so that > their work can be trusted in a policy development environment where there > are many competing interests. > > > > > _________________________________________________ > Claire Sibthorpe > Public Sector Consulting > Atos Consulting > 4 Triton Square, Regent's Place, London NW1 3HG, UK > Tel: +44 (0) 77 33312667 > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > Catia_team mailing list > Catia_team(a)catia.ws > http://catia.eyecon.co.za/mailman/listinfo/catia_team >

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