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May be of interest: Commonwealth ICT Officials to Meet in Jaipur, India, to Surmount Challenges to Rural ICT Connectivity
by Victor Gathara 18 Jan '11

18 Jan '11

Kenya not mention in the Press Release though. Victor Commonwealth ICT Officials to Meet in Jaipur, India, to Surmount Challenges to Rural ICT Connectivity Providing an enabling environment for increased provision of access, applications, content and services in rural areas. January 13, 2010 LONDON - Some one hundred Ministers, regulators, Universal Service Fund Administrators, telecom operator CEOs, and other senior stakeholders in the information and communication technologies (ICTs) sector from across Asia and the Commonwealth will meet in Jaipur, India, from 17-19 January 2011. They will work together to devise faster, effective and more robust strategies for providing ICT connectivity in unserved and underserved rural areas. The meeting will be the 4th annual Connecting Rural Communities Asia Forum 2011 organised by the London-based Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO). The conference will be addressed by African and Asian ICT ministers, including Hon. Ignace Gatare, Minister in Charge of ICTs, Office of the President, Rwanda; Hon. Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa, Minister of Communications and Transport, Zambia; Hon. Abdourahim Agne, Minister of Telecommunications, ICT and Transport, Senegal; Dr Edmund Katiti, CEO of the NEPAD e-Africa Commission; Mr. Shankar Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Government of India; and Mr. Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information and Innovation, Government of India. Stressing on the need to connect rural communities, the CEO of CTO, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, said, "Providing network access to rural communities is one of the recommendations of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), and supports the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) defined by the UN. Self-sustaining growth in broadband access and other more basic connectivity channels must be achieved in underserved and unconnected regions. However, this can only be accomplished through continuous and fruitful collaborations between a variety of public and private sector partners. It also involves sharing best practices among ICT stakeholders across continents to ensure successful and speedy implementation of ICT strategies. This CTO conference will enable Governments, policy makers, ICT regulators, operators, equipment manufacturers, software vendors, call center operatives, financiers, academics and consultants, and infrastructure developing companies to meet to discuss and evaluate the achievements, challenges and opportunities in connecting rural communities." Dr Spio-Garbrah stated that, amongst other challenges, ICT roll-out in rural areas can entail considerable investment. "However, in the developing countries, these challenges can be even more daunting. There are many constraints of unreliable power, poor road networks, low broadband capacity, illiteracy, lower incomes, and diverse socio-political dynamics. As a result, some have questioned the financial merits of investing in rural ICTs, and whether rural communities provide the necessary return on investment. The conference will help to highlight the latest technological solutions, innovative business models, and the Public-Private-Peoples' Partnerships needed for improved rural connectivity. In particular, participants will examine the growing use of mobile phones as platforms to deliver a growing range of mobile applications, content and services to rural dwellers," he said. The conference will cover topics on key issues concerning the strategies for improving governance and public services delivery through ICTs, the disparities in rural and urban access, a review of recent developments in Asia and globally, and Rural ICT Policy 2.0. Other issues to be discussed include developing national goals and strategies for providing connectivity, applications and content in rural areas, operators' strategies in improving rural dwellers' access to services, the development of effective distribution networks for rural areas and its challenges, tried and tested approaches to pricing and profitability, and the business case and strategies for rural broadband access. Other subjects to be debated by participants are the benefits of 3G and broadband wireless availability in the rural communities, the importance of WiMax, m-Content developments, the impact of cultural gaps and capacity-building challenges for both voice and non-voice operations, and the benefits and perceived risks of running rural Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs). Speakers and panelists include high-profile representation from public and private sector organizations, such as the NEPAD e-Africa Commission, the Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd., the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), the Nigerian Communications Commission, the National Communications Commission (NATCOM) of Sierra Leone, and the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC). India's ICT sector will be heavily represented through participation by executives of the Telecom Export Promotion Council (TEPC), the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), BSNL, Idea Cellular Ltd., Reliance Communications, City Cell Bangladesh, the GSMA, the Communications & Manufacturing Association of India (CMAI) and Coral Telecom. Other major global and Asian private sector executives attending are from Tejas Networks, Research in Motion, WiMAX Forum, Microsoft, Alvarion BWA Wireless Solutions Pvt Ltd, the Asia Pacific Telecentre Network (APTN) Secretariat, ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, C-DOT, GTL, VIOM, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Google India, Luna Ergonomics, elLoka Techsolutions Pvt Ltd, and the Centre for Development Finance. Other delegates will represent Hungama Mobile, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Government of Rajasthan, SourcePilani, eGram IT, Source for Change, B2R Technologies Pvt. Ltd, NASSCOM Foundation, the Universal Service Obligation Fund, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, the Commonwealth Centre for e-Governance, Reuters Market Light, Thomson Reuters, Reliance Foundation, UDAAN, EKO Financial Services, EkGaon, NComputing India, Phoenix Software and the Drishtee Foundation. About The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) The CTO is an inter-governmental organisation which provides technical assistance services to its member countries through research and studies, consultancies and advisory services, capacity building and training workshops, and through knowledge-sharing events. With a history dating back to 1901, the CTO is a partnership between the Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth governments, regulators, businesses, civil society organizations and other ICT stakeholders. The CTO's mission is to reduce global poverty through the more efficient utilization of ICTs, and its development agenda reflects the priorities set in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For further information visit www.cto.int <http://www.cto.int> . CONTACTS For media enquiries, please contact: Rumana B. Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist T: + 44 (0) 208 600 3800, E: rumana(a)cto.int <mailto:[email protected]> For CTO Services, please contact: Bashir Patel Director of Programmes and Business Development T: + 44 208 600 3802, E: b.patel(a)cto.int <mailto:[email protected]> -###- ________________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit: http://www.star.net.uk ________________________________________________________________________ DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the UK Government's fight against world poverty. Find out more at http://www.dfid.gov.uk.

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Recommendation
by Kevin 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

Please add Mr. Ian Mwathi (imwathi(a)gmail.com) to the the KictaNET mailing list. He is the new Marketing and Business Development Manager at Kenya Wildlife Service. Thanks Kevin Wanjala

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

17 Jan '11

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

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

17 Jan '11

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

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

17 Jan '11

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

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

17 Jan '11

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

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

17 Jan '11

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

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

17 Jan '11

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

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

16 Jan '11

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

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

15 Jan '11

While on the subject of IP; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kG3KiijpUw ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.”- George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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