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Uganda: Country Soon to Jump Onto the Outsourcing Bandwagon
by Dorcas Muthoni 26 Apr '06

26 Apr '06

Uganda: Country Soon to Jump Onto the Outsourcing Bandwagon East African Business Week (Kampala) April 24, 2006 http://allafrica.com/stories/200604240920.html Edwin Nshuti--Kampala Since independence, Uganda has been actively engaged in the outsourcing industry, offshoring the refining and value-addition processes of most of her raw materials to Europe and America - to her disadvantage. This sad spectacle is, however, set to change and the country is set to realise its first positive benefits out of outsourcing. InterGlobal Services (IGS), a U.S. call centre operator in conjunction with the Busoga Kingdom are in the final stages of setting up a 150-seater world-class call centre in Jinja, 80 kilometres east of Kampala. "We are about one month behind schedule," the prime minister of Busoga Kingdom, Mr. Martin Musumba revealed to Business Week, "but it should be up and running by the end of May." The call centre will employ 450 operators, working 3 shifts everyday, and 7 days a week earning an estimated salary of about US$1,000 every month. However, the groundwork for equipping the population to work in the intricate offshoring industry had started earlier. The government through the ministry of education entered into an agreement with Global Management Consortium-Trade Information Network (GMC-TIN) and Serebra Learning Corporation (Canada) to provide low cost and affordable education in ICT, professional development courses including call technologies and call centre management through a programme known as EasyLearning. This programme will, according to Mr. Godfrey Seruwagi, the EasyLearning national project coordinator, go a long way in "bridging the digital divide through access to ICT education and provide Ugandan's with outsourcing job opportunities." Serebra, which owns the courseware has over 3,000 courses in its library but only 400 of those have been negotiated into EasyLearning and are accessible at a cost of Ush12,000 (US$6) per course. Ms. Rossette Serwanga, the EasyLearning programme manager says that since its launch on January 17, 2006, over 600 people have sat and passed the online courses. Busoga Kingdom set up an e-Learning centre in Jinja called IT Synergies, where they have been training the future call centre operators and managers and are now set to run the first outsourcing centre in the country. Outsourcing is the process through which one company hands over part of its work to another company, making it responsible for the design and implementation of the business process under strict guidelines regarding requirements and specifications from the outsourcing company. In this age of globalisation, in a world where Information Technology (IT) has become the backbone of business, very many huge companies like IBM, General Electric, Microsoft, etc are beginning to move some of their vital but peripheral operations like low-end software development and help-desk services to low cost labour countries. This phenomenon has mainly emerged due to stringent labour laws in developed countries and the need to cut costs to remain competitive. Over the last decade, India has been the leading offshore destination for global IT and Business Process Offshoring (BPO) industries because of its huge pool of highly educated, English speaking workers who are willing to work for just a fraction of what their counterparts in Europe are paid. These industries have played a major role in transforming India from a slow-growth economy with recurring balance of payments problems to a fast-growth economy generating ample foreign exchange surpluses. India's offshoring industry earns foreign exchange revenue of about US$6billion and employs about 350,000 people. However, India could soon lose its leading position as the world's 'back office.' According to a study conducted by McKinsey & Company, a U.S. consultancy firm and the India IT body Nasscom, India's outsourcing industry will face a short fall of 500,000 workers in the next few years. With Indian universities churning out 3.6million graduates every year, how can it be short of workers? The problem in India, according to experts, has always been the quality of its workforce, not quantity. US companies that operate call centres in India have continually complained the call centre agents' English accent being heavily influenced by their mother tongues. This has been India's biggest setback. Fluency in English aside, employers also complain that the majority of India's IT graduates lacked computer skills, inability to reason clearly and think critically _______________________________________________ incom-l mailing list incom-l(a)incommunicado.info http://mail.kein.org/mailman/listinfo/incom-l

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Press release... Bootstraps, slingshots and angels: Engaging the private sector in Africa - the CATIA experience
by alice＠apc.org 25 Apr '06

25 Apr '06

Learning to working together: > civil society, the private sector and ICT advocacy in Africa > > April 21, 2006 > > For nearly 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, Uganda and Senegal. As components have found, the > private sector is crucial to the success of their interventions. > > To document its experience in engaging the private sector, CATIA has > produced Bootstraps, slingshots and angels, an article that looks at the > successes and challenges the programme has had over the past > two-and-a-half > years. The article is the result of interviews with CATIA participants > from > both civil society and private sector backgrounds. > > Some of the key findings of the interviews are: > > * The private sector has been crucial to the success of a number of > the CATIA advocacy drives. In countries such as Kenya, a multi-stakeholder > approach, which has included the media, has had a startling impact, > including playing a major role in the development of the country's ICT > policy strategy; > > * In many instances, the relationship between civil society and the > private sector is seen to be mutually beneficial. Working with the private > sector means that collective expertise can be leveraged, and a common > advocacy goal forged that neither sector could have developed on its own; > > * By collaborating with civil society, private sector activity begins > to be formulated and articulated in the context of broader socio-economic > issues, such as job creation, poverty eradication and consumer awareness; > > * Through its engagement with the private sector, civil society has > learned to work more efficiently, and be more decisive in its advocacy > strategies and actions. Collaboration with the private sector has, in some > instances, made its work more acceptable to government, and therefore more > influential in encouraging ICT policy change; > > * Winning the private sector's trust has been a major hurdle for many > ICT advocates. This includes dealing with a natural sense of competition > between private sector participants. Components have found that it is > important to create a fora where each sector's needs can be understood and > where disagreements can be expressed; > > * The best advocacy approach tends to depend on the balance of power > between the private sector, civil society and the state. Often a > dependence > on the government for contracts (as in Ethiopia) means that the private > sector is reluctant to directly confront the state in an advocacy drive. > At > the same time, an 'unofficial' relationship between some private sector > players and the government can hamper advocacy initiatives. Businesses > sometimes need to be encouraged to cut back on "personal political space"; > > * While some multinational IT companies have been reluctant to be > involved in ICT advocacy initiatives, those that have suggest that the > relationship has been beneficial and in line with its own business aims. > > To read the full article, visit www.catia.ws. > > _________________________________________________ > Claire Sibthorpe > Programme Manager > Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA) > Atos Consulting > www.catia.ws > > Tel: +27 11 881 5910 > Mobile: +27 82 895 4603 > Fax: +27 11 881 5481 > > Postal Address: P O Box 785553, Sandton, 2146, South Africa > Physical Address: Nelson Mandela Square, 2nd Floor, West Tower, Sandown, > 2196, South Africa > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > Catia_team mailing list > Catia_team(a)catia.ws > http://catia.eyecon.co.za/mailman/listinfo/catia_team >

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JKUAT E-Government Academy Workshop
by Bill Kagai 25 Apr '06

25 Apr '06

[Introduction] The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology <www.jkuat.ac.ke> in collaboration with Circuits & Packets Communications Limited 'C&P' <www.circuitspackets.co.ke> are pleased to announce the formation of the JKUAT E-Government Academy. This is a nascent Public Private Partnership (PPP) with a mission to offer high quality E-Government Training, Consultancy and Software development in Kenya. JKUAT E-Government Academy <egov.jkuat.ac.ke> was launched on 23rd February 2006 at Safari Park Hotel by Dr. Thierry Amoussougbo on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in the presence of the JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Professor Nick Wanjohi. [Mission] The JKUAT E-Government Academy does not aim at just imparting proficiency in use of computer technology but more on the use of logic and algorithm to promote flair for innovation in service delivery and tripartite communication for Government, its Citizens and Business. JKUAT E-Government Academy derives its strengths from the vast intellectual resources available at the JKUAT University and the experience of C&P in offering practical ICT solutions for development. [Forcing Factor] With a workforce of over 650,000 employees, the Kenya Civil Service will require short but structured courses to inculcate use of ICT in Government. This is inline with the National ICT Policy, The Kenya E-Government Strategy and The Economic Recovery Strategy for Employment and Wealth Creation 2003-2007. <http://www.planning.go.ke/planning_files/econrecovery2004-2007.html> [Strategy] The JKUAT E-Government Academy has so far trained hundreds of Civil Servants in various E-Government Courses <http://www.circuitspackets.co.ke/training> and is currently looking for strategic partners who can help us reach a pilot target of training approximately 10,000 in one financial year. We are making use of 21 training institutions accredited to the University spread all over the country but we still require strategic alliances from development partners and industry who can share with us experiences, best practices and case studies of E-Government Capacity Building in other countries. [Workshop] In this regard, we are planning a two day workshop from 6th to 7th July 2006 at Windsor Golf and Country Club <www.windsorgolfresort.com> to strategise on E-Government Capacity Building in Kenya and exploring the latest technology currently being used in Governments. Expected delegates will primarily be Heads of ICTs in various Ministries, Leading ICT Industry Players and other interested stakeholders. Should your company/organisation be interested in collaborating in this workshop, please contact the undersigned by 15th May 2006 so that we can work together in developing the workshop and exhibition program. -- -- 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. 254 722 379409 URL. www.circuitspackets.co.ke URL. egov.jkuat.ac.ke

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AfriNIC Nominations
by Brian Longwe 24 Apr '06

24 Apr '06

Apparently there was a problem with the nomination email alias. Could those of you who received bounces to your messages resend them? Regards, Brian

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Change Agent Scholarship Opportunity
by alice＠apc.org 24 Apr '06

24 Apr '06

------- Forwarded message follows ------- From: "Claudia Morrell" <cmorrell(a)umbc.edu> Good afternoon, The Anita Borg Change Agent Scholarship will be given to up to two women in computing who have expanded opportunities and influenced the careers of girls and women in technology outside the United States. Applicants/nominees must establish their need for financial support to attend the conference. The recipient(s) will have all expenses paid to attend the 2006 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. http://www.anitaborg.org/awards/2006/change_agent_06.html Claudia Morrell Executive Director Center for Women and Information Technology University of Maryland, Baltimore County 1000 Hilltop Circle, ITE 452 Baltimore, MD 21250 410-455-2822 www.umbc.edu/cwit cmorrell(a)umbc.edu _______________________________________________ AAW-Network mailing list AAW-Network(a)apcafricawomen.org http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/aaw-network

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Minutes meeting April 5 2006
by alice＠apc.org 23 Apr '06

23 Apr '06

Dear all Attached minutes of the April 5th KICTAnet meeting best regards alice

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Fw: [ks-africa] FW: Knowledge Management Capacity for African Research Institutes and Networks: East Africa Workshop
by alice＠apc.org 21 Apr '06

21 Apr '06

For those interested in knowledge management ----- Original Message ----- From: "May El Sallab" <msallab(a)gdnet.org> To: "Knowledge Sharing for Development: Africa Regional Program" <ks-africa(a)dgroups.org> Cc: "Dina El Halaby" <dhalaby(a)gdnet.org> Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 4:00 PM Subject: [ks-africa] FW: Knowledge Management Capacity for African Research Institutes and Networks: East Africa Workshop > Dear All, > > > > Global Development Network (GDN) in cooperation with the World Bank > Institute (WBI) and the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), is > organizing a workshop entitled "Knowledge Management Capacity for African > Research Institutes and Networks: East Africa Workshop". We invite > representatives of government, nonprofit, private and university-based > African research institutes and networks to apply for participation in > this > workshop. > > > > The workshop aims at strengthening the operations of East-African research > institutes and networks by exposing them to knowledge management concepts, > tools and approaches, and helping them to develop Action Plans to enhance > their organizational capacity. > > > > This workshop comes as a follow-up to the "Knowledge Sharing for > Development: Africa Regional Program Workshop" that was held in Cairo in > February 2005 (http://www.gdnet.org/middle.php?oid=619) > > > > The upcoming East Africa workshop will be help in Kampala, Uganda from > June > 5th to 7th 2006. The deadline for submitting applications is on the 30th > of > April. Please find attached an application form for participation in the > workshop as well as the full announcement for the call for participants. > > > > For further details about the workshop please visit our website at: > http://www.gdnet.org/middle.php?oid=991. > > > > If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact > me > at msallab(a)gdnet.org or Dina El Halaby at dhalaby(a)gdnet.org. > > > > Best regards, > > > > May El Sallab > > > > May El Sallab > > Research Assistant, GDN Cairo > > Global Development Network > > Building 144/A - 3rd floor > > Smart Village, Cairo-Alex Desert Road > > Giza, Egypt > > Website: <http://www.gdnet.org> www.gdnet.org > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, > OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank > --- You are currently subscribed to ks-africa as: alice(a)apc.org > To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ks-africa-280328V(a)dgroups.org >

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Fw: 5-DAY RESIDENTIAL TRAINING COURSE FOR DIRECTORS, KILAGUNI SERENA LODGE, TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK, MAY 21-26, 2006
by alice＠apc.org 21 Apr '06

21 Apr '06

Some of you might be interested in attending this course. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Training and Education (CCG)" <training(a)ccg.or.ke> To: <"Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@mail.ccg.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 11:22 AM Subject: 5-DAY RESIDENTIAL TRAINING COURSE FOR DIRECTORS, KILAGUNI SERENA LODGE, TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK, MAY 21-26, 2006 NINTH CACG/PSCGT FIVE-DAY RESIDENTIAL TRAINING COURSE FOR DIRECTORSGOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FOR PROFITABLE, COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISES 5-DAY CORPORATE GOVERNANCE RESIDENTIAL TRAINING COURSE FOR DIRECTORS MAY 21-26, 2006 "Directors in their waking hours must be continually vigilant if they do not wish to experience the most horrible nightmares possible" (Prof. Bob Baxt, 'Duties and Responsibilities of Directors and Officers', 2000) The Centre for Corporate Governance will hold the 23rd 5-Day Corporate Governance Residential Training Course for Directors at the Kilaguni Serena Lodge, Tsavo West National Park from Monday, May 22 to Friday, May 26, 2006. Participants are expected at the Kilaguni Serena Lodge at the latest by 1500 hours on Sunday, May 21, 2006 and are scheduled to return to Nairobi on Saturday, May 27, 2006. The interactive nature of the course is such that it can effectively accommodate only 40 participants. Consequently, nominations shall be accepted on a first come, first served basis. While both directors and senior managers may be nominated to attend, preference will be given to directors. Please note that those nominated must be available to attend all the sessions and sit written examinations. On successful completion of the training course, the participants will be awarded a Commonwealth Certificate in "Company Directorship". The course will cover: a.. Principles and Practice of Corporate Governance b.. The Effective Board c.. Corporate Control d.. Corporate Accountability and Disclosure e.. Corporate Governance and Information Technology f.. The Professional Advisor The cost of the Training Course is Kshs. 100,000 (US$ 1,450) per person, which includes full-board hotel accommodation, transport (Nairobi-Kilaguni-Nairobi), training fees and materials. This cost is exclusive of 16% VAT. Interested corporations/organizations should nominate their participants on or before Friday, April 28, 2006. For more information, contact, CIRU MWANIKI: Centre for Corporate Governance Brookside Grove, Off Waiyaki Way - Westlands P. O. Box 13936 Nairobi 00800 Tel. Nos. +254 (20) 4440003 /4443230 / 4456014 / 722 700180 / 733 573276 Fax No. +254 (20) 4440427 Email: training(a)ccg.or.ke Website: www.ccg.or.ke

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strengthening Africa's media
by Muriuki Mureithi 19 Apr '06

19 Apr '06

This may be of interest _____ From: Grace Githaiga [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 19 April 2006 09:29 To: emmutuakombo(a)stcloudstate.edu; mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke; KIPlist; alice(a)apc.org; AMWIK; amarc(a)amarc.org Subject: Fw: online forum ----- Original Message ----- From: Africa Media <mailto:[email protected]> Group To: Aulora Stally astally <mailto:[email protected]> ; Grace <mailto:[email protected]> Githaiga ; Manoah Esipisu <mailto:[email protected]> ; Edetaen <mailto:[email protected]> Ojo ; Fackson <mailto:[email protected]> Banda ; Jeanette Minnie jcmin <mailto:[email protected]> ; John Mukela <mailto:[email protected]> ; Diana <mailto:[email protected]> Senghor ; Mike Daka <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 12:32 PM Subject: online forum Dear all, Please kindly share this message with your networks. tks. Martha Dear colleague, As a media practitioner working in or on Africa, we're writing to invite you to participate in 'Strengthening Africa's Media', an online forum - due to kick off on Thursday 20 April 2006 and lasts for 12 weeks. The forum will provide a platform for African media actors, in collaboration with their support partners, to articulate concerns and perspectives, identify priority issues and areas requiring support, and propose concrete initiatives and programmes towards a strengthened media sector. We define media inclusively, spanning the mainstream press and broadcast media, alternative and community media, civil society media, formal and non-formal communication, and new media. The definition also includes special interest media, addressing cross-cutting concerns such as gender equity and human rights. The 'Strengthening' online forum is part of a broader consultation process - supported by the Department for International Development (DFID) - that includes physical meetings, both at sub-regional level and on specific issues of concern. Your views will form the basis of a 'Strategic Framework for Strengthening Media in Africa', a document intended to make the case for enhanced investment in media. What you have to say will also be of critical importance in framing the issues for a Stakeholder Conference, to be held in September 2006, at which the priorities for strengthening Africa's media will be further discussed and agreed upon. The content of the electronic consultation will be structured around four groups of media actors - Owners, Practitioners, Trainers and Support Organizations. Two weeks will be dedicated to discussions related to each group, with a two-week period of open discussion at the end during which the main points contributed will be revisited and summarized. Each segment of the consultation will be informed by a series of questions. These questions, along with instructions on how to participate, will be sent to you in a Welcome Message which you will receive once you confirm that you are interested in taking part. Once we get confirmation from you, we will register you and you will receive the Welcome Message and guidelines as to how to participate. Should you wish to do so, you can also sign up on your own by visiting http://www.dgroups.org/groups/AMDP and following the instructions. We look forward to hearing from you and hope that you can join us in what promises to be a lively and stimulating discussion! Best regards Martha Mogus For the Secretariat 'Strengthening Africa's Media' Addis Ababa, Ethiopia africamedia(a)uneca.org

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Econet licence stays cancelled, court rules
by Mike Theuri 14 Apr '06

14 Apr '06

Econet licence stays cancelled, court rules By RICHARD MUNGUTI THE High Court yesterday stood the decision taken by the Government to cancel a licence allowing Econet Wireless Kenya Limited to provide mobile services. Justice Mohammed Ibrahim said the court lacks jurisdiction to restrain the Government from cancelling the licence issued to Econet by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK). Justice Ibrahim in declining to reverse the decision by former Minister for Information and Communication, Raphael Tuju, to cancel the licence, said Econet was not clear over the kind of relief it was seeking. He said the order for prohibition was granted improperly and in breach of the principles of natural justice. "No allegations of illegality, impropriety or irrationality were made against CCK, yet it was restrained and injuncted in respect of some alleged deadline of payment of US$12 million which was not an issue from the statement issued by the minister revoking the licence and directing the commencement of the exercise anew," the judge said. He noted that Econet was seeking an injunction but instead applied for an order of prohibition by way of a judicial review. "In this application the prayer for injunction was 'hidden' in a different clothing and innocuously tucked away as a consequential order and made to appear as an integral and necessary part of the leave and stay," Justice Ibrahim noted. He added that "courts many times such applications are treated with a little more sacredness and solemnity that it would otherwise deserve." Justice Ibrahim had in November 2004 granted Econet leave to commence a suit against the minister and CCK challenging the orders. He had allowed the leave to operate as a stay of the minister's order to cancel the licence issued to Econet as the third Global System for Mobile Communications Operator (GSM) in the country. Econet was to join Safaricom and Celtel as mobile phone providers. Econet urged the court to restrain CCK from cancelling or suspending the licence issued to it even after the expiry of a deadline to pay a balance of US$12 million. The payment was not to be effected before the determination of another case commenced against CCK by Kenya Telecommunications Investment Group Limited. source : http://www.timesnews.co.ke/14apr06/nwsstory/news3.html

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