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junior application developer / intern.
by Moses Kemibaro 15 Apr '08

15 Apr '08

Dotsavvy is looking for a Junior Application Developer/ Intern with the following competencies: i. 2+ years experience in internet application development. ii. A portfolio of functional personal work that includes the following examples: a. Web sites/pages that utilize database-driven concepts. b. Web sites/pages that demonstrate the ability to work from a project specification. c. Web sites/pages that show implementation of a standardized user interface. iii. Experience with Macromedia, Java, CSS, PERL, Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP (LAMP) is required. iv. Additional experience with AJAX, Ruby on Rails, .NET and others would be a bonus. If you meet these criteria, or know someone who does, please send CVs to jobs(a)dotsavvyafrica.com by the 30th April 2008. Thanks, Moses

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Opportunity: Business Development Lead
by Dorcas Muthoni 15 Apr '08

15 Apr '08

Job Specification: Business Development Lead This is an excellent opportunity to join a young dynamic company in the software sub-sector. You will help define and manage a wide range of marketing campaigns focused on businesses and government establishments across the Kenya and the region. Working closely with our partners you will be responsible for leading the sales and business development teams develop our exciting range of customer solutions. You should have a degree in marketing, business studies or a related subject and/or at least one year experience working in a marketing or sales department. This is a superb opportunity to build an excellent career in a fast growth market. Based at: Nairobi Job purpose: Responsible for supporting the development and implementation of the marketing strategy, product marketing and lead generation of our software services. Key Responsibilities: Marketing Strategy and Lead Generation will include: * Promotion of our software services. * Generating leads through industry research and outreach. * Development and implementation of marketing campaigns that deliver quality leads for our sales and partner channels. * Manage the Customer Relationship Management system to track lead generation and progress. * Develop and manage the corporate brand across all channels and partner organisations. * Define, develop and implement strategic marketing campaigns focused on businesses and government establishments * Produce client testimonials and partner references. * Organise and manage corporate events and exhibitions. Key Skills: Must Have: * Educated to degree level * IT literate * Self starter * Team Player * Strong writing skills and phone manner Nice to have: * Recognised marketing qualification( held or training for) * B2B marketing experience * Public sector knowledge * Procurement knowledge/ experience * Strong secondary research skills * Experience with the IT industry Compensation: * Salaries are based on success in meeting targets. * Base plus commissions Application Process: * Send your application by *25th April 2008* to: info(a)openworld.co.ke

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junior application developer / intern.
by Moses Kemibaro 15 Apr '08

15 Apr '08

Dotsavvy is looking for a Junior Application Developer/ Intern with the following competencies: i. 2+ years experience in internet application development. ii. A portfolio of functional personal work that includes the following examples: a. Web sites/pages that utilize database-driven concepts. b. Web sites/pages that demonstrate the ability to work from a project specification. c. Web sites/pages that show implementation of a standardized user interface. iii. Experience with Macromedia, Java, CSS, PERL, Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP (LAMP) is required. iv. Additional experience with AJAX, Ruby on Rails, .NET and others would be a bonus. If you meet these criteria, or know someone who does, please send CVs to jobs(a)dotsavvyafrica.com by the 30th April 2008. Thanks, Moses --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ YOU ARE IN KAZI AFRIKA GROUP UNSUBSCRIBE: kaziafrika-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/kaziafrika?hl=en www.kazi-africa.com FOR A VERY PEACEFUL KENYA -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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Fwd: [Council] Vacancy announcement: FOSSFA Secretariat Coordinator
by Dorcas Muthoni 15 Apr '08

15 Apr '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Milton Aineruhanga <milton(a)wougnet.org> Date: Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 8:10 PM Subject: [Council] Vacancy announcement: FOSSFA Secretariat Coordinator To: council(a)fossfa.net POSITION: FOSSFA Secretariat Coordinator LOCATION: The Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa is a not-for-profit Pan-African organization registered in Mauritius with secretariat in the Ghana-India Koffi Annan Center of Excellence in ICT, Accra, Ghana. FOSSFA is annoucing its FOSSFA Secretariat Coordinator vacancy, to be based at the FOSSFA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana. TERM: Two years of Initial Contract. Renewable APPLICATION: Applications and remuneration preferences may be sent through any FOSSFA executive member, dorothyg(a)aiti-kace.com.gh or to nnenna(a)opensource.org COMMENCEMENT DATE: As soon as possible. ORGANIZATION: The mission of FOSSFA is the promotion of FOSS and the FOSS development model in Africa . OVERVIEW: FOSSFA is seeking an individual that has the passion and dedication to provide hands-on management for its planned expansion of activities. He/She should be motivated by FOSSFA's potential to connect people, spread FOSS, technology, and social possibilities in Africa and beyond. RESPONSIBILITIES: Leadership • Represent FOSSFA and the Africa FOSS community officially • Provide needed management for all FOSSFA projects • Coordinate smooth day to day activities of FOSSFA Secretariat • Support administrative and logistical preparations towards Idlelo 4. • Ensure that meaningful benchmarks are established, tracked, and revised as appropriate • Implement and evaluate an action plan based on the approved strategic goals and opportunities. Management/Program • Implement programs to fulfill the overall mission of FOSSFA. • Nurture FOSSFA's relationships with members, the general public, and funders. • Partner with appropriate organizations/people to increase awareness FOSSFA and its activities • Draft and present financial reports of FOSSFA projects and all received monies • Cultivate ongoing relationships with supporters to ensure a reliable source of funding for immediate operations, as well as to expand FOSSFA's asset and donor base. Community and Council Development • Ensure management of membership within FOSSFA • Ensure consistent and transparent communication with any and all FOSSFA council members, the general public, and sponsors. • Provide avenues for full and open communication and collaboration with the community at large and promote an awareness of the diverse and changing needs of the community. • Collaborate with the Council and members in the development of all actions of the Foundation. • Facilitate collaboration and cooperation between FOSSFA and other organizations and leaders, to build a shared vision of how to address and solve issues related to FOSS in Africa . QUALIFICATIONS: Background: • Project Management experience in either the non-profit or technology sectors • Well-known and respected within at least one Open Source community • Experienced in raising funds for non-profit organizations • Effectively organized, highly-independent and self-motivated. Characteristics: • Highly-organized self-starter with the ability to set, manage, and implement priorities. • High level of comfort with and passion for technology and Open Source • Able to listen well and build consensus from public discussions • Ability to understand and adapt to diverse African cultural backgrounds • Excellent oral and written English communication skills, with a working knowledge of French. Education: Bachelor's degree or the equivalent in experience is required. COMPENSATION: A salary commensurate with Ghana national standards for not-for-profit organisations. _______________________________________________ Council mailing list Council(a)fossfa.net http://fossfa.net/mailman/listinfo/council_fossfa.net -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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{Spam?} FW: ACHIEVERS NOMINATE NOW
by Fiona Asonga 14 Apr '08

14 Apr '08

Hallo All, As industry stakeholders we are being called upon to once again nominate outstanding ICT personalities. Kindly find the nomination details below. Regards, Fiona Asonga Administrator TESPOK ----- Forwarded message from Shirley Jacobs <shirley(a)forgeahead.co.za> ----- Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:03:23 +0200 From: Shirley Jacobs <shirley(a)forgeahead.co.za> Reply-To: Shirley Jacobs <shirley(a)forgeahead.co.za> Subject: ACHIEVERS NOMINATE NOW To: 'Shirley Jacobs' <shirley(a)forgeahead.co.za> http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/top.jpg NOMINATE NOW Do you know of someone who has done tremendous work in ICT's but has not received their just recognition ? This is the opportunity to reward those individuals and organisations who have achieved in the information and communications technology sector. All Africans across the continent are invited to nominate those individuals and organisations whom they believe are worthy of recognition for their ICT achievements. _____ To nominate visit http://www.forgeahead.co.za/achievers/noms_form.asp www.forgeahead.co.za/achievers/noms_form.asp OR Contact Shirley Jacobs "mailto:shirley@forgeahead.co.za" shirley(a)forgeahead.co.za 011 603 1645 _____ http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/todays.gif http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/0logos_08.jpg http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/todays_bottom.gif http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/Bottom_new.jpg Please pass on this email to your colleagues and clients across Africa. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.10/1366 - Release Date: 4/8/2008 5:03 PM ----- End forwarded message ----- ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.12/1373 - Release Date: 4/11/2008 9:17 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.13/1376 - Release Date: 4/13/2008 1:45 PM -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Re: [kictanet] Can Software Engineering Principles resolve Political Stalemate?
by John Walubengo 14 Apr '08

14 Apr '08

Amazing similarity b/w Computer Software and Political Deadlocks.... I was struck by the similarities between what is transpiring in our political arena and what happens in software engineering (in particular Operating System Software design) Wikepedia defines a deadlock as <<...a situation wherein two or more competing actions are waiting for the other to finish, and thus neither ever does. It is often seen in a paradox like 'the chicken or the egg'>>. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadlocks. The same wikipedia page goes on to say that in Operating Systems, a deadlock occurs only when all of the following four conditions prevail: 1. Mutual Exclusion condition: a resource is either assigned to one process or it is available 2. Hold and Wait condition: processes already holding resources may request new resources 3. No Pre-emption condition: only a process holding a resource may release it 4. Circular Wait condition: two or more processes form a circular chain where each process waits for a resource that the next process in the chain holds. This transposes perfectly onto our political deadlock as described below (I just replaced the items 'Resource' with Ministry and 'Process' with Politician to understand prevailing conditions within the political context). So rephrasing the above:- Political deadlocks will occur when all of the following four conditions prevail: 1. Mutual Exclusion:-a Ministry can only be occupied by one Politician. The occupant automatically excludes the others. 2. Hold and Wait: -a Politician/Party holding some ministries may want to request for more. 3. No Preemption:-only the Politician holding the ministry can release it. (No external force can pre-empt or release that ministry). 4. Circular Wait: Politician-1 may release a Ministry 'A' - BUT only after recieving a Ministry 'B' from the other Politician-2. Unfortunately Politician-2 cannot realease Ministry 'B' because (s)he is awaiting for Politician-1 to release his Ministry 'A' first. So how do computers or Operating systems deal or resolve deadlocks? Three approaches have existed since 1960s and are described on the same wikipedia page. Basically they include: Option1: Deadlock Prevention, Option 2: Deadlock Avoidance and Option 3: Deadlock Detection. In more simplistic terms, Deadlock Prevention simply aims at ensuring that one or more of the above four conditions for deadlocks DO NOT hold. E.g most Operating Systems would therefore be pre-emptive (thus addressing condition 3) by retaining and exercising the right to terminate the offending processes (Politicians?). Operating Systems are careful not to allow one process to hoard resources at the expense of the other Processes. In the Deadlock Avoidance approach, Operating Systems try to make sure that they do not enter into a state that can lead to deadlocks. Basically, the competing processes are expected to declare in advance their maximum request levels for resources. Thereafter the Operating System polices their subsequent request granting or denying them accordingly. (All cards must be on the table in advance?) Finally, in Deadlock Detection, the Operating System may opt for the lazier but more expensive option- institute mechanisms that inform it that a deadlock has occured e.g. when the computer freezes (or the country?). Thereafter, it would need a manual reboot. Switch off and restart the machine, losing all your data (life?) in the process. I just hope we are not headed for Option 3. walu. --- Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)swiftkenya.com> wrote: > > > Willem de Groot wrote: > > > > * Remove some of the URLs in the footer > > * Run the mailinglist on another server to see whether > my.co.ke IPs > > are somehow blacklisted/penalized > > > > > > The my.co.ke mx IP is clean and not blacklisted unless > someone wants to > verify that with other spots. > > Am monitoring the emails still and so far i dont seem to > any landing > into the spam folder since the very first one. > > I have no problem with my normal mail and using a mail > client which has > flags to read spamassassain spam counts and flag as spam. > No problems > with that so far. Considering that it goes through > spamassassin and a > barracuda box :) > > Regards, > > Michuki > _______________________________________________ > skunkworks mailing list > skunkworks(a)my.co.ke > http://ole.kenic.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > Blog http://skunkworks-ke.blogspot.com > Beta Blog http://blog.my.co.ke > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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ACHIEVERS NOMINATE NOW
by Dorcas Muthoni 14 Apr '08

14 Apr '08

*[image: http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/top.jpg]* NOMINATE NOW Do you know of someone who has done tremendous work in ICT's but has not received their just recognition ? This is the opportunity to reward those individuals and organisations who have achieved in the information and communications technology sector. All Africans across the continent are invited to nominate those individuals and organisations whom they believe are worthy of recognition for their ICT achievements. ------------------------------ To nominate visit www.forgeahead.co.za/achievers/noms_form.asp *OR * Contact Shirley Jacobs * * shirley(a)forgeahead.co.za 011 603 1645 ------------------------------ [image: http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/todays.gif] [image: http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/0logos_08.jpg] [image: http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/todays_bottom.gif] [image: http://www.forgeahead.co.za/Achievers/images/Bottom_new.jpg] *Please pass on this email to your colleagues and clients across Africa.*

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M- money services – The rise and rise of Africa’ s “killer-app” for 2008
by alice 11 Apr '08

11 Apr '08

M- money services – The rise and rise of Africa’ s “killer-app” for 2008 In the first four months of operation, from March to June 2007, M-Pesa, the mobile phone enabled payment system set up by Safaricom in Kenya, gained 150,000 customers. By December 2007, just before conflict erupted over the elections in December 2007, it had achieved 1 million customers who had made US$7 million in transactions. By January 2008, it had gained 1.6 million customers. This is the breakthrough moment for mobile-enabled cash transaction services, writes Russell Southwood. Strangely, the tragic circumstances of post-election violence in Kenya seemed to encourage the use of the service as ATMs ran out of cash and travelling across town to a bank became a riskier proposition. But as Kenya returns to normality, it will be the payments made in more normal times - things like wages to casual staff - that will begin to weigh in the balance. But Vodafone’s plans to roll-out M-Pesa in neighbouring Tanzania were pipped at the post this week by Zantel. Vodafone’s service is already also available in Afghanistan under the slightly amended name of M-Peisa. To be launched next week, Zantel’s money transfer service is to be called Z-Cash. Orascom’s Naguib Sawiris – never a man slow to spot an opportunity – this week announced that his company would offer Internet banking services to its 70 million customers: "It's not something that I'm starting from scratch. I have the subscribers. They were just doing e-mail, [text message] and voice. Now I'm going to tell them you can use this for banking." Perhaps less original and life-changing than M-Pesa but nevertheless a shift in how money transactions get done. This week sees the publication of “M-Money – Finances, Banking and Payments through Mobile Phones” , a 100+ page report which has some of the first detailed market research into the attitudes of potential African customers and how they handle both national and international remittances. The report includes: • Case studies of the pioneering services: The report provides full case studies of four fully operational M-money services: Globe Telecom’s G-Cash and Smart Communications’ Smart Money, both in the Philippines; Wizzit in South Africa; and M-Pesa in Kenya. In addition, there are many smaller mini-case studies of services that have been launched in Africa and elsewhere in the world. • User research findings: The report provides national sample surveys for three major markets – Ghana, Kenya and South Africa – which provide remarkably consistent findings in key areas. A key element of the research looks at how national and international remittances are made and how many people receive them. There is also additional research from a range of other African countries that help pin down the likely potential of M-money services. • User experience and customer business model interface: The report looks in detail at: how M-money services of different kinds can be delivered; different approaches to delivery (partners vs go-it-alone); different technologies that might underpin its development (for example, near field communications); and the business models and market segments. • How regulatory issues can be tackled: When banking meets the mobile world, two different sets of regulatory environments collide. The report provides a detailed section on how banking and financial requirements can be met and the implications for both the operator and consumer of these kinds of transactions. Balancing Act’s M-Money – Finances, Banking and Payments through Mobile Phones, is over 100 pages long and has 7 charts, 16 tables of statistical data, 2 graphic maps and 12 illustrations. If you’ve not worked out how to do M-Money services this year, you may be the one who’s missing out next year. For details, go to: http://www.balancingact-africa.com/publications.html <http://lists.balancingact-africa.com/t/1115/235533/2/0/> For an extract that contains a detailed table of contents with a full list of the charts, tables and maps, send an e-mail to: editorial(a)balancingact-africa.com <mailto:editorial@balancingact-africa.com> The report is priced as follows: Full price (Africa) – /GBP290/US$580; Full price (Rest of the World) – GBP350/US$700; Reduced price for universities and NGOs – GBP250/US$500. Click below to order:/ http://www.balancingact-africa.com/profiles/order/order_form.php <http://lists.balancingact-africa.com/t/1115/235533/226/0/>

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Swedish start-up TerraNet claims peer-to-peer mobile will increase phone penetration in developing countries
by alice 11 Apr '08

11 Apr '08

Swedish start-up TerraNet claims peer-to-peer mobile will increase phone penetration in developing countries Swedish start-up TerraNet has revealed further detail of its ‘peer-to-peer’ mobile phone technology that it claims could play a big role in increasing phone penetration in developing countries. According to TerraNet CEO and founder, Anders Carlius the company is working on what he calls ‘ad hoc’ networking Terranet’s peer-to-peer technology turns each handset into a switching node, passing on calls from other handsets within a 1 kilometre range. Each handset can simultaneously transit 7 calls and each call can make 7 hops before the switching delay starts to make conversation difficult. This peer-to-peer hopping communications has been done before in military applications, although expensively, and in the Tetra emergency communications system, but this is the first time anyone has tackled the mass market in this way. But isn’t the seven kilometre limit a real drawback? “It only seems so because we, us rich people in the west, are all used to zooming around the country or around the world. The other 4 billion don’t travel more than a few kilometres in a typical working day”. And most of the people they know spend all their time within the those few kilometers too.” Carlius is concerned to overcome the barrier to phone use from illiteracy. “I remember talking to a Pakistani telco who told me there was no way he could ever get beyond 40% penetration,” said Carlius. “‘Never? I asked.’ No,’ he said, ‘because 60% of our population is illiterate and innumerate and they therefore can’t use a phone.’ And he was right,” says Carlius. “If you think about it you can’t use a phone if you can’t read or manipulate numbers.” So Carlius’s next rethink was around the three button phone concept. An ad hoc networking phone might use people’s pictures instead of their names and numbers, he says. But perhaps the most important, and most re-thought, part of the model is Carlius’s ideas around distribution. Instead of a telecom network, TerraNet (or whoever had licensed the technology) would build a network of agents to push the phones, collect the monies and, most important, load up the appropriate photos for the illiterate customers. The technology still has to journey into final product. Journalists were shown a large circuit board working prototype but TerraNet says it has advance orders and expects to be manufacturing in bulk soonish. (Source: TelecomTV)

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Positive energy and the KCSE
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 11 Apr '08

11 Apr '08

Dear All, As we discussed the the KCSE error, Eric Aligula sent the quotations below and I think they capture the spirit in which we should approach such problems. Often we spend more time to criticise yet this forum has some of the best minds in ICT. "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke "Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory, nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt In the past we have spent our collective negative energy to kill projects that could have uplifted this country out of poverty. For example, the Nyayo car. Although there was evidence of corruption it is common knowledge that cost of any protype is usually high. Our learned good men and women did not come out to explain the behaviour of variable and fixed costs. The Malaysians if you read about their Proton were experiencing the same. What saved their project was the benevolent dictatorship of their leadership. Today the Proton is as good a car as any and Kenyans are importing it. You learn the history of motor industry, Kenyan technicians were taken to India, Zechoslovakia and South Africa to teach them on motor assembly. There are many projects that have come and gone because the good men that Edmund Burke is referring to are doing nothining. Indeed even those in public offices wanting to do good for the country fear taking any risk because there is no legal insurance. Therefore, the public had a responsibility to develop a common culture whose focus is to build rather than condem and destroy. 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"

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