- KICTANet - KICTANet

Knowledge Sharing in African Agricultural Research - session in Nairobi
by alice＠apc.org 04 May '06

04 May '06

Dear members Some of you might want to attend this workshop -------------------------------------------------------------- Dear all, Please allow me to forward this invitation to a one-day workshop on Knowledge Sharing in Research at the IAALD (International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists) conference in Nairobi on May, 22. Simone Simone Staiger-Rivas Communications Unit Webpublishing Knowledge Sharing - InforCom Project (Information and Communications for Rural Communities ) CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical) E-mail: s.staiger(a)cgiar.org CIAT Web site: www.ciat.cgiar.org <http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/> InforCom Web site: www.ciat.cgiar.org/inforcom Knowledge Sharing Web site: http://www.ks-cgiar.org <http://www.ks-cgiar.org/> "With support from CTA, IAALD members and partners in Africa are organising a conference from 21 to 26 May, 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting will look at five broad themes: Building capacity in agricultural information resources management; Enabling policy for agricultural information management; Narrowing the digital divide; Knowledge sharing and information systems for networking and partnerships; Meeting the information needs of stakeholders. Information on how to participate, contribute, or sponsor the event is available on the <http://www.asareca.org/iaald-africa/> conference web site." http://www.asareca.org/iaald-africa/ <http://www.iaald.org/> IAALD Logo ICT-KM Program Knowledge Sharing in Agricultural Research A workshop at the First IAALD Africa Chapter Conference in Nairobi Are you looking for better ways to build collegial relationships that are essential for creative collaboration in agricultural research for development? Would you like to explore knowledge sharing techniques currently in use and of potential use in African agricultural research? Would you like to know how you can optimize participation in collaborative processes in important aspects of your organization's life and work? If so, then join us for an interactive knowledge sharing event, including a fair, a "chat show", and a world café session. We would like to share with you how initiatives of the CGIAR ICT-KM Program tackle the issue of creative collaboration in agricultural research for development. You will also help shape future plans of the CGIAR ICT-KM Program for expanding and strengthening knowledge management and sharing within the CGIAR and its partnerships. Come and take part in the CGIAR's new knowledge sharing culture. Monday, 22 May 2006, 10:00am to 5:00pm, in the Le Chateau Room Hotel Intercontinental, Nairobi Seats are limited, so register early to avoid disappointment by sending an e-mail to <mailto:ictkm@cgiar.org> ictkm(a)cgiar.org --- You are currently subscribed to km4dev-l as: dhalaby(a)gdnet.org To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-km4dev-l-369565F(a)dgroups.org Please note that hitting the Reply button will send a message to the entire list. The KM4Dev mailing list is a public forum, and our mailing list archives are publicly available on the website. Check out the KM4dev website: http://www.km4dev.org --- You are currently subscribed to km4dev-l as: dhalaby(a)gdnet.org To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-km4dev-l-369565F(a)dgroups.org Please note that hitting the Reply button will send a message to the entire list. The KM4Dev mailing list is a public forum, and our mailing list archives are publicly available on the website. Check out the KM4dev website: http://www.km4dev.org

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Media Breakfast to Review ICT bill Postponed
by alice＠apc.org 04 May '06

04 May '06

Dear Colleagues, Due to the unavailability of the PS Information and Communication, Dr. Bitange Demo, the Kenya ICT Action Network has postponed the media breakfast meeting, which was scheduled for May 5th 2006. We shall communicate the new dates soon. best regards alice

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Re: Fw: [Fibre-for-africa] Kenya and its Own Cable..Full Story
by John Walubengo 03 May '06

03 May '06

good move for Kenya (going it alone?). But this does raise even more questions than answers e.g. i) What happens to the Kenyan (TKL) investment sunk into the EASSy project? ii) What model (management/ownership) is/will be applied to the new project (if similar to EASSy then we r back to square one) iii) Could we have documented reasons for abandoning EASSy? (lessons learnt). iv) etc, walu. >>> <alice(a)apc.org> 05/03/06 10:26am >>> http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?premiumid=0&cate… Kenya to build Sh15bn fibre optic cable link Story by JEFF OTIENO Publication Date: 5/3/2006 Kenya has decided to go it alone in the construction of a Sh15 billion fibre optic undersea sea cable system connecting it to the rest of the world. Fibre optic cables are hair-thin glass fibre for the transmission of data in the form of light. According to the Government, the envisaged Eastern Africa Submarine System (EASSy) cable project driven by 15 telecommunications firms from 13 Eastern Africa countries was taking too long. EASSy was aimed at establishing an undersea cable system connecting Mtunzini, located just north of Durban, in South Africa to Port Sudan, in Sudan a distance of about 9,900 km Information and Communication permanent secretary, Bitange Ndemo, said Kenya would begin would begin discussions with Djibouti, one the countries involved in the construction of the cable network. It is believed that a link to Djibouti will connect Kenya to the rest of the world. Apart from Kenya and Djibouti, other countries involved in the project are South Africa, Sudan, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Botswana, Ethiopia and Somalia. Dr Ndemo lamented that three-years since the project was envisaged nothing had been done apart from the holding of numerous meetings. "The costs of the meetings is almost half the total cost of the project," he added. Dr Ndemo spoke at an East African Regulatory, Posts and Telecommunications organisation meeting held in Nairobi yesterday. The PS said Kenya needed the cable more than any other country saying many foreign companies had expressed interest to invest in the country but were holding back due to connectivity problems. He, however, denied that the decision would put Kenya on collision course with other ESSAy members adding that one had to take the lead. "Somebody has to take control and start the project or else we will not get anywhere," he added. The fibre optic cable would be used to connect Nairobi and Mombasa to open up employment opportunities to thousands of youths in ICT. The money, the PS said would be raised using the Nairobi Stock Exchange where the public would buy shares. A meeting involving players in the industry has already been organised to deliberate of raising funds and will be attended by among others Kenya Data Networks, Celtel and Telkom Kenya. "The cable should be ready by next year to enable the country benefit from the technology," Dr Ndemo said. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa --- Submitted by: alice(a)apc.org 2006-05-03 03:36:24 EDT4 (Please reply to original submitter for private communication) --- You are currently subscribed to kiplist-cl as: [jwalubengo(a)kcct.ac.ke] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-kiplist-cl-102682Q(a)lyris.idrc.ca

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Fw: [Fibre-for-africa] Kenya and its Own Cable..Full Story
by alice＠apc.org 03 May '06

03 May '06

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?premiumid=0&cate… Kenya to build Sh15bn fibre optic cable link Story by JEFF OTIENO Publication Date: 5/3/2006 Kenya has decided to go it alone in the construction of a Sh15 billion fibre optic undersea sea cable system connecting it to the rest of the world. Fibre optic cables are hair-thin glass fibre for the transmission of data in the form of light. According to the Government, the envisaged Eastern Africa Submarine System (EASSy) cable project driven by 15 telecommunications firms from 13 Eastern Africa countries was taking too long. EASSy was aimed at establishing an undersea cable system connecting Mtunzini, located just north of Durban, in South Africa to Port Sudan, in Sudan a distance of about 9,900 km Information and Communication permanent secretary, Bitange Ndemo, said Kenya would begin would begin discussions with Djibouti, one the countries involved in the construction of the cable network. It is believed that a link to Djibouti will connect Kenya to the rest of the world. Apart from Kenya and Djibouti, other countries involved in the project are South Africa, Sudan, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Botswana, Ethiopia and Somalia. Dr Ndemo lamented that three-years since the project was envisaged nothing had been done apart from the holding of numerous meetings. "The costs of the meetings is almost half the total cost of the project," he added. Dr Ndemo spoke at an East African Regulatory, Posts and Telecommunications organisation meeting held in Nairobi yesterday. The PS said Kenya needed the cable more than any other country saying many foreign companies had expressed interest to invest in the country but were holding back due to connectivity problems. He, however, denied that the decision would put Kenya on collision course with other ESSAy members adding that one had to take the lead. "Somebody has to take control and start the project or else we will not get anywhere," he added. The fibre optic cable would be used to connect Nairobi and Mombasa to open up employment opportunities to thousands of youths in ICT. The money, the PS said would be raised using the Nairobi Stock Exchange where the public would buy shares. A meeting involving players in the industry has already been organised to deliberate of raising funds and will be attended by among others Kenya Data Networks, Celtel and Telkom Kenya. "The cable should be ready by next year to enable the country benefit from the technology," Dr Ndemo said. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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Re: Invitation to a Breakfast Meeting to discuss the Kenya Information Communication Bill.
by alice＠apc.org 03 May '06

03 May '06

Dear Colleagues, The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) invites you to a breakfast meeting on Friday 5 May 2006 from 7:30 to 10:00am to discuss the broadcasting and media sections on the Information Communication Bill 2006 at the Jacaranda Hotel, Gazebo Banda. The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Information and Communication, Dr Bitange Ndemo will be chairing the meeting. The Ministry of Information and Communications finalized the ICT Policy early this year and Cabinet approved it. Subsequently, KICTANet has established a team to facilitate a comprehensive review of the draft ICT bill to make substantial recommendations for those who will finalize it. The key issues to be addressed include context, construction and implementation of the bill. Media groups are critical to this process and KICTANet would like to ensure that they contribute to this review process. To RSVP please contact Judy Kimiti on Cell phone number 0722-716020 or email jkimiti(a)email.kictanet.or.ke before 04 May 2006 Thank You -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDA: Breakfast Meeting to discuss the Kenya Information Communication Bill. 7: 30 Breakfast 7: 45 Remarks on the purpose 7: 50 Remarks by the P.S Dr. Bitange Ndemo of Information and Communication 8: 00 Presentation by KICTANet Review Team 9: 00 Comments from Media Owners 9:45 Closure

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Minutes from meeting April 27th
by warigia bowman 02 May '06

02 May '06

Here are my notes from this months meeting. Warigia _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

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Interim Report: Review and analysis of the Kenya Information Communication Bill 2006
by alice＠apc.org 02 May '06

02 May '06

Dear KICTANET Members Below and attached is the interim report for the review and analysis of our IC bill. Thank you and best regards alice --------------------------------------------------------- 1.0 Introduction Following the publication of Kenya Information and Communications Bill 2006 by the Ministry of Information and Communications in Feb 2006, KICTAnet decided to establish an infrastructure to review the bill in a systematic manner. The purpose was to take on board comments emerging from stakeholders in an efficient, constructive and nationally engaging process. Consequently KICTAnet established a team to undertake the review. This an interim report of the work of the I&C Review Team 2.0 Team composition The Team was formally constituted in the beginning of May and comprise of the following facilitators and their theme of responsibility in the Bill review exercise as set out in Table 1. Table 1: team membership and area of focus 1. Telecommunications: Muruiki Mureithi 2. Legal/Regulatory: J. N. Kihanya 3. Social Dimensions, including gender, youth etc: Dorcas Muthoni 4. Broadcasting/Media: Grace Githaiga 5. Acadamia: Victor Kyalo 6. Internet and information technology: John Walubengo 7. Economics: Ndungu Kimani 8. Outreach: Alari Alare The team Chair is Mr Muriuki Mureithi 3.0 Activities At its first meeting held on April 10th the team - approved an innovative model to review the bill . The model developed by Summit Strategies Ltd breaks down the review process into three dimensions, namely carriage system(s), content and finally services provision environment over three time phases. A detailed description of the model is attached - reviewed and allocated responsibilities for each team member as indicated in Table 1 above - Agreed to finalise and present phase 1 – contextualisation by Tue April 25 - Requested the Chair to brief and seek collaboration from PS Ministry of Information and Communications - Decided to publicise the bill review process to get constructive engagement with broad participation by all stakeholders - Decided to engage an expert to help engage the media on the review process These activities were carried out and reported in the 2nd meeting held on April 19th .This second meeting took note of the following;- - Briefing on the meeting with PS on April 13th who committed to support the process as reported below Dear Colleagues Further to our concurrence to work with the Ministry of Infocom, I met the PS on Thursday April 13th at 1700hrs and briefed him - on the framework and strategy we are using to review the bill - that the motivation of the process was to create synergy among all stake holders and enhance efficiency in the review process - that it was an open process we seek to bring all stakeholder interest on board - the team is giving time as a national contribution to development of ICT in the country - being a phased approach we shall have a peer review meeting on May 12th and a national workshop towards end of May or early June to be determined by the publishing of the bill by the AG The PS expressed appreciation to the work we are doing and committed to support us in this noble activity. He indicated that he will send his staff on the meeting of May 12th and that the ministry will takeover ownership of the national workshop to ensure high level participation. His office is open for any consultations we may need or support to undertake research that we may need. The Asst minister also came in briefly in our meeting Email to team members dated April 18th , 2006 , by Muriuki Mureithi chair - very concise reports by all members on their respective themes - the process leading to publishing of the bill by the Attorney General explained below ‘My very rudimentary understanding of the Bills process will be that on finalisation by the AG, the Bill will be published and forwarded to the House Business Committee, which will in turn forward it to the relevant committee of the House. The Bill will then be presented for its first reading by the Minister for communications. This involves a paragraph by paragraph reading of the all clauses in the Bill..or highlight of the PARTS of the Bill...It will then go to the second stage where the house will convert itself into a committee and raise queries on the Bill and then refer the Bill to the appropriate committee for any amendments proposed. It will then come back to the House for a final third reading and if passed, will await presidential assent to become law. I hope this gives a guide of some sort ON THE TIME FRAME.I could make a detailed report after enquiries. I am not aware of the internal workings at the AGs but would assume that the relevant officers will make the relevant changes to accord the Bill a final parliamentary style and when passed by the AG, the process above would kick in..’ Submission to the team by J N Kihanya Legal/ regulatory on Parliamentary process April 18th - Low response from the KICTANET list members. The team tasked a specialist Mr Alari to develop a strategy to engage all stakeholders in the bill review process - Commenced phase 2 – analysis of the bill with a view to make substantive proposals on the bill. A guideline has been developed by the legal expert on how to make proposals to the text as below Section 58(1)(ICBill) “The Minister may, by notification in the Kenya gazette, declare that any computer system or computer network is s a protected system.” Comment Delete entire section. The data protection regime needs a more robust treatment and we should seek views in other jurisdictions on how they have achieved this. Mr J N Kihanya Legal expert - to hold a media owners/ senior editors workshop in the first week of May to brief the media on the process - others key stakeholders to be engaged and briefed include TESPOK, Telkom Kenya, Safaricom, Celtel , E-government Secretariat, Postal Corporation of Kenya, CCK, Civil Society of Organisation - to meet on May 10th to present output of Phase 2 - to present our findings to a ½ morning workshop for peer review on may 12th - 4.0 Status PS Ministry of I&C has confirmed to attend the breakfast media briefing workshop on May 5th. We are now finalising the logistics to organise the meeting and bring in Media owners and senior editors Team members have almost finalised the final reports of Phase 1 whose cut off was Tue April 25th 5.0 Future programme The team has planned the following near term activities a.. Brief the Minister on the review once the report is complete b.. To organise a one day workshop for ICT reporters once review is complete to educate them on the contents of the Bill and our proposals Once the Bill is published by the AG a.. Jointly with the Minister organise a one day national workshop b.. Jointly with IEA , ATPS hold a two day workshop for Members of Parliament Committee responsible for ICTs 6.0 Resources The team is literally donating time and expertise for these national activities. The team needs funding for the better honoraria to cover direct costs and funding to organise the National workshop as well as the two day workshop with Members of Parliament Committee responsible for ICTs. +++

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Fw: [Apc.africa] (Fwd) Invitation to join a Consultation Process - Strengthenin
by alice＠apc.org 01 May '06

01 May '06

Dear all > > My apologies if you have seen this already. I am subscribed to this list > and have noticed that it does not seem to have participation from > media people from Africa who were involved in the WSIS process. > > Please do consider joining this important discussion. > > Best > > Anriette > > ------- Forwarded message follows ------- > Send reply to: <dacosta(a)igc.org> > From: "Peter da Costa" <dacosta(a)igc.org> > To: "'Africa Media Group'" <africamedia(a)uneca.org> > Subject: Invitation to join a Consultation Process - Strengthening > Africa's Media > Date sent: Mon, 17 Apr 2006 11:37:36 +0100 > > Dear Colleagues > > > > We'd be grateful if you could circulate the below announcement to as > many of your contacts working in media-related fields in Africa, and > beyond. Your participation is also welcome. > > > > Many thanks in advance, best regards > > > > Peter > > For the Secretariat > > 'Strengthening Africa's Media' > > > > _____ > > From: Martha Mogus [mailto:mmogus@uneca.org] On Behalf Of Africa > Media > Group Sent: 14 April 2006 06:30 Subject: Invitation to join a > Consultation Process - Strengthening Africa's Media > > > > > 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 > > > > > ------- End of forwarded message ------- > > ------------------------------------------------------ > Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director > Association for Progressive Communications > anriette(a)apc.org > http://www.apc.org > PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109 > Tel. 27 11 726 1692 > Fax 27 11 726 1692 > > _______________________________________________ > Apc.africa mailing list > Apc.africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/apc.africa

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Fw: [alac] Big holes in net's heart revealed
by alice＠apc.org 01 May '06

01 May '06

Big holes in net's heart revealed > By Mark Ward > Technology Correspondent, BBC News website > > Simple attacks could let malicious hackers take over more than > one-third of the net's sites, reveals research. > > The finding was uncovered by researchers who analysed how the net's > addressing system works. > > They also found that if the simple attacks were combined with > so-called denial-of-service attacks, 85% of the net becomes > vulnerable to take-over. > > The researchers recommended big changes to the net's addressing > system to tackle the vulnerability at its heart. > > Site seizing > > When you visit a website, such as news.bbc.co.uk, your computer often > asks one of the net's address books, or domain name servers, for > information about where that site resides. > > But the number of computers that have to be consulted to find the > computers where that site is located often makes sites vulnerable to > attack by vandals and criminals, found Assistant Professor Emin Gun > Sirer and Venugopalan Ramasubramanian from the Department of Computer > Science at Cornell University. > > Professor Sirer told the BBC News website that, on average, 46 > computers holding different information about the components of net > addresses are consulted to find out where each dotcom site is > actually hosted. > > But, he said, this chain of dependencies between the computers that > look after the different parts of net addresses creates all kinds of > vulnerabilities that clever hackers could easily exploit. > > "The growth of the internet has caused these dependencies to emerge," > said Professor Sirer. "Instead of having to compromise one you can > compromise any one of the three dozen." > > All the information gathered and analysed by the researchers has to > be publicly available to keep the net's addressing system working. > The research analysed information about almost 600,000 computers. > > The research also revealed that 17% of the servers that host the > net's address books are vulnerable to attack via widely known > exploits. > > "Because of these dependencies about one-third of the net's names are > trivially compromisable by script kiddies," he said. > > One site vulnerable in this way was run by the FBI, said Professor. > Sirer. Although the five computers that act as the first reference > point for the fbi.gov domain were secure, one of the five that > connect to these has yet to install a patch for a well-known bug. > > That computer was fixed after the Cornell team reported its findings > to the FBI, but hundreds of thousands of sites suffer from similar > problems. > > The most vulnerable net domain found by the survey was that of the > Roman Catholic Church in the Ukraine. > > Criminals such as phishing gangs would be interested in re-directing > traffic from well-known sites so they can grab key login and personal > details that would help them de-fraud web users. > > [snip] > The research had exposed a big problem that net administrators need > to tackle, said Professor Sirer. Thought should be given to using a > secure version of the system used to pass around information about > net addresses. > "The domain name system has been incredibly successful so far but it > is showing its age," he said. "We need to re-think the entire naming > infrastructure of the internet." > > The hierarchical structure of the net's address books could be > replaced with a more resilient system, he said, that uses a > peer-to-peer type structure that would be harder to compromise. > Story from BBC NEWS: > <http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4954208.stm> > > Published: 2006/04/28 13:58:07 GMT

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KICTANet Monthly Meeting April 28 4pm Jacaranda
by Andrew Karanja 29 Apr '06

29 Apr '06

Dear Members You are all invited for a network monthly meeting, which will take place on Wednesday at 4.00p.m. at the Jacaranda hotel. The meetings proposed agenda will be as follows: .Update on the setting up of the secretariat .Feedback on the Analysis of the ICT Bill 2005 . Planning for the Open Policy Forums at Constituency Levels (10 Constituencies), slated for May-August . An update on the KICTANet registration . Finalized MOU between AeRC and KICTAnet . Review of proposal to IDRC for institutional assessment and strengthening . fundraising activities . A.O.B Kindly confirm attendance Regards Andrew Karanja

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