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Fwd: [Physical] Vodacom Launches Three New Exciting "Speaking Phones" for Persons with Visual Impairment
by Judy Okite 18 Sep '08

18 Sep '08

FYI I think this is the coolest thing...its a high time we saw more initiatives like this! Media Release for Immediate Publication Nikki van der Westhuizen [mailto:nikkivdw@meropa.co.za] *Vodacom Launches Three New and Exciting "Talking Phones" for Persons with Special Needs, Especially those who are Blind or Partially Sighted* * * *18 September 2008* * * Vodacom has launched three new Vodacom Speaking Phones as part of its drive to make cellular communication accessible to people with specific needs, specifically customers who are blind or partially sighted. "Vodacom is proud to be the first operator in South Africa to increase accessibility to cellular communication products and services in line with our Specific Needs Initiative launched in 2004," says Dot Field, Chief Communications Officer, Vodacom Group. Text-to-speech software is loaded onto the Vodacom Speaking Phones that converts the information displayed on the cellphone screen to speech, including text messages and contacts. This software also enables the user to check other information, including battery life and signal strength. Speaking phones are available on Vodacom Contract-, Top Up- and Prepaid packages and are available at participating Vodacom approved outlets. "Vodacom Speaking Phone users will not pay extra for the text-to-speech software as Vodacom has subsidised this cost," says Field. The focus of the Specific Needs Initiative is accessibility: access to the company, access to information and access to Vodacom's products and services for all. Karen Smit, Senior Specialist for Specific Needs and Employment Equity at Vodacom Group and a disabled Vodacom employee herself, highlights the need for such products and services within the cellular industry, "We are proud to be the pioneers of this service in South Africa, and on the continent as a whole. At Vodacom, accessibility is always top of mind and as a disabled person I understand how important independence, accessibility and mobility is." Vodacom will continue to offer the "voice bill" service which allows visually impaired or blind customers access to their itemised billing electronically through reader software on their computers. For more information on Vodacom Speaking Phones, customers can contact Vodacom's dedicated Specific Needs Contact Centre, which aims to provide information and assistance on their products and services to customers with disabilities. The Specific Needs Contact Centre can be reached on 12580, free from a Vodacom cellphone, or on 082 12580 from any other phone (standard rates apply). Customers can also send an SMS to 12580 (free from a Vodacom cellphone) or email to 12580(a)vodacom.co.za. Information is available on the Vodacom website: www.vodacom.co.za, under the Specific Needs section. Ends Issued on behalf of: Dot Field Chief Communications Officer Vodacom Group ##### For Further Information, Please Contact: Nikki van der Westhuizen Meropa Communications +27 11 772 1029 * * __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3450 (20080918) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com _______________________________________________ Physical mailing list Physical(a)napsa.org.za http://lists.napsa.org.za/mailman/listinfo/physical -- "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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FW: announced: MacArthur Foundation Competition on Participatory Learning (US$2m in awards, international applicants now eligible)
by Edith Adera 18 Sep '08

18 Sep '08

FYI -----Original Message----- From: mtrucano(a)worldbank.org [mailto:mtrucano@worldbank.org] Sent: 18 September 2008 01:30 To: mtrucano(a)worldbank.org Subject: announced: MacArthur Foundation Competition on Participatory Learning (US$2m in awards, international applicants now eligible) INFORMATIONAL ONLY -- NO NEED TO RESPOND In case it might be of interest to you or someone you know ... -M http://www.dmlcompetition.net/ (Embedded (Embedded image image moved moved to file: to file: pic07950.jpg) pic27594.gif) (Embedded image moved to file: pic16343.gif) $2 Million Digital Media & Learning Competition The MacArthur Foundation, the University of California, Irvine, Duke University, and the virtual network HASTAC announced today a second $2 million competition that focuses on participatory learning, creates an award category for Young Innovators aged 18-25, and for the first time extends eligibility to international applicants. The competition is part of MacArthur's $50 million digital media and learning initiative that aims to help determine how digital technologies are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life. Competition winners will join an existing community of awardees that convenes regularly online to participate in webinars on new technology, novel approaches to social networking, and other issues pertinent to participatory learning. They will be invited to showcase their work at an annual conference to include venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, educators, and new media experts seeking the best ideas about digital media and learning. Visit the competition's website for more information on how to apply. (Embedded image moved to file: pic00754.gif) (Embedded image moved to file: pic02481.jpg) (Embedded image moved to file: pic01012.gif) (Embedded image moved to file: pic11672.gif) (Embedded image moved to file: pic23439.jpg) www.macfound.org Connie Yowell Director, Education MacArthur Foundation www.spotlight.macfound.org

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Big Bang Replay
by Mike Bullut 17 Sep '08

17 Sep '08

David et al., If I may ask you: *What is the significance of research? *Or more deeply: *What is the purpose of meaning?* I'll leave you to answer the latter question for yourselves. I'm a staunch advocate of research for the reason being most of mankind's greatest advancements wouldn't have seen the light of day if a certain man/woman hadn't taken the initiative to investigate better ways on how to execute certain/everyday tasks. Here are a few of them: - *Alexander Graham Bell & his invention of the telephone. [Communication] * - *Alexander Flemming & his discovery of penicillin. [Medicine]* - *Thomas Edison & his invention of the electric bulb. [Engineering?] * In the advancement of knowledge: - *Albert Einstein & his theory of relativity. [Physics] * - *Alfred Wegner & his theory of continental drift. [Geology, Geography]* - *Charles Darwin & his theory of evolution. [Biology] * - *Nicolaus Copernicus & his theory of heliocentric cosmology. [Astronomy] * Onto the subject of the experiments being conducted at the *Large Hadron Collider <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider>* situated at * CERN, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN>* their raison d'être is to scrutinize The Big Bang Theory. One of science's (& life's) greatest mysteries is the origin of everything (the universe, life itself etc). There are two schools of thought that try to illustrate this: Religion & Science. The former explains that the universe was created by a supreme being, God, at the beginning of time & took six days with our Heavenly Father resting on the seventh day. The latter explains that the universe was created in a cataclysmic explosion originating from the most infinitesimal particle of matter which has expanded (over the course of fifteen billion years & counting) to what we observe today through telescopes. Of course, these schools of thought have their respective weaknesses. Religion can't describe how God executed the creation process e.g. did he just snap his fingers when an idea came to mind or did he follow a procedure which culminated in an entity (star, planet, black hole etc)? Forgive me for offending/insulting my fellow Christians but what most of them don't understand is that the Bible is just a chronological series of events & not a biographical-like text. Picture this: the book of Genesis tells us the world was created in six days. How supremely confident are we that these are six *Earth days?* My quagmire is this: *Does time pass at the same rate between us & God?* My answer: *Time Dilation,* i.e. from the perspective of any observer within the same frame of reference & without reference to another frame of reference, time always passes at the same rate. *"According To The Evidence" * <http://www.legendarytimesbooks.com/product.php?productid=179> by Erich Von Daniken gives a good case of this. Science, on the other hand, explains how matter operates (from the atomic level) which answers questions as how the ozone layer is depleted, how the sun creates its energy that sustains life on Earth (though partly) etc though it can't explain who kick-started creation. My school of thought combines both religion & science to explain the origin of everything. My proposition is this: *Science explains how God created & Religion explains why God created.* God used science to create the universe & religion explains why we are here in the first place. Peter, understand why the physicists are conducting these experiments. They just want to find answers to questions that have plagued us since time immemorial. Whether or not they succeed, they'll definitely uncover knowledge that could be beneficial in our comprehension of the universe. Mike. *My blog: http://kipsang.wordpress.com/ * 2008/9/11 David Kago <kago(a)ultimate-security.net> > I have been watching the big bang experiment with interest and was amazed > when they finally announced on the media that they have been able get the > proton beam to go all the way into the supercooled (-273C) 27km tunnel. > While this is a scientific and engineering marvel, the sums spent to set up > the largest machine on earth together are stupendous, $10 billion is not > your everyday lump of cash, that's kenya's 2008/2009 budget; all in the name > of proving a theory... Of whose benefit will it be if they finally prove > that antimatter and dark energy exists... what will quark gluon plasma and > bosons mean to the everyday earthling. I believe science should be used for > the betterment of the human race, not to prove a theory that is infinitely > larger than us. I can see all those suffering masses in the third world who > would have benefited greatly from such funds... > > On a side note, the data produced in the experiment is being channeled > through the other internet (the Grid). Who wouldnt want to download > whole hard disks from halfway around the globe in a few seconds...!!! > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > Get Skunkworks RSS Feeds: http://www.jahazi.com/rss/ > * -- "The computer programmer . . . is a creator of universes for which he alone is the lawgiver. . . . No playwright, no stage director, no emperor, however powerful, has ever exercised such absolute authority to arrange a stage or a field of battle and to command such unswervingly dutiful actors or troops." ~ Joseph Weizenbaum... --*

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Contacts for mpesa / sokotele service
by Patrick Mburu 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

Dear good people, Would anyone have contacts for the developers of these services? Or perhaps they r part of this list? Best! Patrick Sent from my iPhone

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Fwd: United States Peace Corps looking for ICT trainer and others...
by waudo siganga 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

Hello All - Could interest someone. Sorry if any crosspost. On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:14:33 +0300, "Othieno, Louis" <LOthieno(a)ke.peaceco rps.gov> said: Hello all, Pardon me for emailing without your consent. I need your assistance in getting the information in the attachment to people you might know that are qualified and interested in a short term assignment to train American ICT professionals -mostly context stuff related to application of ICT in developing country situations in general, and Kenya in particular. The job of these Volunteers numbering about 10 will be to locate in a rural setting and use their knowledge of ICT to bring the benefits of ICT to the population within which they are living. This requires them to understand intimately the barriers between people and information technology in rural developing country contexts - and appreciate how they can use their generic knowledge of the technology within our technical context to harness ICT for the benefit of the communities to which the Peace Corps will assign them. If you know someone who is able to engage effectively at these three levels i.e * Moving the technology to the people * Moving the people to the technology * Kenya's technical and policy context with regards to ICT Kindly encourage them to apply before the 24th of September, 2008. I appreciate it. Peruse also the e-leaflet I attach for a quick understanding of what these American Volunteers do. (The leaflet covers business Volunteers as well). If you know of any social-benefit projects needing programmers, computer graphics people, web designers, computer maintenance or plain IT teachers etc - to work for them while located away from Nairobi - send them to me... I appreciate it Cheers all Louis Othieno Associate Director Small Enterprise Development and ICT U.S. PEACE CORPS IN KENYA "The cost of everything has to be paid for somehow. Our human travails, most of the time, avail only in changing who pays, when and how" <<ICT TTF VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT 2008 Sept 09.doc>> <<PROMOTION FLYER.doc>> People make a plan work, a plan alone seldom makes people work (Confucius).

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Kenyan gov't sets up $39 million venture capital fund
by Rebecca Wanjiku 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

In case you are interested in daily roundups of tech news, please subscribe to the daily newsletter on the site. Its coming daily. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/09/15/kenyan-govt-sets-39-million-… Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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Software procurement in kenya
by Evans Ikua 14 Sep '08

14 Sep '08

Interesting what Google can come up with: http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2008/052308-kenya-linux-group-challenges-pro… We finally got to meet with the PPOA on Friday, 5th September. We had a very fruitful discussion on the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2005, whose provisions are being ignored by Government procurement agents: https://ict-innovation.fossfa.net/taxonomy/blog-tags/kenya This good law stipulates that procuring agents should not mention any trade marks, companies or product names when requesting for quotations. They are required to just give the specs of what they need to accomplish. But how many times do we see these RFQs with brand names such as Microsoft *?. This has got to stop and nobody has any excuse to break the law with impunity. We will be putting details of the proceedings on our website soon, and also in the media. -- Evans Ikua Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org

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Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset
by Dan Njiriri 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

Dear Dr Ndemo, We are pleased that you are leading the way in ensuring that our analogue TV sets do not become e-waste as we migrate to digital signals. Kenyas are very enterprising and many will pick up the assembling of the top box once it is out of the incubator. Thank you. Dan Njiriri --- On Wed, 9/10/08, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "Robert Onyango-Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 10:11 PM Dear Njiriri, Thanks for supporting Madaraka PC. We are just about to finish the prototype set top box for converting analogue signals to digital. This needs an entrepreneur to take it up from the incubator. You must have read yesterday how South Africa is planning their migration to digital by locally assembling the required set top boxes. Asante. Ndemo. > Dear Dr Ndemo, > > Thank you for your kind clarification on steps taken by Kenya on assembled > electronics in Kenya. > I am a strong bealiver in local industries and happy to let you know I > have bought twenty Madaraka PCs from JKUAT Enterprises for our Tracom > college teaching lab. They however need to develop local materials for the > industry as oppossed to assembly only. Anyone can do that. > > The Gilgil Telecommucations Industry should be nurtured and it is a pity > what you have explained on someone turning it to posts treatment. What a > shame and waste of developing industrial capacity! May the good Loard see > the case to logical conclusion. > > I fully agree with you that the private sector and the academia must > wake-up and create the necessary industries and hence wealth. > Once again thank you. > Dan Njiriri > > --- On Mon, 9/8/08, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: > > From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset > To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com > Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "Robert Onyango-Alai" > <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> > Date: Monday, September 8, 2008, 7:24 AM > > Dear Njiriri, > There is nothing wrong with policy and we should not benchmark Kenya with > Rwanda because the differences between the two countries are just too > many. Compared to Kenya, Rwanda is where Kenya was in the 80's, centrally > planned economy where the Government interferes with everything including > the private sector. Granted there is virtually no private sector in > Rwanda. We have spent most of the 90's privatizing that which was created > by Government. The economy and more specifically the communication sector > is fully liberalised. The opportunities for the private sector are > therefore enormous and we should not blame the Government. > > It is in this forum that we recently discussed Madaraka PC and it was > dismissed as unworkable. We did not bother to ask especially JKUAT where > they have reached in developing components locally for the PC. Kenya has > been in the forefront producing telephone equipment including switches at > the Gilgil plant for the region. Indeed we have several firms seeking to > start local production of mobile handsets at the facility but have been > frustrated by a nother Kenyan who wanted to manufacture poles at the plant > (The perils of Democracy). The case is still in court that we cannot > discuss it here. > > We must be proud of our human resources for what they have done in the > region. What we need to do now is to vigorously utilize this resources to > exploit the opportunities - this if Adam Smith was a life will tell you > that - let the private sector wake up. This is the pattern that the Newly > Industrialized Nations of Asia followed. The Indians are going home from > many countries to create real wealth. > > Regards > > > Ndemo. > > > > >> Thanks Dr Ochuodho for sharing this new development in Rwanda. >> Unfortunately, Kenya is once again beaten at our own game, not becaurse >> we >> lack, excellent technical manpower and facilities.., but becaurse we are >> too slow in policy development! Rwanda has carried the day, yet all the >> production parts pass through Kenya to Rwanda! >> We should learn to be fast in what we want to achieve, and not take >> years >> back and forth in board rooms. >> Dan Njiriri >> >> --- On Sat, 9/6/08, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> >> Subject: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset >> To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com >> Cc: "Robert Onyango-Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com>, > "KICTAnet ICT Policy >> Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> Date: Saturday, September 6, 2008, 6:08 AM >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Quoting: Rwanda ICT4D Community Network >> >> Rwanda get locally made handset -Network World 02/09/2008 >> >> A-Link Technologies, a Chinese electronics company, has unveiled its >> first >> mobile phone handsets manufactured in Rwanda. This makes Rwanda the >> first >> country in the region to sell locally manufactured mobile phones. >> >> The manufacturing of the handsets follows a memorandum of understanding >> signed in 2006 between A-Link and the Rwanda Information Technology >> Authority, the country's telecom regulator. >> Read the latest WhitePaper - Monitor the core and troubleshoot the >> access >> layer with integrated network analysis solutions >> >> The company plans to start selling the phones, called "Alira," > in the 21 >> countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African after >> they >> are officially launched in October and once production is stepped up, >> said >> A-Link CEO Yin Quing Ri. >> >> "One of the phone models has been programmed with Kinyarwanda > software so >> the Rwandese who uses their mother language can communicate easily," > Ri >> said. >> >> So far, the company has produced three models -- the A100, A200 and A300 >> -- and promises that several other models are in the works. >> >> The phones feature color screens and radios, among other amenities. >> >> The plant is manufacturing 100 handsets per day, though it has the >> capacity to produce 700 phones per day. >> >> A-Link began operating in Rwanda last year, as the country is >> positioning >> itself to be an ICT hub in East Africa. >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njiris2000%40yahoo.com >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> --------------------------------------------- >> "easy access to the world" >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke >> > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > ---------------------------------------------- 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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Fwd: [ke-internetusers] For the Ladies in Business
by Gakuru Alex 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

Gilda? ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 9:07 AM Subject: [ke-internetusers] For the Ladies in Business To: ke-users <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net> Diana, et. al.? ---forwarded message--- CNBC Africa has a daily newspaper review where we take a look at all the stories that are making news in the business world. We would like to add more value to this show by involving ladies who are good in business analysis and also has a good TV persona as well. I would like to request you if you could ask the members if there is anyone willing to be part of this show. Kindly let us know as soon as you have this details. Kind Regards, Rachel Munene Video Editor P:254 (20) 225 2150/1 M:+254 728 202 051 F: 254 (20) 225 2280 E: RachelMunene(a)cnbcafrica.com Physical Address: University Way AmBank House- 19th Floor. www.cnbcafrica.com _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

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Re: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya
by James Kagwe 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

I got the below from our PO and thought it fair to share. ________________________________ From: Peter Munene Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 9:38 AM To: James Kagwe Subject: RE: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya Thanks for your comments on whether you can procure using brand name or not. However seem to miss the point! Please refer to "The Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005" Section 34 paragraph 4 (a) and (b). Using brand name is not breaking the law (am assuming we are talking about Kenya law) as long as you follow the prescribed regulations in the Act. Thanks and study the Act! James, You may forward my comments to the origin. ________________________________ From: James Kagwe Sent: Friday, September 12, 2008 8:46 AM To: Peter Munene Subject: FW: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya This might be of interest to you ________________________________ I had a chance to attend the presentations by Alex and Evans to PPOA and I think they did a very good job articulating issues faced in Government ICT Procurement. In addition to procuring agents not following the law (e.g. mentioning brands in tenders) it also appears that they are not aware of International Best Practices such as those advocated by WITSA (http://www.witsa.org/papers/BestPracticesWhitePaper-final.pdf) Those best practices are meant to ensure competition is not precluded. Maybe these IBPs require to be incorporated into the PPOA regulations. I reproduce a portion of the IBPs below: The Government ICT Procurement Process The procurement process consists of a number of steps: * Needs Definition / Requirements * Request for Information (RFI) * Request for Comments * Request for Proposal * Proposal * Live Test and Demonstration * Best and Final Offer * Award * Protest Procedures Depending on the size and complexity of the procurement, a given acquisition may contain some or all of these stages. Need The acquisition process begins with the recognition of a need by a governmental department for a capability or a service. This need must then be translated into a set of requirements so that eventually a Request for Proposal (RFP) may be issued. The scope of this effort is generally invisible to potential bidders. Request for Information (RFI) During this phase of the procurement, government actively pursues business input in the form of recommendations and presentations. The input is generally solicited by the means of an RFI that describes the government's needs and perceived requirements. If done in a manner other than an RFI, governments should be careful that their solicitation does not have the effect of precluding competition. Business thus has the opportunity to better understand the requirements and the true needs of the end user. During this stage, communication is open, and both industry and the government are exploring needs and possible relevant technologies. If it has not already done so, business is also beginning to assess potential partners. Request for Comments (RFC) An RFC on a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) is generally the next document that the government issues. It is based on the input that the government has gathered during the RFI stage and is based on a refinement of their needs and available technologies. Again, governments should ensure that the RFC is issued in an open and transparent manner so that it does not have the effect of precluding competition. In addition, if governments use a contractor to help in writing an RFC, or later the actual RFP, that contractor should be precluded from bidding either alone or as a partner in the actual procurement, Ideally the RFC is a complete document outlining not only the agency's needs but also the proposed terms and conditions for the contract. While it takes considerable effort for the governmental entity to produce a complete document at this stage, it ultimately saves considerable time and effort for both parties later on. In addition, a complete document sends a signal to industry that the government is serious and that the acquisition is for "real". Unavailability of information at this stage, and the inability to comment on it, often causes misunderstandings and delay later on in the procurement process. Request for Proposal (RFP) Ideally, the acquiring governmental entity will have indicated in the RFC a proposed schedule for the release of the RFP, and they will adhere to it. As the proposed release date draws near, potential bidders will firm up bidding partners and will begin to staff their proposal efforts. In order to keep ultimate costs down, government needs to adhere to their proposed timeframes because delays and/or extensions at this point become quite expensive for industry, and those costs are ultimately passed on to the government. It is important that governments allow ample time for firms to prepare their proposals and also take into consideration that foreign bidders may need additional time than would a national entity. Proposal The proposal contains the bidder's proposed technical solution, management approach, and cost. Proposals usually contain very sensitive, and often confidential, commercial information. It is important that proposals be treated carefully by governments to insure that this sensitive information is not released to competitors. While often delivery of the technical, management and cost proposals are requested simultaneously, government could save money, and often time, by requiring the cost proposal two to three weeks after the others. Late changes by bidders to their technical proposals are often not adequately incorporated into the cost proposal causing later disagreements and delays. As the government reviews the proposals, they may request clarifications or additional information from bidders. Due to the sensitivity of interactions with bidders at this stage, it is important that this be done formally in writing and with good documentation maintained. Live Test and Demonstration (LTD) On very large and/or complex procurements, the government may require that a Live Test and Demonstration or Operational Capability Demonstration (OCD) be performed to demonstrate and validate the proposed technologies. Governments should provide bidders selected for an LTD as much time as possible to prepare. Bidders must obtain appropriate space, bring in required hardware and equipment, assemble the right software and assemble staff for the LTD. LTDs and OCDs are very expensive efforts for the bidders and for the government that sometimes must assemble large, skilled evaluation teams. Thus they should be required sparingly and in very select situations. Best and Final Offer (BAFO) Once the proposal has been submitted and the LTD, if required has been performed, bidders begin to finalize the prices from their vendors, subcontractors and bidding partners and to fine-tune their own costs. The BAFO will also incorporate any changes indicated by the LTD and any clarifications that may have been requested from the government during their review of the technical and management proposal. Award The award process consists of informing the selected bidder of their success, and, more importantly, informing the losing bidders of the reasons they were not selected. Being open and sensitive during this process is important and can help avoid later problems and protests. Losing bidders want to understand in as much detail as possible areas where their proposals were deficient. Providing the information at this time will allow them to improve their processes for their next effort and also assures them that the process was transparent and fair. If bidders feel information is being withheld, it raises their suspicions about the entire process and may lead to a formal Protest simply as a means of acquiring more information. Protest A formal protest procedure to higher authority and ultimately to an independent authority is important to providing an open, accessible, fair, transparent and documented procurement process. This provides an opportunity for bidders to be heard and to receive an explanation of why a given bid was turned down. Protesting is a significant event that bidders do not take lightly. The process is expensive for both the bidder and the government, ties up critical resources, and potentially negatively impacts the image of the bidder in the eyes of the government. However, an effective protest process will help maintain competition in current and future procurements. On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:57:15 -0700 (PDT), "wesley kiriinya" <kiriinya2000(a)yahoo.com> said: I think there are two things in this argument. First when a company/gvmnt is buying the back end/base software e.g. a database/operating systems. I agree that "...procuring agents should not mention any trade marks, companies or product names when requesting for quotations..." Second when a company/gvmnt is buying middle level software that should operate with the back end software and in this case I think that the procuring agents should atleast mention what the back end software is. This is useful information to anyone willing to submit a quotation. Regards. 8~) I don't want to go to Hell, I don't want to stay on Earth, but what I'm I going to do in Heaven. --- On Wed, 9/10/08, Liko Agosta <likoa(a)verviant.com> wrote: From: Liko Agosta <likoa(a)verviant.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya To: kiriinya2000(a)yahoo.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 10:09 AM Evans ... We are a services company that provides both Closed Source and Open Source Consulting to clients .... We build on what clients have already paid for... We can discuss TCO ... Liko Agosta, CEO Verviant Consulting Services. www.verviant.com Phone : 1-919-341-1820 Fax : 1-978-268-8403 Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 Pager: 9193891551(a)txt.att.net -----Original Message----- From: Evans Ikua [mailto:ikua@lpakenya.org] Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 2:48 AM To: Liko Agosta Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Subject: RE: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya Liko, There is nothing wrong with the Law. It only needs to be followed. It actually has very good intentions of making sure that all (technology) suppliers get an equal opportunity to tender for a whatever it is. Mind you, once the tenders have been received and opened, the client is under no obligation to buy from anyone, not even the lowest price. Our argument is this; say a ministry wants to buy a SQL DB Server. They advertise this without mentioning MS SQL Server anywhere (that's what the law says). You quote your SQL Server at KSh 5.6m (you are a MS Gold Partner), and I quote my Open Source SQL server at 0.5m (I am only selling my services and not licenses). The tendering committee now has two options and the guys in IT can defend their choice of technology, and the TCO that goes with it, all the way from having to buy upgrade licenses a year later or so. Then the decision is made. At this point, nobody can come and tell them that they must buy this or that, its their decision. Important thing is that the management has seen all the options available. If this law is broken in your favour, I don't expect you to have a problem with it. You are happy. No? It is this that will raise management questions about the cost of license upgrades vis a vis the cost of migrating to FOSS products. A Ministry would save more by migrating to Scalix than upgrading to MS Exchange in the long term. But how does the accounting officer get to know this if the IT guy only requests a particular brand name, leaving out everyone else? For public institutions that are running on our taxes, we want to know that they are spending money prudently. They cant be given a blank cheque. -- Evans Ikua Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org Quoting Liko Agosta <likoa(a)verviant.com>: > Evans, > > That law should be changed :) > > If a government agency has already invested in some technology stack, they > should have the right to say they want a solution that ran's on that > technology stack ....lets says Microsoft SQL Server .. > > Why ... The license for SQL server will be a sunk cost at that point and > getting different technology is making a bigger financial commitment and > raising project risk .... also .. if the customers programmers/admins know > C# and SQL Server or Websphere and DB2, the client has the right to pick > that platform ... > > We have ran into this with our clients. Whenever we are doing project > discovery, we will find out which technologies they currently have/support > ... if a client has SQL Server, we will typical ask for usage reports for > that SQL server box and in most cases, we have been able to save money by > "adding to" their existing infrastructure ... or tuning their existing > infrastructure to take more load. > > Many organizations we have worked with tend to buy a servers/software > licenses for each project ... we advice against this and are usually for > consolidation and better management. That way a 4 CPU license for SQL Server > Enterprise Edition (approx USD 80,000) will be apportioned to the 20 systems > or projects that will use a well tuned 4CPU SQL server .... > > So .. good intentions... bad law ... why enforce or spend time on it > > My 2 cents > > Liko Agosta, CEO > Verviant Consulting Services. > > www.verviant.com > Phone : 1-919-341-1820 > Fax : 1-978-268-8403 > Toll Free: 1-866-551-4935 > Pager: 9193891551(a)txt.att.net > > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+likoa=verviant.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+likoa=verviant.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf > Of Evans Ikua > Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 1:34 PM > To: Liko Agosta > Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > Subject: [kictanet] Software procurement in kenya > > Interesting what Google can come up with: > > http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2008/052308-kenya-linux-group-challenges- proc > urement.html?fsrc=rss-linux-news > > > We finally got to meet with the PPOA on Friday, 5th September. We had > a very fruitful discussion on the Public Procurement and Disposal Act > 2005, whose provisions are being ignored by Government procurement > agents: > > https://ict-innovation.fossfa.net/taxonomy/blog-tags/kenya > > This good law stipulates that procuring agents should not mention any > trade marks, companies or product names when requesting for > quotations. They are required to just give the specs of what they need > to accomplish. But how many times do we see these RFQs with brand > names such as Microsoft *?. This has got to stop and nobody has any > excuse to break the law with impunity. > > We will be putting details of the proceedings on our website soon, and > also in the media. > > > -- > Evans Ikua > Linux Professional Association of Kenya > Tel: +254-20-2250381, Cell: +254-722 955 831 > Eagle House, 2nd Floor > Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House > www.lpakenya.org > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: likoa(a)verviant.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/likoa%40verviant.co m > > > _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kiriinya2000(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kiriinya2000%40yaho o.com People make a plan work, a plan alone seldom makes people work (Confucius).

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Re: [kictanet] The 21st Century Workplace; September 17th Leadership Forum (Reminder)] its Joe Mucheru of Google Kenya presenting
by John Maina 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

Alice How do I access the archive I have tried using my login without success Robert ----- Original Message ---- From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> To: j.maina(a)ymail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 8:46:29 PM Subject: [kictanet] The 21st Century Workplace; September 17th Leadership Forum (Reminder)] its Joe Mucheru of Google Kenya presenting LEADERSHIP FORUM *‘The 21st Century Workplace’* With the world becoming a global village, the workplace is changing….. fast! Get to know how to make the best of it. * Date:* Wednesday 17th^th September 2008 *Presenter:** Mr. Joseph Mucheru**,** Business Lead East Africa (Google Kenya)* * Venue:* The Stanley Hotel- Ball Room Time: 6.00 pm *Charges:* Leadership Forum members – Free Non-Leadership Forum Members – Kshs 5,000 p.a. membership or Kshs 1000 per session Confirm your attendance by email to. _information(a)britishcouncil.or.ke_ <mailto:information@britishcouncil.or.ke> Please note that the Leadership forum membership and gate fees have been revised upwards effective from 1^st September 2008. If your membership expired in July or August 2008, you can renew annual membership at Ksh 3,000 only during the month of September. Attached is Mr. Mucheru’s bio-data.. The British Council is committed to promoting equality and eliminating discrimination in the areas of gender, race and disability. <<Joseph Mucheru.doc>> Best Regards, Linet Otibine Customer Service Officer British Council Upper Hill Road Pilot Line: 2836000 Fax No: 2836500 _Linet.otibine(a)britishcouncil.or.ke_ <mailto:Linet.otibine@britishcouncil.or.ke>__ *Organisational change for less than you think* This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it. The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by software viruses and you are advised to carry out a virus check on any attachments contained in this message. The British Council is a registered charity 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK's creative ideas and achievements.

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The 21st Century Workplace; September 17th Leadership Forum (Reminder)] its Joe Mucheru of Google Kenya presenting
by alice 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

LEADERSHIP FORUM *‘The 21st Century Workplace’* With the world becoming a global village, the workplace is changing….. fast! Get to know how to make the best of it. * Date:* Wednesday 17th^th September 2008 *Presenter:** Mr. Joseph Mucheru**,** Business Lead East Africa (Google Kenya)* * Venue:* The Stanley Hotel- Ball Room Time: 6.00 pm *Charges:* Leadership Forum members – Free Non-Leadership Forum Members – Kshs 5,000 p.a. membership or Kshs 1000 per session Confirm your attendance by email to. _information(a)britishcouncil.or.ke_ <mailto:information@britishcouncil.or.ke> Please note that the Leadership forum membership and gate fees have been revised upwards effective from 1^st September 2008. If your membership expired in July or August 2008, you can renew annual membership at Ksh 3,000 only during the month of September. Attached is Mr. Mucheru’s bio-data. The British Council is committed to promoting equality and eliminating discrimination in the areas of gender, race and disability. <<Joseph Mucheru.doc>> Best Regards, Linet Otibine Customer Service Officer British Council Upper Hill Road Pilot Line: 2836000 Fax No: 2836500 _Linet.otibine(a)britishcouncil.or.ke_ <mailto:Linet.otibine@britishcouncil.or.ke>__ *Organisational change for less than you think* This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it. The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by software viruses and you are advised to carry out a virus check on any attachments contained in this message. The British Council is a registered charity 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK's creative ideas and achievements.

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Re: [kictanet] BPO STUDY LAUNCH PRESENTATIONS
by David Otwoma 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

Thank you so much Evelyne. What MM saved for me on my flashdisk is not accessible but now I have what was presented. On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 12:41 PM, Evelyne Majale <evelyne(a)kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Dear all > > > > Attached are the presentations of the BPO Study Launch that took place > yesterday at KICC. > > > > > > > > Evelyne > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: otwomad(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otwomad%40gmail.com > >

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BPO STUDY LAUNCH PRESENTATIONS
by Evelyne Majale 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

Dear all Attached are the presentations of the BPO Study Launch that took place yesterday at KICC. Evelyne

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Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset
by Dan Njiriri 10 Sep '08

10 Sep '08

Dear Dr Ndemo, Thank you for your kind clarification on steps taken by Kenya on assembled electronics in Kenya. I am a strong bealiver in local industries and happy to let you know I have bought twenty Madaraka PCs from JKUAT Enterprises for our Tracom college teaching lab. They however need to develop local materials for the industry as oppossed to assembly only. Anyone can do that. The Gilgil Telecommucations Industry should be nurtured and it is a pity what you have explained on someone turning it to posts treatment. What a shame and waste of developing industrial capacity! May the good Loard see the case to logical conclusion. I fully agree with you that the private sector and the academia must wake-up and create the necessary industries and hence wealth. Once again thank you. Dan Njiriri --- On Mon, 9/8/08, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>, "Robert Onyango-Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com> Date: Monday, September 8, 2008, 7:24 AM Dear Njiriri, There is nothing wrong with policy and we should not benchmark Kenya with Rwanda because the differences between the two countries are just too many. Compared to Kenya, Rwanda is where Kenya was in the 80's, centrally planned economy where the Government interferes with everything including the private sector. Granted there is virtually no private sector in Rwanda. We have spent most of the 90's privatizing that which was created by Government. The economy and more specifically the communication sector is fully liberalised. The opportunities for the private sector are therefore enormous and we should not blame the Government. It is in this forum that we recently discussed Madaraka PC and it was dismissed as unworkable. We did not bother to ask especially JKUAT where they have reached in developing components locally for the PC. Kenya has been in the forefront producing telephone equipment including switches at the Gilgil plant for the region. Indeed we have several firms seeking to start local production of mobile handsets at the facility but have been frustrated by a nother Kenyan who wanted to manufacture poles at the plant (The perils of Democracy). The case is still in court that we cannot discuss it here. We must be proud of our human resources for what they have done in the region. What we need to do now is to vigorously utilize this resources to exploit the opportunities - this if Adam Smith was a life will tell you that - let the private sector wake up. This is the pattern that the Newly Industrialized Nations of Asia followed. The Indians are going home from many countries to create real wealth. Regards Ndemo. > Thanks Dr Ochuodho for sharing this new development in Rwanda. > Unfortunately, Kenya is once again beaten at our own game, not becaurse we > lack, excellent technical manpower and facilities.., but becaurse we are > too slow in policy development! Rwanda has carried the day, yet all the > production parts pass through Kenya to Rwanda! > We should learn to be fast in what we want to achieve, and not take years > back and forth in board rooms. > Dan Njiriri > > --- On Sat, 9/6/08, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [kictanet] Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset > To: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "Robert Onyango-Alai" <alai.robert(a)gmail.com>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy > Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Saturday, September 6, 2008, 6:08 AM > > > > > > > > Quoting: Rwanda ICT4D Community Network > > Rwanda get locally made handset -Network World 02/09/2008 > > A-Link Technologies, a Chinese electronics company, has unveiled its first > mobile phone handsets manufactured in Rwanda. This makes Rwanda the first > country in the region to sell locally manufactured mobile phones. > > The manufacturing of the handsets follows a memorandum of understanding > signed in 2006 between A-Link and the Rwanda Information Technology > Authority, the country's telecom regulator. > Read the latest WhitePaper - Monitor the core and troubleshoot the access > layer with integrated network analysis solutions > > The company plans to start selling the phones, called "Alira," in the 21 > countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African after they > are officially launched in October and once production is stepped up, said > A-Link CEO Yin Quing Ri. > > "One of the phone models has been programmed with Kinyarwanda software so > the Rwandese who uses their mother language can communicate easily," Ri > said. > > So far, the company has produced three models -- the A100, A200 and A300 > -- and promises that several other models are in the works. > > The phones feature color screens and radios, among other amenities. > > The plant is manufacturing 100 handsets per day, though it has the > capacity to produce 700 phones per day. > > A-Link began operating in Rwanda last year, as the country is positioning > itself to be an ICT hub in East Africa. > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: njiris2000(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njiris2000%40yahoo.com > > > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke > ---------------------------------------------- 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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Help Define ICANN's Future
by alice 09 Sep '08

09 Sep '08

Help Define ICANN's Future By Kieren McCarthy Mention ICANN in Internet circles and you will always find a multitude of views of what the organization should do, needs to do, and should have done; how it has to change, and why; and what it needs to focus on. Well, the time has come to make those views known and to try to persuade the rest of the community that they represent the best step forward. ICANN is running a special consultation called "Improving Institutional Confidence". It comprises of three main documents, developed by the President's Strategy Committee (PSC) from input received through the Midterm Review of the Joint Project Agreement, and the other consultations the PSC has held over the years. Those documents outline a range of suggested changes and alterations to the ICANN model of decision-making. Everything is available online in multiple languages, and revised versions of the documents will this week go out to a second public comment period, to which you are all, of course, encouraged to respond. It is not just an online consultation, however. We are running a number of regional consultative meetings across the globe to let you provide your input in person. There has already been one meeting at a Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC) conference in Montevideo in August, and a second took place at the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) meeting in Christchurch, also last month. The next meeting is next week in Geneva, the day before the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) preparatory meeting. It will be held at 8am on Monday 15 September at the Hotel Royal on Rue de Lausanne. And another will be held in Washington on Wednesday 1 October at the National Press Club. If you can come, please register online. Staff and PSC members will be there and you will be able to provide your input directly and in person. All the information you could need on these meetings and the Improving Institutional Confidence Consultation (IIC) consultation itself is available. Please do get involved. And if you have any questions, either contact me, or email iic(a)icann.org. Cheers, and I hope to see you all there Written by Kieren McCarthy, General manager of public participation, ICANN See related topics: Domain Registries, Internet Governance, Policy & Regulation, Top-Level Domains --- You are currently subscribed to aisi-l as: [alice(a)apc.org] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-aisi-l-84914M(a)lyris.bellanet.org

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Runway inflation?
by aki 09 Sep '08

09 Sep '08

Jazz, Phares, Many thanks for your inputs so far. It been great reading. The government has do something about the inflation or face a situation where we just became a very expensive country on the continent. It will then have to deal with a roller-coaster effect , that is price increase means less revenue as people will stop buying. So the revenue being collected so far will further reduce with a NEGATIVE TREND. Electricity costs sky rocket, a negative trend to come? There will be millions of people looking for alternate energy to cutting costs or just use electricity for bare essentails. This will cause a shortfall in collection targets. Will the power company be back in square one, i.e price increase leads to more lost revenue? So what excatly is the government doing about it? What measures has it put in place? Whether bad policies or bad decisions, the current state of inflation is un-acceptable. Passing the buck to citizens is not an option or asking citizens to dig deeper into their pockets is not a solution.

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First steps towards a global ICT profession
by waudo siganga 09 Sep '08

09 Sep '08

Dear All - attachment from IFIP/Australia Computer Society for your interest. On Tue, 9 Sep 2008 10:35:22 +0200, "Eduard Dundler" <eduard.dundler@ifip. org> said: Dear IFIP members, may I ask you to release the attached Press Release about the latest development in IP3 to your PR contacts. Best regards Eduard Dundler ========================================= Eduard Dundler Head of IFIP Secretariat International Federation for Information Processing Tel.: +43 2236 73 616 10 Fax: +43 2236 73 616 e-mail: [1]eduard.dundler(a)ifip.org ========================================= References 1. mailto:eduard.dundler@ifip.org People make a plan work, a plan alone seldom makes people work (Confucius).

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[Fwd: [Aaw-network] The Info-Activism Camp]
by alice 09 Sep '08

09 Sep '08

========== Are you interested in using mobile phones to reach out to your community but don't know how? Do you produce reports full of crucial data but feel like the right people aren't reading them? Do you know that using the internet and mobile phones for your advocacy work can create security vulnerabilities but don't know how to protect yourself against them? Do you want to learn how to use digital advocacy to create change? If your answer is yes, then read on....and be a participant at our Info-Activism Camp! The Info-Activism camp will bring together 120 rights advocates from the global South with technologists, designers and activists for a week long hands-on workshop to share skills, tools and tactics in digital advocacy. Info-Activism is an approach to advocacy that recognises the artful use of information and communications as a primary tactic in successful campaigns. The camp provides a space for intensive learning and doing, a structured 'skill-share' environment for experienced advocates that will give them the confidence and know-how to leverage the limited resources they have to create greater impact. During the week, participants will learn how to creatively integrate new technologies in to their advocacy and create long lasting connections with other advocates and tech-activists. The camp will give rights advocates the practical skills, tools and techniques to use technology to: * Gather and analyse information and facilitate evidence- based campaigning * Create and disseminate targeted, accessible and engaging information for advocacy efforts that have impact on targets and mobilise support * Increase participation from affected communities * Enable cooperation and coordination with allies * Minimise security and privacy vulnerabilities The Info-Activism Camp is organised by Tactical Tech and will be held in India, February 2009. Tactical Tech is an international NGO helping rights advocates use information, communications and digital technologies to maximise the impact of their advocacy work. We provide advocates with guides, tools, training and consultancy to help them develop the skills and tactics they need to increase the impact of their campaigning. Read more about our work at http://www.tacticaltech.org More details along with the application form will be available by end of September 2008. The working language of the camp will be English. If you want to learn more about the camp in the meantime or sign up to get an application form, please write to infoactivism(a)tacticaltech.org

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[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] A report that focuses on the lack of high-capacity backbone networks in Africa]
by alice 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Hi All FYI -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] A report that focuses on the lack of high-capacity backbone networks in Africa Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 19:47:20 +0100 From: abi.jagun(a)gmail.com Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> Dear All I came across the following article recently which might be of interest to the list. It canbe downloaded at http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.526.html Broadband for Africa: Policy for Promoting the Development of Backbone Networks A report that focuses on the lack of high-capacity backbone networks in Africa Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa see ICT as a foundation of long-term economic development. The region has been very successful in increasing access to basic voice communications but there has been no comparable improvement in broadband connectivity. The broadband access gap between Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world is getting wider, just as the gap in basic voice communications is getting smaller. Increasing access to broadband connectivity is therefore emerging as a high priority for policymakers across the continent. This report focuses on one important part of the challenge – the lack of high-capacity backbone networks. It addresses three specific questions: What role do backbone networks play in the provision of broadband services, what is the current state of backbone network development in Sub-Saharan Africa (and why) and, what can be done to promote the development of backbone networks and thereby stimulate the take-up of broadband services? By Mark Williams. Published August 2008. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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Rwanda Gets Localls Made/Assemled Handset
by Shem Ochuodho 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Quoting: Rwanda ICT4D Community Network Rwanda get locally made handset -Network World 02/09/2008 A-Link Technologies, a Chinese electronics company, has unveiled its first mobile phone handsets manufactured in Rwanda. This makes Rwanda the first country in the region to sell locally manufactured mobile phones. The manufacturing of the handsets follows a memorandum of understanding signed in 2006 between A-Link and the Rwanda Information Technology Authority, the country's telecom regulator. Read the latest WhitePaper - Monitor the core and troubleshoot the access layer with integrated network analysis solutions The company plans to start selling the phones, called "Alira," in the 21 countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African after they are officially launched in October and once production is stepped up, said A-Link CEO Yin Quing Ri. "One of the phone models has been programmed with Kinyarwanda software so the Rwandese who uses their mother language can communicate easily," Ri said. So far, the company has produced three models -- the A100, A200 and A300 -- and promises that several other models are in the works. The phones feature color screens and radios, among other amenities. The plant is manufacturing 100 handsets per day, though it has the capacity to produce 700 phones per day. A-Link began operating in Rwanda last year, as the country is positioning itself to be an ICT hub in East Africa.

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Invitation for Web design PHP/MYSQL Training
by Martin Njuguna-Digital Vision 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Dear all, We would like to invite the people interested in Hands on Web design,PHP/MYSQL training to join us during our 4 days hands on training seminar between *29th September to 2nd October 2008.* For more details, please check out http://digitalvision.co.ke/training/ You can also request for the full course outline for the 4 days by writing to us on training(a)digitalvision.co.ke Thank you in advance. -- Martin S. Njuguna Digital Vision Limited Plot number 72/688 Kitengela Road, Langata, Nairobi Maasai Shopping complex 1st floor ,room 4 P.O Box 40721 00100 t:+254-20-21 33 865 c:+254 721 440 543 c:+254 733 440 543 e:martin@digitalvision.co.ke <e%3Amartin(a)digitalvision.co.ke> w: http://www.digitalvision.co.ke

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Runway inflation?
by Phares Kariuki 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Hi, I agree with you in the most part, just that there are a couple of issues I've found. ECONOMICS; An observation. Economics observes what happens in economies. It does not come up with the rules. The whole point of the study of economics is to better understand how transactions etc function. Now, when I say that a farmer in Dundori is hurt by low pricing, that is reality. His is a low value transaction. It is unfortunate, but if 70% of the transactions (numerically) are low value, then they can be financially worth less than the remaining 30%, which accounts for more, financially. The problem then is how to get the Farmers out of Farmland trading and into the mainstream market (given that if they do that, they will increase competition, thereby reducing pricing, while gaining more money in the same breath). The policy is left to someone else. I disagree with the thought that inflation causes rural to urban migration to recede. Actually, it increases it. The problem is, the guy at Dundori is so poor that the instant school fees and transport costs rise, he can no longer afford to make ends meet, so he moves, He's hardest hit by inflation. He suddenly can no longer afford to buy bread (which has risen, and his income is still the same paltry amount). It's the same as migration to foreign nations, once a comfortable life is easily accessible in Nairobi, then Greencard applications will go down. The sad thing is people from the citys/towns tend to portray and image of doing well, so the farmer figures the fortune lies in Nairobi. In economics, its said that prices are sticky downwards, meaning that an upsurge in pricing is easy, but an adjustment downwards is almost impossible. An example? Global crude prices have come down. Fuel stations will keep the pump prices at that level, and unfortunately, the trend is to maintain that as their new profit margin. The same can be said about the matatu industry. Once they increase their fare, they have a new profit margin, which they will not go below. UNEMPLOYMENT For a developing nation such as ours, studies show that a certain level of unemployment (not the level we have though) is good for the nation, as it keeps competition for jobs high, making labour cheap, and hence keeping our goods more competitive globally, and it also spurs entrepreneurship, as people are now forced to start businesses when they cannot find jobs. CAUSE OF INFLATION IN KENYA Inasmuch as it is popular to blame the government, this particular situation is largely caused by government. It has made a series of misinformed policy decisions which are to blame for the situation at hand. 1. Separation of Kengen & KPLC - This was a case of blindly copying what happens in other nations without looking at our situation in particular. This is normally done when the logistics of managing the two becomes too difficult. Kenya is still a young nation, at most they should have created two smaller entities, each mandated with a different objective, in line with what Kengen did with Geothermal power generation. For example, having KPLC (Mother Company), Kengen and Kenya Power Distributors Limited. 2.Lack of capacity building; Throwing money to fix the problem - When Kenya first experienced power rationing, the government started buying diesel generators and installed them at the now popular Kipevu Power Station. Now, Kenya is one of the countries with the largest capacities for geothermal energy in Africa, instead of tapping on this, the government spent money on diesel generation. As a stop gap measure, this was OK, the problem is, someone realised that this was a way to cover the capacity problems, to meet the shortfall. That is why the projects to build new power stations take too long. Now, the global price of petroleum has gone up, we have to pay more for power, simply because it is becoming a larger percentage of our power generation. This also increases diesel prices locally, as the demand has increased. You will have noticed that diesel fuel has increased in price more than standard Super/Regular, when looked at as a percentage. 3. Poor Transport Infrastructure & Taxes - Our road infrastructure is dilapidated. This makes transport expensive, however, the tax regime makes it too expensive. Now fuel is at European prices. Our rail infrastructure is poor. Transporting milk/bread etc, will cost more for this simple reason. When matatus increase the fare, this affects the ordinary mwananchi, who most feels the pain. Women selling goods in markets have to pay more to get their goods there, and will charge more, increasing cost of food. It is the same on all basic goods that rely on transport. The handcarts/mkokotenis realise increased demand, and will increase their pricing as well. This price will not go down easily. 4. Listing of Kengen & KPLC. While a good decision financially speaking, as the bearer of policy, the government flopped in this regard. Given that the companies have been separated, each now has profit targets to meet. The government had earlier subsidized cost on both Kengen & KPLC's part. Now, had they not been listed, this would not have been a problem, as the government would not need them to make profits, however, as things are, being a listed company, if the stock price falls, the CEO loses his job, as he has an angry AGM to contend with. Now, we have two companies, each with a huge profit target to meet, and a government that can no longer afford to subsidize power. Now the result is, with their new profit regimes neatly tucked in their pockets, they increase the cost of power, thereby increasing production of goods. So, the manufacturers raise their prices, the transporters raise their prices, the farmer, having to contend with rising prices, raises his prices. Leaving the citizens digging deeper into their pockets. Kijiji, we agree in principle, the difference is that you are not content with the situation. The poverty Kenyans face is real. And I agree, more SACCOs and other such groups should be created, to allow the farmers to bargain for better pricing. Ill give an example, I was recently in Dundori (hence the several inferences), where I saw an old grandmother feed one of the healthiest and largest batch of cabbages Ive seen yet to her cows. Now, I asked why? Well, the cabbage (which retails in NBI for 40-60 shillings, in a market, the price increase, as I pointed out earlier, is due to transport problems (15 odd km of dirt road + tonnes of middlemen) is bought from her at 3 shillings a piece. She at least has a cooperative for milk, so they buy the milk at 23 shillings a litre. She figures, the cows tend to produce better milk when fed with cabbages, and they will rot, waiting for someone to collect... And we complain about food shortages? Now, Kijiji, we cannot say that 10 cabbages are worth 400 shillings. They have retailed at 3 shillings each, meaning that they are worth 30 shillings. That's the farmers buying power. Anyway, my two pence, as the tradition is, feel free to punch holes in my argument... On Mon, Sep 8, 2008 at 8:21 AM, Kijiji Jazz <kijijijazz(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Aki,Skunks, > > > Energy runs the economy, it greatly determines the cost of production. > What this means is that bottom lines for companies will be greatly > affected and small companies wont be able to manage. It basically means > that small is being redefined especially in urban areas. > > For me to answer your question effectively, i have to put some things in > context. Firstly in the CNBC thread what you and Phares said about > price and salaries was on point but. Salaries or wages are a different > INDEX from GDP. They are defined as Yp or {Income per Capita}. Thus my > contention that he was right on YP and wrong on GDP Why is this > important? Their are two kinds of economies really. LDC {Low Developed > Countries and Medium Developed Countries}. > > This brings me to the issue PHARES raised of the JAPAN economy. > Developed Countries primarily suffer from problems of Devlopment not > Problems of Growth. Low developed countries {LDC} or 3rd world > countries suffer from from problems of growth. > > WHAT IS A PROBLEM OF GROWTH? > > In Kenya's case a problem of Growth would be retrenchment, high costs of > living etc. When an economy is growing it leaves some people behind as > it grows. This are the people who do not adapt to the growth. For > example 10 years ago a person who had a certificate in Secretarial > studies could get a job, in Nairobi. Now their skill set is largely > irrelevant. A degree is a prerequisite for a job now. And the > situation will get worse. Thus the argument by Karl Maxx in his book > "Das Kapital" that " Capitalism results in a reserve army of unemployed > workers." He was right!! as we can see from the retrenchments at Telkom > Kenya etc. However i am a firm believer in Capitalism. > > WHAT IS A PROBLEM OF DEVELOPMENT? > > A problem of development is more societal in nature. They say that > money only makes you more of what you already are. Thus crime goes up > in urban areas in terms of drug use and prostitution etc. > > INFLATION IS A PROBLEMS OF GROWTH > > We all know that property prices in Nairobi have gone in some instances > by up to 4 times in the last 10 years. What this means is that urban > areas are getting expensive to live in. That has led to increased rents > etc. Power is also largely expensive due to the demand for oil from the > East with their quickly expanding middle class. > > This means that small business and low skilled people will eventually be > unable to survive in Nairobi and relocate to rural areas. Their are > already reported cases of people in banks asking for transfers to rural > areas where life is cheaper. > > WHAT DOES THAT MEAN > > That then means that rural areas will start to grow and expand into > urban centres in the long term. This is because while a person with > secretarial skills in Nairobi is irrelevant. Their skill set is needed > in Homa Bay. It could also be argued that people will not move to rural > areas but will stay and engage in crime. Which is also true but unless > crime is organised it isn't profitable. > > HOW WILL RURAL AREAS DEVELOP > > Business works in terms of willing buyer, willing seller. That means > that the business that succeed will need to be where their are high > populations to improve their chances of getting more willing buyers. > Thus when people relocate companies will have to roll out into rural > areas. This will stimulate growth and development as seen by Equity > banks expansion drive, and By OneComms focus on rural areas in terms of > selling internet access. > > > INFLATION IS THUS GOOD IN THE LONG TERM > > This is rather ruthless to say. However it is true. Inflation reduces > rural to urban migration and reduces informal settlements in urban > areas. By keeping people in rural areas inflation fosters growth in > those areas. > > However inflation is bad if people who are forced to stay in rural areas > by it have no fallback option. That means that governments must relax > regulation of businesses and make it easy for them to expand to rural > areas. Kudos to CCK for the converged licence. > > Banks are also a big culprit. At any one time Banks in Kenya are > holding reserves of up to 60 billion shillings. Thus Michael Josephs > statement in the news recently when launching MPESA on PESA POINT where > he said. "Banks always have money, at least Kenyan Banks" In developed > economies banks dont hold vast reserves of cash they lend. Money should > be in the economy producing more not in banks. > > The more entrepreneurs have access to cash, the more they can do. thus > lending should be long term and flexible to foster economic growth. > > Therefore what Kenya is experiencing is problems of growth. As Phares > pointed out. It will harm some people but in the long term it will be > good for the economy. > > Small companies will close or change their structure to survive e.g. > remove permanent employees and higher contract ones or freelancers. For > example KQ has frozen employment for the next two years, hiring us > strictly contractual. Informal industries such as matatus will have to > formalise into Saccos or Bus companies or risk closure. > > DISCLAIMER: Our inflation is also artificial due to OPEC. It is also > brought about by America and its bloated middle class and Chinas ever > growing middle class and their demand for oil. However this is the > general trend of the economy. I hope that clarifies stuff for you. > > I invite Phares and others to Critic and contribute to this. > > > Kjaz > > On Thu, 2008-09-04 at 13:07 +0300, aki wrote: > > At this stage I wish I knew more about economics than ICT! > > > > While these lists are ICT based, if we have an economist on board, it > > would be a great help to some of us if the person can do some analysis > > and share it on this list. > > > > Some points to consider ( my amatuer input ) : > > > > - Electricity runs the economy. At 100% or more increase, what will it > > mean in the long term, say 3-12months from now? > > > > - Closure of businesses, loss of employment, eroded spending power by > > the consumers or businesses? > > > > - How much of the increased costs will affect property business > > rental prices ? > > > > - How will the informal sector handle this? > > > > - How will ICT companies fare in this scenario? > > > > - Price increases of products, solutions etc lead to a negative market > > trend? > > > > My apology for posting these issues here. > > > > Aki. > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > Get Skunkworks RSS Feeds: http://www.jahazi.com/rss/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > Get Skunkworks RSS Feeds: http://www.jahazi.com/rss/ >

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BPO STUDY LAUNCH
by Evelyne Majale 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Dear people Another reminder of the BPO STUDY LAUNCH Please note: Venue: KICC Date: Wednesday 10th September, 2008 Time: 8.30 a.m. 1 p.m. Attached, please find the programme Please send your confirmations to me off line. Evelyne

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ITXC judgement lifts the carpet on bribes to seven African telcos for contracts
by Eric M.K Osiakwan 08 Sep '08

08 Sep '08

Everyone knows it happens but the conclusion of the trial of three former ITXC employees has aired publicly how it is done. Employees of seven African telcos – all state owned with one exception – were given bribes to obtain wholesale VoIP voice contracts. The sums involved were not large but court documents reveal how it was done and some interesting incidental detail about its pitfalls as a way of approaching sales acquisition. Founded in1997 by Tom Evslin, a former Vice President at AT&T, ITXC was one of the new breed of VoIP based carriers that set out to conquer the world. One of its key markets was Africa because of the plentiful arbitrage opportunities offered by the extremely high costs of international calling. ITXC sold low-cost international wholesale minutes to incumbents who were therefore able to either lower their prices or (as was often the case) simply increase their margins. The company was sold to Teleglobe and it was during that process that the bribery allegations first emerged. ITXC’s in-house attorney asked its sales department to provide a list of ITXC agents who also worked for telcos. On 27 October 2003, this person sent the following list: Sonatel, Nitel (through Standard Digital), Telkom Kenya (through Adwest), Ghana Telecom and Angola Telecom. Subsequently Teleglobe was sold to Tata’s VSNL. Three former ITXC employees were charged under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: former Managing Director Roger Young, former Vice President Steven J. Ott, and Yaw Osei Amoako. Other co-conspirators were named but not charged as some were not US citizens. Young and Ott received reduced sentences because they co-operated with the investigation which is “on-going” according to the Department of Justice statement. Young was fined US$7,000 and Ott US$10,000, with latter also getting five years probation, six months community confinement and six months home imprisonment. A third defendant in the case, Ghanaian Yaw Osei Amoako (a US citizen), pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2006, and was sentenced on Aug. 1, 2007, to 18 months in prison, a $7,500 fine and to serve two years of supervised release following release from prison. The carriers named in the court case were: Nigeria’s Nitel: “On or about October 25 2002, ITXC and Nitel executed a VoIP Network Services Agreement…” In November ITXC then entered into a sales agreement with Standard Digital International, an agreement that was signed by Nitel’s General Director of International Relations, a member of the committee that reviewed the bids of those companies competing for the contract. On or about 10 October 2003 prior to ITXC signing with Nitel sent an e-mail saying:”I was able to get (the person at Nitel) to chat with (defendant Ott) in my hotel room and he poured out what we have to do to get the deal through with (sic) getting him in trouble favouring ITXC.” The following day he wrote:”Prior to sending real traffic, Nitel is ready to sit down and give ITXC special rates. Do I trust them on this? Yes. The Agents are the negotiators but is (sic) afraid of other operators (sic) actions and political contacts with Ministers, President and Vice President.” In 2003 there was a “cost dispute” which required payment of a further approximately US$150,000 to the sales agent. ITXC agreed to pay Standard Digital a retainer fee of US$10,000 and a commission of 12% of ITXC’s profits from these service agreements. Between November 2002 and May 2004 ITXC wired approximately US $166,541.31 to Standard Digital. Rwandatel: The contract between ITXC and Rwandatel was entered into at the end of February 2002. ITXC made the Rwandatel employee negotiating the agreement its sales agent and agreed to pay him “one cent per minute for certain traffic to Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda terminated through Rwandatel. The sum sent in this instance was approximately US$26,155.11. By the end of 2002, a dispute arose between the Managing Director of Rwandatel and the bribed employee over the latter’s failure to share the money. There was then an e-mail exchange as to whether the size of the sum could be revealed to which “co-conspirator 2” replied:”…we can reveal the information, although in the ordinary case, we shouldn’t (but this doesn’t seem to be an ordinary case).” Subsequently they met the Managing Director who wanted to change the agent receiving the commissions to someone nominated by him. As a result the process became more complicated:”We also agree the current agent must not be informed of the meeting and of the new arrangement.” But they were happy with is complication:”The way I see it, (the original employee bribed) cannot cause any trouble to ITXC as the Managing Director is in charge. He cannot sue because he would be arrested for receiving kickbacks.” Senegal’s Sonatel: The contract was signed in February 2001 and the following month the employee negotiating the contract entered into a “Non-Exclusive Regional Agency Agreement” which offered commission on revenues earned by ITXC. Between March 2001 and October 2003 US $74,772.06 was paid to this Sonatel employee. But there were problems as France Telecom, the private shareholder in Sonatel could clearly see all was not right. An e-mail in September 2002 was sent to Ott stating:”(The bribed employee) is the only one defending us in (the Sonatel monthly Board meetings) and he tells me (France Telecom) is becoming very suspicious. We need to get him out of the spotlight asap.” The problem continued as an e-mail in May 2003 makes clear:”Sonatel is not an easy organization to deal with. France Telecom is gripping them pretty tight. (The bribed employee) is not the force he used to be – but we still need him and he can still do good. Just be prepared not to get the most complete or direct answers to your questions.” Ghana Telecom: The ITXC agreement was signed in February 2001 but came to grief in December 2002 when Ghana Telecom disconnected its link to ITXC over a “cost dispute”. ITXC then offered to retain a General Manager in the International Department as ITXC’s sales agent and pay him commissions “in exchange for his assistance in settling this dispute.” Mali’s Sotelma: The contract was negotiated in 2002 and in order to conclude the negotiations ITXC signed the overall boss of Sotelma, its Director-General as its sales agent and paid commissions on traffic generated. E-mails about the arrangement stated that:”I have the Director General in the deal as an agent who is been (sic) fronted by his lieutenants.” It will be clear from the summary of the available public documents that this approach to business has a number of pitfalls. The bribed employees in two instances subsequently had to sort out “cost disputes” which were the pretext for asking for more bribes. In one instance, the bribed employee failed to share his gains with the managing director. In the only company with a private shareholder (which also sells wholesale minutes), the bribed employee became isolated under commercial questioning: this provides a strong if not always decisive argument for privatisation. From the telco side, what has been known privately for years is now revealed clearly and publicly by the Rwandatel and Sotelma examples. Corruption is systemic and goes right to the top and bribes are expected to be shared with the boss of the organisation and woe betide anyone who tries to keep the money to themselves. NB: Sory for crossposting.. Eric M.K Osiakwan ICT Integrator Internet Research www.internetresearch.com.gh emko(a)internetresearch.com.gh 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Tel: +233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: +233.21.258811 Cell: +233.24.4386792

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