Dear All,

We at Computers for Schools Kenya have been very closely following the debate on “affordable” computers – particularly with reference to refurbs. Many of the comments are informed and no doubt well intentioned, but many others have left us wringing our hands in despair!

CFSK has been working for the last seven years to bring the benefits of ICT to resource-challenged educational & training institutions and community information access & resource centres. At our foundation, based on objective and empirical research, we sought to design an intervention model that would meet the needs of the client group within their resource limitations without unduly compromising quality of access or service. After reviewing several options (details of which I will not go into), we narrowed down quality refurbs from reputable sources as the way to go. Our decision was informed by the following:

Intervention models in other countries. We were particularly impressed by the Computers for Schools Canada Programme and a similar programme in Colombia and Chile – all of which had achieved immense success in taking computers to educational institutions and community information centres such as libraries. Though these three were the biggest such organised interventions virtually all other countries in the West as well as the Asian Tigers had similar programmes but on a smaller scale. ALL were utilising refurbs from the corporate and related sectors that of necessity have to stay right on the cutting edge of ICT, and therefore have available functional albeit older PCs available from time to time as they upgrade.

The needs of the target groups and the use to which they were going to put the computers ands related accessories they would obtain through us. We established that the refurbs we were able to obtain would meet their requirements: run Windows, run MS Office Suite, run the educational eContent available, and access the Internet where other requisite infrastructure was in place.

Functionality of the equipment. CFSK was able to enter into partnerships with reputable organisations overseas that guaranteed that only quality and fully functional refurbs were imported by us. Working with these partners, we have over time revised the minimum specs for such equipment that we will accept – starting off with PIs when we started off in 2002 to our present day minimum of PIVs with at least 256MB of RAM and 20GB HDD. As part of that process, we even anticipate that from the second quarter of next year, we shall only accept TFT and not CRT monitors.

Affordability, which we very deliberately put last. All listers will remember that it is only in the last four to five years that the Government has made substantive budgetary allocations for ICTs in the kinds of institutions I am talking about and very wisely too. In 2002 when we started, money for ICTs had to be raised by the institutional community from their meagre resources or from corporate and other donors. And even the allocations now being made by Government to these institutions, generous as they may be amidst all the other pressing needs, are not enough to saturate them with ICTs at the required level. Refurbs offered and still offer an affordable option that gives good value for money.

To allege that refurbs constitute dumping is to be simplistic to a fault. Where the refurbs are not functional, do not meet the needs of the recipients, or are not good value for money, then that would be dumping – and it maybe that a certain amount of this is happening. But to condemn refurbs en masse, is to fail to acknowledge that this country’s nascent digital revolution is as a result of these much maligned equipment – not outrageously priced brand new equipment. At CFSK we are for quality, and preferably new, computers. Admittedly, it would be lovely to provide all our institutions with ultra-modern 2.0GHz Duo Core computers with 2GB RAM and 200GB on the HDD, etc. And where they can afford them, especially with the Government’s very welcome intervention in allocating resources for the purpose, we are glad to help them acquire quality brand new equipment. However, where an institution has limited resources, we must ask the questions: do they NEED the immense capacity that brand new computers at current “standard” specs provide, and should they expend limited resources on such capacity when they may in fact not need it?

Being cognizant of the fact that ALL electronics, new and refurbished, ultimately become eWaste, CFSK working with both local and international partners has established and eWaste Management Centre. This Centre, through innovative disassembly, reuse, recycling and re-export is managing ICT-related eWaste in a manner that is protective of the environment and mindful of public health. Up-scaling and out-scaling initiatives such as this will ensure we are all protected from the hazards of electronic waste, including that which begun its life as brand new equipment.

Eltimately, as one of the listers very wisely suggested, what is required is a level-headed consultation amongst ALL stake holders – civil society, commercial enterprises, a sampling of end users and the regulatory authorities – with a view to defining a rational policy in this area that advances rather than stunts the pivotal sector. We would be ardent participants.

Thank you,