Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10
Thanks Fred for your excellent contribution. As one of the main players in ICT4D , CFSK has been visible indeed. The achievements as mentioned by you indicates that your contribution as an "Implementing" civil society has been more successful than what the government have achieved in the same area over time. My question then is: What is the secret? What hinders the public sector (government) from moving effectively like your selfs? I mean, in terms of resources MoE has more than CFSK. Question two: Is there any impact assessment of the CFSKs rollout? Can you share some of the critcal findings? Lastly, we have another category of Civil Society (that includes KICTANET) involved in policy advocacy rather than implementation. Which of the two in your view is more relevant? the "implementing" civil society (less talk) or the "policy advocacy" civil society. It is said some countries are so efficient in churning out policy documents but very little is taking place on the ground. It also said that some Civil Societies in the name of advocacy hinder developement by over "advocating" issues such as environment and human rights. I want to suggest to the forum that Kicatenet should now come out strongly advocating for the implementation of the policies that it has helped nurture in Kenya. Leonard ----- Original Message ---- From: Fred Okono <fredokono@cfsk.org> To: mleonardo@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:58:48 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10 Hi Everybody! We at CFSK are actively involved in taking ICT to the people - specifically what we call youth intensive environments: educational & training institutions and community information access & resource centres. We are engaged in all the activities comprising the digital pipeline, from acquisition and placement of computers; through sensitisation, training,content development, evaluation and certification; to environmentally friendly and sustainable disposal of decommissioned computers and related equipment. In the five and a half years we have been in existence, we have placed well over fifteen thousand computers in over five hundred institutions; and offered training (ranging from simple user proficiency to professional-level competence) to thousands of teachers and institutional managers. Our work has touched over half a million youth, and since we mainly work with resource-poor communities many of them would otherwise not have had the opportunity but for our intervention. Having started off with a staff of three volunteers housed in a single room at Starehe Boys' Centre, CFSK now has over 70 highly-motivated mainly young people working towards its mission, distributed in eight centres around the country. We are an example of communities, private sector corporations, national and international civil society and government working together to transform the lives of communities that are often marginalised and suffering endemic poverty with no apparent means to escape the vicious cycle in which they find themselves. Amongst locally-based organisations that have been pivotal in the CFSK story are IDRC (that supported the pilot phase and has been with us ever since - and without whom we simply wouldn't exist!); Microsoft (who enable us to provide legitimate sofware for every single computer we place); the Safaricom Foundation (which has directly worked with us to bring computers to 80 schools around the country and indirectly in many other areas); AccessKenya Group who have also been with us right from the beginning and whose support through quality Internet access is invaluable; Kenya Airways; Barclays Bank; Cadbury's; Unilever; Total Oil; Kenya Airways; AfricaOnLine; Nation Newspapers; Hewlett Packard and many other partners in Kenya. Internationally, ComputerAid International, Digital Links International, FAIR Norway, Siso, Partners Worldwide, Computers for Schools Canada, Computers for Development (Nertherlands) and many others have also supported us. The model that CFSK operates on is considered an exemplar of sustainable provision of ICTs to resource-challenged communities, and active efforts are ongoing in many African countries to replicate the same. Indeed, the Rwanda ICT miracle has been significantly fuelled by lessons they picked from CFSK! That ICT is the greatest development facilitator available to Kenya today as we aspire for NIC status by 2030 cannot be overemphasised. We at CFSK hope to continue to make our small contribution towards the realisation of that noble vision - and we are keen to partner with one and all working for the same! Fred Fredrick Okono Deputy Director -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computers for Schools Kenya Semco Business Park | Unit 1, Mombasa Road | P.O. Box 48584-00100 | Nairobi , Kenya | Tel:254(0)202060919, Tel/Fax: 254 (0)20 2060920 Mobile (0)723-527106|Email:fredokono@cfsk.org|Website: www.cfsk.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Walubengo" <jwalu@yahoo.com> To: <fredokono@cfsk.org> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:54 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities,motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10 Thanx Jose and Louis, we are actually on Day 4 but I got caught up in my 'real-life' duties ;-). Anyway it is instructive to note that most of the Civil Society chaps have suddenly gone quiet - IDRC, AeRC, KICTAnet, FOSSFA amongst others. I hope it wont set a bad precedent for the Private sector tomorrow... Let's hear more on that above please. walu. --- "Othieno, Louis" <LOthieno@ke.peacecorps.gov> wrote:
Hi all
Every year the ICT programme at the U.S.Peace Corps receives and assigns about 8 American ICT professionals to work for up to 2 years on Voluntary basis with ICT ventures across Kenya. Their skills vary. Some are trained and experienced in hardware maintenance and networking, while others are programmers and experienced in setting up huge and complex databases. Some are involved in teaching basic ICT skills while others are computer graphics designers and web-developers and programmers -including establishment of e-commerce enabled websites for small businesses and co-operatives. A number have worked on programming in wireless environments -to take advantage of the wide cellphone coverage in Kenya
Computers for Schools - earlier mentioned, is one of the Peace Corps clients. Others are Land O Lakes -which is currently beta-testing a program known as co-op works created with assistance from FAO. Co-op works is an ICT platform that integrates all aspects of running a dairy co-operative, and with minor modifications will work for other kinds of co-operatives as well. Peace Corps Volunteers were involved in programming the software for drumnet - also earlier mentioned. Peace Corps Volunteers were assigned to support a pilot effort in Western Kenya to bring Internet Connectivity wirelessly to 20 schools within a 15 km radius using refurbished satellite equipment from Eastern Europe, and then deliver interactive education content through this means
The Peace Corps does not directly advance its own ICT agenda. Rather it supports efforts to make ICTs more relevant and impactful upon the lives of rural populations - especially low income segments of this population - whether the impact is long-term (as in education) or short term e.g. an e-commerce enabled website for Malindi Handicrafts co-operative society. Volunteers also share their ideas about opportunities to deploy ICT for the benefit of poor rural populations in the hope that some local institution might get interested and "sponsor" the prototyping and testing of the idea
Cheers all
Louis
________________________________
From:
kictanet-bounces+lothieno=ke.peacecorps.gov@lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+lothieno=ke.peacecorps.gov@lists.kictanet.or.ke]
On Behalf Of Jose' Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 6:03 PM To: Othieno, Louis Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities,motives & challenges) Day 3 of 10
Greetings Walu and all, It happens that am in the workshop with Mr.Hare. Kimathi Information Centre based in Kamukunji constituency and its offices in Kimathi Estate;
ACTIVITIES 1)Uses computers as a tool in catalyzing Macro n Micro businesses to get skills on how to use office based programs.
2)Offer trainings/workshops for Ideas,Macro & Micro enterprise on how to write business plans,letters and business etiquette.(August trainings registration open.We are in partnership with University of British Columbia).
3)We provide convenience to the community inhabitants in offering Internet based services as its main sustainability model.
CHALLENGES
1) Convincing the stakeholders to fund initiatives e.g,Workshops/Symposiums. 2) Poor Internet connectivity.Unfortunately its our sustainability model. 3)Capacity building on training staff on changing trends in the ICT field.However its important to note that this issue is being addressed by stakeholders like Kictanet and ICTBOARD. Regards, José.
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: jwalu@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: fredokono@cfsk.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/fredokono%40cfsk.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 269.24.0/1459 - Release Date: 5/21/2008 5:34 PM _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mleonardo@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mleonardo%40yahoo.com
Thank you so much for your kind words Leonard. I am not quite sure there is a "secret", but the following have certainly helped greatly: 1.. A clear-headed analysis of the problem we wished to address, which turned out to be a multi-faceted challenge underpinned by a lack of resources; 2.. Crafting an integrated solution, that addresses the multifaceted challenge on a "one-stop shop" model; 3.. Truly and constantly listening to and engaging with the partners we seek to uplift, and inputing their feedback into our programmes; 4.. An uncompromising organisation-wide commitment to clearly defined and reasonable standards in all we do; 5.. A rare organisational esprit de corps driven by a caring and unassuming chief executive and powered by an incredibly enthusiastic, fired-up and innovative young staff; 6.. Finally, building strategic partnerships with partners that share our vision and feel for our mission - whoever they may be, wherever they are: Government, private sector, civil society, etc. Leonard, the Government - particularly in the last five or so years - has done a tremendous amount of work to promote ICT: removing a great proportion of taxes previously chargeable on computers; establishing a Directorate of eGovernment within the pivotal Cabinet Office in the Office of the President; allocating a quantum of funds for ICT integration in the budgetary provisions for all Ministries; establishing the ICT Board; etc. And at CFSK we have enjoyed enormous goodwill and moral support from the GoK, including space to host a number of our Regional Centres. However, we do wish we could also get a budgetary allocation - it would enable us to tremendously upscale and outscale our operations, and we have proven worthy of this I dare say! And we also wish there were many more Dr Bitange Ndemos in the upper echelons of the Civil Service and more ICT-saavy Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament! My feeling is that the Government's challenge has been failing to work with existing programmes that have proven their worth, as opposed to establishing its own programmes that replicate those other programmes - often without the benefit of the expertise and responsive structures that characterise these non-governmental programmes (an absolute essential in this dynamic field). I also feel that the Government is often hampered by a lack of personal buy-in from the officers that are directly responsible for implementation - irrespective of what the "high-up policy" may be. A computer literate officer, addicted and dependent on his computer like most of us out here are would be a most enthusiastic proponent for more ICTs (from their personal appreciation of the same) than the illiterate officer who is merely attempting to implement policy but has no personal experience or appreciation of the same! Then of course the Government has to take a bird's eye view of the needs of the nation, requiring delicate balancing given the limited resources available. The tunnel vision - worms-eye view? - of sector players like ourselves may limit our appreciation of the other demands made on the Government; leading us to question their failure to do more in our particular sector. Our demand should be that the public resources allocated to our particular sector are put to the best possible use, creating the greatest good for the greatest number of people - which of course is not always the case! In response to your last query I dare say there is a place for both policy advocacy and implementation CSOs in this sector. But at CFSK we firmly believe in an integrated approach - we implement as we advocate! Subsequently the kind of advocacy we engage in is firmly informed by the practical hands-on experience we have garnered in the trenches! And I can tell you the differences between desk-bound advocacy and that driven from the battle front can be startling! Just one example - the value of refurb computers which many desk-bound advocates will dismiss as digital trash and eWaste dumping while those of us who are out in the schools and community centre's know that these computers will do everything a brand new computer can do and for quite a long period of time (albeit a little slower) given the NEEDS of the partners we work with and the limited resources available to them. I regret Leonard that there has been no large scale impact assesment of CFSK's work. But from anecdotal evidence, we know it is immense - every child leaving a CFSK school is a potential lifetime computer user, every teacher/principal who has been through the CFSK training programmes is an ICT integrator ready to go - and there are numerous thousands of each; both categories are potential clients of computer sellers and internet service providers; and all are converts to the Information Age that will preach this gospel to others, bringing them on stream too. We firmly believe that introducing ICTs in a big way in the youth intensive environments is the ultimate gateway to ICT in national life. And of course ICT is a great empowerer of young people, and ICT and entrepreneurship form a natural partnership for employment and wealth creation in an enabling environment. Technopreneurship - especially for a country such as ours with very limited known natural resources to drive traditional industrialisation - must be the primary medium-term conduit to Vision 2030. And we believbe the work of CFSK has contributed greatly to this. IDRC will in the near future publish a study of our work, but it will focus on our first two and a half years or so. We hope to gather the resources for a broader study in the not too distant future - particularly focussing on impact, not just statistics. Fredrick Okono Deputy Director -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computers for Schools Kenya Semco Business Park | Unit 1, Mombasa Road | P.O. Box 48584-00100 | Nairobi , Kenya | Tel:254(0)202060919, Tel/Fax: 254 (0)20 2060920 Mobile (0)723-527106|Email:fredokono@cfsk.org|Website: www.cfsk.org ----- Original Message ----- From: Leonard Mware To: Fred Okono ; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 8:16 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10 Thanks Fred for your excellent contribution. As one of the main players in ICT4D , CFSK has been visible indeed. The achievements as mentioned by you indicates that your contribution as an "Implementing" civil society has been more successful than what the government have achieved in the same area over time. My question then is: What is the secret? What hinders the public sector (government) from moving effectively like your selfs? I mean, in terms of resources MoE has more than CFSK. Question two: Is there any impact assessment of the CFSKs rollout? Can you share some of the critcal findings? Lastly, we have another category of Civil Society (that includes KICTANET) involved in policy advocacy rather than implementation. Which of the two in your view is more relevant? the "implementing" civil society (less talk) or the "policy advocacy" civil society. It is said some countries are so efficient in churning out policy documents but very little is taking place on the ground. It also said that some Civil Societies in the name of advocacy hinder developement by over "advocating" issues such as environment and human rights. I want to suggest to the forum that Kicatenet should now come out strongly advocating for the implementation of the policies that it has helped nurture in Kenya. Leonard ----- Original Message ---- From: Fred Okono <fredokono@cfsk.org> To: mleonardo@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:58:48 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10 Hi Everybody! We at CFSK are actively involved in taking ICT to the people - specifically what we call youth intensive environments: educational & training institutions and community information access & resource centres. We are engaged in all the activities comprising the digital pipeline, from acquisition and placement of computers; through sensitisation, training,content development, evaluation and certification; to environmentally friendly and sustainable disposal of decommissioned computers and related equipment. In the five and a half years we have been in existence, we have placed well over fifteen thousand computers in over five hundred institutions; and offered training (ranging from simple user proficiency to professional-level competence) to thousands of teachers and institutional managers. Our work has touched over half a million youth, and since we mainly work with resource-poor communities many of them would otherwise not have had the opportunity but for our intervention. Having started off with a staff of three volunteers housed in a single room at Starehe Boys' Centre, CFSK now has over 70 highly-motivated mainly young people working towards its mission, distributed in eight centres around the country. We are an example of communities, private sector corporations, national and international civil society and government working together to transform the lives of communities that are often marginalised and suffering endemic poverty with no apparent means to escape the vicious cycle in which they find themselves. Amongst locally-based organisations that have been pivotal in the CFSK story are IDRC (that supported the pilot phase and has been with us ever since - and without whom we simply wouldn't exist!); Microsoft (who enable us to provide legitimate sofware for every single computer we place); the Safaricom Foundation (which has directly worked with us to bring computers to 80 schools around the country and indirectly in many other areas); AccessKenya Group who have also been with us right from the beginning and whose support through quality Internet access is invaluable; Kenya Airways; Barclays Bank; Cadbury's; Unilever; Total Oil; Kenya Airways; AfricaOnLine; Nation Newspapers; Hewlett Packard and many other partners in Kenya. Internationally, ComputerAid International, Digital Links International, FAIR Norway, Siso, Partners Worldwide, Computers for Schools Canada, Computers for Development (Nertherlands) and many others have also supported us. The model that CFSK operates on is considered an exemplar of sustainable provision of ICTs to resource-challenged communities, and active efforts are ongoing in many African countries to replicate the same. Indeed, the Rwanda ICT miracle has been significantly fuelled by lessons they picked from CFSK! That ICT is the greatest development facilitator available to Kenya today as we aspire for NIC status by 2030 cannot be overemphasised. We at CFSK hope to continue to make our small contribution towards the realisation of that noble vision - and we are keen to partner with one and all working for the same! Fred Fredrick Okono Deputy Director -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computers for Schools Kenya Semco Business Park | Unit 1, Mombasa Road | P.O. Box 48584-00100 | Nairobi , Kenya | Tel:254(0)202060919, Tel/Fax: 254 (0)20 2060920 Mobile (0)723-527106|Email:fredokono@cfsk.org|Website: www.cfsk.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Walubengo" <jwalu@yahoo.com> To: <fredokono@cfsk.org> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:54 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities,motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10 Thanx Jose and Louis, we are actually on Day 4 but I got caught up in my 'real-life' duties ;-). Anyway it is instructive to note that most of the Civil Society chaps have suddenly gone quiet - IDRC, AeRC, KICTAnet, FOSSFA amongst others. I hope it wont set a bad precedent for the Private sector tomorrow... Let's hear more on that above please. walu. --- "Othieno, Louis" <LOthieno@ke.peacecorps.gov> wrote:
Hi all
Every year the ICT programme at the U.S.Peace Corps receives and assigns about 8 American ICT professionals to work for up to 2 years on Voluntary basis with ICT ventures across Kenya. Their skills vary. Some are trained and experienced in hardware maintenance and networking, while others are programmers and experienced in setting up huge and complex databases. Some are involved in teaching basic ICT skills while others are computer graphics designers and web-developers and programmers -including establishment of e-commerce enabled websites for small businesses and co-operatives. A number have worked on programming in wireless environments -to take advantage of the wide cellphone coverage in Kenya
Computers for Schools - earlier mentioned, is one of the Peace Corps clients. Others are Land O Lakes -which is currently beta-testing a program known as co-op works created with assistance from FAO. Co-op works is an ICT platform that integrates all aspects of running a dairy co-operative, and with minor modifications will work for other kinds of co-operatives as well. Peace Corps Volunteers were involved in programming the software for drumnet - also earlier mentioned. Peace Corps Volunteers were assigned to support a pilot effort in Western Kenya to bring Internet Connectivity wirelessly to 20 schools within a 15 km radius using refurbished satellite equipment from Eastern Europe, and then deliver interactive education content through this means
The Peace Corps does not directly advance its own ICT agenda. Rather it supports efforts to make ICTs more relevant and impactful upon the lives of rural populations - especially low income segments of this population - whether the impact is long-term (as in education) or short term e.g. an e-commerce enabled website for Malindi Handicrafts co-operative society. Volunteers also share their ideas about opportunities to deploy ICT for the benefit of poor rural populations in the hope that some local institution might get interested and "sponsor" the prototyping and testing of the idea
Cheers all
Louis
________________________________
From:
kictanet-bounces+lothieno=ke.peacecorps.gov@lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+lothieno=ke.peacecorps.gov@lists.kictanet.or.ke]
On Behalf Of Jose' Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 6:03 PM To: Othieno, Louis Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities,motives & challenges) Day 3 of 10
Greetings Walu and all, It happens that am in the workshop with Mr.Hare. Kimathi Information Centre based in Kamukunji constituency and its offices in Kimathi Estate;
ACTIVITIES 1)Uses computers as a tool in catalyzing Macro n Micro businesses to get skills on how to use office based programs.
2)Offer trainings/workshops for Ideas,Macro & Micro enterprise on how to write business plans,letters and business etiquette.(August trainings registration open.We are in partnership with University of British Columbia).
3)We provide convenience to the community inhabitants in offering Internet based services as its main sustainability model.
CHALLENGES
1) Convincing the stakeholders to fund initiatives e.g,Workshops/Symposiums. 2) Poor Internet connectivity.Unfortunately its our sustainability model. 3)Capacity building on training staff on changing trends in the ICT field.However its important to note that this issue is being addressed by stakeholders like Kictanet and ICTBOARD. Regards, José.
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: jwalu@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: fredokono@cfsk.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/fredokono%40cfsk.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 269.24.0/1459 - Release Date: 5/21/2008 5:34 PM _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mleonardo@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mleonardo%40yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 269.24.0/1459 - Release Date: 5/21/2008 5:34 PM
Thanks Fred, Samuel et al, This was actually getting to the level I had anticipated. But we have to move onto the Private Sector Roles with regard to ICT4D. What are some of the activities the Private sector is doing in this area? Anyone from Celtel, Safaricom, Nation Media, Standard Group, Royal Media, KDN, Symphony, Strathmore, TESPOK, Jamii, etc, (list definately not exhaustive) Plse share the activities, objectives and challenges along the lines of CFSK. We have today and tomorrow on this one. walu. --- Fred Okono <fredokono@cfsk.org> wrote:
Thank you so much for your kind words Leonard. I am not quite sure there is a "secret", but the following have certainly helped greatly:
1.. A clear-headed analysis of the problem we wished to address, which turned out to be a multi-faceted challenge underpinned by a lack of resources; 2.. Crafting an integrated solution, that addresses the multifaceted challenge on a "one-stop shop" model; 3.. Truly and constantly listening to and engaging with the partners we seek to uplift, and inputing their feedback into our programmes; 4.. An uncompromising organisation-wide commitment to clearly defined and reasonable standards in all we do; 5.. A rare organisational esprit de corps driven by a caring and unassuming chief executive and powered by an incredibly enthusiastic, fired-up and innovative young staff; 6.. Finally, building strategic partnerships with partners that share our vision and feel for our mission - whoever they may be, wherever they are: Government, private sector, civil society, etc. Leonard, the Government - particularly in the last five or so years - has done a tremendous amount of work to promote ICT: removing a great proportion of taxes previously chargeable on computers; establishing a Directorate of eGovernment within the pivotal Cabinet Office in the Office of the President; allocating a quantum of funds for ICT integration in the budgetary provisions for all Ministries; establishing the ICT Board; etc. And at CFSK we have enjoyed enormous goodwill and moral support from the GoK, including space to host a number of our Regional Centres. However, we do wish we could also get a budgetary allocation - it would enable us to tremendously upscale and outscale our operations, and we have proven worthy of this I dare say! And we also wish there were many more Dr Bitange Ndemos in the upper echelons of the Civil Service and more ICT-saavy Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament!
My feeling is that the Government's challenge has been failing to work with existing programmes that have proven their worth, as opposed to establishing its own programmes that replicate those other programmes - often without the benefit of the expertise and responsive structures that characterise these non-governmental programmes (an absolute essential in this dynamic field).
I also feel that the Government is often hampered by a lack of personal buy-in from the officers that are directly responsible for implementation - irrespective of what the "high-up policy" may be. A computer literate officer, addicted and dependent on his computer like most of us out here are would be a most enthusiastic proponent for more ICTs (from their personal appreciation of the same) than the illiterate officer who is merely attempting to implement policy but has no personal experience or appreciation of the same!
Then of course the Government has to take a bird's eye view of the needs of the nation, requiring delicate balancing given the limited resources available. The tunnel vision - worms-eye view? - of sector players like ourselves may limit our appreciation of the other demands made on the Government; leading us to question their failure to do more in our particular sector. Our demand should be that the public resources allocated to our particular sector are put to the best possible use, creating the greatest good for the greatest number of people - which of course is not always the case!
In response to your last query I dare say there is a place for both policy advocacy and implementation CSOs in this sector. But at CFSK we firmly believe in an integrated approach - we implement as we advocate! Subsequently the kind of advocacy we engage in is firmly informed by the practical hands-on experience we have garnered in the trenches! And I can tell you the differences between desk-bound advocacy and that driven from the battle front can be startling! Just one example - the value of refurb computers which many desk-bound advocates will dismiss as digital trash and eWaste dumping while those of us who are out in the schools and community centre's know that these computers will do everything a brand new computer can do and for quite a long period of time (albeit a little slower) given the NEEDS of the partners we work with and the limited resources available to them.
I regret Leonard that there has been no large scale impact assesment of CFSK's work. But from anecdotal evidence, we know it is immense - every child leaving a CFSK school is a potential lifetime computer user, every teacher/principal who has been through the CFSK training programmes is an ICT integrator ready to go - and there are numerous thousands of each; both categories are potential clients of computer sellers and internet service providers; and all are converts to the Information Age that will preach this gospel to others, bringing them on stream too. We firmly believe that introducing ICTs in a big way in the youth intensive environments is the ultimate gateway to ICT in national life. And of course ICT is a great empowerer of young people, and ICT and entrepreneurship form a natural partnership for employment and wealth creation in an enabling environment. Technopreneurship - especially for a country such as ours with very limited known natural resources to drive traditional industrialisation - must be the primary medium-term conduit to Vision 2030. And we believbe the work of CFSK has contributed greatly to this.
IDRC will in the near future publish a study of our work, but it will focus on our first two and a half years or so. We hope to gather the resources for a broader study in the not too distant future - particularly focussing on impact, not just statistics.
Fredrick Okono Deputy Director
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computers for Schools Kenya Semco Business Park | Unit 1, Mombasa Road | P.O. Box 48584-00100 | Nairobi , Kenya | Tel:254(0)202060919, Tel/Fax: 254 (0)20 2060920 Mobile (0)723-527106|Email:fredokono@cfsk.org|Website: www.cfsk.org
----- Original Message ----- From: Leonard Mware To: Fred Okono ; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 8:16 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10
Thanks Fred for your excellent contribution. As one of the main players in ICT4D , CFSK has been visible indeed. The achievements as mentioned by you indicates that your contribution as an "Implementing" civil society has been more successful than what the government have achieved in the same area over time.
My question then is: What is the secret? What hinders the public sector (government) from moving effectively like your selfs? I mean, in terms of resources MoE has more than CFSK.
Question two: Is there any impact assessment of the CFSKs rollout? Can you share some of the critcal findings?
Lastly, we have another category of Civil Society (that includes KICTANET) involved in policy advocacy rather than implementation. Which of the two in your view is more relevant? the "implementing" civil society (less talk) or the "policy advocacy" civil society. It is said some countries are so efficient in churning out policy documents but very little is taking place on the ground. It also said that some Civil Societies in the name of advocacy hinder developement by over "advocating" issues such as environment and human rights. I want to suggest to the forum that Kicatenet should now come out strongly advocating for the implementation of the policies that it has helped nurture in Kenya.
Leonard
----- Original Message ---- From: Fred Okono <fredokono@cfsk.org> To: mleonardo@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:58:48 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10
Hi Everybody!
We at CFSK are actively involved in taking ICT to the people - specifically what we call youth intensive environments: educational & training institutions and community information access & resource centres.
We are engaged in all the activities comprising the digital
=== message truncated ===> _______________________________________________
kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: jwalu@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com
Hi For examples of some ICT4D multi-stakeholder partnerships in education, you might like to look at the "Partnerships for Education" database - http://www.pfore.org . This is wider than just ICT4D related, but there are many good examples of what the private sector is doing - and some case studies from Kenya. Tim On 23/5/08 07:18, "John Walubengo" <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Thanks Fred, Samuel et al,
This was actually getting to the level I had anticipated. But we have to move onto the Private Sector Roles with regard to ICT4D.
What are some of the activities the Private sector is doing in this area? Anyone from Celtel, Safaricom, Nation Media, Standard Group, Royal Media, KDN, Symphony, Strathmore, TESPOK, Jamii, etc, (list definately not exhaustive)
Plse share the activities, objectives and challenges along the lines of CFSK.
We have today and tomorrow on this one.
walu.
--- Fred Okono <fredokono@cfsk.org> wrote:
Thank you so much for your kind words Leonard. I am not quite sure there is a "secret", but the following have certainly helped greatly:
1.. A clear-headed analysis of the problem we wished to address, which turned out to be a multi-faceted challenge underpinned by a lack of resources; 2.. Crafting an integrated solution, that addresses the multifaceted challenge on a "one-stop shop" model; 3.. Truly and constantly listening to and engaging with the partners we seek to uplift, and inputing their feedback into our programmes; 4.. An uncompromising organisation-wide commitment to clearly defined and reasonable standards in all we do; 5.. A rare organisational esprit de corps driven by a caring and unassuming chief executive and powered by an incredibly enthusiastic, fired-up and innovative young staff; 6.. Finally, building strategic partnerships with partners that share our vision and feel for our mission - whoever they may be, wherever they are: Government, private sector, civil society, etc. Leonard, the Government - particularly in the last five or so years - has done a tremendous amount of work to promote ICT: removing a great proportion of taxes previously chargeable on computers; establishing a Directorate of eGovernment within the pivotal Cabinet Office in the Office of the President; allocating a quantum of funds for ICT integration in the budgetary provisions for all Ministries; establishing the ICT Board; etc. And at CFSK we have enjoyed enormous goodwill and moral support from the GoK, including space to host a number of our Regional Centres. However, we do wish we could also get a budgetary allocation - it would enable us to tremendously upscale and outscale our operations, and we have proven worthy of this I dare say! And we also wish there were many more Dr Bitange Ndemos in the upper echelons of the Civil Service and more ICT-saavy Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament!
My feeling is that the Government's challenge has been failing to work with existing programmes that have proven their worth, as opposed to establishing its own programmes that replicate those other programmes - often without the benefit of the expertise and responsive structures that characterise these non-governmental programmes (an absolute essential in this dynamic field).
I also feel that the Government is often hampered by a lack of personal buy-in from the officers that are directly responsible for implementation - irrespective of what the "high-up policy" may be. A computer literate officer, addicted and dependent on his computer like most of us out here are would be a most enthusiastic proponent for more ICTs (from their personal appreciation of the same) than the illiterate officer who is merely attempting to implement policy but has no personal experience or appreciation of the same!
Then of course the Government has to take a bird's eye view of the needs of the nation, requiring delicate balancing given the limited resources available. The tunnel vision - worms-eye view? - of sector players like ourselves may limit our appreciation of the other demands made on the Government; leading us to question their failure to do more in our particular sector. Our demand should be that the public resources allocated to our particular sector are put to the best possible use, creating the greatest good for the greatest number of people - which of course is not always the case!
In response to your last query I dare say there is a place for both policy advocacy and implementation CSOs in this sector. But at CFSK we firmly believe in an integrated approach - we implement as we advocate! Subsequently the kind of advocacy we engage in is firmly informed by the practical hands-on experience we have garnered in the trenches! And I can tell you the differences between desk-bound advocacy and that driven from the battle front can be startling! Just one example - the value of refurb computers which many desk-bound advocates will dismiss as digital trash and eWaste dumping while those of us who are out in the schools and community centre's know that these computers will do everything a brand new computer can do and for quite a long period of time (albeit a little slower) given the NEEDS of the partners we work with and the limited resources available to them.
I regret Leonard that there has been no large scale impact assesment of CFSK's work. But from anecdotal evidence, we know it is immense - every child leaving a CFSK school is a potential lifetime computer user, every teacher/principal who has been through the CFSK training programmes is an ICT integrator ready to go - and there are numerous thousands of each; both categories are potential clients of computer sellers and internet service providers; and all are converts to the Information Age that will preach this gospel to others, bringing them on stream too. We firmly believe that introducing ICTs in a big way in the youth intensive environments is the ultimate gateway to ICT in national life. And of course ICT is a great empowerer of young people, and ICT and entrepreneurship form a natural partnership for employment and wealth creation in an enabling environment. Technopreneurship - especially for a country such as ours with very limited known natural resources to drive traditional industrialisation - must be the primary medium-term conduit to Vision 2030. And we believbe the work of CFSK has contributed greatly to this.
IDRC will in the near future publish a study of our work, but it will focus on our first two and a half years or so. We hope to gather the resources for a broader study in the not too distant future - particularly focussing on impact, not just statistics.
Fredrick Okono Deputy Director
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --
Computers for Schools Kenya Semco Business Park | Unit 1, Mombasa Road | P.O. Box 48584-00100 | Nairobi , Kenya | Tel:254(0)202060919, Tel/Fax: 254 (0)20 2060920 Mobile (0)723-527106|Email:fredokono@cfsk.org|Website: www.cfsk.org
----- Original Message ----- From: Leonard Mware To: Fred Okono ; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 8:16 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10
Thanks Fred for your excellent contribution. As one of the main players in ICT4D , CFSK has been visible indeed. The achievements as mentioned by you indicates that your contribution as an "Implementing" civil society has been more successful than what the government have achieved in the same area over time.
My question then is: What is the secret? What hinders the public sector (government) from moving effectively like your selfs? I mean, in terms of resources MoE has more than CFSK.
Question two: Is there any impact assessment of the CFSKs rollout? Can you share some of the critcal findings?
Lastly, we have another category of Civil Society (that includes KICTANET) involved in policy advocacy rather than implementation. Which of the two in your view is more relevant? the "implementing" civil society (less talk) or the "policy advocacy" civil society. It is said some countries are so efficient in churning out policy documents but very little is taking place on the ground. It also said that some Civil Societies in the name of advocacy hinder developement by over "advocating" issues such as environment and human rights. I want to suggest to the forum that Kicatenet should now come out strongly advocating for the implementation of the policies that it has helped nurture in Kenya.
Leonard
----- Original Message ---- From: Fred Okono <fredokono@cfsk.org> To: mleonardo@yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:58:48 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Civil Society Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 4 of 10
Hi Everybody!
We at CFSK are actively involved in taking ICT to the people - specifically what we call youth intensive environments: educational & training institutions and community information access & resource centres.
We are engaged in all the activities comprising the digital
=== message truncated ===> _______________________________________________
kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: jwalu@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: tim.unwin@rhul.ac.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/tim.unwin%40rhul.ac.uk
______________________________________________________ Tim Unwin UNESCO Chair in ICT4D and Professor of Geography Royal Holloway, University of London Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK Tel: +44 (0)1784-443655 Fax: +44 (0)1784-472836 French mobile: +33 6 23 73 30 48 Swiss mobile: +41 794 617 527 Skype: timothyunwin http://www.ict4d.org.uk http://moodle-ict4d.rhul.ac.uk tim.unwin@rhul.ac.uk ü Save paper and ink! Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.
Thanx Tim for your resourceful link below. I see it will also come in handy particularly towards the end of the week when we discuss various PPP models. Meanwhile, Today is Day 6 of 10 and I want to have one last shot on Private Sector roles in ICT4D. It looks like the Private Sector dont want to blow their own trumpet, could someone share on their behalf? I for one know Cisco is doing alot particularly on the Education side where they have sponsored the so called CISCO Academies. They donate Study Kits and Equipment to train Networking Professionals at a subsidized rate. Ofcourse they do so through partnership with Educational institutions but I thought it is worth noting this kind of initiatives. Any other? walu. NB: meanwhile, feel free to comment on previous themes. Like Brian's late intervention on Civil Society roles, all are welcome. --- Tim Unwin <tim.unwin@rhul.ac.uk> wrote:
Hi
For examples of some ICT4D multi-stakeholder partnerships in education, you might like to look at the "Partnerships for Education" database - http://www.pfore.org . This is wider than just ICT4D related, but there are many good examples of what the private sector is doing - and some case studies from Kenya.
Tim
On 23/5/08 07:18, "John Walubengo" <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Thanks Fred, Samuel et al,
This was actually getting to the level I had anticipated. But we have to move onto the Private Sector Roles with regard to ICT4D.
What are some of the activities the Private sector is doing in this area? Anyone from Celtel, Safaricom, Nation Media, Standard Group, Royal Media, KDN, Symphony, Strathmore, TESPOK, Jamii, etc, (list definately not exhaustive)
Plse share the activities, objectives and challenges along the lines of CFSK.
We have today and tomorrow on this one.
walu.
--- Fred Okono <fredokono@cfsk.org> wrote:
Thank you so much for your kind words Leonard. I am not quite sure there is a "secret", but the following have certainly helped greatly:
1.. A clear-headed analysis of the problem we wished to address, which turned out to be a multi-faceted challenge underpinned by a lack of resources; 2.. Crafting an integrated solution, that addresses the multifaceted challenge on a "one-stop shop" model; 3.. Truly and constantly listening to and engaging with the partners we seek to uplift, and inputing their feedback into our programmes; 4.. An uncompromising organisation-wide commitment to clearly defined and reasonable standards in all we do; 5.. A rare organisational esprit de corps driven by a caring and unassuming chief executive and powered by an incredibly enthusiastic, fired-up and innovative young staff; 6.. Finally, building strategic partnerships with partners that share our vision and feel for our mission - whoever they may be, wherever they are: Government, private sector, civil society, etc. Leonard, the Government - particularly in the last five or so years - has done a tremendous amount of work to promote ICT: removing a great proportion of taxes previously chargeable on computers; establishing a Directorate of eGovernment within the pivotal Cabinet Office in the Office of the President; allocating a quantum of funds for ICT integration in the budgetary provisions for all Ministries; establishing the ICT Board; etc. And at CFSK we have enjoyed enormous goodwill and moral support from the GoK, including space to host a number of our Regional Centres. However, we do wish we could also get a budgetary allocation - it would enable us to tremendously upscale and outscale our operations, and we have proven worthy of this I dare say! And we also wish there were many more Dr Bitange Ndemos in the upper echelons of the Civil Service and more ICT-saavy Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament!
My feeling is that the Government's challenge has been failing to work with existing programmes that have proven their worth, as opposed to establishing its own programmes that replicate those other programmes - often without the benefit of the expertise and responsive structures that characterise these non-governmental programmes (an absolute essential in this dynamic field).
I also feel that the Government is often hampered by a lack of personal buy-in from the officers that are directly responsible for implementation - irrespective of what the "high-up policy" may be. A computer literate officer, addicted and dependent on his computer like most of us out here are would be a most enthusiastic proponent for more ICTs (from their personal appreciation of the same) than the illiterate officer who is merely attempting to implement policy but has no personal experience or appreciation of the same!
Then of course the Government has to take a bird's eye view of the needs of the nation, requiring delicate balancing given the limited resources available. The tunnel vision - worms-eye view? - of sector players like ourselves may limit our appreciation of the other demands made on the Government; leading us to question their failure to do more in our particular sector. Our demand should be that the public resources allocated to our particular sector are put to the best possible use, creating the greatest good for the greatest number of people - which of course is not always the case!
In response to your last query I dare say there is a place for both policy advocacy and implementation CSOs in this sector. But at CFSK we firmly believe in an integrated approach - we implement as we advocate! Subsequently the kind of advocacy we engage in is firmly informed by the practical hands-on experience we have garnered in the trenches! And I can tell you the differences between desk-bound advocacy and that driven from the battle front can be startling! Just one example - the value of refurb computers which many desk-bound advocates will dismiss as digital trash and eWaste dumping while those of us who are out in the schools and community centre's know that these computers will do everything a brand new computer can do and for quite a long period of time (albeit a little slower) given the NEEDS of the partners we work with and the limited resources available to them.
I regret Leonard that there has been no large scale impact assesment of CFSK's work. But from anecdotal evidence, we know it is immense - every child leaving a CFSK school is a potential lifetime computer user, every teacher/principal who has been through the CFSK training programmes is an ICT integrator ready to go - and there are numerous thousands of each; both categories are potential clients of computer sellers and internet service providers; and all are converts to the Information Age that will preach this gospel to others, bringing them on stream too. We firmly believe that introducing ICTs in a big way in the youth intensive environments is the ultimate gateway to ICT in national life. And of course ICT is a great empowerer of young people, and ICT and entrepreneurship form a natural partnership for employment and wealth creation in an enabling environment. Technopreneurship - especially for a country such as ours with very limited known natural resources to drive traditional industrialisation - must be the primary medium-term conduit to Vision 2030. And we believbe the work of CFSK has contributed greatly to this.
IDRC will in the near future publish a study of our work, but it will focus on our first two and a half years or so. We hope to gather the resources for a broader study in the not too distant future - particularly focussing on
=== message truncated ===
Walu, The private sector has been active in the ict4d sector. when you look at cfsk website for example, you will see the support that the private sector gives CFSK. The question is: what is the motive for support from the private sector? what do they stand to gain by supporting ict4d especially int he education sector? One can see straight away that although Microsoft for example gives licenses, they have a long term strategic objective. Mobile phones will play a central role in ICT development in this country so when Safaricom dontes for ICT development in the country, is there a link with its growth strategy? I think Multi Stakeholder Partnership (MSP) between all players will be critical but the private sector should also ensure that their objectives in that kind of partnership is understood. At the moment few people understand or ask why they are involved. Leonard John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote: Thanx Tim for your resourceful link below. I see it will also come in handy particularly towards the end of the week when we discuss various PPP models. Meanwhile, Today is Day 6 of 10 and I want to have one last shot on Private Sector roles in ICT4D. It looks like the Private Sector dont want to blow their own trumpet, could someone share on their behalf? I for one know Cisco is doing alot particularly on the Education side where they have sponsored the so called CISCO Academies. They donate Study Kits and Equipment to train Networking Professionals at a subsidized rate. Ofcourse they do so through partnership with Educational institutions but I thought it is worth noting this kind of initiatives. Any other? walu. NB: meanwhile, feel free to comment on previous themes. Like Brian's late intervention on Civil Society roles, all are welcome. --- Tim Unwin wrote:
Hi
For examples of some ICT4D multi-stakeholder partnerships in education, you might like to look at the "Partnerships for Education" database - http://www.pfore.org . This is wider than just ICT4D related, but there are many good examples of what the private sector is doing - and some case studies from Kenya.
Tim
On 23/5/08 07:18, "John Walubengo" wrote:
Thanks Fred, Samuel et al,
This was actually getting to the level I had anticipated. But we have to move onto the Private Sector Roles with regard to ICT4D.
What are some of the activities the Private sector is doing in this area? Anyone from Celtel, Safaricom, Nation Media, Standard Group, Royal Media, KDN, Symphony, Strathmore, TESPOK, Jamii, etc, (list definately not exhaustive)
Plse share the activities, objectives and challenges along the lines of CFSK.
We have today and tomorrow on this one.
walu.
--- Fred Okono wrote:
Thank you so much for your kind words Leonard. I am not quite sure there is a "secret", but the following have certainly helped greatly:
1.. A clear-headed analysis of the problem we wished to address, which turned out to be a multi-faceted challenge underpinned by a lack of resources; 2.. Crafting an integrated solution, that addresses the multifaceted challenge on a "one-stop shop" model; 3.. Truly and constantly listening to and engaging with the partners we seek to uplift, and inputing their feedback into our programmes; 4.. An uncompromising organisation-wide commitment to clearly defined and reasonable standards in all we do; 5.. A rare organisational esprit de corps driven by a caring and unassuming chief executive and powered by an incredibly enthusiastic, fired-up and innovative young staff; 6.. Finally, building strategic partnerships with partners that share our vision and feel for our mission - whoever they may be, wherever they are: Government, private sector, civil society, etc. Leonard, the Government - particularly in the last five or so years - has done a tremendous amount of work to promote ICT: removing a great proportion of taxes previously chargeable on computers; establishing a Directorate of eGovernment within the pivotal Cabinet Office in the Office of the President; allocating a quantum of funds for ICT integration in the budgetary provisions for all Ministries; establishing the ICT Board; etc. And at CFSK we have enjoyed enormous goodwill and moral support from the GoK, including space to host a number of our Regional Centres. However, we do wish we could also get a budgetary allocation - it would enable us to tremendously upscale and outscale our operations, and we have proven worthy of this I dare say! And we also wish there were many more Dr Bitange Ndemos in the upper echelons of the Civil Service and more ICT-saavy Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament!
My feeling is that the Government's challenge has been failing to work with existing programmes that have proven their worth, as opposed to establishing its own programmes that replicate those other programmes - often without the benefit of the expertise and responsive structures that characterise these non-governmental programmes (an absolute essential in this dynamic field).
I also feel that the Government is often hampered by a lack of personal buy-in from the officers that are directly responsible for implementation - irrespective of what the "high-up policy" may be. A computer literate officer, addicted and dependent on his computer like most of us out here are would be a most enthusiastic proponent for more ICTs (from their personal appreciation of the same) than the illiterate officer who is merely attempting to implement policy but has no personal experience or appreciation of the same!
Then of course the Government has to take a bird's eye view of the needs of the nation, requiring delicate balancing given the limited resources available. The tunnel vision - worms-eye view? - of sector players like ourselves may limit our appreciation of the other demands made on the Government; leading us to question their failure to do more in our particular sector. Our demand should be that the public resources allocated to our particular sector are put to the best possible use, creating the greatest good for the greatest number of people - which of course is not always the case!
In response to your last query I dare say there is a place for both policy advocacy and implementation CSOs in this sector. But at CFSK we firmly believe in an integrated approach - we implement as we advocate! Subsequently the kind of advocacy we engage in is firmly informed by the practical hands-on experience we have garnered in the trenches! And I can tell you the differences between desk-bound advocacy and that driven from the battle front can be startling! Just one example - the value of refurb computers which many desk-bound advocates will dismiss as digital trash and eWaste dumping while those of us who are out in the schools and community centre's know that these computers will do everything a brand new computer can do and for quite a long period of time (albeit a little slower) given the NEEDS of the partners we work with and the limited resources available to them.
I regret Leonard that there has been no large scale impact assesment of CFSK's work. But from anecdotal evidence, we know it is immense - every child leaving a CFSK school is a potential lifetime computer user, every teacher/principal who has been through the CFSK training programmes is an ICT integrator ready to go - and there are numerous thousands of each; both categories are potential clients of computer sellers and internet service providers; and all are converts to the Information Age that will preach this gospel to others, bringing them on stream too. We firmly believe that introducing ICTs in a big way in the youth intensive environments is the ultimate gateway to ICT in national life. And of course ICT is a great empowerer of young people, and ICT and entrepreneurship form a natural partnership for employment and wealth creation in an enabling environment. Technopreneurship - especially for a country such as ours with very limited known natural resources to drive traditional industrialisation - must be the primary medium-term conduit to Vision 2030. And we believbe the work of CFSK has contributed greatly to this.
IDRC will in the near future publish a study of our work, but it will focus on our first two and a half years or so. We hope to gather the resources for a broader study in the not too distant future - particularly focussing on
=== message truncated === _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mleonardo@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mleonardo%40yahoo.com
From my observation, there has been quite some impetus in
Morning all, Today we wish to turn our attention to what the Public (Govt) is doing with regard to ICT4Ds. the last 5years or so on this regard. What comes to mind in no particular order, is the commissioning of the eGovt Secretariate and the ICT Board, the liberalization of ICT sector through the Kenya Comm Act 1999, the gazettement of the the National ICT Policy, the Privatisation of the national Telco Provider and the initiation of the TEAMs, submarine project. It would be nice for members to share their opinion on the activities and challenges surrounding the above and other government initiatives. The floor is open, we have only today Tue May 27th and tomorrow on this. walu.
Members Commisioning of the e-government Secretariat, formation of the ICT board and liberization of the ICT sector have all been fantastic initiatives, however we need to strengthen Public private Sector collaborations if we are to realise more gain, key areas that we may focus on are Entrepreneurship training so that we may tap into the benefits of new technologies before they are obsolete, we must stop experimenting with technology and do business using technology, this brings in another aspect POLICY, there is likely to be a paradigm shift in the way businesses are run if we are to fully embrace technology as a matter of fact some businesses might totally disappear as a result of technology whereas new ones will emerge, the problem is that there are lots of boardroom games that stand in the way of enactment of some of this policies which must be dealt with may be we need some online mass action, the future looks bright but it is important to coordinate all ict4d initiatives whether fronted by Government, private or public sector On 5/27/08, John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Morning all,
Today we wish to turn our attention to what the Public (Govt) is doing with regard to ICT4Ds.
From my observation, there has been quite some impetus in the last 5years or so on this regard. What comes to mind in no particular order, is the commissioning of the eGovt Secretariate and the ICT Board, the liberalization of ICT sector through the Kenya Comm Act 1999, the gazettement of the the National ICT Policy, the Privatisation of the national Telco Provider and the initiation of the TEAMs, submarine project.
It would be nice for members to share their opinion on the activities and challenges surrounding the above and other government initiatives.
The floor is open, we have only today Tue May 27th and tomorrow on this.
walu.
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: otieno.barrack@gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail....
-- Barrack O. Otieno ICWE Africa LTD P.o. Box 746 Nairobi 00100 Tel: +254721325277 +254726544442 +254202343960 www.icwe.co.ke http://projectdiscovery.or.ke National Bank Building Harambee Avenue 12th Floor
From my observation, there has been quite some impetus in
Interesting article from New York Times Third World Telecom Moves to the Front The New York TimesBy HEATHER TIMMONS and KEVIN J. O'BRIENPublished: May 27, 2008 The MTN Group, a small mobile operator in South Africa, attracted an investment in 1995 from SBC, an American telecommunications company. Now MTN is a sprawling company that spans 21 countries with 70 million customers, and it is attracting outside investors again.But this time around, companies in emerging markets are on the prowl, reflecting a new order in the mobile telecommunications industry. American companies, it seems, are taking a backseat to upstart rivals overseas.Over the weekend, MTN traded Indian suitors, swapping merger partner Bharti Airtel for rival Reliance Communications. Whether or not this combination holds up, bankers predict some deal will be completed. In the last few days, China said it would reorganize its six telecommunications companies into three. In effect, two of its old fixed-line companies will get some assistance to put them on better footing with China Mobile, the world's largest leading mobile company with almost 400 million subscribers. If both series of deals go through as planned, four of the top seven operators, China Mobile, China Unicom, América Móvil and MTN-Reliance, would be based in emerging markets. Of the three remaining based in the West, two - Vodafone of England and Telefónica 02 of Spain - have extensive operations in developing markets. The other is T-Mobile of Germany. "The focus of the wireless business is shifting rapidly from the developed Western markets to the developing world," said Madhusudan Gupta, an analyst based in Singapore for the research firm Gartner.Although American mobile operators were active investors in emerging markets during the 1990s, many of them quickly exited, a trend that accelerated after the plunge in telecommunications and dotcom stocks in 2000. SBC, now a part of AT&T Wireless, sold its stake in MTN after only two years. It paid $90 million to acquire nearly 16 percent. That portion of MTN would cost about $6 billion today."Many big U.S. telcos eventually lost interest in these markets: they were too small," said Robert Chaphe, who was chief executive of MTN from 1995 through 2002 and is now semiretired and living in Florida. "Now U.S. telcos see more opportunity closer to home. After all, risk ratios are lower in Kansas than in Africa."The development of the mobile markets was left for years to Europeans and homegrown companies. Now these fast-growing telecommunications giants are eager to go global. John Gole, an analyst at International Data Corporation in Prague, said that recent rapid economic growth in India, China and the Gulf states had created a new breed of regional mobile operators. They include companies like Orascom of Egypt, with 71 million customers in Africa, the Middle East and Asia; Etisalat, based in Abu Dhabi, with 6.6 million customers and 10 operators in Africa; and the Zain Group of Kuwait, with 45.7 million customers and 22 operators in Africa and the Middle East."These booming economies and a general economic liberalization have led to the creation of new competitors with the means and experience to expand in emerging markets," Mr. Gole said.A combined Reliance and MTN would have about 116 million customers, making it the seventh largest mobile operator in the world, just below T-Mobile, the wireless subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom. It would dwarf the largest operator in the United States, AT&T Wireless which has 71.4 million customers.Putting together a deal will not be easy. Reliance's market capitalization is $27.5 billion, about $10 billion less than MTN's, and it has about 20 million fewer customers. MTN's management balked at a takeover by Bharti, a bigger company, proposing that MTN become the parent company instead. Even though it's a smaller company, Reliance may also balk at a subsidiary role. It is a publicly traded unit of a conglomerate controlled by Indian businessman Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, a conglomerate with a market value of $75 billion. Bankers, analysts and news reports suggest a handful of nascent mobile powers based in emerging markets are interested in MTN, as well as European telecommunications companies. "Something has to happen," said a banker whose firm was working with a third telecommunications company, which he would not identify, that hoped to woo MTN.MTN and Reliance have been skillful at generating profits from customers who typically spend very little for mobile service - less than $20 a month at MTN and less than $9 at Reliance, based on their latest quarterly reports. That compares with $54 a month at Verizon Wireless in the United States, according to a quarterly report from Vodafone, which owns a 40 percent stake in Verizon.Reliance earned a profit of $1.4 billion on $4.8 billion in sales in the year that ended March 31. MTN had a profit of 11.9 billion South African rand, or $1.6 billion, in 2007 on sales of 73.1 billion rand, or $9.7 billion.Reliance has recently expressed serious interest in Africa, where there are few landlines and much potential growth in mobile lines. Through its subsidiary Reliance FLAG, the company is investing $1.5 billion to lay a submarine fiber optic cable to Africa. In February, the company bought a small Ugandan telecommunications company, and said it plans to invest about $500 million there in the next five years to provide mobile, Internet and broadband service. There are many risks for any outside company looking at Africa's fast-growing markets, analysts say. Andre Wills, managing director at Africa Analysis, a wireless industry consulting firm in Centurion, South Africa, said: "You need to have a significant understanding of the African operating environment and the challenges of working across all of these different regulatory environments."If Reliance were to move significantly into Africa, it could raise the stakes for international investors like Vodafone, which has a subsidiary in Egypt and operations in seven other African countries; Orange, which owns stakes in operators in 13 African countries, and Portugal Telecom, which has operations in Angola and Morocco.Other possible suitors for MTN might be Vodafone, which owns 50 percent of Vodacom, another South African operator, and Deutsche Telekom and VimpelCom, which is based in Russia. Vodafone executives have said that the company is not planning any move on MTN. Deutsche Telekom and VimpelCom declined to comment.Africa, where 29 percent of the population owns a cellphone, according to Gartner, is just one of several promising markets. In India, market penetration is 34 percent, well below the United States, at about 70 percent, and Western Europe, at more than 90 percent. Kevin O'Brien reported from Berlin and Heather Timmons from New Delhi. Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Celtel Kenya -----Original Message----- From: "Barrack Otieno" <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 18:15:40 To:pkukubo@ict.go.ke Cc:KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Public Sector Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 7 of 1 Members Commisioning of the e-government Secretariat, formation of the ICT board and liberization of the ICT sector have all been fantastic initiatives, however we need to strengthen Public private Sector collaborations if we are to realise more gain, key areas that we may focus on are Entrepreneurship training so that we may tap into the benefits of new technologies before they are obsolete, we must stop experimenting with technology and do business using technology, this brings in another aspect POLICY, there is likely to be a paradigm shift in the way businesses are run if we are to fully embrace technology as a matter of fact some businesses might totally disappear as a result of technology whereas new ones will emerge, the problem is that there are lots of boardroom games that stand in the way of enactment of some of this policies which must be dealt with may be we need some online mass action, the future looks bright but it is important to coordinate all ict4d initiatives whether fronted by Government, private or public sector On 5/27/08, John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com <mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com> > wrote: Morning all, Today we wish to turn our attention to what the Public (Govt) is doing with regard to ICT4Ds. the last 5years or so on this regard. What comes to mind in no particular order, is the commissioning of the eGovt Secretariate and the ICT Board, the liberalization of ICT sector through the Kenya Comm Act 1999, the gazettement of the the National ICT Policy, the Privatisation of the national Telco Provider and the initiation of the TEAMs, submarine project. It would be nice for members to share their opinion on the activities and challenges surrounding the above and other government initiatives. The floor is open, we have only today Tue May 27th and tomorrow on this. walu. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet> This message was sent to: otieno.barrack@gmail.com <mailto:otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail.... <http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail.com> -- Barrack O. Otieno ICWE Africa LTD P.o. Box 746 Nairobi 00100 Tel: +254721325277 +254726544442 +254202343960 www.icwe.co.ke <http://www.icwe.co.ke> http://projectdiscovery.or.ke <http://projectdiscovery.or.ke> National Bank Building Harambee Avenue 12th Floor _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: pkukubo@ict.go.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pkukubo%40ict.go.ke
Hi, Thanx to Barrack and Ndemo for your comments on Civil Society and Public sector. We still have one more day on the Public Sector role. My take is thatI think the Govt has kicked off in the right direction with regard to initiatives for ICT4D. However, my feeling is that most of these have remained at a fairly high-level. Am not quite sure that the vision and urgency experienced at the top is shared at the bottom ranks of the Public Service. More specifically, I am not quite sure that the odinary public servants have the right disposition to embrace ICTs. Finally, I doubt if there are sufficient, if any incentives to socialise the wider public service (teachers, nurses, police, chiefs and others) into the information age. It looks we do have the right strategies but lack an 'implementation strategy' i.e. we know what needs to be done but maybe shallow on how it would be done....i stand to be corrected. walu. --- Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote:
Members Commisioning of the e-government Secretariat, formation of the ICT board and liberization of the ICT sector have all been fantastic initiatives, however we need to strengthen Public private Sector collaborations if we are to realise more gain, key areas that we may focus on are Entrepreneurship training so that we may tap into the benefits of new technologies before they are obsolete, we must stop experimenting with technology and do business using technology, this brings in another aspect POLICY, there is likely to be a paradigm shift in the way businesses are run if we are to fully embrace technology as a matter of fact some businesses might totally disappear as a result of technology whereas new ones will emerge, the problem is that there are lots of boardroom games that stand in the way of enactment of some of this policies which must be dealt with may be we need some online mass action, the future looks bright but it is important to coordinate all ict4d initiatives whether fronted by Government, private or public sector
On 5/27/08, John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Morning all,
Today we wish to turn our attention to what the Public (Govt) is doing with regard to ICT4Ds.
From my observation, there has been quite some impetus
the last 5years or so on this regard. What comes to mind in no particular order, is the commissioning of the eGovt Secretariate and the ICT Board, the liberalization of ICT sector through the Kenya Comm Act 1999, the gazettement of the the National ICT Policy, the Privatisation of the national Telco Provider and the initiation of the TEAMs, submarine project.
It would be nice for members to share their opinion on
in the
activities and challenges surrounding the above and other government initiatives.
The floor is open, we have only today Tue May 27th and tomorrow on this.
walu.
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: otieno.barrack@gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail....
-- Barrack O. Otieno ICWE Africa LTD P.o. Box 746 Nairobi 00100 Tel: +254721325277 +254726544442 +254202343960 www.icwe.co.ke http://projectdiscovery.or.ke National Bank Building Harambee Avenue 12th Floor
Perhaps you can help here because most ordianary civil servants wrongly think that ICTs would replace them. This is where we have greatest resistance to ICTs. There have been numerous training programmes for all cadres in the civil service but until everybody accepts that ICTs are enablers, we shall continue to see sabotage from within. We should learn from Ugandans how they quickly implemented their Intergarted Financial Management Information System. It has taken us more than eight years and still we cannot claim to havinfg implemented the system. Majority of the users only see the negative side. We require significant social transformation in order to achieve some of these initiatives. A little of benevolent dictatorship may come in handy. The Malaysians and Singaporeans did it and it worked. A democratic approach will not take us anywhere. We cannot do anything logical in terms of procurement of ICT products after implementing a flawed law. Ndemo.
Hi,
Thanx to Barrack and Ndemo for your comments on Civil Society and Public sector. We still have one more day on the Public Sector role.
My take is thatI think the Govt has kicked off in the right direction with regard to initiatives for ICT4D. However, my feeling is that most of these have remained at a fairly high-level. Am not quite sure that the vision and urgency experienced at the top is shared at the bottom ranks of the Public Service.
More specifically, I am not quite sure that the odinary public servants have the right disposition to embrace ICTs. Finally, I doubt if there are sufficient, if any incentives to socialise the wider public service (teachers, nurses, police, chiefs and others) into the information age. It looks we do have the right strategies but lack an 'implementation strategy' i.e. we know what needs to be done but maybe shallow on how it would be done....i stand to be corrected.
walu.
--- Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote:
Members Commisioning of the e-government Secretariat, formation of the ICT board and liberization of the ICT sector have all been fantastic initiatives, however we need to strengthen Public private Sector collaborations if we are to realise more gain, key areas that we may focus on are Entrepreneurship training so that we may tap into the benefits of new technologies before they are obsolete, we must stop experimenting with technology and do business using technology, this brings in another aspect POLICY, there is likely to be a paradigm shift in the way businesses are run if we are to fully embrace technology as a matter of fact some businesses might totally disappear as a result of technology whereas new ones will emerge, the problem is that there are lots of boardroom games that stand in the way of enactment of some of this policies which must be dealt with may be we need some online mass action, the future looks bright but it is important to coordinate all ict4d initiatives whether fronted by Government, private or public sector
On 5/27/08, John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Morning all,
Today we wish to turn our attention to what the Public (Govt) is doing with regard to ICT4Ds.
From my observation, there has been quite some impetus
the last 5years or so on this regard. What comes to mind in no particular order, is the commissioning of the eGovt Secretariate and the ICT Board, the liberalization of ICT sector through the Kenya Comm Act 1999, the gazettement of the the National ICT Policy, the Privatisation of the national Telco Provider and the initiation of the TEAMs, submarine project.
It would be nice for members to share their opinion on
in the
activities and challenges surrounding the above and other government initiatives.
The floor is open, we have only today Tue May 27th and tomorrow on this.
walu.
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: otieno.barrack@gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail....
-- Barrack O. Otieno ICWE Africa LTD P.o. Box 746 Nairobi 00100 Tel: +254721325277 +254726544442 +254202343960 www.icwe.co.ke http://projectdiscovery.or.ke National Bank Building Harambee Avenue 12th Floor
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: bitange@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"
Bwana PS you are absolutely right, Benevolent dictatorship is what we need to get things moving since we have some of the best brains in ICTs in Africa, we are in some sort of paralysis because of over analysing issues, we need a political wing to champion policy issues Regards On 5/28/08, bitange@jambo.co.ke <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
Perhaps you can help here because most ordianary civil servants wrongly think that ICTs would replace them. This is where we have greatest resistance to ICTs. There have been numerous training programmes for all cadres in the civil service but until everybody accepts that ICTs are enablers, we shall continue to see sabotage from within. We should learn from Ugandans how they quickly implemented their Intergarted Financial Management Information System. It has taken us more than eight years and still we cannot claim to havinfg implemented the system. Majority of the users only see the negative side.
We require significant social transformation in order to achieve some of these initiatives. A little of benevolent dictatorship may come in handy. The Malaysians and Singaporeans did it and it worked. A democratic approach will not take us anywhere. We cannot do anything logical in terms of procurement of ICT products after implementing a flawed law.
Ndemo.
Hi,
Thanx to Barrack and Ndemo for your comments on Civil Society and Public sector. We still have one more day on the Public Sector role.
My take is thatI think the Govt has kicked off in the right direction with regard to initiatives for ICT4D. However, my feeling is that most of these have remained at a fairly high-level. Am not quite sure that the vision and urgency experienced at the top is shared at the bottom ranks of the Public Service.
More specifically, I am not quite sure that the odinary public servants have the right disposition to embrace ICTs. Finally, I doubt if there are sufficient, if any incentives to socialise the wider public service (teachers, nurses, police, chiefs and others) into the information age. It looks we do have the right strategies but lack an 'implementation strategy' i.e. we know what needs to be done but maybe shallow on how it would be done....i stand to be corrected.
walu.
--- Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote:
Members Commisioning of the e-government Secretariat, formation of the ICT board and liberization of the ICT sector have all been fantastic initiatives, however we need to strengthen Public private Sector collaborations if we are to realise more gain, key areas that we may focus on are Entrepreneurship training so that we may tap into the benefits of new technologies before they are obsolete, we must stop experimenting with technology and do business using technology, this brings in another aspect POLICY, there is likely to be a paradigm shift in the way businesses are run if we are to fully embrace technology as a matter of fact some businesses might totally disappear as a result of technology whereas new ones will emerge, the problem is that there are lots of boardroom games that stand in the way of enactment of some of this policies which must be dealt with may be we need some online mass action, the future looks bright but it is important to coordinate all ict4d initiatives whether fronted by Government, private or public sector
On 5/27/08, John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Morning all,
Today we wish to turn our attention to what the Public (Govt) is doing with regard to ICT4Ds.
From my observation, there has been quite some impetus
the last 5years or so on this regard. What comes to mind in no particular order, is the commissioning of the eGovt Secretariate and the ICT Board, the liberalization of ICT sector through the Kenya Comm Act 1999, the gazettement of the the National ICT Policy, the Privatisation of the national Telco Provider and the initiation of the TEAMs, submarine project.
It would be nice for members to share their opinion on
in the
activities and challenges surrounding the above and other government initiatives.
The floor is open, we have only today Tue May 27th and tomorrow on this.
walu.
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: otieno.barrack@gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail....
-- Barrack O. Otieno ICWE Africa LTD P.o. Box 746 Nairobi 00100 Tel: +254721325277 +254726544442 +254202343960 www.icwe.co.ke http://projectdiscovery.or.ke National Bank Building Harambee Avenue 12th Floor
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: bitange@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"
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: otieno.barrack@gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail....
-- Barrack O. Otieno ICWE Africa LTD P.o. Box 746 Nairobi 00100 Tel: +254721325277 +254726544442 +254202343960 www.icwe.co.ke http://projectdiscovery.or.ke National Bank Building Harambee Avenue 12th Floor
Hope I'm not too late... Two issues that I have pushed over the years: 1. It's not enough to run general IT literacy programmes for public servants. It's not even enough to train people in how to use specific applications. What is needed beyond that is a sufficient appreciation at senior levels of this thing called 'ICT Strategy' (cost and benefits, RoI... a BUSINESS approach). And as part of this how the ICT strategy must be aligned to overall organisational strategy. (Now that really is a minority sport!) 2. When most organisations look at costs and benefits of introducing ICT systems, they tend merely to do so at the global or departmental or functional levels. What tends to be missing is how the individual at the desktop is affected. What is the benefit to them? Too often none have been built in, and it's just new perceived and/or actual disadvantages - loss of control, just feeding the system without getting information back, need for greater discipline etc. Mike Eldon From: bitange@jambo.co.ke To: meldon@symphony.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: 05/28/2008 03:20 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Public Sector Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 8 of 10 Perhaps you can help here because most ordianary civil servants wrongly think that ICTs would replace them. This is where we have greatest resistance to ICTs. There have been numerous training programmes for all cadres in the civil service but until everybody accepts that ICTs are enablers, we shall continue to see sabotage from within. We should learn from Ugandans how they quickly implemented their Intergarted Financial Management Information System. It has taken us more than eight years and still we cannot claim to havinfg implemented the system. Majority of the users only see the negative side. We require significant social transformation in order to achieve some of these initiatives. A little of benevolent dictatorship may come in handy. The Malaysians and Singaporeans did it and it worked. A democratic approach will not take us anywhere. We cannot do anything logical in terms of procurement of ICT products after implementing a flawed law. Ndemo.
Hi,
Thanx to Barrack and Ndemo for your comments on Civil Society and Public sector. We still have one more day on the Public Sector role.
My take is thatI think the Govt has kicked off in the right direction with regard to initiatives for ICT4D. However, my feeling is that most of these have remained at a fairly high-level. Am not quite sure that the vision and urgency experienced at the top is shared at the bottom ranks of the Public Service.
More specifically, I am not quite sure that the odinary public servants have the right disposition to embrace ICTs. Finally, I doubt if there are sufficient, if any incentives to socialise the wider public service (teachers, nurses, police, chiefs and others) into the information age. It looks we do have the right strategies but lack an 'implementation strategy' i.e. we know what needs to be done but maybe shallow on how it would be done....i stand to be corrected.
walu.
--- Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote:
Members Commisioning of the e-government Secretariat, formation of the ICT board and liberization of the ICT sector have all been fantastic initiatives, however we need to strengthen Public private Sector collaborations if we are to realise more gain, key areas that we may focus on are Entrepreneurship training so that we may tap into the benefits of new technologies before they are obsolete, we must stop experimenting with technology and do business using technology, this brings in another aspect POLICY, there is likely to be a paradigm shift in the way businesses are run if we are to fully embrace technology as a matter of fact some businesses might totally disappear as a result of technology whereas new ones will emerge, the problem is that there are lots of boardroom games that stand in the way of enactment of some of this policies which must be dealt with may be we need some online mass action, the future looks bright but it is important to coordinate all ict4d initiatives whether fronted by Government, private or public sector
On 5/27/08, John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Morning all,
Today we wish to turn our attention to what the Public (Govt) is doing with regard to ICT4Ds.
From my observation, there has been quite some impetus
the last 5years or so on this regard. What comes to mind in no particular order, is the commissioning of the eGovt Secretariate and the ICT Board, the liberalization of ICT sector through the Kenya Comm Act 1999, the gazettement of the the National ICT Policy, the Privatisation of the national Telco Provider and the initiation of the TEAMs, submarine project.
It would be nice for members to share their opinion on
in the
activities and challenges surrounding the above and other government initiatives.
The floor is open, we have only today Tue May 27th and tomorrow on this.
walu.
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: otieno.barrack@gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail....
-- Barrack O. Otieno ICWE Africa LTD P.o. Box 746 Nairobi 00100 Tel: +254721325277 +254726544442 +254202343960 www.icwe.co.ke http://projectdiscovery.or.ke National Bank Building Harambee Avenue 12th Floor
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: bitange@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" _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: meldon@symphony.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/meldon%40symphony.co.ke
Its never too late Mike, all should feel free to say something for today is the last day of this discussion. walu. --- On Fri, 5/30/08, MEldon@symphony.co.ke <MEldon@symphony.co.ke> wrote:
From: MEldon@symphony.co.ke <MEldon@symphony.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Public Sector Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 8 of 10 To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>, kictanet-bounces+meldon=symphony.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke Date: Friday, May 30, 2008, 10:46 AM Hope I'm not too late...
Two issues that I have pushed over the years:
1. It's not enough to run general IT literacy programmes for public servants. It's not even enough to train people in how to use specific applications. What is needed beyond that is a sufficient appreciation at senior levels of this thing called 'ICT Strategy' (cost and benefits, RoI... a BUSINESS approach). And as part of this how the ICT strategy must be aligned to overall organisational strategy. (Now that really is a minority sport!)
2. When most organisations look at costs and benefits of introducing ICT systems, they tend merely to do so at the global or departmental or functional levels. What tends to be missing is how the individual at the desktop is affected. What is the benefit to them? Too often none have been built in, and it's just new perceived and/or actual disadvantages - loss of control, just feeding the system without getting information back, need for greater discipline etc.
Mike Eldon
From: bitange@jambo.co.ke
To: meldon@symphony.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: 05/28/2008 03:20 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Public Sector Roles (activities, motives & challenges) Day 8 of 10
Perhaps you can help here because most ordianary civil servants wrongly think that ICTs would replace them. This is where we have greatest resistance to ICTs. There have been numerous training programmes for all cadres in the civil service but until everybody accepts that ICTs are enablers, we shall continue to see sabotage from within. We should learn from Ugandans how they quickly implemented their Intergarted Financial Management Information System. It has taken us more than eight years and still we cannot claim to havinfg implemented the system. Majority of the users only see the negative side.
We require significant social transformation in order to achieve some of these initiatives. A little of benevolent dictatorship may come in handy. The Malaysians and Singaporeans did it and it worked. A democratic approach will not take us anywhere. We cannot do anything logical in terms of procurement of ICT products after implementing a flawed law.
Ndemo.
Hi,
Thanx to Barrack and Ndemo for your comments on Civil Society and Public sector. We still have one more day on the Public Sector role.
My take is thatI think the Govt has kicked off in the right direction with regard to initiatives for ICT4D. However, my feeling is that most of these have remained at a fairly high-level. Am not quite sure that the vision and urgency experienced at the top is shared at the bottom ranks of the Public Service.
More specifically, I am not quite sure that the odinary public servants have the right disposition to embrace ICTs. Finally, I doubt if there are sufficient, if any incentives to socialise the wider public service (teachers, nurses, police, chiefs and others) into the information age. It looks we do have the right strategies but lack an 'implementation strategy' i.e. we know what needs to be done but maybe shallow on how it would be done....i stand to be corrected.
walu.
--- Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote:
Members Commisioning of the e-government Secretariat, formation of the ICT board and liberization of the ICT sector have all been fantastic initiatives, however we need to strengthen Public private Sector collaborations if we are to realise more gain, key areas that we may focus on are Entrepreneurship training so that we may tap into the benefits of new technologies before they are obsolete, we must stop experimenting with technology and do business using technology, this brings in another aspect POLICY, there is likely to be a paradigm shift in the way businesses are run if we are to fully embrace technology as a matter of fact some businesses might totally disappear as a result of technology whereas new ones will emerge, the problem is that there are lots of boardroom games that stand in the way of enactment of some of this policies which must be dealt with may be we need some online mass action, the future looks bright but it is important to coordinate all ict4d initiatives whether fronted by Government, private or public sector
On 5/27/08, John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Morning all,
Today we wish to turn our attention to what
(Govt) is doing with regard to ICT4Ds.
From my observation, there has been quite some impetus in the last 5years or so on this regard. What comes to mind in no particular order, is the commissioning of the eGovt Secretariate and the ICT Board, the
sector through the Kenya Comm Act 1999, the gazettement of the the National ICT Policy, the Privatisation of the national Telco Provider and the initiation of
submarine project.
It would be nice for members to share their opinion on
the Public liberalization of ICT the TEAMs, the
activities and challenges surrounding the above and other government initiatives.
The floor is open, we have only today Tue May 27th and tomorrow on this.
walu.
kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to:
otieno.barrack@gmail.com
Unsubscribe or change your options at
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail....
-- Barrack O. Otieno ICWE Africa LTD P.o. Box 746 Nairobi 00100 Tel: +254721325277 +254726544442 +254202343960 www.icwe.co.ke http://projectdiscovery.or.ke National Bank Building Harambee Avenue 12th Floor
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: bitange@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"
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: meldon@symphony.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/meldon%40symphony.co.ke
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
This message was sent to: jwalu@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com
On May 22, 2008, at 8:16 PM, Leonard Mware wrote:
Lastly, we have another category of Civil Society (that includes KICTANET) involved in policy advocacy rather than implementation. Which of the two in your view is more relevant? the "implementing" civil society (less talk) or the "policy advocacy" civil society. It is said some countries are so efficient in churning out policy documents but very little is taking place on the ground. It also said that some Civil Societies in the name of advocacy hinder developement by over "advocating" issues such as environment and human rights. I want to suggest to the forum that Kicatenet should now come out strongly advocating for the implementation of the policies that it has helped nurture in Kenya.
Admittedly - certain Civil Societies get so caught up in talking that they either forget their is a 'doing' part or are caught completely off-balance when their demands/wishes are met and they are now invited to take action. I would venture to suggest that we have experienced a little bit of this in KICTANET and will use the Kenya ICT Policy and subsequent attempted drafting of an ICT bill as an example. Firstly the push and subsequent follow through on the ICT Policy from KICTANET was excellent and working as an MSP we rallied together Civil society, govt, private sector, academia, media etc... and produced a first class, first-time policy for the country and then saw it through approval and adoption by the Cabinet. We, however, seemed to have slipped and slided a little bit when the draft ICT Bill came to light. We were not very coherent in designing an intervention that would guide the process and instead reacted rather than responding to the opportunity. Fortunately it was not KICTANET alone, but almost all ICT stakeholders who were caught off- balance when the call came to provide input into the draft Bill. Such was the subsequent flurry of disconnected activity and inputs that the original draft didn't really change much and was so rough that when it went before Parliament it was thrown back to the drafters. So, we now have an opportunity to prepare ourselves. We know that it is not possible to address all the issues in the ICT sector with one Bill/Act. We now that there is a need for a certain level of detailed, specific Acts that will deal with far ranging issues such as electronic transactions, digital security and encryption as well as modifications of existing laws to incorporate ICT related issues such as admission of electronic evidence, cross-border issues with computer-based/aided crimes etc.... Are we ready yet? Brian
participants (9)
-
Barrack Otieno -
bitange＠jambo.co.ke -
Brian Munyao Longwe -
Fred Okono -
John Walubengo -
Leonard Mware -
MEldon＠symphony.co.ke -
Paul Kukubo -
Tim Unwin