Dear Benson, The Rural Information System is an excellent project! Please do put me in touch with them. I had heard of the project and its success before and was hoping to develop something similar in terms of commodity information exchange with the producer groups here in Kenya. One aspect I am very interested in is the increased profitability of the farmers, in terms of concrete community level data. I am also interested in finding out more information about the hardware, software, and Internet used if possible. Many thanks, Crystal Kigoni On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 2:42 PM, Benson Mwangi <benson.mwangi@gmail.com>wrote:

Dear Crystal,

Some years back, I was involved in setting up a Rural Information system in Uganda. The system this far has been very successful and It's built on the model of a "Revolving Fund" where organised farming groups are given ICT equipments as a loan and they repay over a long period while the money they repay is essentially ploughed back to the project to buy more equipment for other groups. The project is supported by International Institute for Communications and Development(IICD), I-Network Uganda, SNV and Uganda Commodity Exchange. I believe there's something you can learn from the project as well as them learning from your project. You could get more information from http://www.uce.co.ug/ris/

Infact, the groups were able to negotiate for bandwidth/ pricing cuts from ISPs with success.

If Interested in discussions/ collaborations, I could put you through the current project managers.

Kind Regards, <http://www.uce.co.ug/ris/> ============================== Benson Mwangi Irungu PhD Student-NeuroImaging University of Dundee Level 5 Centre for Neurosciences Ninewells Hospital and Medical School Dundee DD1 9SY United Kingdom Personal Web: http://sites.google.com/site/bensonmwangi/ Mob: +44-7502123641

On 2 February 2010 10:54, Crystal Watley Kigoni < crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae> wrote:

...

Thank you, Liko.

I must admit the one of the reasons I love Kenya so much is because of the fantastic rural farming communities. As a matter of fact over 70% of our population is actively "employed" in the farming sector and this population also tend to be impoverished and isolated. They are always in the forefront of my mind.

The kiosks are owned and operated by community based organizations and youth groups as income generating activities and will be entirely self sustaining. We do not plan to have donor involvement beyond subsidizing the initial purchase price. Our rationale is that the less that the groups have to pay for start up the sooner they will realize profits and the more motivated they will be.

As the price of the kiosk includes all structural elements (ie no rent or electric bills) so the overhead is extremely low (maintenance and Internet access for under 10,000 Ksh). Youth from the group are employed as the kiosk operators thus giving them an income. The remaining profits are utilized in two ways: for the youth and community to fund additional income generating activities and to provide service for the community members in the greatest need (orphans, widows, HIV infected). Most groups are interested in agricultural businesses such as bee keeping, fish farming, and dairies.

While the technology in itself is wonderful we are most interested in what socioeconomic change can result FROM the utilization of the technology.

Asante sana.

Best regards,

Crystal

On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 1:21 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Crystal

first ... kudos ... your heart is in the right place (Kimilili, Sirisia, Kanduyi) :)

Question ... are these RIK's sustainable ? do they make money ?

Or donors will have to keep funding them for years to come ...

Thanks

On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 12:03 PM, Crystal Watley Kigoni < crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae> wrote:

...

Dear Paul and Edith,

Since you have mentioned other projects rolling out ICT for development in Kenya, I would like to mention our work with the Rural Internet Kiosks (RIKs) once again.

We are rolling out the RIK as an alternative form of cybercafe or digital village in a number of locations in Kenya this year. The first will be in Msambweni constituency in Coastal province, followed by 8 in Webuye constituency and 1 in Kimilili at the local library. We are also working on projects in Siaya, Sirisia, and Kanduyi. Hopefully the list will grow as we are able to finalize our funding streams. This year our goal is to implement at least 20 sites will our eyes towards the skies for many more. As of yet we have not had any support from the ICT Board, however, we would appreciate their participation. Perhaps this could be a complementary PASHA model.

The kiosks are equipped with local WiFi to make true digital villages with access for all.

Please see the attached file for a presentation with images of the Rural Internet Kiosk and the documentary we created on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/ruralinternetkiosks.

Best regards,

Crystal Kigoni

-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/

Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae

Society for New Communications Research Fellow 2010 http://sncr.org/

Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa

"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 11:11 AM, Paul Kukubo <pkukubo@ict.go.ke> wrote:

...

Edith

Thanks for the questions. we have been through Telecentres extensively. We have developed partnerships to understand the model as best as we can and therefore the Pilot Pashas have support from both Cisco, Telkom Kenya. Extensive planing has been undertaken.

The key issue with the Pasha Model is sustainability. The project objectives are to extend the reach of connectivity and government services as well as provide a model for grassroots communities to develop an ICT based livelihood. It is an entrepreneurial model.

To answer the question someone else asked, we shall raise communication to rural communities via mass media only when the project actually starts going into full roll-out later this year.

it would be an interesting to receive some comments from the experiences of the private sector digital villages project operators, as this exists as well.

Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya

12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street

Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960

Fax: +254 20 2211962 Cell: + 254 735 180001

website: www.ict.go.ke skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub

Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment Sent from Nairobi, Kenya

On Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 10:58 PM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke>wrote:

...

Dear Kukubo,

Thanks for this update - it would be nice to get these more regularly and other KICTB projects, otherwise stakeholders get very anxious!

I recall that KICTB had committed to 10 pasha centres in the first round - are those and more still in the plan with the target of one per constituency. why 5 only?

There are very many documented experiences with telecentres (which pasha centres really are) - are efforts in place to learn from the past mistakes - I worry that some of the challenges you've mentioned here were known 10 years ago. what's new?

telecentre.org offers numerous lessons and there are various research studies done in early 2000s to mid 2000s about such centres including studies on business models - it will help to draw on these rich resources.

I would also argue that a stand alone centre should not be categorized as a digital village - digital villages should provide radius of connectivity - and anyone within that radius can then get connected wirelessly - these are the innovative first mile solutions that we should pursue (and ensure local capacity is built to deploy and maintain them - hence the term "first mile"). We'll create jobs and build our innovation systems.

just some thoughts

Edith ------------------------------ *From:* Paul Kukubo [pkukubo@ict.go.ke] *Sent:* 01 February 2010 12:22

*To:* Edith Adera *Cc:* ke users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Kenya ICT board: What is the real problem?

Edith

The digital villages project (Pasha) is still on track.

The Board sends out regular communication to those who underwent the first lot of entrepreneurship training in October 2009, as well as other trainees applicants due to be trained in the next phases over the next two years.. The portal www.pasha.co.ke is also active and is updated to keep all informed on the progress. This portal is being enhanced continuously.

A 2nd lot of 1500 people from all over the country are due to be trained in this first quarter of this year. The eventual target for training is 7500 in the next 2 years.

The board has now finalized the Grants Manual, a document that provides the basis of how the funding for this grant to entrepreneurs will be administered. Each entrepreneur will have an opportunity to competitively apply for a grant to fund his start-up costs (or expansion costs for those who have some level of establishment). The board will also provide a technical support arrangement for the centers across the country for a fixed period.

These Pasha centers will be self sustaining and entrepreneurs themselves will determine what specific services they provide based on their local circumstances. They will also act as one of the main gateways for government online services.

There are 5 Pasha Pilot centres. in Kangundo, Gairrisa, Malindi, Mukuru (industrial Area), Meru, We continue learning about specific issues on the ground from these sites. Issues such as business model, infrastructure requirement, public uptake and demand for services. One key learning so far is that this project is in great demand for varying reasons across the country and that even if there is no 'one size fits all', citizens will adopt the centers to suit their needs.

For details about the actual Pasha process visit this link on ours site http://www.ict.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&Itemid=133

We welcome further questions and comments and encourage you to help us maintain public interest in this important project, which even we at the board are the first to admit, has taken longer than originally envisioned. Indeed projects such as this do take a long time and stakeholder anxiety is to be expected.

We shall keep you informed more regularly.

Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya

12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street

Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960

Fax: +254 20 2211962 Cell: + 254 735 180001

website: www.ict.go.ke skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub

Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment

On Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 10:44 AM, Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke>wrote:

> Good questions Rebecca - whatever happened to the digital village > projects - is it a case of failed promises? > > It would be nice to get official updates on some of these initiatives > critical for this country. > > Edith > > ------------------------------ > *From:* kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke[kictanet-bounces+eadera= > idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Rebecca Wanjiku [ > rebeccawanjiku@yahoo.com] > *Sent:* 01 February 2010 06:33 > *To:* Edith Adera > > *Cc:* ke users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > *Subject:* [kictanet] Kenya ICT board: What is the real problem? > > The promise of BPO marketing, digital villages..... > > www.wanjiku.co.ke > > Tel. 254 720 318 925 > > blog: wanjiku.co.ke > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > >

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-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/

Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae

Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa

"You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi

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-- Crystal "Naliaka" Watley Kigoni Executive Director Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development crystal@voicesofafrica.org http://www.voicesofafrica.org/ Intersat Africa, Ltd Rural Internet Kiosks Project Coordinator crystal.kigoni@intersat.ae Twitter: VOA_Crystal Skype: crystal.naliaka Facebook group: Voices of Africa "You must be the change you wish to see" - Gandhi