Networking communities breakaway group

1
Networking communities breakaway group

• IDRC Acacia workshop
• 29 August
• DBSA
• Chair Jamo Macanze

2
Projects reported

• Several projects
• Applications for Rural Town LED
• Poverty Alleviation (SA, Mozambique, Kenya)
• IUCN forestry wildlife in Mozambique
• Telecomms under-serviced area license (SA)
• 2 pilot telecentres (Mozambique)
• Christian council peace building (Moz)
• Schoolnet technical view (SA)
• USA Telecentre programme (SA)

3
High Points

• Enthusiasm, communities supportive
• Willingness to learn commitement
• IUCN radio ICT project and less illegal
  hunting. Social use unplanned (e.g. health)
• ICT great opportunity for rural areas
• Moz Tc launching, Pres PM, 50,000 visitors per
  month, community wants continue central point
  in Moz floods
• ICT can support peace building

4
Low points

• Low level of ICT skills
• MANY infrastructural problems electricity
• Quality cost of telephones!
• Project life too short cant show
  sustainability, policy change or livelihood
  impact in few years
• Funds low in relation to need
• Lack of policy clarity / regulatory support

5
People

• Examples of enthusiasm, interest
• Can use ICT for local knowledge experience
  concretise, share disseminate
• Some pictures shown

6
To do differently

• Prefer more sharing of information
• Projects should be complementary tie into to
  related projects (integrated) people
• Moz Tc User survey many uses, not SMME
• Can be over-focus on technology uses more
  important
• Need coherent national policy especially in
  rural areas