La connexion à Internet au Bénin n'est pas une sinécure. Depuis quelques années et plus particulièrement ces derniers jours, la connexion à Internet est des plus désagréables au Bénin: Réseau déconnecté, connexion à faible débit: ce sont là les désagréments auxquels les cybernautes, les blogeurs et les gérants de cyber-cafés, sont confrontés. Ils sont souvent connectés où déconnectés. Malgré l'installation de la fibre optique qui traverse le Bénin, le problème persiste et est des plus préoccupants à l'heure de la numerisation de tous les services administratifs. Les fournisseurs de services internet au Bénin n'arrivent pas à surmonter les difficultés et la qualité des services fournis sont plus ou moins mis en cause. C'est pour comprendre ce qui se passe que je propose de publier en fin de semaine une interview exclusive du ministre délégué auprès du président de la République, chargé des Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication, Désiré Adadja. A suivre... 

On Wednesday, December 9, 2009, Dr. Calestous Juma, a Kenyan national who teaches "the practice of international development" at the Harvard Kennedy School, gave an interesting talk on Africa's role in science, technology and globalization. Dr. Juma’s presentation was part of the John de la Mothe Memorial Lecture Series at the University of Ottawa. In spite of the wintry weather, the event was well-attended and the audience included, among others, Fred Gault (former Director of the Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division at Statistics Canada and Visiting Fellow at IDRC), IDRC's Bruce Currie-Alder, and a couple members of the diplomatic corps in Ottawa, including His Excellency Dr. Abraham S. Nkomo from South Africa and Clara Randrianjara, a councillor from the Madagascar Embassy. 

The title of Dr. Juma’s presentation was "Africa in the Age of Technological Interdependence: Challenges and Opportunities for International Cooperation". At the beginning Dr. Juma gave the impression that he was going to focus on climate change, and although he discussed, for example, wind power and white power LED (whose lack of heat-generation is not a loss for the tropics), he didn't limit his presentation to that topic. Indeed, he highlighted several topical systemic issues, including:

-Broadband*. Dr. Juma noted that the current push to connect Africa with the world has received a massive boost from the World Cup, and that the laying of cable has been "driven by FIFA's timetable." He also pointed to the major decrease in the cost of laying fibre optic cable.

-The evolution of the cell phone and its current predominance in Africa (he cited as examples M-Pesa’s success and expansion to 25 countries outside of Kenya and solar-powered ultrasound machines which can send images to mobile phones).

-Infrastructure (railroad, power transmission, primary roads) and the challenges that their inadequacy in Africa poses for regional trade, for example.

On the nexus between climate change and food security, he pointed to Lake Chad as an example of damage caused by climate change, noting that the lake has decreased by approximately 80 percent since the 1960s. He believes that developing countries must not follow the carbon-intensive path forged by industrialized countries, and he is excited about the prospects for Africa benefitting from pre-existing knowledge about technologies (which he says doubles every 14 months, not including satellite-generated knowledge in support of defence).   

He is an advocate of science and technology policy studies, especially with universities as the locus. He is a strong proponent of practical education and he laments the fact that, as he views it, too many Africans are educated for jobs that don't exist. He is also interested in 'science parks' such as the one which exists in Western Kenya, which parallels one in Gujarat, India, a city with strong historical and current ties with East Africa. 

It is also interesting to note that, when asked about India's and China's interests in Africa, he was critical of what he calls "whining" on the part of the West. Dr. Juma noted that China has invested in mineral-poor countries and is training Zambian engineers, has built two engineering schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is financing the construction of a dam in Ghana in exchange for cocoa beans (presumably the Bui hydroelectric project, which is being carried out by Sino-Hydro Corporation Limited of China). 

Dr. Juma’s "take-home message" was that, under conditions of crisis such as climate change, doing nothing is more dangerous than taking a risk. He underscored this point using the image of a wheelie-popping zebra on a motorbike zooming away from a pouncing lion, which he showed us in two phases, beginning with a view of a seemingly reckless zebra with a death wish and then revealing the feline motivation for the zebra’s speedy getaway.

On the whole, I think that little of what Dr. Juma highlighted in his presentation would be a great surprise to the Acacia community of ICT4D researchers, although he is clearly very knowledgeable about many of the issues that interest and concern the program. Dr. Juma’s experience and expertise in African higher education in S&T and his knowledge of partnering (universities, business, and government) would also be of great interest and value to ICT4D scholars and practitioners alike.

On a stylistic note, at no point did Dr. Juma stand behind the podium or read from slides; he moved around at the front and used only slides with minimal text and a good mix of graphics and just a few graphs. At one point he even threw a laptop from the One Laptop Per Child program (in which he was involved) on the floor to demonstrate its robustness, and managed to get a chuckle out of the audience when two people sitting at the front were unable to figure out how to open it. In short, he is an authoritative, engaging and entertaining speaker, and would certainly be a good option as a guest speaker for an Acacia/IDRC audience.  

*Dr. Juma’s African cable map can be viewed in Ethan Zuckerman's blog. Based on my reading of the latter, it seems Dr. Juma delivered a very similar talk at the Berkman Center in September, and Zuckerman has written an eloquent and comprehensive synopsis which is worth the read.

 je n'ai jamais participé à un forum aussi interessant et aussi réuni. Vraiment je dis un grand bravo a tous les participants mais surtout au groupe de blogueurs francophones et anglophones sans oublier les membres du CRDI qui ont accompli un travail extraordinaire. je tenais vraiment à publier ses écrits car un travail bien  fait merite une récompense et cette récompense c'est la connaissance que nous avons tous appris durant ce forum. Bonne continuation au CRDI  et à tous les participants. et j'espere que nous aurons aussi l'occassion prochianement de nous rencontrer avec un autre forum qui je l'espére sera encore plus fructueux en connaissances.

Merci à vous tous

I missed ACA2K's presentation at the ARLF, so I luckily had a chance to pop by at their Dissemination Seminar in Johannesburg this week.  This is my recap of the meeting (can also be found at:  http://kdiga.blogspot.com/2009/12/aca2k-dissemination-seminar-recap.html)

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I recently had the chance to attend the ACA2K Dissemination Seminar held this month at the University of Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Hosted by the Link Centre, the half-day event was funded through the ACA2K’s supporters, IDRC and Shuttleworth Foundation and was an opportunity to share their recent research findings within the realm of copyright law and its influence on access to educational materials in Africa.

The event hosted about 18 representatives ranging from local librarians, NGOs, to government– all wishing to learn how copyright legislation was affecting their perception of the education system particularly in ensuring reach of textbooks, journals, and other learning resources were reaching students and other users in South Africa. While a large array of research findings were addressed, participants were specifically focused on finding the way forward to ensure that a balanced, contextualized law for copyright holders and users of learning materials is accurately delivered and thus to make certain the progressive socio-economic development in their country like South Africa.

Listening to the presentations by ACA2K’s South Africa and Mozambique team, and the round of comments/questions from the participants, I was amazed by the genuine desire many had to better understand copyright law, and to figure out how to participate in change in their respective disciplines and in a sustainable way. There was a real interest in how to improve access of learning materials particularly for the sensory disabled (such as supporting the upcoming Treaty for the Visually Impaired to be presented at WIPO’s standing committee next week), which in its current copyright state, has no legislation facilitating the access to materials for the blind or disabled. Yet enshrined in the Constitution, the law states that the visually impaired cannot be discriminated and there must be ways found to deliver them their rights to education. Secondly, the team discussed how updated copyright policy should start to match much of the innovation in distance education and the content which they provide to students. While distance learning (with use of electronic materials) is flourishing in many parts of Africa, many institutions can be unaware whether such online portals falls under “fair use” for students or if they are liable to pay royalty fees for sharing materials to their students. The law is vague and in South Africa, the Copyright Act has not changed since 1978 and cannot possibly cover such new innovation under this outdated Act (but I understand is currently under discussion for change). For me, I saw strong advocacy could also go towards indigenous knowledge and how learners need to be given provision to access such materials which affect learning about their cultural heritage. It was also incredible to learn how the eight African study countries had all established copyright law and they had chosen to adopt policies which exceeds that of the minimum requirement by international standards.

The ACA2K has been an effective voice in international fora like WIPO, and they push for the advocacy support needed to ensure that Africa is part of those discussions at the higher levels of international law standards. ACA2K has really served to bridge African issues right down to the under-resourced user of learning materials to governmental change in copyright law. This group is able to establish enough strong rigourous research to attract the ear of international groups and build for further research in intellectual property in Africa. Such an approach does not come easy, as the team endured team member changes to physical distance to language barriers, the group has made major strives in the last two years. Despite inadequate or poorly maintained infrastructure, the team bypasses these barriers and has produced high quality peer-reviewed works. By partnering with local African researchers, such as those from the University of Cape Town or Universidad Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique), we have found that those researchers will have profound effects on their own government law and being the natural advocates for change and improvement in their nation and their fellow citizens.

As a next step, ACA2K hopes to continue their advocacy work and find ways to reach change in the areas identified in their research. I think that I saw several exciting potential partnerships emerge between ACA2K and lobby groups for the blind, distance education and possibly indigenous knowledge initiatives. I look forward to seeing the group thrive to maintain their African network of like-minded lawyers and Intellectual Property experts and continue to assist other African nations map out their copyright law history and ensure that they deliver impactful research as has been conducted by the ACA2K team.

This blog entry comes from my personal blog:http://kdiga.blogspot.com/

In the beginning of October (yes, I know... almost two months later!), I had a chance to participate in an extraordinary event in Dakar called the Acacia Research and Learning Forum. After nearly a year + of planning, this meeting brought together just over 150 researchers, bloggers, and other brilliant African minds. The meeting was to take stock of the incredible African research in information and communication technologies that has been produced in at least the last decade and have a look forward to the future of ICT4D research in Africa.

ARLF: an Innovative System: My thoughts

In my perspective, the Acacia research and learning forum (ARLF) had some similarities to an innovation system. In both an innovation system and the ARLF, the relevant players from different spheres (such as academic, government, entrepreneurs, civil society, etc.) of Africa’s development come together and became aware of the extent of research through which ICT4D exists in Africa. The forum raised new refreshing ideas on how different disciplinary work could complement each other. In being aware of the diverse research being conducted in Africa towards development, the participants became aligned towards the shared interest of how their African ICT4D research has helped to better understand the economic and social implications of ICTs. This alignment has helped to reinforce the joint commitment towards Africa’s development. The Forum gathered participants who are partners with IDRC and this built trust allowed researchers to express their project or research network successes as well as their fears in an open and honest space.

Forum Methodology:  The forum processes were innovative and participatory particularly to encourage new thought and learning. Many participants were excited in the ever changing format of the forum, moving from styles like an Open Space format to Speed Geeking. The process however, had the risk of overwhelming participants of the vast extent of ICT4D research and may have participants feel less direction in a more vast view of development. In other words the attempt to become holistic and organic in thinking particularly in such an interdisciplinary field as ICT4D can leave one uncertain on how to ensure inclusiveness of all development aspects of their project without losing their core objective or under limited funding.

On the other hand, this new method of learning can also be transformative and help to foster refreshing, and novel ideas (such as aspects of privacy, surveillance, and security in a networked society) to the betterment of the African research networks and projects. The participants also became so absorbed in the new un-conference process that some wished to adopt similar methodologies of learning to their institution.

At the end of the day, the forum shared how our partners have attempted to tackle their research projects with different levels of contact with policymakers, communication for influence, capacity building, gender research and methodological development. The Acacia Team is at a point in their timeline to ask when does one know when there is the right mix of development outcomes for a project or research network given certain levels of capabilities as well as budget constraints?

Successes of the forum: The fear of a solely Anglophone or Francophone dominated event dissipated from the participants as the organizing committee made concerted efforts and pro-active plans for bilingual opportunities in all sessions. Besides the use of translators through out the event, the online coverage pre-event (http://acaciaforum.net) as well as during the Forum were attempted to be covered in both English and French. In response to this success, language became a topical issue even in regards to African localization and the importance of the participation of all society members by overcoming language barriers.

(Kiss Abrahams from GRACE tells us about research in Zambia)

Gender Research: The presence of at least five GRACE network members as well as the strong messaging of gender justice through GRACE’s network leader clearly generated strong interest in gender research among participants at the forum. It was certainly uplifting to find that when participants were asked to join a themed group of their interest, the gender group comprised of leaders from a Radio / ICT project, ACA2K, and PanAf, to name a few. Ramata found from her quick question of where teams fell under, “whether gender research was important in ICT4D” versus “how gender research can be conducted in ICT4D projects,” all participants chose the latter. The Forum, I believed improved the thinking of gender research among the participants however I wonder if whether we may have missed a chance to further help participants delve into the gender research questions that they for their projects and research networks.

(Martin, blogger on left)

Collaborative Tools: The combination of the African Commons Project, the selected Francophone bloggers and the web 2.0 savvy participants themselves help to populate the successful online bilingual documentation of the Learning Forum. The flexible open-source webpage platform developed and assisted by Doug Dyson and them the forum coverage through means of liveblogging, audio podcasts, flickr photos, twitter feeds, and youtube videos and other collaborative tools have helped to build capacity not only among the bloggers but the participants themselves. Such tools also assisted in ensuring partners who were not able to attend as well as others interested in the ICT4D Africa sphere could follow the forum proceedings real-time and shall remain open for use to all post Forum.

Ethics and Best Practices in ICT4D research
Lastly, a major highlight of the Forum for me was to engage in a ICT4D methodology workshop on the last day. At first, I thought it was merely going to be a review of quantitative and qualitative methods and research paradigms. Well the debate moved into further on the ethics of research and best practices of research. Major questions included how the networked society and globalization could possibly help in missing rich indigenous knowledge if not captured. How do African researchers ensure that the research initiatives that they take on board reflect on their own values and beliefs, thus ensuring production of local research.

"Today do we have enough intellectual confidence to challenges availed to us in a globalized, networked society?"

My favourite part was when one Francophone researcher brings up a quote by Khalil Gibran: “And I have found both freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us.”

A researcher can risk being isolated or misunderstood if he/she attempts to research in his/her own paradigm. In the African context, the current global framework is not interested in an African ‘paradigm’. The question is: can African researchers identify where they stand in research from an African perspective?

Further debate asks how does one frame a question and identify the right question and words. Moreover, "When questions are provoked, a researcher is responsible to take action. This is our ability to take part in research as well as part of our academic responsibilities. "

Overall, Dakar was an incredible learning and musical experiences for me. I can only look forward to the future in Africa.

Savez-vous que la réduction de la fracture numérique n’est pas seulement l’affaire du Sud ? Tenez la France travaille à l’amélioration de la réduction de la fracture numérique au plan national. Une loi vient d’aterrir au parlement. Quelle est la substance de la loi ? Tapez sur ce lien http://martinsaihonnou.blogg.org/themes-tic-93886.html

                   :

Ask any of the Acacia Learning Forum participants and they will be sure to tell you that the Forum was not a four-day timeout where nothing more was required of delegates to sit passively and take in a lot of information.  This event was about participation, contribution and action!  And day four's tutorial sessions mirrored the hands-on nature of the event, providing participants with valuable, practical guidance and at the same time encouraging them to share their own stories, ideas and practices.

The three tutorials have been condensed into 'toolkits' which provide an overview of the key lessons highlighted during each workshop as well as links to the tutorial presentations.   Both tutorials and toolkits have been designed to provide participants with information that will assist with practical implementation within the three focus areas.  Please pass this valuable information on to your colleagues. 

These pages can be edited by forum members so please feel free to share any additional information, notes, case studies or resources.  Tutorials can be accessed here:

Tutorial Option 1 entitled Strengthening theory and methodology for ICT4D research
Tutorial 1 toolkit available here:http://acaciaforum.net/pg/pages/view/3037/

Tutorial Option 2 entitled Communicating research results for influencing policy and practice
Tutorial 2 toolkit available here: http://acaciaforum.net/pg/pages/view/3053/

Tutorial Option 3 entitled Building sustainable projects: Alternative fundraising methods
Tutorial 3 toolkit available here: http://acaciaforum.net/pg/pages/view/3050/

Group photo of Acacia Learning Forum Participants

On the final day of the conference, the Acacia Learning Forum participants posed for a group picture to mark the conclusion of what has been billed as an enormously successful event.  Amid much good humour, TACP took a picture that we hope captures the enthusiasm and optimism that was displayed by participants throughout the duration of the Forum.  You can view the picture here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43130734@N03/4049145953/sizes/l/

Video interviews of Forum presenters

A number of the key Forum presenters were interviewed by TACP and these video shorts will be embedded onto the Forum homepage within the next few days.  In the meantime, you can access the videos on YouTube at the following urls:

Innovation in the field of ICT4D: Mammo Muchie

Reflecting on Research Outcomes: Ricard Wilson-Grau

Innovation in the field of ICT4D: Richard Jefferson

The Great Debate: A Recap by Tusu Tusubira

The Great Debate: A Recap - Alison Gillwald

Final video wrap ... in English and French!

Look out for the final summary video which will provide both a backdrop for the Forum and a brief narrative of the four-day event.  The video will be available on YouTube early next week.  The good news is that this video will also be sub-titled in French and uploaded to DotSubfor the benefit of Acacia Francophone members.  We'll provide you with the relevant urls within the next few days.

My dear Acacia community ,

It is with great pleasure to bring to your attention that :

Enhanced Technologies (SARL) , a social entrepreneurship initiative based at AUI incubator and created as a spinoff of IDRC-funded eFez project and led by AUI graduate, Mrs. Houda Chakiri, was   selected among top ten finalists of Sawaed contest 2008-2009 for generating innovative ideas on using ICT to promote Arabic Content in the Arab World. Launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation in June 2008, Sawaed competition received 131 submissions from 16 Arab countries. Enhanced Technologies, the only representative of Morocco, received an award during a magnificent Sawaed ceremony that was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

More information available at: http://www.mbrfoundation.ae/English/Pages/11October09.aspx

Brief overview on Enhanced Technologies (ET):

Enhanced Technologies (ET) is a spinoff of AUI created after the eFez project funded by the International Development Research Center (IDRC). ET has worked towards contributing to Morocco’s development via designing and implementing digital technologies’ solutions to address specific development needs. ET has introduced innovation to various public administrations in Morocco. These include:

·    “Caisse Central de Garantie” (CCG);

·    Wilayas of Fez-Boulmane, Meknes-Tafilalt, Taza-Hoceima-Taounate, Grand Casablanca, Doukalla Abda and Oriental

·    Provinces of El Hajeb, Ifrane, Safi and Larache  

·    Municipalities of Boumalne Dades, Fez-Agdal county, and Fez municipality. 

 ET team’s core competencies fall into these categories:

·    Software Development: via designing; developing; implementing; deploying, and scaling up/rolling out integrated and comprehensive e-government systems that enable automated workflow and related service delivery;

·    Records digitization: via converting paper records to digitized format; and

·     Technology transfer via interactive training, and coaching.

ET Credentials & Awards:

·   2006: ET was selected to become a member in Morocco’s  : "Association of Information Technology Professionals" (Known in Morocco as APEBI); and since then, it has become a recognized element often solicited to represent the APEBI network abroad

·    2007: The excellence qualities of Enhanced Technologies’ different contributions were acknowledged at the global level: Enhanced Technologies was selected among the 100 winners of “Global Young Social Entrepreneurs' Competition”, only 4 companies were selected in North Africa and Middle East region. The competition was celebrated during the Third Global Knowledge Conference (GK3) held from the 11th to the 13rd December 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia http://www.globalknowledge.org/gkps_portal/index.cfm

·   2008: ET received award during the Fifth conference on Scientific Research Outlook (SRO5) in the Arab World 

·   2009: ET was selected A semi-Finalist in King Abdullah II Award for Youth Innovation & Achievement (KAAYA): from 950 applicants, ET was selected among top 20 applicants as a semi-Finalist

·   2009: ET was one of the few selected from 200 candidates who received ICTD2009 travel/participation scholarship  to attend the 3rd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development ( ICTD2009 ), held late April 2009 at Carnegie Mellon 's state-of-the-art campus in Doha, Qatar. Speakers included a Keynote by William H. Gates, Chairman of Microsoft Corporation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Honorary Participants included Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation,

·    2009: ET was selected among top ten finalists of Sawaed contest 2008-2009.

As soon as this announcement was posted on Al Akhawayn University News website: http://www.aui.ma/PresidentsCabinet/News/news09/news09-index.htm#sawaed , numerous Morocco’s news papers made/disseminated coverage stories on Enhanced Technologies; below is a sample of the media coverage:

1. http://www.map.ma/fr/sections/lire_aussi/un_operateur_marocai
2. http://www.lematin.ma/Actualite/Express/Article.asp?id=121550
3. http://www.aufaitmaroc.com/fr/actualite/economie/article/un-operateur-marocain-en-tic-prime-a-dubai/
4. http://www.letemps.ma/actualites/maroc/un-operateur-marocain-en-matiere-des-tic-prime-dubai15583.html
5. http://www.entreprendre.ma/Un-operateur-marocain-en-matiere-des-TIC-prime-a-Dubai_a2413.html
6. http://www.itmaroc.com/systemes/enhanced-technologies-prime-a-dubai.html 
7. http://www.yabiladi.com/article-economie-2198.html
8. http://www.marocwebo.ma/info/enhanced-technologies
9. http://www.newstin.fr/tag/fr/151856357
10. http://www.bonjourdubai.com/article.item.3258/un-operateur-marocain-prime-a-dubai-tic.html

It is worth mentioning that additional news articles in Arabic and French are expected to appear this week; and few interviews are scheduled to take place in the upcoming few days.              

Mme Gisèle Yitamben est camerounaise ; présidente de l’Association pour l’Assistance des Femmes Entrepreneurs ( ASAFE). Elle participe au forum Acacia 2009 en qualité de membre de la société civile. Ayant activement pris part aux débats sur le thème de l’élimination des obstacles à la participation à la société de l’information, elle parle de l’impact des Tics dans la vie de la gente féminine. Les expériences du Cameroun et du Sénégal sont très édifiantes. Vous pouvez  écouter l’intégralité de l’entretien.

Réalisation Martin Aïhonnou, reporter de Acacia09 (http://martinsaihonnou.blogg.org) 

Dear Friends of Acacia,

Please find below information about the latest issue of Information Technologies and International Development. From pages 21-34 you will find a research article titled "A Rural-Urban Comparative Case Study of Gendered Perception and Use of ICTs", which was submitted by Acacia Program Officer Chaitali Sinha.

Jennifer

Crossing the disciplines ...

Linked by their common push to cross disciplines and to define and refine the standards of information and communication technologies research, the articles in this issue of Information Technologies and International Development offer many nuanced views into instances where practicality has frustrated accepted theory.

Eight compelling contributions describe diverse studies conducted in developing regions all over the world. These studies make use of both large-scale, heavily quantitative research models and smaller-scale, more qualitative models, and they focus on technology applications as diverse as car-battery-powered rural cell phones and highly profitable urban PC gaming businesses.  Each one, however, brings real-world insight into the debate about best practices and how researchers, either in the field or laboratory, ought to conduct their work as they strive to improve the world through applied technology.

Please visit http://itidjournal.org to read this special section, as well as many other topics of interest in the field of ICT and development study.