[kictanet] Kenya ICT board: What is the real problem?

Mon Feb 8 11:25:01 EAT 2010

Paul,

Thanks for this comprehensive response. "Sustainability" remains one of the key challenges of community telecentres - the issue of sustainability has sub-components to it - programatic, management, ownership, technical, financial, etc...areas that continue to be investigated to provide deeper insights.

You may wish to take a look at a rigorous 5 year research study being undertaken on "sustainability of telecentres" in a number of Africa countries funded by telecentre.org (IDRC) - it's cutting edge stuff and one of its kind as it tuckles this crucial issue.

Pls contact Araba Sey [arabasey at u.washington.edu] for more information.

Good Luck!

Edith

________________________________
From: Paul Kukubo [mailto:pkukubo at ict.go.ke]
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 11:12 AM
To: Edith Adera
Cc: ke users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya ICT board: What is the real problem?

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<http://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 at idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera at 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<http://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 at ict.go.ke<mailto:pkukubo at 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<http://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<http://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 at idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera at 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<http://idrc.or.ke>@lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://lists.kictanet.or.ke> [kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke<http://idrc.or.ke>@lists.kictanet.or.ke<http://lists.kictanet.or.ke>] On Behalf Of Rebecca Wanjiku [rebeccawanjiku at yahoo.com<mailto:rebeccawanjiku at 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<http://www.wanjiku.co.ke>

Tel. 254 720 318 925

blog: wanjiku.co.ke<http://wanjiku.co.ke>

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