<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">AFRINIC is running an initiative that aims to encourage innovation in the African continent. More details can be found on <a href="http://fireafrica.org">http://fireafrica.org</a> The deadline for submission on 31st May 2013. Here are the details of the Awards:<div><br><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><div><br></div><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><blockquote type="cite"><div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"><div class="moz-forward-container"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></font></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; "> <o:p></o:p></span></font></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Due to immense interest in the FIRE Programme Awards 2013, we are extending the deadline, again. We don’t want you to miss out, so here is your last opportunity to apply for the awards.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">The deadline for submission is now 31 May 2013! That gives you more than a month to apply. So get ready, and start applying.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">To join the select group of FIRE winners, you must apply for the 2013 Awards. The winner gets US$ 3,000.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">The Fund for Internet Research and Education (FIRE) is an initiative of AFRINIC, the regional Internet registry for Africa that aims to encourage innovation and find creative, accessible and acceptable solutions to Africa’s ICT challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Applications are open from 15 March 2013 to 31 May 2013.</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">The FIRE Award will be given to initiatives “already completed or in their final implementation phase” and aligned to the funding categories and eligibility criteria 2013. There will be one winner for each category.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Categories for 2013:</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Innovation on access provision:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><b> </b>ICT access is a common issue in the African region, especially for services that require broadband connectivity. Innovative solutions offering low cost deployment, low power consumption and low maintenance that expanded fixed and mobile access to the Internet through new forms of technical and organisational arrangements as well as improved the quality of access based on issues of accessibility, disability and linguistic diversity.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">E-Development: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">The development, deployment and enhancement of content, applications and solutions to support timely and relevant information dissemination on a large scale using a range of network infrastructures through a variety of devices.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><b>Freedom of expression:</b> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Initiatives related to freedom of expression, freedom of association, privacy, security, consumer’s rights, new forms of intellectual property in the digital environment, and a wider range of issues related to Internet and human rights.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">In addition to the above categories, there will be a Community Choice Award category for the best social media campaign. The winner will be a project receiving the most number of votes from the community.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></font></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">For more information on the Award and application process, please contact:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Vymala Thuron, <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:fireprogram@afrinic.net">fireprogram@afrinic.net</a> and visit our website: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.fireafrica.org/">www.fireafrica.org</a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Visit our website: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/883-2013-fire-awards">http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/903-fire-awards-deadline-extended-due-to-great-public-interest</a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">[Version française]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">L’Award FIRE 2013</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Chers Collègues,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Vu l'intérêt suscitée par le Award du Programme FIRE 2013, AFRINIC a le plaisir de vous informer que la période de dépôt des candidatures est prolongée.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Nous souhaiterions vous donner l'opportunité de remporter ce prestigieux prix, la date de soumission de vos projets est maintenant fixée au 31 mai 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Vous avez maintenant l'opportunite de soumettre votre candidature jusqu'au 31 mai 2013. N'attendez plus !<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Vous contribuez à l’innovation des TIC en Afrique à travers vos projets? AFRINIC invite les organisations à soumettre des projets afin qu’ils soient considérés pour un Award de $ 3000. Rejoignez le groupe sélect des gagnants de l’Award FIRE maintenant.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><u><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Les applications sont prolongées au 31 mai 2013.</span></u><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Les projets devront être déjà complétés ou en phase terminale, en ligne avec les catégories et critères d’éligibilités 2013. Un gagnant sera designe pour chaque categorie</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b><u><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Catégories 2013:</span></u></b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Innovation en matière d’accès</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; "><b>:</b> La problématique en matière d’accès est pertinente pour la région africaine plus spécifiquement pour la connectivite à haut débit. Des solutions peu coûteuses, à faible consommation énergétique et d’entretien facile sont requises afin d’étendre l’accès fixe et mobile à travers la mise en place de nouveaux dispositifs techniques et organisationnels ainsi qu’une amélioration de la qualité d’accès axée sur l’accessibilité, les difficultés d’accès et la diversité linguistique.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">E-Développement: </span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Le développement, le déploiement et l’amélioration des contenus, d’applications et de solutions pour soutenir une diffusion opportune et pertinente de l’information à grande échelle à travers une large gamme d’infrastructures de réseaux et une variété de dispositifs.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Liberté d’expression</span></b><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; "><b>:</b> Les initiatives liées à la liberté d’expression, à l’association, à la protection de la vie privée, à la sécurité, aux droits des consommateurs, aux nouvelles formes de propriété intellectuelle dans la sphère numérique ainsi qu’à un plus large éventail de questions liées à Internet et aux droits de la personne.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">De plus, un prix spécial est alloué à la meilleure campagne destinée aux réseaux sociaux suite à la sélection des gagnants par catégorie. Le gagnant sera celui qui recevra un maximum de votes de la communauté.</span><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Pour des renseignements additionnels veuillez contacter:</span><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; ">Vymala Thuron, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:fireprogram@afrinic.net">fireprogram@afrinic.net</a></span><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; "> et visitez notre site web </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; "><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.fireafrica.org/">www.fireafrica.org</a><o:p></o:p></span><br><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 12pt; "><br>Visitez notre site web: <a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/903-fire-awards-deadline-extended-due-to-great-public-interest#fr">http://www.afrinic.net/en/library/news/903-fire-awards-deadline-extended-due-to-great-public-interest#fr</a></span></font><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; "></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><br>Regards/Cordialement,</font></div></div></div></blockquote></div></blockquote><div><br></div></div></div></div></body></html>