USING TELECENTRES IN IMPROVING FARMING SYSTEMS IN AFRICA
By A. Koda Traore, CTA
Seminar on ICT for Development - Innovation of Rural Information SystemsWageningen, 18 May2011
Outline
ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
• Brief description of the context • Telecentres: schemes and service models
(sample)• Food for thought
Context
Declining agricultural population… need for increasing productivity
New extension.. …combining face-to-face information and knowledge sharing with ICT based tools
Pre-dominance of Youth (43% < 24 years)…and their unique role in the modernisation of agriculture using agricultural and non agricultural technologies including ICTs
3ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
Learning (and physical) aptitude
Openness to innovations
including ICTs
Enthusiasm to use new
applications
Main users and managers of telecentres
Context
ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
… For an inclusive information society
• Connect key sectors with ICTs including health, education, public information centres and libraries with a special focus on isolated rural areas;
• Ensure the insertion of ICTs to education including the development of adapted curricula at all levels;
• Facilitate the development and access to content in all languages.
WSIS Plan of Action C7: “ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life”.
Context
ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
Technological changes …
Open standards
Lower costs
Convergence
Telecentre (noun): a public place where people can access computers, the Internet and other technologies, and that help people to gather information and communicate with others at the same time as they develop digital skills…
Telecentres exist in almost every country on the planet, although they sometimes go by different names (e.g. village knowledge centres, infocentres, community technology centres, community multimedia centres or school based telecentres). [Wikipedia]
Focus
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Use of technologies to…
• support community and social development
• access information, share knowledge and innovations (technical, institutional…)
• create (socio)economic opportunities for a given community
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A Common Service Centre in India (CSC)
A telecentre in Tanzania
Sample Telecentres (premises)
• Objective to enable `Anytime – Any device, Anywhere Service delivery’ to rural communities
• Three pillar model:• Enabled Framework Governments• Wide Area Networks Private Public Partnership• Tele(service)centres Front-end
Common Service Centre Scheme, (CCS) India
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Adapted from Dr Arun Varma, CCS scheme in India
Pho
to c
redi
t: c
ta
E-Government Services
Market Linkages, Supply Chain, Distribution & Logistics
Education, Healthcare, Agricultural Extension, etc
Community Networking
Public Services
Economic Inclusion
Social Services
Commercial Services
Employment, Informationand Knowledge Services
Main approach: service integration
Social Inclusion
ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
Source: Dr Arun Varma, CCS scheme in India
CCS overview
ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
Adapted from Dr Arun Varma, CCS scheme in India
CCS - Services
ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
Aks
haya
Com
mon
Ser
vice
Cen
tres
, In
dia
Photo credit: Koda
EducationHealth
Agriculture
Govt ExtensionElectoral & CensusBusiness & Banking
Rural ServiceCentre
National Hub & Spoke
Network
More at: www.connectafrica.net
Rural Service Centres, Zambia
ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
Literacy /broadcasting services, UgandaN
akas
seke
Com
mun
ity M
ultim
edia
Cen
tre,
U
gand
a
Content adaptation/translation, Kenya
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www.rudsat.org
Linking Communities to Markets, UgandaUsers sign up to be buyers or sellers by texting to a number from any
mobile phone
To: 8998
Buyer
To: 8998
Seller
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Buyer Seller
Linking Communities to Markets, Uganda
Users fill out a simple questionnaire to create an advertisement for their goods – including location, quantity available and price desiredBuyer Seller
To: 8998Buyer in Kampala seeks 100 UGX per kilo for 100 kg of wheat
To: 8998Seller in Kampala offers 100 UGX per kilo for 100 kg of wheat
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Linking Rural C
omm
unities to Markets in
Uganda
Linking Communities to Markets, Uganda
With one text message, see all the buyers or sellers in your area who are seeking your same good (s) for a similar price.Buyer Seller
From: MoMEALS1 of 1 Match: Seller in Kampala offers 100 UGX per kilo for 100 kg of wheat. Call 2567777777
From: MoMEALS1 of 1 Match: Buyer in Kampala seeks 100 UGX per kilo for 100 kg of wheat. Call 2565555555
Uganda
More information at: http://www.share4dev.info/telecentres/
Issues to consider
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Enabling policies and
strategies Increased development
of infrastructure
Capacity developmentAccess to
relevant and up-to-date
content
Sustainable national e-strategies
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GovernmentTo regulate and ensure the coherence of
the strategy and its implementation
International organisationsIntegrating the use of ICTs in the development process and
making available necessary support towards an inclusive Information Society and for the evaluation of the progress
made.
Community Service Centres Capacity to deliver sustainable and appropriate ICT-related initiatives
Private sector To develop and diffuse ICTs) for
infrastructure, content and applications
Sustainable Services
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“You will not for example see anyone supporting a multi-million centre, that is overly centralized by
location in a district. Neither will we see an increase of telecentres that are built on 'blank focus of information and communication'. The new telecentre will anchor in the livelihoods of
people and this will continue to guide telecentre practitioners' actions”
Sulah Ndaula, Executive Director Ugabytes
Community Service Centres
Capacity to deliver sustainable and
appropriate ICT-related initiatives
Entrepreneurship
Service diversification
Community ownership
Sustainable services: Entrepreneurship
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• Develop business and strategic plans• Select, use and maintain appropriate
technologies• Keep capital and recurrent cost low
Community Service Centres
Capacity to deliver sustainable and
appropriate ICT-related initiatives
Service diversification
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• Using mobile devices to bring the service at the door step of the communities
• Add value to content through alliance building (e.g. community radios, extension services, research stations)
• Develop alternative sources of income services: education, outsourcing, etc.
Community Service Centres
Capacity to deliver sustainable and
appropriate ICT-related initiatives
Community ownership
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• Involve community in defining the services that have the highest levels of demand
• Use participatory approaches to track and monitor demand survey
• Provide checks and balances on services provided and outcomes delivered Community Service
Centres Capacity to deliver
sustainable and appropriate ICT-related
initiatives
To conclude
ACP agricultural development ICTs media rural communities value chain youth networking opportunities communication knowledge sharing par
Need for changing the perception development actors have on telecentres
Move towards community driven services: What do the people want & need
Shifts from exclusive financial self-sustainability to integration in the overall community development context.