innovation of rural information systems - using telecentres in improving farming practices in africa

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

ContextDeclining agricultural population… need for increasing productivityNew 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


… 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


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


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


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


Adapted from Dr Arun Varma, CCS scheme in India

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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


Source: Dr Arun Varma, CCS scheme in India

CCS overview


Adapted from Dr Arun Varma, CCS scheme in India

CCS - Services


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Photo credit: Koda

EducationHealth

Agriculture

Govt ExtensionElectoral & CensusBusiness & Banking

Rural ServiceCentre

National Hub & Spoke

Network

More at: www.connectafrica.net

Rural Service Centres, Zambia



Literacy /broadcasting services, UgandaN

akas

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Com

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Cen

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Content adaptation/translation, Kenya


www.rudsat.org

http://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


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


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/

http://www.share4dev.info/telecentres/

Issues to consider


Enabling policies and

strategies Increased development

of infrastructure

Capacity developmentAccess to

relevant and up-to-date

content

Sustainable national e-strategies


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


“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


• Develop business and strategic plans• Select, use and maintain appropriate

technologies• Keep capital and recurrent cost low




Service diversification


• 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 ownership


• 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


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.

innovation of rural information systems - using telecentres in improving farming practices in africa

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