Report (Part 3): Conference on Volunteering and ICTs

Panel Discussion: Informaticiens Sans Frontières (Programmers without Borders)

Date:  8 December 2003, 15h00 to 15h30
Moderator: Viola Krebs, ICVolunteers and Focal Point for WSIS Volunteer Family
Reporters: Janet Tanburn
Speakers:     

• Silvano de Gennero of Informaticiens sans frontiers
• Randy Schmieder of MCART
• Manuel Acevedo, UN Volunteers Consultant
• Henri Valot, Coordinator of the PAVD (Programme d’Appui à la Décenralisation) of UN Volunteers in Mali

Silvano de Gennaro of CERN presented his idea of “Informaticiens sans frontières” (Software without Borders). A current major problem is the lack of durability of software. Many Internet cafes cannot afford to update their soft and hardware regularly. De Gennaro’s idea is to create an organization offering an open source software package destined to equip computers in developing countries. The aim of the organization would be to adopt, recommend, develop, distribute and maintain affordable and durable standards, software solutions and packages targeted to fulfill the basic ICT needs in developing countries.

The open source solution would provide several benefits: independence from western manufacturers' software, cost reduction, and greater sustainability through the transfer of competence and computer literacy.

Local resources must be able to evolve with technology innovations and keep pace with new hardware and software trends. Local administrators must have a perfect understanding of the technology and be able to rely upon a solid, affordable and available support system.

In terms of affordability, hardware cost is currently decreasing, whereas the cost of software is increasing. Connectivity in isolated areas exceeds affordability. Hence, global ICT costs are not adapted to local financial resources. However, there is a risk that if local resources do not keep up with hardware and software innovation, a second digital divide will occur.

Linux could be the solution, being used to provide an integrated free environment with remote management extensions which can be used from the US or Europe to control remote installations.

Local hardware management would still be required. The creation and distribution of a basic kit would not be excessively expensive. For example, the worldwide web was created with less than US$ 12,000. The important role to be fulfilled by ISF would be the provision of an interface between providers and users.

In terms of the structure of the organization, an independent body is preferable, as it can react and adapt much more quickly than, for example, the UN. The scientists capable of providing the technology are not necessarily experts in communication and are unfamiliar with the problems in the field. ISF would have expertise in both the technology and the developmental needs and would guarantee independent access to the web. There is already a considerable interest at CERN (the European Centre for Nuclear Research), where the worldwide web was created and where many computer experts work. This would make it possible to produce a standard open system within a relatively short period of time.

For the development of the software solution, standardization is very important: ideally, there should be one single solution applicable at all local levels and translatable into local languages.

The main cost would be in the support after the original kit was distributed as the hardware and software would have to be kept up to date.

Randy Schmieder of MCART presented experiences with working with volunteer reporters to produce, eventually, a final statement in report or CD-ROM form. He revealed that the main problems were often not technological but human. For example, technically proficient staff were required; there were problems actually getting the reports in from the reporters; delegation is a challenge. Schmieder emphasized that there are already software solutions available. The local secretariat may be trained in using volunteers as reporters and could feed information directly into open source software. Open source software has huge potential, and there are solutions already in existence, but it is the human component which is the most important.

Manuel Acevedo, UN Volunteers Consultant, explained that software is a knowledge-generation tool, and the more accessible something is, the better. ISF could help to make tailor-made applications for particular groups. UNESCO's site already contains many applications. People do not know much about open source software. Needs and the means to match those needs already exist. However, finance is needed to assess levels of demand. A lot of volunteers sign up on line, and there is much volunteer capacity that is not used.

Henri Valot, Coordinator of the PAVD (Programme d’Appui à la Décentralisation) of UN Volunteers in Mali pointed out that Mopti, another desert region in Mali south of Timbuktu, is the kind of area where ISF could usefully intervene. It is also a tourist region (La Venise du Mali), and also seeks some level of decentralization. What could be effective is a network between the Regional Assembly and the local areas. Phone lines or radio are needed to provide connections. This would not cost very much, only about US$ 180,000 including training and a steering project. The difficulty resides in knowing which system and software to install for the greatest flexibility.