Date: 24 October 2003, 9h00 to 17h30
Moderator: Ulla Skiden, World Computer Exchange, Sweden
Reporters: UllaSkiden, Johan Holmberg, World Computer Exchange, Sweden
Participants focused on the African infrastructure and identified specific needs to make it work better. They also worked on recommendations on how volunteers can best contribute and what should be left up to the public and private sector companies/operators.
Methodology
The following three questions were discussed:
- What are the specific needs of Africa in terms of infrastructure?
- How can volunteers contribute to achieve these?
- What recommendations can be given?
Synthesis
Volunteerism and infrastructure pose a number of challenges. Due to its complex technical, political and economic nature, the involvement of volunteers in helping build African infrastructure is something that is most useful at the micro- and in-country level.Indeed, it appears that backbone structures mostly need to be planned and built by professional cable companies/operators. However, volunteers can play a helpful role through university projects, corporate volunteering and involvement in supportive organizations.
They can also join professional technical work teams in some cases, as well as act as catalysts for the implementation of pilot networks, as administrators and general advisors. A particular example of this are telecenters. Many of these are pilot projects and only partially operating. Volunteers help make these more sustainable through training and technical assistance.
There is an increasing need for volunteers, however, in activities to support the realization of such projects. For instance, volunteers can be brought in to help in the fields of deploying end user technology, training and awareness raising. To this end, there is a need to create solutions for low cost access to volunteering groups. Some volunteering organizations, such as Greenstar, Schools On Line etc., are active on a small-scale in rural areas. Others, such as Schoolnet Africa and World Link wire schools and some areas successfully. In the case of World Link, the development of infrastructure by volunteers created an interest and a demand for Internet access, which caught the interest of private actors.
To achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Africa will need the best technology, and the support of the best scientists and volunteers from around the globe. More than just for Africans, this is a challenge for the entire international community, including developed countries who have the means to take on complicated networking tasks that call for the development, not only of technology, but also of new social and business models. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to achieve a win-win situation for all involved parties.
There is a need for interconnections between countries, as well as within countries (e.g. IXPs, fibers linking countries). Volunteers have a role to play in helping make this a reality, even though they cannot necessarily be expected to take on the actual task of constructing the networks. There are many barriers to tackle, such as geographical conditions, first kilometer issues, end user perspectives, policies, monopolies, cultural implications etc. If well planned and coordinated, volunteering can have positive impact on many of these issues.
Recommendations
- An inventory of volunteers, research projects, field projects, needy NGOs, etc. would make it possible to get a clearer picture of the possibilities for volunteers. Volunteer activities should be matched with government policies and other initiatives launched.
- Based on this inventory, an African ICT volunteer taskforce, possibly hosted by NEPAD, could be created. This taskforce should have national chapters to address specific national issues and issues related to interconnections and cross-country networking cooperation. The taskforce would recruit, train, and equip volunteers, and have a coordinating role.
- Volunteers should become involved in any existing inventory of infrastructural needs in each African country.
- Experience from pilot telecenters are positive, even if limited in number. Volunteers could play a pivotal role in developing the concept of telecenters, and deploying a greater number of such centers. Volunteers will have good opportunities to raise awareness and train people in basic ICT usage.
- There is a need for low cost volunteer solutions. At the same time, it could not be expected that cohorts of volunteers will pay a lot of money to get out in the field. Therefore, funding mechanism should be initiated for this.
- Volunteers could support the knowledge creation in the technical field in Africa. A cost efficient way is to set up recycling centers across the continent. These centers need to be environmentally sustainable in order to be able to receive used computer equipment, shipped from the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries, and refurbished in Africa. This would create job opportunities, and a sustainable economic model.
- Research is needed on partnership models between the private and the volunteer sector, also in relation to NGOs and the public sector.
- The academic world is a good source of volunteers. University to university partnerships should be increased in number, possibly funded by international or national donor agencies.
