Subject: IICD's monthly update of E-journal
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In This Issue:
News
1) Internet revolution to reach remote villages in India
2) AFRICAN TRENDS
3) Project models
4) IICD and partners will participate in the Interactive Theatre at TELECOM
99 + Interactive 99
5) U.N. unveils Web site to help fight poverty
6) ICT Stories Contest nearing deadline
7) African Internet Status
8) Namibia Readying For Y2chaos
9) Community Telecentres supported by the IICD
10) Latest Project Updates!
11) Global Panel Annual Meeting supports Global Teenager network
12) Trainingscentre in Accra, Ghana opened its doors!
13) African Computing & Telecommunications Summit
Documentation
1) Background of the internet in Bangladesh from in-country perspective.
2) Internet Content in India: Local Challenges, Global Aspirations
3) Using ICT for sustainable development - interview with Mrs. Afifi
4) Current Food Insecurity in Southern Africa for 1998/99
Upcoming Events
1) Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries
2) Bamako 2000 conference
3) 3rd International Conference on Health Informatics in Africa
4) Online-Educa Conference in Berlin
5) Second International Conference on Telecommunications and Electronic
Commerce (ICTEC99)
6) Informal consultative ARTI meeting
7) Telecentre Evaluation Working Meeting
8) Saitex '99 The South African International Trade Exhibition
News
Title: Internet revolution to reach remote villages in India
Author: Jan Willem van Nus
Date: 23/9/1999
Abstract: NEW DELHI, India - Video e-mail will soon open up India's
Internet revolution to thousands of poor, illiterate -- and awestruck --
villagers who have never seen a computer.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3881
Title: AFRICAN TRENDS
Author: Jan Willem van Nus
Date: 23/9/1999
Abstract: How does one measure whether things are getting better or
worse in Africa? There seem to be some general pointers though, alas,
the data is not always there for a quantitative indicator.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3878
Title: Project models
Author: Arjan de Jager
Date: 20/9/1999
Abstract: IICD presents a project model on Telecentres
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3837
Title: IICD and partners will participate in the Interactive Theatre at
TELECOM 99 + Interactive 99
Author: Loeki Schaeffers
Date: 19/9/1999
Abstract: From upcoming October 10 -17, ITU's World TELECOM 99 and
Interactive 99 will be held in Geneva. IICD and its partners will
participate in the ANCARA Interactive Theatre, where creative
ICT-applications will be presented in a development context. Moreover,
on October 13, Mr. Van de Guchte, IICD's Managing Director, will give a
presentation at the ITU Forum, Development Summit, on an "Innovative
approach to ICT and development."
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3848
Title: U.N. unveils Web site to help fight poverty
Author: Jan Willem van Nus
Date: 16/9/1999
Abstract: Three world leaders clicked on their computer controls
Wednesday to launch a new Internet site that aims to fight hunger and
poverty worldwide. The NetAid site from the United Nations was designed
to make it easier for donors to contribute resources and learn more
about poverty.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3854
Title: ICT Stories Contest nearing deadline
Author: Maria Verheij
Date: 15/9/1999
Abstract: The deadline for the ICT Stories contest is November 1st 1999.
Until that time, stories about the use of ICT for development can still
be entered at www.iicd.org/stories if you want them included in the
current contest. Stories entered after November 1st will be contestants
in next year's ICT Stories competition.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3853
Title: African Internet Status
Author: Mike Jensen
Date: 14/9/1999
Abstract: This article presents an overview of the current use of
Internet in Africa.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3852
Title: Namibia Readying For Y2chaos
Author: Jan Willem van Nus
Date: 9/9/1999
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3877
Title: Community Telecentres supported by the IICD
Author: Nic Moens, Marcel Werner
Date: 7/9/1999
Abstract: IICD offers background information about the implementation
and use of community telecentres.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3849
Title: Latest Project Updates!
Author: Jan Willem van Nus
Date: 6/9/1999
Abstract: You can now find the latest project descriptions in the
Project IDs section!
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3847
Title: Global Panel Annual Meeting supports Global Teenager network
Author: Maria S. Verheij
Date: 2/9/1999
Abstract: The Global Panel meeting (November 2 and 3) about "Investing
in Responsiblity." shows that this meeting is not just about talk, but
also about action; the Global Panel Foundation has decided to donate a
percentage of ticket revenues to IICD's Adopt-a-School plan, in support
of the Global Teenager network.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3843
Title: Trainingscentre in Accra, Ghana opened its doors!
Author: Arjan de Jager
Date: 2/9/1999
Abstract: End of August the first group of Web-Developers was delivered
by the Centre for Information and Communication Technology (CICT) in
Accra, Ghana. CICT was established this year to offer advanced training
in Information and Communication Technologies, as a follow up to a
National ICT Roundtable Conference organised by IICD.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3840
Title: African Computing & Telecommunications Summit
Author: Jan Willem van Nus
Date: 2/9/1999
Abstract: At the African Computing & Telecommunications Summit held
24-27 August 1999 the African Computing and Communications yearbook
1999-2000 was presented. The central question is: What are the major
trends and developments in ICT in Africa? The African Computing and
Communications yearbook tries to chart this. The current situation is
assessed, the near future envisioned and statistics are given.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3839
Documentation
Title: Background of the internet in Bangladesh from in-country
perspective.
Author: Jan Willem van Nus
Date: 21/9/1999
Abstract: The history of internet is not that old even in developed
countries. The people of Bangladesh had to remain in dark about it
for a long time because of the non-availability of the service in
this part of the globe. The main obstacle to start the service was
to have data circuits to a suitable overseas location. However in
this condition a few young talents started dial-up e-mail service
and made it commercially available for public use. In late 1995 the
government of Bangladesh invited applications to subscribe the VSAT
(Very Small Aperture Terminal) data circuits.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3869
Title: Internet Content in India: Local Challenges, Global Aspirations
Author: Madanmohan Rao (madanr@planetasia.com)
Date: 20/9/1999
Abstract: The growth of the Internet as a market and a tool in India
is a development which evokes global aspirations on its 50th anniversary
of independence - as well as concerns about equitable access to the
technology in the country.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3866
Title: Using ICT for sustainable development - interview with Mrs. Afifi
Author: Ben Geerlings
Date: 20/9/1999
Abstract: On March 29, 1999, we met Mrs. Mona Afifi at the
Global Knowledge Partnership meeting in The Hague. Mrs. Afifi is
document specialist for the 'Information technology for development'
programme, which is part of the UNDP. We spoke with her about community
telecentres and the role technology can play in empowering women:
"with technology you can come up with solutions that allow an illiterate
person, whether woman or man, to be empowered on their needs".
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3863
Title: Current Food Insecurity in Southern Africa for 1998/99
Author: Jan Willem van Nus
Date: 15/9/1999
Abstract: What is the current situation of food insecurity in Southern
Africa? Read more about it here.
Full article: http://www.iicd.org/search/show-entry.ap?entryid=3882
Upcoming Events
Date: 24/5/2000 until 26/5/2000
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Event: Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries
The Working Group 9.4 of the International Federation of Information
Processing (IFIP) is dedicated to research and action in the social
issues of informatics in the Third World.
More information:
s.madon@lse.ac.uk
http://is.lse.ac.uk/ifipwg94/
Date: 21/2/2000 until 26/2/2000
Location: Bamako, Mali
Event: Bamako 2000 conference
Internet : les passerelles du developpement
Rencontre internationale organisEe par le reseau ANAIS
Bamako, Palais des Congres, 21-26 fevrier 2000
http://www.anais.org/Fr/activites/bamako2000/index.html
Internet : Bridges to development
International meeting organized by the ANAIS Network
Bamako, Palais des Congres, 21-26 February 2000
http://www.anais.org/Fr/activites/bamako2000/index_en.html
Date: 29/11/1999 until 1/12/1999
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Event: 3rd International Conference on Health Informatics in Africa
The conference will be encouraged to review where Africa is now in
terms of health informatics, and where it might be going. It is intended
that participants will critically appraise the context of and issues
affecting the successful application of health informatics in the
continent. It is hoped that questions such as who uses the technology,
who benefits, is the right type of information being collected and
processed, are the information systems appropriate, how to validate
the health information, and has the technology made a positive improvement
to the majority of people's lives will be raised and addressed.
HELINA 99 Secretariat:
The Institute of Continuing Health Education (ICHE)
University of Zimbabwe Medical School
New Health Sciences Building
Parirenyatwa Hospital
Mazoe Street
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-4-791-631
Fax: +263-4-795-835, +263-4-724-912
mailto:iche@healthnet.zw
Date: 24/10/1999 until 26/10/1999
Location: Hotel Inter-Continental, Berlin, Berlin
Event: Online-Educa Conference in Berlin
The annual Online-Educa Conference in Berlin deals with
a wide variety of topics concerning educational technology and
distributed learning (NOT only pure Distance Education).
Over the last five years, ONLINE EDUCA BERLIN has established itself
as the yearly meeting place for the international community of users,
researchers, service providers and managers in the field of technology
supported learning.
The 1998 conference attracted close to 800 participants from 43 countries
on five different continents. These included expert users, suppliers,
providers and agencies, as well as more than 160 internationally
renowned speakers.
A previous visitor commented: "I attended last year - it was a very
valuable experience in more than one sense. Coming from a so-called
'developing country' I realized how far we were lagging behind in
some respects, but paradoxically also that we have already established
a small pool of high-expertise in our country which need not stand
back for the rest of the world."
"I was also astonished by the sophistication of the European products
and expertise, which are not advertised world-wide as intensively
and aggressively as the US equivalents. In some respects I believe
the Europeans are ahead of the Americans."
For more information and subscription:
Berlin Office:
ICEF Berlin
Niebuhrstrasse 69A
10629 Berlin
Tel: +49-30-327 61 40
Fax: +49-30-324 98 33
icefberlin@icef.com
Date: 6/10/1999 until 8/10/1999
Location: , Nashville, USA
Event: Second International Conference on Telecommunications and Electronic
Commerce (ICTEC99)
Following on the heels of the successful inaugural conference in
1998, the goal of the ICTEC99 conference is to bring together both
academic and industrial researchers in the fields of telecommunications
and Electronic Commerce on an ongoing, annual basis, to discuss new
technological developments and their implications for TEC, as well
as technological issues that need to be addressed to further the
effectiveness and efficiency of TEC. The conference combines research
tracks in which technical papers will be presented, with industrial
tracks consisting of panels, plenary speakers and exhibits.
More information:
http://munin.utdallas.edu/atsma/ictec/
Date: 4/10/1999 until 6/10/1998
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Event: Informal consultative ARTI meeting
The initial aim is to measure the extent to which it is possible to
increase the proportion of children who receive early, appropriate
treatment
The strategies being implemented include:
* Unit dose pre-packaging
* Increased accessibility through a community-based distribution system
that places every mother no more than 10 minutes walk from a distributor
* Training and supervision programmes and manuals appropriate for
community distributors of packs
* Appropriate methods and channels for providing usable information to
households and communities
* Designing and testing tools and methods for the evaluation of these
community-based strategies
* Efforts towards improving referral for severely ill children by
mothers and traditional healers
The second aim is to implement on a much wider scale strategies which
prove feasible and effective to examine the impact of improved home
management on mortality and morbidity.
Date: 23/9/1999 until 30/9/1999
Location: Farhills Inn, Montreal, Canada
Event: Telecentre Evaluation Working Meeting
As part of IDRC's ongoing research program on Information and Communication
Technologies for development, and the particular interest to understand
and support initiatives for universal and equitable access to ICTs,
IDRC organizes an international working meeting on telecentre evaluation
experiences, frameworks and methodologies.
Objectives of the Telecentre Evaluation Meeting are:
* To explore in-depth the challenges and opportunities of telecentre
evaluation in Latin America, Asia and Africa
* To compare emerging evaluation frameworks and methodologies
* To assess the needs and resources available for telecentre baseline
evaluation, monitoring, impact assessment, and to identify salient
issues affecting telecentre performance.
* To provide an opportunity for telecentre researchers and project
leaders to exchange experiences and lessons across regions
Date: 19/9/1999 until 23/10/1999
Location: Expo Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
Event: Saitex '99 The South African International Trade Exhibition
Saitex is hosted annually at the organiser's own venue, the largest
of its kind in Africa - the Expo Centre. Just ten minutes from the
centre of Greater Johannesburg, the Expo Centre boasts facilities,
space and resources on a par with the world's best. The Expo Centre's
trade fair organisation skills are most clearly evident in the high
quality, attention to detail exhibitor service provided by the Saitex
organising office.
Johan Theron
SAITEX Exhibition Director
Kagiso Exhibitions
Private Bag X383, Cresta, 2118, South Africa
Tel: +27 11 679-1098
Fax: +27 11 679-1099
E-Mail: saitex@is.co.za