Short Description: In this project, seven pilot eCenters were established in rural Kyrgyzstan through a competitive tender process. The eCenters stimulate access to information and communication technology, improve economic growth, bolster efforts toward conflict mitigation and lead to non-traditional employment training and job creation.
Phase/Type of Activity: Pilot Status: Completed
Start date: July 01, 2005 End Date: September 30, 2007
Contact
Steven Rynecki , Senior Program Officer
Academy for Educational Development Email: Tel: 202-884-8948
Full Description: The eCenter Project developed a network of seven replicable, sustainable telecenters run by entrepreneurs in rural Kyrgyzstan. As of August 2006, the network started the process of converting itself into a franchise network. A key aim of the project was to support the development of rural Kyrgyzstan by providing affordable high-speed internet as a tool for training knowledge workers and developing a workforce ready for 21st century business and education opportunities. For more information see the final report.
An external evaluation of the project was conducted by Georgia Tech. The evaluation concluded the following:
We find that the eCenter program had clear and often substantial impacts on the participating commercial computer centers; all of them reported enhanced customer numbers and revenues and increased capacities. We also find that all of the participating computer centers have had some social and economic development impacts upon their communities primarily through provision of necessary business and communication services. This is particularly true for those centers situated in the smaller towns.
For more about the evaluation findings, see the "Assessment of Economic Growth Impacts of the eCenters Project in Kyrgyzstan".
Development Sector(s): Enterprise Development, Information Technology
ICT Intervention(s):
Links and Files:
eCenters Sustainability Toolkit: http://https://dot-com-alliance.org/documents/eCenters_Toolkit.pdf
The eCenter Sustainability Toolkit has been prepared to help interest communities fully capitalize on opportunities of the new ear. It is intended to be immediately useful to: (1) operators of Internet access facilities, cybercafes and business centers that are seeking greater revenues at their existing operations; and (2)communities that would like to sponsor new initiatives to expand skills and jobs for their residents.
File: 88 pages, 3MB, pdf
Assessment of Economic Growth Impacts of the eCenters Project in Kyrgyzstan
This report presents the final results of an evaluation of the eCenter project in Kyrgyzstan. The eCenter project was implemented by AED and funded through USAIDs dot-ORG program. The project ran from July 2005 to September 2006 with a total budget of US$390,000. During this time a group of seven existing commercial computer centers, situated across the country, converted to eCenters most notably by implementing an innovative computer training and Internet browsing subsidy program.
Project Brief: LMI Kyrgyzstan - eCenters
This project brief was developed for the March 2006 TAG meeting. It provides an overview of the project in its early implementation stage.
eCenters Final Report
This is the final report for Kyrgyzstan eCenters project. The eCenter project developed a network of seven replicable, sustainable and entrepreneurially-run telecenters in Kyrgyzstan. As of August 2006, this network started the process of converting itself into a franchise network. A key aim of the project was to support the development of rural Kyrgyzstan by providing affordable high-speed internet as a tool for training knowledge workers and developing a workforce ready for 21st century business and education opportunities.
Core funding for the DOT-COM Alliance is provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture & Trade, Office of Infrastructure and Engineering (EGAT/OI&E), Office of Education (EGAT/ED), and Office of Women in Development (EGAT/WID), under the terms of Award numbers: GDG-A-00-01-00009-00, dot-GOV; GDG-A-00-01-00014-00, dot-ORG; GDG-A-00-01-00011-00, dot-EDU.