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 Digital Opportunity through Technology & Communication Partnerships


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DOT-COM Activities: Africa




ICT Policy Harmonization

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-GOV Kenya, Ethiopia, COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) Closed EGAT/EIT/IT (dot-GOV leader award) 1/2002 - 7/2002
Description: Computer Frontiers International (CFI) developed three draft program descriptions building on previous work which examine the specific aspects of regional policy harmonization that affect women and rural populations with access to telephones. CFI is following up the development of these program descriptions through their work with USAID Missions and through the USAID/Africa Bureau Leland Initiative.
For more information

CONTACT
Sarah Tisch, Program Director, dot-GOV
Email:
Tel: +1 202 833 5740 x 203

Lane Smith, Leland Initiative, USAID
Email:
Tel: +1 202 712-0826


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Network for Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange in the Telecom Sector in Africa (NetTel@Africa)

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-GOV Africa Active USAID/Leland Initiative; USAID/RCSA 3/1/02 - 9/20/05

Description: "NetTel@Africa project goal is to build capacity of telecommunication regulators to make informed policy decisions that foster a more competitive telecommunications market, reducing the cost of telephony and Internet connectivity. The end result of implementation of these policies will be greater access to ICTs by women and men living in Sub-Saharan African countries. This goal requires liberalized telecommunications markets, the development of regulatory agencies to ensure equal access and help build toward universal access. To this end, the project focuses on strengthening the knowledge base of regulatory associations, and the capacity of universities to train the next generation conversant with all aspects of ICTs.

The NetTel@Africa project consists of four interconnected components:
• Training Program in ICT Policy and Regulation,
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network,
• Community-to-Community (C2C) Network, and
• ICT Research Program.

The project is expanding the curriculum offered by African universities on telecommunications topics through creation of African-specific courses and adoption of Master’s and in-service certificate programs for regulators and industry specialists. Through a peer-to-peer mentoring activity the project links African and U.S. regulators and connects other sectoral networks or “communities” with the collaborating NetTel African universities. Finally, as African universities have been primary incubators for applied use of ICTs, the research program synthesizes these relationships and links them to policy strategies for consideration by policymakers.
These networking efforts have a positive impact on training regulators to shape and regulate within a pro-competitive, market-oriented policy and regulatory environment necessary for the development of ICT and its role in increased productivity.
The development of ten telecommunication topic courses is the cornerstone of the project Additionally, gender considerations have been incorporated into the ten courses developed by the nine collaborating African universities (University of Western Cape, Makarere University, University of Dar es Salaam, University of Wittswaterstrand, University of South Africa, University of Botswana, University of Fort Hare, University of Zambia, University of Malawi).
The ten courses incorporate local needs and priorities in host countries by the African universities with collaboration from five U.S. University partners (Washington State University, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Florida-Gainesville, Michigan State University, and University of Maryland) with assistance from the National Association of Public Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

The ten courses incorporate local needs and priorities in host countries by the African universities with collaboration from five U.S. University partners (Washington State University, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Florida-Gainesville, Michigan State University, and University of Maryland) with assistance from the National Association of Public Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

The ten courses are adding digital components for on-line learning. Each has been rigorously reviewed by peer African or US universities, NARUC members, and the Safari participants. This project has broken new ground regarding the substantive relationships between universities, where the next generation is trained, and regulation of telecommunications, where access to telephony and ICTs is largely determined. While these relationships need further development, the impact of the networks created is making it possible for policymakers and regulators to better understand how to resolve issues that constrain the use of ICTs for development purposes.

For more information

CONTACT
Dr Maria Beebe, Project Director, NetTel@Africa
Email:

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"Africadotedu" case studies book

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-GOV Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, REDSO, Southern Africa Active EGAT/EIT/IT September 2002
Description: The dot-GOV Leader award provided funding for the editing of a breakthrough study on the relationship between higher education and fostering use of ICTs and the policy framework. The book called ""Africadotedu"" was developed and published by Tata-McGraw Hill (AfricaDotEdu, 2003).
For more information

CONTACT
Dr Maria Beebe, Project Director, NetTel@Africa
Email:

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The CatGen Alliance Project (Access)

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-ORG Africa Active Leland Initiative April 2003 - October 2004
Description: dot-ORG, funded by Leland Initiative, is working with PEOPLink to support a large e-commerce project called the CatGen Alliance, which will introduce digital literacy to 20 business networks with a total of at least 2,000 members and bring 500 small businesses into the global marketplace.

Over 50% of the targeted businesses are headed by women. Over the next eighteen months, the CatGen Alliance will concentrate on building e-commerce and development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa using CatGen technology and business management know how. Due to the high percentage of women in the target audience, the workshops will include considerations of the gender issues female entrepreneurs and artisans face.

PEOPLink created the CatGen Alliance, a varied and disparate group of organizations that are linked by their commitment to using technology to integrate businesswomen and men into the emerging global marketplace. Actual or potential members of the CatGen Alliance include eBay, International Federation for Alternative Trade, G77 Chambers of Commerce, GlobalSources.com (most successful global trade portal), Trade Point Federation, International Chambers of Commerce, Geek Corps, the International Finance Corporation, UNECA, and the Country Gateways in seven nations.

This activity was awarded to dot-ORG by Leland via the Access Associate Award.
For more information

CONTACT
Chris Light, Senior Program Officer, dot-ORG
Email:
Tel: +1 202 884 8762

Dan Salcedo, PEOPLink Executive Director
Email:
Tel: +1 301-949-6625

Lane Smith, Leland Initiative, USAID
Email:
Tel: +1 202 712-0826


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ICTs and Education: Community Learning Centers and Complementary Instructional Strategies

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-EDU Dem. Republic of Congo Active USAID/DRC 9/30/2002-9/30/2003
Project Vision: To improve current educational methodologies by fostering learning processes that are rooted in experience, are integrated, use local knowledge and technologies, interact effectively with local development problems, and make appropriate use of Information Communication, Broadcast Technologies (ICBT).

Project Mission: To increase the capacity of a selected cadre of trainers/teachers and community leaders to:
  • Create culturally appropriate and language specific instructional materials for youth and adults based on sound, innovative pedagogy (project-based learning);
  • Increase access to ICBTs;
  • Increase media literacy;
  • Incorporate gender equity into instructional processes; and
  • Leverage the use of ICBTs to facilitate the better achievement of the project Vision and Mission.
The project is focused around two primary activities:

1. Establishment of a Community Learning and Resource Center in the Vanga community, Bandundu Province. The Center will provide the technical infrastructure needed for training of health and education workers, community members and primary school children in the use of information communications technologies (ICTs). As girls and women are often marginalized with respect to IT use, special outreach efforts will target girl students, female teachers and community women. The telecenter will house up to 20 multimedia computer workstations, two notebook computers, related peripherals and other support equipment and supplies. Six community members will be trained to manage the telecenter and respond to technical and administrative needs.

2. Assess and pilot complementary instructional interventions in the Luozi community to support classroom instruction in selected thematic areas and grade levels of the national curriculum. A needs assessment will analyze the appropriate use and application of digital and broadcast technologies in terms of instructional and learning needs of teachers and students, infrastructure needs and limitations, and barriers and opportunities to implementation. The Luozi pilot activity will demonstrate complementary instructional interventions to education planners, policymakers and practitioners. It will also begin to train a cadre of teachers in Luozi. The local cadre of teacher and community leaders will build their capacities in pedagogical processes and the application of innovative instructional strategies to existing curricula that are relevant to local development problems and gender issues, integrate indigenous knowledge with health, agriculture and micro-enterprise, and are rooted in concrete practice. Complementary instructional strategies will be designed to reduce rote learning through project-based instruction and will use digital and/or broadcast technologies to increase access to capacity building opportunities.
For more information

CONTACT
Sonia Arias, Project Director, EDC
Tel: +1 202 572-3700
Email:

Kathy Ntalaja, Chief of Party, EDC DR Congo ICTs and Education
Email:

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SADC Information and Communication Technologies Policy and Regulatory Support Program (SIPRS)

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-GOV Southern Africa (SADC) Active RCSA Mission (Regional Center for Southern Africa) 10/1/02-5/20/04
Description: This project focuses on working with ten of the 14 members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through the Telecommunications Association of Southern Africa (TRASA) to develop model policies on numbering, human resource development, interconnection, consumer protection, and key performance indicators. These model policies are then adapted to the specific bi-lateral context of SADC member countries. Update: The project has completed the model policies on numbering, Human Resource Development plans for regulators, key performance indicators and begun work on interconnection. The project co-sponsored a number of workshops within the region on including ISP development, human resources, spectrum pricing, and a collaborative workshop on Rural Access and Universal Service in coordination with USAID/Namibia. This workshop resulted in the first formal bonding of industry, NGOs, and government in an “ICT Coalition” to consider implications of a Universal Services Fund. During July 2003, the project was a key collaborator with the NetTel@Africa project regarding the logistics and implementation of the NetTel@Africa Safari.Bilateral assistance has been provided to Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia. Assessments for work were completed for Angola, Mozambique, and Zambia. In each bilateral application of the model laws, gender issues will be considered as policies and or legislation are drafted. The project has continued to support a TRASA economist, and has initiated a review of TRASA’s activities.The most revealing activity demonstrating the depth of the SIPRS project is the ongoing technical assistance and collaboration requested by two other regional regulators’ associations. The first, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa receives SIPRS assistance on a frequent basis to help create a similar organization to TRASA for the newly formed Association of Information and Communication Regulators for Central and Eastern Africa (ARICEA). The second, the Arab Telecommunications Regulators’ Association has asked SPIRS project staff to help with strategic organizational development.
For more information

CONTACT
Brian Goulden, Program Leader, SIPRS
Email: Tel: +267 297 4342

Sarah Tisch, Program Director, dot-GOV
Email:
Tel: +1 202 833 5740 x 203

Riley Allen, Senior Technical Advisor, SIPRS
Email:
Tel: +1 802 229-1547

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Establishing Community Learning and Information Centers (CLICs) in Underserved Malian Communities

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-ORG Mali Active USAID/Mali May 2003 - May 2005
Description: dot-ORG will be working with USAID/Mali to develop Community Learning and Information Centers (CLICs) in Mali. The objective of this project is to accelerate economic, social, and political growth by providing residents in at least twelve underserved Malian communities with access to easily accessible development information and affordable access to information and communications technology (ICT), high-value training and locally appropriate content.

One of the primary purposes of the CLICs is to provide a valuable source of development-related service delivery and information for the communities they serve, in such areas as education, economic growth (e.g. microfinance, agribusiness), health (e.g. HIV/AIDS prevention), and civil society (e.g. anti-corruption programs). The CLIC Project will partner with local, national and international NGOs and the Government of Mali to help them learn how to deliver services via CLICs, including activities to gather, update and disseminate high-value content to the communities they serve.
For more information
CONTACT
Michael Tetelman, Senior Program Officer, dot-ORG
Email:
Tel: +1 202 884-8856

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University to University Linkage

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-EDU Mali Active USAID/Mali 7/1/2002 - 9/2003.
Description: Through the dot-EDU Associate Award, USAID/Mali has enlisted the Education Development Center to facilitate an institutional and technological capacity building process over a one-year period. EDC is working with Howard University, Michigan State University, WorldSpace Foundation and Management Systems International to help transfer skills and know-how in IT network management, pedagogy, distance education and e-learning. Ten internet-enabled computer labs provided by USAID for University of Bamako teachers and students facilitate the learning process.
For more information

CONTACT
Sonia Arias, Project Director, EDC
Tel: +1 202 572-3700
Email:

Rosemary Lombard, Research Development Assistant, EDC
Tel: +1 202 572-3700
Email:

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Initiative for Namibian Educational Technology (iNET)

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-EDU Namibia Active USAID/Namibia 3/2003 - 7/31/2005
Description: Designed to speed the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) within the Namibian education system, iNET will work both at the school and Ministerial level to foster the development of technology champions and improve ICT policies throughout Namibia. iNET will accomplish three main activities to strengthen teaching capacity in Namibia:
  • Revamp the existing Teacher Resource Centers housed in teachers colleges, (TRC's) in the towns of Windhoek, Ongwadeva, Rundu, and Katima.
  • Network all 13 regional offices of the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport, and Culture, (MBESC), in order to increase access to educational data, used to inform policy development and planning.
  • Establish networked computer labs in the Colleges of Education. These labs will include peripherals and Internet connectivity.
For more information

CONTACT
Kelly Morphy, Senior E-Learning Specialist, dot-EDU
Email:
Tel: (202) 884-8706

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Project Web Pages:

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GDA (School Net)

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-EDU Namibia Active GDA 5/22/03-5/21/06
Description: With a countrywide fiber optic backbone, Namibiaís information and communications infrastructure is among the most sophisticated in Africa. Thus it is not surprising that, in surveys conducted for the World Economic Forumís Africa Competitiveness Report for 2000/2001, the ratings Namibians give their country for Internet access are higher than the ratings given for any other country on the continent.

Given its impressive infrastructure, and the potential that the infrastructure offers, the Government of the Republic of Namibia has identified information and communication technology (ICT) as a key driver of progress and embarked on an ambitious reform program to liberalize the sector, expand rural excess, and apply the technology to development problems.

This proposal will seek to reinforce GRN efforts to further extend the use of ICTs in the education sector. It will expand the availability of ICTs throughout the school system and enable schools to provide students with an education relevant to skills needed for the modern world. Its emphasis will be on developing affordable Internet-connectivity solutions to serve Namibiaís most historically disadvantaged populations living in remote rural areas.
For more information

CONTACT
William Wright, dot-EDU Program Director, EDC
Email:
Tel: +1 202 572-3753

Nadya Karim-Shaw, dot-EDU, EDC
Email:
Tel: +1 202 572-3759

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The WiderNet Project (Access)

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-ORG Nigeria Active Leland Initiative April 2003 - April 2005
Description: Via dot-ORG, WiderNet will be working with African Universities to unblock the information bottleneck, which inhibits their ability to excel as teaching and research institutions. This project will also train African library staff, a high percentage of who are women, to digitize their materials so that African research and collections can be shared around the world. Using satellite connections for high speed downloads, and LAN connectivity at the University, through WiderNet, any computer on the university's local area network (LAN), professors, students, and researchers will have access to millions of up-to-date documents at very high speed. By using the existing local area network to access this pre-stored data, precious (and expensive) Internet bandwidth is conserved and freed for other information access needs. Each university will also receive training in information technology system maintenance and content creation, coaching in using and deploying the Internet at their institution, practical experience that will translate into expertise when they connect to the Internet, combined expertise of all WiderNet project participants and the opportunity to publish their work on a high-speed and reliable World Wide Web site.

The training program for technical staff explicitly addressed gender ratios by ensuring a balanced class of men and women, and using women trainers as role models for the women technicians. In addition, work with the decision makers at the African Universities explicitly addresses the issue of promoting the involvement of women in the program, often introducing these decision makers to gender issues, and strategies to address them.

This activity was awarded to dot-ORG by Leland via the Access Associate Award.
For more information

CONTACT
Chris Light, Senior Program Officer, dot-ORG
Email:
Tel: +1 202 884 8762

Cliff Missen, Director, the WiderNet Project, University of Iowa
Email:
Tel: +1 319-335-2200

Lane Smith, Leland Initiative, USAID
Email:
Tel: +1 202 712-0826


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ICTs for Elections and Community Access

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-ORG Rwanda Active USAID/Rwanda 7/3/02 - 7/2/04
Description: The dot-ORG ICTs for Elections and Community Access Project is divided into two main activities. The first activity focuses on helping the National Electoral Commission of Rwanda (NEC) to strengthen its operations through innovative uses of ICTs.

dot-ORG will provide technical assistance, hardware, software, and staff training to support database development and management, and assist the Commission to print high-quality voter registration cards. If a private sector sponsor can be identified, dot-ORG will also carry out a pilot project to test the use PDAs or hand-held computers to improve the collection, validation and updating of voter data in remote areas.

The other activity will focus on creating, in partnership with local entrepreneurs, Community Internet Centers (CICs) in two to four Rwandan communities. One of these centers may be established in an off-grid area without existing connectivity or electricity.

The centers will provide local residents with access to a variety of affordable resources, including Internet, computers, web page development, computer training, on-line professional development, and email, fax, phone, photocopying services. The CICs will also work with local Rwandan development organizations, NGOs, government agencies, and businesses to convert existing information and training materials into different digital formats.

In November, the dot-ORG/Rwanda project team disseminated a request for proposals (RFP) to prospective CIC operators. Approximately twenty applicants submitted proposals, which will be evaluated in February 2003 by a committee consisting of dot-ORG and USAID/Rwanda personnel.

At the invitation of USAID/Rwanda, dot-ORG is also planning to submit a request for supplemental activities to support additional technical assistance activities on behalf of the NEC. These activities include computer installation and networking of the NEC's 12 provincial offices, additional support for the pilot PDA activity, the printing and delivery to the NEC of approximately 4.5 million voter cards, and the procurement of a high-speed commercial printer capable of printing voter cards on an ongoing basis.
For more information
CONTACT
Gerald Mpyisi, Project Coordinator, dot-ORG/Rwanda
Email:

Michael Tetelman, Senior Program Officer, dot-ORG
Email:
Tel: +1 202 884-8856

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Teacher Professional Development and IT Equipment Provision

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-EDU Rwanda Active USAID/Rwanda 7/3/02-7/2/04
Project Goal: To establish an ICT network at the Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) and improve connectivity with KIE Regional Distance Learning Centers. The increased technical capacities of KIE academic and administrative staff will enable better administrative and financial management, collaboration with other educational institutions, innovative instructional design in ICT and will cultivate an "ICT Culture" within the institution. Improved connectivity with Regional Distance Learning Centers will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of distance training provision to pre-service and in-service secondary school teachers in order to provide a more qualified secondary school teaching workforce and, ultimately, better education for young people in Rwanda. Increased overall capacity will enable the Kigali Institute of Education to become a leader in high quality teacher training and information technology while facilitating community access to education and information communications technologies (ICTs).

The Education Development Center is working with World Links and the Kigali Institute of Education to implement this project.
For more information

CONTACT
William Wright, Program Director, dot-EDU
Email:
Tel: +1 (202) 572-3753

Semra Seifu, World Links Education Technology Specialist
Tel: +1 202 462-9668
Email:


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Telecommunications and Information Technology sector - Legal and Regulatory Reform

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-GOV Rwanda Closed USAID/Rwanda 3/18/2002 - 02/28/03

Description: dot-GOV completed the Rwanda Telecommunications and Information Technology Sector: Legal and Regulatory Reform Project, which provided technical assistance to the Government of Rwanda (GOR) to establish a telecommunications sector within the newly created multi-sector regulatory agency. The Regulator is responsible for establishing telecommunications policies and procedures for fair licensing, spectrum management, competition, and price policy.

The project provided consultants to the GOR on the long and short-term impacts of policies in these areas, and helped provide the organizational structure and functions of the Regulator. A draft operations manual was written and new Regulator staff trained in operations, with an emphasis on regulating to create a fair and competitive market that provides telecommunications access for women and other underserved populations. Specific guidelines for hiring women and minorities in the Regulator were built into the training workshops. Given Rwanda’s recent history, these guidelines were very well received. The project closed in February, 2003 with the submission of the final report and other guiding documents for the Regulatory Agency.

For more information
CONTACT
Prince Jenkins, JPJ Group
Email:

Paige Anderson, Project Manager, Rwanda Telecommunications and Information Technology Sector Project Email:
Tel: +1 202 637 9800

Sarah Tisch, Program Director, dot-GOV
Email:
Tel: +1 202 833 5740 x 203


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Connectivity for Educator Development (Connect-ED) Phase II

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-EDU Uganda Active USAID/Uganda 10/1/03-9/30/05
Description: Connect-ED aims to improve the quality of primary education by:
  • providing teacher training in computer skills;
  • providing Connectivity to Kyambogo University (KyU) and Primary Teacher Colleges (PTCs);
  • enhancing the quality of teacher education through Internet connectivity; and
  • establishing Internet Points of Presence (POPs) in four rural towns to avail affordable internet access to the local business communities.
Results are expected to include: An approved policy on ICT in education, with a component for the colleges; Approved business plans for each college that are being implemented actively to ensure full financial sustainability by month eighteen of the award; KyU IT strategy in place and further collaboration between KyU, Makerere University, regional, and US-based universities enhanced; Tutors with improved skills in using media for teacher training; Increased capacity of tutors and pre-service teachers to create educational resources and contribute to online versions of teacher training curriculum; Fully designed websites for each college and KyU, with maintenance strategy and decentralized capacity for maintenance; and increased number of curriculum units that are online.
For more information

CONTACT
Margie Joyce, Instructional Designer, dot-EDU
Email:
Tel: +1 202 884 8065

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Strategies for Sustaining and Expanding Computer Clubhouses, South Africa

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-ORG South Africa Active EGAT/EIT/IT (Core) Feb 2003 - Sept 2006
Description: dot-ORG will work in partnership with Intel Clubhouses in South Africa to develop and test different strategies and business plans enable the Clubhouses sustainability and expand their operations. (a twin project is happening in Brazil)
For more information

CONTACT
Eric Rusten, Deputy Director, dot-ORG
Email:
Tel: +1 202 884 8714

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Sudan Radio Service

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-EDU Sudan Active USAID/OTI 3/12/03-3/13/05
Description: A recent USAID/OTI assessment team determined that a lack of access to information in southern Sudan, particularly regarding the Machakos peace process, is a significant problem. Given Sudanís great size, topography and widespread illiteracy, it has been determined that the best choice for the dissemination of information would be the use of Short Wave Radio.

Currently, regional language radio programs have been limited to the northern part of Sudan. The need for local language programs in the south is great. As such, EDC, in conjunction with USAID/OTI, is working towards the creation of an independent broad-based, development-focused radio service that would broadcast in local languages to the populations of southern Sudan. The radio service will present a diverse mix of timely and relevant programming broadcast in Sudanese languages by Sudanese presenters.

Production of the radio service will be implemented by an EDC field office studio in Nairobi, Kenya, until the political climate allows for relocation to southern Sudan. Transmission will be established from a shortwave transmitter based outside Kenya and the Sudan.

The primary goal of the radio service is to link the ongoing peace process and peace building efforts with initiatives that engender good governance and deepen the participation of southern Sudanese in affairs that most affect them. The station will increase access to balanced and useful information through programs of information, education, and entertainment chosen to equip listeners with knowledge and tools to participate more fully in peace making, reconciliation, and national development.

Efforts will be made to create occasional programming in all the languages of southern Sudan, but regular programming will target speakers of Dinka, Bari, Juba-Arabic, and English. The Southern Sudan Radio Service (illustrative working title) seeks, through the design of its programming, to be a potent symbol and example for the new Sudan, in which all cultures and traditions are valued and celebrated within a context of mutual respect and admiration.
For more information

CONTACT
Rob Eiger, Project Director, EDC Email:

Mike Kuenzli, Chief of Party, EDC
Email:

Jeremy Groce, Program Production Advisor, EDC
Email:
Tel: +1 202 572-3700

Partners: Merlin (Short Wave Radio Service), Dan Braverman (Consultant, Studio Designer)

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Assessment/Design for a Sudan independent radio station

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-EDU Sudan Closed USAID/OTI 12/2/02 - 1/6/03
Description: Project Goal: To assess the environment for the creation of a radio station for Southern Sudan. To date radio in Southern Sudan has consisted of broadcasts from the north and some sporadic coverage from the BBC. There is no local radio available to this predominately illiterate population. The proposed radio station would provide programs that emphasize diverse cultural representation, gender equity, and the use of local languages such as Nuer and Dinka in addition to English and Arabic. The station would broadcast news, information about the peace process, music and development-related topics such as agriculture, health and basic education.

For more information

CONTACT
Rob Eiger, Project Director, EDC Email:

Mike Kuenzli, Chief of Party, EDC
Email:


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Pilot Village Phone Uganda (VPU)

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-ORG Uganda Active USAID/EGAT/EIT/IT May 2003 - May 2006
Description: dot-ORG is partnering with Grameen Foundation-USA (GF-USA), and the Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) Uganda to implement a pilot village phone project in Uganda in order to stimulate widespread access to affordable information and communications technologies in rural Uganda and enable poor women to establish sustainable ICT-based enterprises. This innovative approach is modeled on the successful Grameen Village Phone program in Bangladesh, whereby Grameen Telecom provided loans to Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs to purchase and operate cellular telephones so these entrepreneurs could resell cellular services to local residents.

The VPU project will work with Uganda micro-finance institutions to select and train up to 3,000 Uganda village phone operatiors in underserved rural communities over a three year period. A separate for-profit Ugandan organization will be created under the VPU Project to manage the overall program, train microfinance staff, develop new strategic partnerships, provide training to women entrepreneurs, etc.

The VPU project will be carried out in two phases. The first, pilot phase will operate in one or two rural communities in Uganda on a limited scale to test and refine the strategy and approach for working with local MFIs and poor Ugandan women. After the pilot phase, it is anticipated that the VPU project would be expanded into other Ugandan communities and that the number of participating women would be significantly increased.
For more information
CONTACT
Michael Tetelman, Senior Program Officer, dot-ORG
Email:
Tel: +1 202 884-8856

RELATED LINKS

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Zambia Interactive Radio Instruction Program for Out-of-School Children

DOT Country Status USAID Sponsor Active Dates (start and end)
dot-EDU Zambia Active USAID/Zambia January 2003 - Sept 2004
Description: In Zambia, Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) is delivering basic education to out-of-school children, especially orphans and other vulnerable children, in community learning centers. dot-EDU, through the Education Development Center (EDC) has trained EBS writers and producers and assisted EBS to develop a training of trainers program for the Ministry of Education resource center staff, who in turn train mentors to run the community-based learning centers.

This program is a collaborative effort among communities, churches, nongovernmental organizations, and community-based organizations, the Ministry of Education, Peace Corps, and the Education Development Center.

The Ministry of Education airs 100 daily 30-minute lessons for grade 1, and 200 for each of Grades 2, 3 and 4. Grade 5 programs will be completed by the end of 2003. These programs, which allow children to complete a grade level in six months, follow the Zambian curriculum for mathematics, language arts in English, science and social studies. Due to the psychosocial needs of many of the listeners, the radio instruction programs include five-minute segments covering life skill themes (hygiene, nutrition, social values, etc.), and 15-minute programs are broadcast each day for teachers and other adults that address explicitly issues relating to HIV/AIDS in Zambia.
For more information

CONTACT
Mike Laflin, Vice President EDC
Email:
Tel: +1 202 572-3755

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