DOT-COMments Archive: By DOT-COMments Issue

Issue 19: March 2007

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March 2007, Issue 19
Title: Digital Freedom Initiative: Public/Private Sector Roundtable of February 20, 2007 DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The President's Digital Freedom Initiative (DFI) aims to harness the strengths of the U.S. public and private sectors to help the developing world utilize information and communication technologies (ICTs) to resolve development challenges. The initiative involves multiple federal agencies, the private sector, non-profit organizations, and universities. View Article
Title: Engaging the Private Sector DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Public/private partnerships can work. Understanding the exact nature of the partnership and leveraging potential is key as it helps to keep track of Return on Investment (ROI) related to such partnerships and to focus efforts on the types of partnerships that have the highest leveraging potential rather than focusing on specific types of partners. View Article
Title: Expanding the Market for ICT Services Through Competitive Tendering and Subsidies DOT: dot-ORG Summary: A good project design must include plans for long-term sustainability. For ICT projects, in particular where the private sector is involved, sustainability usually requires the right mix of competitive tendering and subsidies to ensure that 1) the incentives exist for the private sector to extend ICT services where it would otherwise not provide services; and 2) end-users are encourated to test those services and acquire the skills needed to use those services effectively. View Article
Title: Last Mile Initiative in Paraguay - Connecting Underserved Areas DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The LMI Paraguay project currently brings connectivity to nineteen schools and other local institutions in two underserved communities of Paraguay. With local partnerships in place, the project is poised to expand its reach to up to 100 connections by the end of April 2007. View Article
Title: Yemens Public and Private Sectors Look Ahead Together DOT: dot-EDU Summary: At a recent gathering in Taiz, Yemen, leading members of the public and private sectors, and the international donor community met to discuss ways of propelling Yemens education system forward through the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT). The Looking Forward Summit: Harnessing ICT to Build the Future of Yemeni Education was presented by the Prime Minister and facilitated by EDC. The summit was a culminating event for the dot-EDU project Internet in Yemeni High Schools (IYHS) and the Instructional Leadership in Schools Initiative (ILSI) projects funded by USAID and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), two projects that have been working in Yemen to integrate appropriate technologies in schools and grow capacity within its education system. View Article
January 2007, Issue 18
Title: Improving Project Design (I) -- Tipping Points and Thresholds DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Tipping points and thresholds are the triggers that signal critical changes. Identifying tipping points and critical thresholds that can serve as short and medium term targets within a longer-term project can help to ensure rapid results and long-term success. View Article
Title: Improving Project Design (II) - Keeping Scale in Mind DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Scaling up is more than just about increasing the geographic range of a project, increasing the number of beneficiaries or sites. It is about doing things on a larger scale but that implies doing thing differently. In other words, scaling up is not the same as replicating on a larger scale. View Article
Title: Improving Project Design (III) -- Designing Projects for Rapid Results DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The short-term nature of most projects requires that projects achieve measurable results within short timeframes. Projects need to plan for rapid results that become essential stepping-stones towards longer-term development impacts. View Article
Title: Learning New Approaches to Teaching in Southern Sudan: One Veteran Teacher's Experience DOT: dot-EDU Summary: Part of USAIDs effort to improve education in Southern Sudan, Learning Village uses the radio to reach learners, broadcasting daily lessons in local language literacy, English literacy, and mathematics. The program, called SSIRI (Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction), is part of the USAID funded dot-EDU initiative led by EDC. dot-EDU focuses on the innovative use of technology to support teaching and learning. View Article
September 2006, Issue 17
Title: ICT for Teacher Professional Development in Uganda Findings from an Impact and Scalability Assessment DOT: dot-EDU Summary: At the request of the Ministry of Education and Sports of Uganda, USAID funded an impact and scalability assessment of ICT for teacher professional development under the dot-EDU Leader Award managed by the Education Development Center (EDC). This article synthesizes the findings. View Article
Title: ICTs without the Internet DOT: dot-EDU Summary: It is often assumed that all ICT initiatives must have Internet components. However, in resource challenged environments such as the D.R. Congo (DRC) and Macedonia, experience has shown that much can be done with interactive technologies to support education without access to the Internet. View Article
Title: Innovative Combinations of Energy and ICT DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Winrock International is implementing three pilot projects that take an integrated approach to expanding ICT and energy access under its subagreement with the dot-ORG program. View Article
Title: Last Mile Initiative Innovations - Research Findings from the Georgia Institute of Technology DOT: dot-ORG Summary: In the fall of 2005, thirteen students from the Georgia Institute of Technology came together as USAID Last Mile Initiative (LMI) Innovation Fellows. The results of the students'activities are contained in a volume titled "Last Mile Initiative Innovations: Research Findngs from the Georgia Institute of Technology". View Article
Title: Lessons Learned: Knowing How Much it Really Costs - Total Cost of Ownership DOT: dot-ORG Summary: All projects with an ICT component should consider the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to 1) budget necesssary resources; and 2) maximize the benefits of technology use. While TCO is not a new concept, it has not yet been integrated fully into project design and implementation. View Article
Title: LMI Mongolia: Building a Sustainable Business Model for Rural Telcos DOT: dot-ORG Summary: USAIDs Last Mile Initiative (LMI) in Mongolia supports the efforts of private telcom operators to bridge the gap in local access to communications in primarily rural, underserved areas of the country. Ultimately, the goal of the Last Mile Initiative is to achieve a sustainable approach both technically and commercially to providing rural communications in Mongolia and elsewhere. View Article
Title: Teaching innovations: Using new technologies to improve learning in remote regions of Peru DOT: dot-EDU Summary: Lucina Lola Felix Chacon is an elementary school teacher in rural Peru. Lucina is spread pretty thin and has a variety of school-related responsibilities both in and out of her classroom. Effective ongoing professional development is hard to come by for Lucina, even though she is interested in continuing to improve her skills as an educator and has a personal interest in integrating technology in her work.< View Article
Title: Transforming Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The dot-ORG e-BIZ Project in Macedonia uses ICT to stimulate the growth of the countrys small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a context of high unemployment (35%+) and low GDP annual growth (just over 1%). Although the project did not aim to serve women-owned businesses exclusively, nor even differentially, it demonstrates an extremely effective approach to using ICT to improve the competitiveness of women-owned businesses. View Article
June 2006, Issue 16
Title: eCenters Pilot Project One Year Anniversary - Innovations for Sustainability and Impact DOT: dot-ORG Summary: In 2005, the eCenters project began with a simple premise - to empower rural residents in Kyrgyzstan by connecting them to high-speed Internet and knowledge skills training. A year after the launch of the project, the eCenters are showing great promise. View Article
Title: Going the Extra Mile in Namibia: The Importance of Supports DOT: dot-EDU Summary: In Namibia, USAID has been supporting the integration of information technology in education since 2001, with a succession of projects that have provided teachers and Primary Teachers' College instructors with the ongoing human, technical and curricular support necessary to help teachers effectively use and integrate ICTs into instruction. This article provides an overview of the types of human, educational and technical support that has been provided in recent years through the earlier LearnLink project and more recent dot-EDU projects. View Article
Title: Producing Learning Gains in India with the Group Teaching and Learning (GTL) Multimedia Hybrid in One-Computer Classroom DOT: dot-EDU Summary: In many countries around the world where computers are being introduced in the classroom or in computer labs, the ratio of students to computer remains very high. In such contexts, teachers often have to devise solutions that are less than optimal since most educational software is designed for a user-to-machine ratio of one-to-one or two-to-one. In response to this challenge, dot-EDU's Technology Tools for Teaching and Training (T4) project in India has created a method of using educational software that adresses many of the conditions typical of developing country classrooms. The result is called the Group Teaching and Learning (GLT) Multimedia Hybrid. View Article
Title: Reflections Emerging from the 2006 Technical Advisory Group Meeting DOT: DOT-COM Summary: The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the DOT-COM Alliance advises Alliance partners on programmatic and technical issues concerning ICT for development. On March 13, 2006, the DOT-COM Secretariat convened the annual TAG meeting in Washington, D.C. This article highlights key reflections that emerged from the meeting. View Article
February 2006, Issue 15
Title: Deploying Low-Energy ICT A technical overview DOT: dot-EDU Summary: This article is a follow up to a brief article that appeared in the December DOT-COMments, "Low- energy Internet for Education - Where Electricity is a Challenge", which described an effort to set up a low-power rural technology lab in Uganda. This article responds to requests from readers for a technical overview of the project. View Article
Title: Impact Assessment Baseline Study in Peru Yields Interesting Findings DOT: dot-ORG Summary: This article highlights the findings of the baseline research assessment undertaken in Jauja, Peru, the site of the Last Mile Initiative in Peru. View Article
Title: Last Mile initiative Mongolia Connecting Rural Communities DOT: dot-ORG Summary: In December 2005, USAID dispatched a Last Mile Initiative (LMI) team to test a Voice over Wireless Fidelity (VoWiFi) phone network in rural Mongolia. The pilot project focuses activities at the small village level with average populations around 2,000 persons. This article discusses initial plans for deploying innovative technologies and leveraging existing and upcoming private sector investments. View Article
Title: Radically Improving Macedonia's Job Application System for Civil Servants: Introducing e-Gov applications to serve all DOT: dot-GOV Summary: The introduction and deployment of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the Macedonian Government Services is radically changing the way society and government benefit from each other. The Macedonian Government successfully launched the Apply Online System for Employments in State Employment in Administration in late December 2005. Only two weeks after the system went live, the number of applications doubled. Furthermore, approximately seventy four (74) percent of the job applications were received via the Apply Online system. View Article
Title: Schools are Wired, Teachers Innovate: E-School Makes an Impact DOT: dot-EDU Summary: The goals of the E-School project are to install computers in every primary school and high school in Macedonia and to train teachers to use technology to support student-centered and project-based pedagogy. Two years into the project, E-School has installed more than 5000 computers and trained more than 2500 teachers. These efforts are starting to pay of in terms of impacts as this article indicates. View Article
December 2005, Issue 14
Title: A Unique ICT Development Project in Cambodia: Provincial Business e-Learning DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Cambodia is a country undergoing rapid changes, including a keen demand for access to higher education among rural youth. The major centers for post-secondary school education are mainly located in the capital city, Phnom Penh. Although recently there has been a proliferation of private universities these programs are lecture-based and require students to attend regular scheduled classes. Distance education and/or independent study options are hard to find in government or private universities. To jump-start on-line learning in rural areas, The Asia Foundation (TAF) (www.asiafoundation.org) proposed using as an access point for virtual learning five Community Information Centers (CICs) created by USAID in all Cambodian provinces. View Article
Title: Africas e-Learning Program in ICT Policy and Regulation DOT: dot-GOV Summary: The Network for Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange (NetTel@Africa) has created a truly unique on-line learning program that is changing the way policymakers think about ICT policy reform. NetTel is an African Network created for capacity building and knowledge exchange in ICT (information and telecommunications technology) policy, regulation and applications. NetTel is a successful example of an USAID Global Development Alliance program, where partners from Africa and the U.S. work toward establishing sustainable processes that allow the Network to grow beyond U.S. partnerships and funding. View Article
Title: Community Education Facilitators in DRC Build on Local Strengths DOT: dot-EDU Summary: In the Democratic Republic of Congo, dot-EDUs Improving Basic Education/Stratégies Intégrées pour une Education Equitable et de Qualité (SIEEQ) project has been working to 1) improve the quality of basic education through innovative teacher training; 2) provide teachers and students with increased access to learning materials, textbooks, and kits; 3)increase community participation in education, management and outreach activities; and 4)increase and improve girls' participation in school. A previous article brought attention to the issue of women's empowerment. This article focuses on activities supporting community involvement in childrens education and the role of community education facilitators. View Article
Title: dot-ORG Supports USAID at WSIS and Related Events in Tunis DOT: dot-ORG Summary: dot-ORG supported both the World Summit on the Information Society and the USAID Asia Near East Regional Information Communication and Technology program in Tunis in November 2005. View Article
Title: Low-energy Internet for Education Where Electricity is a Challenge DOT: dot-EDU Summary: On December 8, 2005, dot-EDU set up a low-cost, low-energy using lab in rural Uganda that may be just the solution for places where electrical problems (surges, brief cuts, and brownouts) tend to damage ICT equipment. View Article
Title: Overview of Last Mile Initiative Activities Managed by dot-ORG DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Over the past year, dot-ORG has become increasingly involved in USAIDs Last Mile Initiative. Last Mile Initiative keys to success are innovative technology solutions that extend connectivity from the edge of existing networks to the underserved, innovative business models that make the extensions of connectivity profitable and the development of innovative content and applications for users to turn their connectivity to strong advantage. dot-ORG is now implementing LMI projects in four countries (Macedonia, Paraguay, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia) and undertaking an impact assessment activity with an initial assessment in Peru. View Article
Title: The Yemeni High School Internet Pilot Project DOT: dot-EDU Summary: The Yemeni High School Internet Project is a three-year initiative funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative, through USAIDs dot-EDU project. This article provides an overview of the project's progress towards reaching its objective of improving teaching and learning through ICT, with a strong emphasis on increasing girls' access to ICT. View Article
October 2005, Issue 13
Title: From Voter Registration to Health Monitoring - Handheld Computers for Development - dot-ORG DOT: dot-ORG Summary: In developing country contexts, handheld computer applications are starting to show their benefits across development sectors. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and other types of handheld computers offer considerable advantages over desktops or even laptops. Read more to learn about specific projects dot-ORG has been involved in... View Article
Title: Local eGovernment Applications - An Example from Romania - dot-ORG DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Under the RITI-Access project, dot-ORG has been implementing a number of eGovernment initiatives in local governments across Romania. This article focuses on one such initiative undertaken with the Giurgiu Local Council. View Article
Title: Pushing the Envelope on eGovernment - dot-GOV DOT: dot-GOV Summary: eGovernment is changing the very nature of government interaction with citizens. Read more and learn how USAID is involved in eGovernment through the dot-GOV mechanism and where there are significant new opportunities. View Article
Title: Radio Instruction in India - dot-EDU DOT: dot-EDU Summary: The Indian state government of Chhattisgarh has expanded an EDC-developed interactive radio instruction initiative (IRI) to reach approximately one million children. The program is part of a two-state radio initiative that involves 7 million children in more than 80,000 schools.< View Article
Title: What's New in the Digital Library? DOT: DOT-COM Summary: This is a list of new interesting documents in the digital library, with short extracts. View Article
July 2005, Issue 12
Title: Broadband Connectivity in Macedonian Schools by September 2005 DOT: dot-ORG Summary: At the beginning of the upcoming school year, all elementary and secondary schools in Macedonia will have broadband internet access. This will be achieved through the efforts of the Macedonia Connects Project, managed by dot-ORG. The project was designed initially to complement the E- Schools project managed by dot-EDU. E-Schools would bring the computer labs to the schools and Macedonia Connects would bring internet connectivity to these computer labs in at least 496 primary and secondary schools as well as University sites throughout Macedonia. Yet there is more to the project than school connectivity. dot-ORG designed this project to broaden its impact to the entire country of Macedonia, not just schools, and to ensure sustainability. View Article
Title: Exploring the DOT-COM Digital Library DOT: DOT-COM Summary: A short article about the DOT-COM library highlighting the search options and some recently added documents. View Article
Title: Improving Public Management and the ICT Industry in Macedonia through e-Government Applications DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Implemented by the dot-GOV/Internews, the e-Gov Impact Project has the mandate to develop and implement e-Government applications in the Republic of Macedonia for public institutions. e-gov Impact is designed to strategically solicit the Macedonian private sector in development of dynamic software applications for public institutions. This article View Article
Title: Knowledge Product Highlights: The Energy Solutions Toolkit for ICT Projects DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Developed in collaboration with Winrock International, the Energy Solutions Toolkit for ICT Projects is a web-based interactive toolkit that helps users select the most cost-effective mix of ICT and energy systems for projects across sectors. View Article
Title: Last Mile Initiative Team Assesses Central Asian Republics & Starts eCenters Project DOT: dot-ORG Summary: In April 2005, Last Mile Coordinators Michael Tetelman and Steve Rynecki of AEDs dot-ORG team conducted assessments in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The focus of this regional assessment was to examine the condition of telecom access in rural areas and small towns, the usage of e-services (such as e-procurement and e-tax systems by small businesses) and to determine the potential for new LMI projects in the region. View Article
Title: Moving Beyond the Computer Lab: E-Schools.mk, Macedonia DOT: dot-EDU Summary: E-School.mk is a project funded by the United States Agency for International Developments (USAID) dot-EDU initiative, which is using the computers donated by the Government of the People's Republic of China, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) of the Republic of Macedonia, to introduce a new concept of information and communication technology (ICT) use in education. The goals of E-School.mk are to install computers in every primary school and high school in Macedonia and to train teachers to use technology to support innovative student- centered and project-based pedagogy. View Article
Title: USAID/Macedonia's e-Biz Project: An Innovative Approach to Building Competitive Industries DOT: dot-ORG Summary: A year ago, industry experts pronounced the Macedonia apparel industry virtually dead in five years. The report was shocking the apparel industry is one of the largest employers in the country. Today, these same experts have credited USAIDs e-BIZ project with breathing new life into the industry and positioning apparel manufacturing SMEs to save and/or generate thousands of jobs over the next three years. The e-BIZ project is providing a similar job-development lifeline to other industries. Through strategic use of high impact ICTs, synergies with standard competitiveness activities, and creative links between universities and businesses, the e-BIZ project provides a new model for building SME competitiveness. View Article
May 2005, Issue 11
Title: Editorial: A Gender Perspective DOT: DOT-COM Summary: The articles in this May 2005 issue of the DOT-COMments eNewsletter provide some answers to this question. The Gender and ICT study of 2001 quoted above highlighted five key ingredients that would increase womens ability to take advantage of IT opportunities. For each of these five ingredients, reference is made to specific articles in the newsletter that provide answers in terms of what the DOT-COM Alliance has done. Women continue to face many challenges and the DOT- COM Alliance will continue to strive to address these challenges through its activities around the world. View Article
Title: Gender Strategies in dot-ORG Projects DOT: dot-ORG Summary: What do dot-ORG projects in Mali, Brazil, Macedonia and Uganda have in common beyond the fact that they all involve the provision of some form of information technology? They have all designed strategies that take gender into account, strategies that ensure that women have the same opportunities as men to access and utilize information technology. View Article
Title: Marching for Gender Equity in Peru DOT: dot-EDU Summary: High in the Peruvian Andes a grassroots movement supporting gender equity has taken hold. Led by a group of primary school students and their teachers, the community of Cerro de Pasco is taking a closer look at the implications of equal treatment and rights for men and women in the public and private spheres. View Article
Title: Women and ICT Policy DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Focusing efforts into increasing womens participation in policy, regulatory and advocacy issues is an effective and powerful way to achieve competitive and fair levels in the ICT sector. This has the potential to increase the role of women in community decision making, where they can influence policy issues at any government level. With increased participation, women can then ensure that gender issues are taken into account in ICT resource planning and administration. View Article
March 2005, Issue 10
Title: Cybercrime Bilateral Workshop and Official Meetings in Peru supported by dot Gov DOT: dot-GOV Summary: As field support to assist with the prevention of cyber crime in developing nations, dot-GOV helped the Department of Justice with a joint APEC/DOJ workshop on Cyber Crime Legislative Drafting Training, held at Santa Clara near Lima, Peru 9-11 December 2004. The workshop was delivered by a team of DOJ experts from the Intellectual Property and Cyber Crimes Unit and an APEC representative from Canada. View Article
Title: Editorial: Reformulating Basic Questions DOT: DOT-COM Summary: As the field of ICT for Development evolves and matures, the questions and issues that were the focus of our attention a few years ago are becoming increasingly irrelevant. Is it time to rethink the basic questions that drive our activities? View Article
Title: ICTs for Participatory Health and Livelihood Skills Training for Mon Migrants - dot-EDU DOT: dot-EDU Summary: ICTs for Participatory Health and Livelihood Skills Training is a pilot project designed to harness new digital camera technologies to help cross-border migrants learn basic health and livelihood skills that can improve their well-being even under the harsh realities stateless migrant experience. View Article
Title: ICTs, Decentralization and Local Governance: Exploring the Potential (dot-ORG) DOT: dot-ORG Summary: In a context of decentralization, local authorities face increased responsibilities, limited resources, and at times, limited human resource capacity. In such environments, strategic investments in ICTs can really pay off. View Article
Title: Mali: Selected Snapshots of the 12,000 CLIC Clients (dot-ORG) DOT: dot-ORG Summary: After 10 months of operation, most of the Community Learning and Information Centers that were established under the dot-ORG pilot funded by USAID/Mali are taking off. Early challenges in building a client base and establishing reliable Internet connections have been overcome, yet other challenges remain ahead. View Article
Title: They Counted Money in the Basket: Exploring Electronic Payment Options in Nepal (dot-GOV) DOT: dot-GOV Summary: USAID/Nepal asked dot-GOV to provide two experts who could speak from practical experience about the challenges faced by businesses and NGOs under the current Electronic Transaction Act of Nepal, and what other measures might be needed to create a more enabling policy environment. View Article
January 2005, Issue 9
Title: Editorial: Focus on Sustainability DOT: DOT-COM Summary: This editorial introduces each of the articles of the December 2004 issue of the DOT-COMments newsletter in the context of this issue's theme of sustainability. View Article
Title: Enlace Quiché: Metamorphosis from dot-EDU Project to Guatemalan NGO DOT: dot-EDU Summary: If USAID, the Ministry of Education, and everyone else is so happy with the Enlace Quiché project, why is it ending so soon? That was the topic of discussion in mid-2003 among local staff and key stakeholders who had watched the project grow over three years into a respected local player in educational development, pushing the envelope of educational technology as a cross- cutting tool for improving educational quality in Guatemala. Moreover, they asked what could be done to build on and scale up the pilot experiences. The answer was to create a local NGO . This article presents an overview of the transition, highlighting critical decisions and windows of opportunity. View Article
Title: ICT Policy and Sustainability: Experience from the dot-GOV Program DOT: dot-GOV Summary: This article highlights two perspectives on ICT policy and sustainability. First, it outlines key elements of a sustainable approach to ICT policy reforms, with examples based on dot-GOVs experience in making ICT policy reform sustainable. Second, the article looks at the impact of ICT policy and policy reforms on the support of efforts to bridge the digital divide and to make effective use of ICT to help tackle development challenges. View Article
Title: Local Entrepreneurial Skills & Sustainability in Rwandas Community Internet Centers DOT: dot-ORG Summary: This article describes entrepreneurship training that was provided to the managers of Community Internet Centers (CICs) in Rwanda. The purpose of the training was to ensure that the CIC managers had the skills to run the CICs as profit-making enterprises. View Article
Title: Rwanda: The Power to Succeed DOT: dot-ORG Summary: An unreliable power supply can result in loss of revenues and loss of clientele for telecenters. In Rwanda, dot-ORG has asked Winrock to establish battery back-up solutions for the three Community Internet Centers established under the ICTs for Elections and Community Access project. View Article
Title: Technology Centers in Ugandan Teacher Training Colleges Take Major Step toward Sustainability DOT: dot-EDU Summary: The second phase of the Connect-ED project which started in October 2003 had a strong emphasis on ensuring the sustainability of computer labs. Until recent discussions and the decision of the Ministry of Education and Sports to allow the Primary Teachers Colleges (PTCs) to charge student fees for the labs, the PTCs alternative means for funding recurring costs once project funding ends were very limited. View Article
Title: The Global Knowledge Development Forum: A unique learning community and DOT-COM partner DOT: DOT-COM Summary: The GKD Forum, hosted by the DOT COM Alliance and moderated by EDC, is a unique virtual learning community that brings together NGOs, government agencies, international development organizations, commercial firms and technology specialists from every region of the world. Together, they explore and exchange experience and innovative practices using information and communication technology (ICT) for development. In a rapidly evolving field in which all are concerned with sustainability, GKD plays a key role in allowing exchanges of experiences and field-based knowledge about both the challenges and solutions of sustainability. View Article
Fall 2004, Issue 8
Title: Editorial: Documenting Results and Capturing Lessons Learned DOT: DOT-COM Summary: This 8th issue of the DOT-COMments eNewsletter is the first being produced since I took over the position of Information and Dissemination Coordinator for the DOT-COM Alliance. This appears to be as good an opportunity as any to introduce myself as well as some changes in the newsletter itself. Many of you have probably been in contact in the past with my predecessor, Siobhan Green. Siobhan continues to work closely with me in a consulting capacity, in particular in the redesign of our DOT-COM Alliance web site and intranet. View Article
Title: EVENT: Speaker Series on Cyber-Security Issues in International Development Environments DOT: dot-GOV Summary: On September 16, the DOT-COM Alliance and InterAction co-hosted the fourth Speaker Series on ICTs and Development. The topic was Cyber-Security Issues in International Development Environments. A panel of four cyber-security experts provided a rich learning experience and opportunities for discussions. View Article
Title: Helping Small Thai Businesses Make the Most of the Internet for e-Commerce DOT: dot-GOV Summary: A seminar on "e-Commerce solutions for Thai SMEs was convened in Bangkok, Thailand in June 2004. The objective of the seminar was to impart practical skills and to share lessons learned from successful companies that faced challenges similar to those faced by Thai SMEs. View Article
Title: Launching into Action - Interactive Radio Instruction in India DOT: dot-EDU Summary: The dot-EDU T4 India project and the State government of Karnataka added to Indias Independence Day celebrations with the launch of the Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) series Chukke Chinna (choo-kee chin-na), on August 16, 2004 in Bangalore. View Article
Title: Macedonia Takes Initiative With New e-Government Strategy DOT: dot-GOV Summary: A workshop to refine the e-government strategy of the Government of Macedonia was convened in March 2004. The workshop, sponsored by the USAID/Macedonia in cooperation with the Macedonian Commission for Information Technology (CIT) and the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of the Government of Italy (I-MIT), took place on 15-16 March 2004 in Skopje, Macedonia. View Article
Title: Mali CLIC Regional Training to Build on Sustainability Efforts DOT: dot-ORG Summary: In order to strengthen the network of Community Learning and Information Centers (CLICs), regional training has taken place to ensure that the CLIC managers and staff have the necessary tools to collect and analyze data that will enhance sustainability. View Article
Title: Pre-School Education Prevails in Honduras DOT: dot-EDU Summary: Preschool age children have the chance to learn in their communities through Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) View Article
Title: Project Results and Lessons - ICT and Employability Training for Poor Brazilian Youth DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Programa para o Futuro's innovative curriculum, integrating information and communication technology (ICT) and employability training has taught 50 disadvantaged Brazilian youths the workplace readiness and computer skills they needed to succeed in the technologically driven workplace of the 21st century. View Article
Title: Reducing Cyber Crime within the APEC Region through Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Since 2002, dot-GOV, with funding from USAID, has provided field support to a number of events to promote cyber security. The latest of a series of seminars and conferences on cyber security supported by dot-GOV was the Second Conference of Experts and Training Seminar, organized by the APEC e-Security Task Force and US Department of Justice. View Article
Title: Supporting Regional Telecommunication Associations: Interview with Brian Goulden DOT: dot-GOV Summary: The SIPRS project provided technical assistance and capacity building to the Telecommunications Regulators Association of Southern Africa (TRASA). Brian Goulden, former SIPRS project director, spoke with DOT-COM about the role of TRASA as a regional regulatory association... View Article
Title: Technology is Making Life a Little Easier for Low-Income Residents of Romania's Sibiu County DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The Social Services Assistance Integrated System (SSAIS)Project, implemented within the broader context of dot-ORG's Romania Information Technology Initiative (RITI) Access project. In Sibiu County, the SSAIS project is facilitating increase efficiency and speed in the processing of financial assistance requests from citizens. View Article
Title: Testing Hand-held Computers for Voter Registration in Rwanda DOT: dot-ORG Summary: dot-ORG has been working with the Rwandan National Electoral Commission (NEC) to strengthen the capacity of the NEC via information and communication technologies (ICTs). This support has included working with the NEC to create and maintain a national voter database, print fraud- resistant voter registration cards, network regional Commission offices, and pilot hand-held computers to collect and validate voter registration information. This article focuses on the field testing of the hand-held computers for voter registration. View Article
Title: Using ICTs to Develop Educational Materials for Rural Tribal Classrooms in India DOT: dot-EDU Summary: In selected areas of Indias Jharkhand state, dot-ORG has begun implementing a pilot project to explore the use of digital ICTs, such as computers and digital cameras to promote culturally relevant educational content in the local language. Project Manager, Kelly Morphy headed to Jharkhand in August along with local consultant Aich Paramita Choudhury to meet with prospective project partners, visit schools and meet with teachers and other education leaders to begin project implementation plan. View Article
Title: Volunteers Advance Management Skills of Vietnamese Software Companies DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Thirteen Vietnamese software companies located in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi benefited from intensive, hands-on training provided by four Geek Corps volunteers (www.geekcorps.org) over the period of April-September 2004. This focused technical assistance has been extended to the wider ICT sector in Vietnam. View Article
Title: Women's Literacy and Technology in Vanga - A New World of Opportunities DOT: dot-EDU Summary: Women in the community of Vanga, in the Bandundu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo are coming to the Community Resource Learning Center to enhance their literacy skills and learn how to use the Internet with the help of a local trainer and ICT champion, Marie-Jeanne wa Musiti. View Article
Spring/Summer 2004, Issue 7
Title: Call Center Breathes New Life into Jiu Valley, Romania DOT: dot-ORG Summary: dot-ORG's Romania Information Technology Initiative (RITI) Access project has collaborated with the not-for-profit Jiu Valley Association (JVA) and one of Romania's leading software developers and call center operators (Softwin) to establish a business support call center at University of Petrosani. View Article
Title: Digital Satellite Radio Helps Overcome Rural Isolation DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Every day, tens of thousands of Nepalese tune into the radio drama, Khura Khasra Mitha, (Let's Talk Straight) to be entertained by the stories of life in the village of Sundapur centered on the elder woman, Thuldidi. This program, part of Equal Access' Digital Broadcast Initiative, delivers more than entertainment - the characters discuss critical issues such as HIV/AIDS and women's empowerment. These discussions continue after the broadcast in hundreds of village community groups organized under this Initiative. View Article
Title: E-school.Mk: Improving ICT Quality and Promoting Tolerance in Macedonia DOT: dot-EDU Summary: The E-school.Mk activity is a product of the current focus by the Macedonian government to alleviate ethnic tensions and to create economic opportunities for young people. Using ICT-informed education programs, this USAID/Macedonia funded project is preparing Macedonian youth for employment and improving quality and relevance of instruction at the secondary level. View Article
Title: Enhancing Democratization in Rwanda through New Voter Registration Cards DOT: dot-ORG Summary: USAID/Rwanda has contributed significantly to the democratization process in Rwanda through a two-year dot-ORG project to strengthen the capacity of the Rwandan National Electoral Commission (NEC) via information and communications technologies (ICTs). Implemented by the Academy for Educational Development (AED), dot-ORG is working with the NEC to create and maintain a national voter database, print fraud-resistant voter registration cards, network regional Commission offices, and pilot hand-held computers to collect and validate voter registration information. View Article
Title: EVENT: Online Professional Development for Educators DOT: dot-EDU Summary: On May 6th, 2004, DOT-COM and InterAction co-hosted the third session in its speaker series on ICTs and Development, focusing on Online Professional Development for Educators. Over 60 participants attended the session held at AED's conference center in Washington, DC. View Article
Title: Groundbreaking Collaboration Between Middle Eastern Regulators and ICT Companies DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Unprecedented exchange and collaboration among high-powered Middle Eastern telecommunications officials and public/private sector representatives occurred this past March 2004. During a series of USAID-funded meetings and workshops in Jordan, telecommunications leaders from five Arabic countries expressed a willingness to cooperate on promoting growth and development of the most important technology issues of the 21st century. View Article
Title: Halls of Knowledge Open to Communities in Three Malian Cities DOT: dot-ORG Summary: May 5th - 7th, 2004 saw the official inaugurations of three new Community Learning and Information Centers (CLICs) in Bougouni, Kadiolo and Segou, Mali. These three centers are part of a USAID/Mali funded initiative to open 13 public access telecenters across Mali. View Article
Title: Harmonization of E-Commerce Legal Framework for Southern Africa DOT: dot-GOV Summary: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the USAID-funded dot-GOV Southern African ICT and Policy Reform Support ("SIPRS") Project are collaborating to harmonize the legal framework for Electronic Commerce. Working closely with the Southern African Transport Communications Commission Technical Unit, SIPRS is helping the Southern African countries address core e-commerce issues, such as cyber crime, intellectual property rights, and privacy concerns. View Article
Title: Improving the Quality of Vietnamese Software Development DOT: dot-GOV Summary: As part of the dot-GOV USAID/ANE-funded efforts in the ASEAN region to create an enabling environment for ICT policy reform, Internews, collaborating with the Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI), held two workshops for software companies in Vietnam on software engineering and management. View Article
Title: IT College Scholarships for Disadvantaged Brazilian Youth DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Programa Para o Futuro, the IT training for employability program for disadvantaged Brazilian youth, established a partnership with IBRATEC, the best 2-year private technical college in the North East of Brazil. Under this partnership, IBRATEC offered all 50 of the program's youth free scholarships to their IT degree program. Since eight youth are still in high school, only 42 youth were able to accept these scholarships to attend IBRATEC. View Article
Title: Media Production Studio Opens in India DOT: dot-EDU Summary: On December 22, 2003, dot-EDU and the Government of Karnataka, India, inaugurated a new media production studio in Bangalore. The state-of-the-art studio, located in the Bangalore office of the Education Development Center (EDC), will provide digital editing suites for local producers to create educational materials for primary schools across the Indian state of Karnataka. The digital studios are located at the Directorate of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) office in Bangalore. View Article
Title: NetTel@Africa Offers Online ICT Policy and Regulation Courses DOT: dot-GOV Summary: NetTel@Africa has launched its first offering of eLearning courses for a postgraduate diploma and Masters programme in ICT Policy and Regulation in March 2004. View Article
Title: Online Professional Development Changing Education Perceptions and Practices in Namibia DOT: dot-EDU Summary: Through the USAID/Namibia-funded Initiative for Namibian Education Technology (iNET), dot-EDU is providing professional development to Namibian teachers using online education. Via access to the web-based Teaching to Standards with New Technologies (TSNT) course and asynchronous communication with instructors and peers, Namibian teachers in the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) are learning how to use technology to improve their education abilities. View Article
Title: Piloting PDAs to Improve Data Collection and Monitoring of Health Projects in Nepal DOT: dot-ORG Summary: USAID/Nepal and USAID/Asia and Near East Bureau (ANE) are funding the dot-ORG Nepal Health Monitoring Pilot Project to explore the use of ICTs for health monitoring. With SATELLIFE and other dot-ORG partners, the project is testing hand-held computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs) and global positioning systems (GPS) to be used by community health workers to quickly and accurately collect important survey data on vitamin A distribution. View Article
Title: Primary Teacher-Training gets Connect-ED in Uganda DOT: dot-EDU Summary: Through the Connectivity for Educator Development (Connect-ED) project, USAID/Uganda is supporting the reform and expansion of the primary teacher-training program by providing computer access and training at eight core primary teacher colleges throughout Uganda. View Article
Title: Protecting the Rights of African Telecommunications Consumers DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Through the support of dot-GOV, under the USAID/Regional Center for Southern Africa (RCSA) funded Southern African Development Community (SADC) ICT Policy and Regulatory Support Program (SIPRS) project, TRASA is developing an African Consumer's Bill of Rights to help protect African consumers. View Article
Title: RITI-Policy Helps Romania Fight Cyber Crime DOT: dot-GOV Summary: To combat the pressing problem of cyber-crime, the Government of Romania passed a series of laws in April of 2003. While the enactment of these laws is essential to fighting cyber crime, their enforcement has been very challenging, in part due to the fact that these crimes are relatively new types of criminal behavior. View Article
Title: Semi-Literate Mekong Women Learn Using Video Compact Discs DOT: dot-EDU Summary: dot-EDU is using low-cost video compact discs (VCD) to help reach at-risk youth in South East Asia in this core-funded pilot activity. The project is designed to gauge the success of applying this versatile and ubiquitous technology to meet critical learning needs of young women who cross the Mekong in search of a more exciting and financially rewarding life in Thailand. View Article
Title: Universal/Rural Access Moves Forward in Nigeria DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Nigerians are plagued by lack of access to affordable telephones, especially in rural areas. To resolve this problem, dot-GOV, through the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), is helping support policy development and implementation of a regulatory framework for private sector-driven telecommunications systems in rural and underserved areas. View Article
Title: Using Cellular Phones in Uganda for Rural Income Generation and More DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Under the Village Phone Uganda (VPU) Project, Grameen Foundation USA has teamed up with MTN Uganda to extend cell phone coverage throughout rural Uganda. dot-ORG is working with Grameen on strategic planning, training and monitoring and evaluation of the program. View Article
Title: Women in Technology Cisco Scholarship Program Proving Popular DOT: dot-GOV Summary: With several weeks remaining until the deadline, more than 2000 women from Asia and North Africa have initiated or submitted applications for the Women in Technology (WIT) Scholarship Program. These women are competing for an estimated 450 spaces in the Cisco Networking Academy. View Article
Winter 2003, Issue 6
Title: Building Municipal Government Capacity in Central America DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The dot-ORG project of the Academy for Educational Development (AED) recently initiated the Promoting CONnEctivity among Local Governments in CenTral America (CONNECTA) program, in collaboration with Federación de Municipios del Istmo Centroamericano (FEMICA), and NetAssessment. View Article
Title: Community Internet Centers Give Rwanda Access to Information DOT: dot-ORG Summary: Two community Internet centers (CIC) in Rwanda are providing their local communities vital access to information for both professional and personal uses. These telecenters in Nyanza and Gitarma were opened in partnership with USAID/Rwanda, dot-ORG and local entrepreneurs. They are privately operated, using a sustainable for-profit model to ensure they remain active after the startup project funding ends. View Article
Title: Community Resource and Learning Center (CRLC) Inauguration in DR Congo DOT: dot-EDU Summary: July 2003 -- "This is inauguration fever" commented one excited staff member of the newly-opened Community Resource and Learning enter (CRLC) in the Vanga Mission, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After much anticipation, the Community Resource and Learning Center was inaugurated on July 12, 2003. This Center is located in Vanga, a rural community of approximately 3000 people on the banks of the Kwilu River in Bandundu Province. View Article
Title: Connectivity and Low Resource Environments DOT: dot-ORG Summary: On September 24th, 2003, DOT-COM and InterAction co-hosted the second session in its speaker series on ICTs and Development, on Connectivity and Low Resource Environments: DOT-COM. Over 80 participants attended the session held at AED's conference center in Washington, DC. View Article
Title: dot-GOV Provides Low-Income Women with Technology Skills DOT: dot-GOV Summary: ot-GOV recently awarded a subcontract to the Institute for International Education (IIE) to implement a collaborative project with CISCO Networking Academies that provides information technology training to low-income Asian and African women. Over 430 scholarships will be provided to women in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and Sri Lanka. The women will be trained at CISCO's Networking Academies located in each country. For every $1 USAID invests in the networking academies, CISCO invests $8. View Article
Title: Multiple Learning Channels to Attain Education For All in India DOT: dot-EDU Summary: USAID/India, the Education Development Center and resource partners have developed a three year project to improve the reach and quality of primary school education in Chhattisgharh, Karnataka and eventually Jharkhand State. The Technology Tools for Teaching and Training (T4) in India project will provide teachers with in-service training to improve content and methods, and multichannel instruction in English, Math and Science using media ranging from interactive radio to a mobile video unit. View Article
Title: NetTel@Africa Publishes AfricaDotEdu: IT Opportunities and Higher Education in Africa DOT: dot-GOV Summary: As part of its mission to share research on ICTs, the NetTel@Africa project recently published a book, AfricaDotEdu: IT Opportunities and Higher Education in Africa (India: Tata-McGraw Hill, 2003). The edited volume highlights the impact ICTs have on educational institutions, systems, content and processes in Africa, with case studies illustrating the role higher education has on developing local capacities in pedagogy, research, publishing, healthcare, e-commerce, and cyber law. View Article
Title: Powering ICTs and the Internet in Hard-to-Reach Places DOT: dot-ORG Summary: On Wednesday, October 1st, over 40 professionals met at the USAID Ronald Reagan Building for a panel of informative presentations and discussions on this topic. The session was organized by USAID's Office of Energy and Information Technology in collaboration with Winrock International and Academy for Educational Development (AED), part of the DOT-COM Alliance/dot-ORG. View Article
Title: Supporting Regional Collaboration on Cyber-Security DOT: dot-GOV Summary: The dot-GOV program helps support government efforts to encourage new telecom operators and ISPs while providing confidence-building regulation that prevents abuse of greater ICT access. Issues arise because the transborder nature of cyber crime crosses the territoriality of national law enforcement authorities. View Article
Title: Technology for the Little Ones: Enlace Quiché Busy in Guatemalan Primary Schools DOT: dot-EDU Summary: As a part of the efforts in support of bilingual/intercultural education and educational technology, Project Enlace Quiché/USAID has installed eight (8) mini technology centers or as they are called in Spanish- CETEBITOS (Centros de Tecnología Educativa Bilingüe Intercultural para Niños) in the communities of Nebaj, Sacapulas, Ixcan, Santa Cruz del Quiché, and Joyabaj, all located in the department of El Quiché. View Article
Title: Using GIS for Analysis and Research in Central America: dot-ORG DOT: dot-ORG Summary: In July 2003, the US Geological Service (USGS) through the EROS Data Center has invited dot-ORG to participate in the new Mesoamerican and Caribbean Geospatial Alliance (MACGA). This initiative seeks to increase the use of geographic information systems (GIS) through compatible mapping standards among mapping resource organizations in Central America. View Article
Title: Using Telecenters to Implement Romanian Universal Service DOT: DOT-COM Summary: On the 14th of October, the USAID-funded DOT-COM Romanian Information Technology Initiative (RITI) completed the "roll-out" of computer and telephony equipment in four Romanian Communes to bring universal telephony services to the citizens of Frecatei (Braila County), Balasesti (Galati County), Iana - Vaslui County) and Rebricea (Vaslui County). View Article
Fall 2003, Issue 5
Title: An Innovative Approach to ICT and Telecom Regulation and Policy in Africa DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Academics, regulators, policymakers and operators from 17 nations met during the last week of May and the first week of June, 2003 in Gaborone, Botswana, to mark the inauguration of NetTel Safari, a two week conference hosted by the NetTel@Africa (Network for Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange in the Telecommunications Sector) Project. View Article
Title: Applying the Bangladesh Village Phone Program to Uganda in support of Women Entrepreneurs DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The Academy for Educational Development/dot-ORG, Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) Uganda, a network of microfinance institutions, and the Grameen Technology Center along with its other investors, are partnering to launch Village Phone Uganda (VPU). View Article
Title: Changing Lives and Education in Guatemala with Internet Connectivity DOT: dot-EDU Summary: Now as the second phase of the Enlace Quiché project has begun under dot-EDU, including the opening of an additional seven centers, connectivity prices have fallen within sustainable reach of all centers, with Satellite connections for as little as $150/month, which can be covered by each center through user fees. This vast price drop as well as the increasing interest on the part of the project partners, participating schools, and community members in using the Internet, compelled the project to make connectivity a key aspect of all their efforts. View Article
Title: ICT Forum in Namibia DOT: dot-GOV Summary: The USAID/Namibia Mission, assisted by the USAID/RCSA funded Southern African Development Community Information Policy Regulation Support Project (SIPRS) policy & regulatory team of Brian Goulden and Riley Allen (Internews Network), supported the new Namibian Communications Commission with a three-day workshop on current and future trends in ICT. The workshop took place 10-13 February 2003. View Article
Title: ICTs Supporting Democracy in Rwanda through Capacity Building at the National Electoral Commission DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The USAID-funded dot-ORG project in Rwanda is actively engaged in improving the speed, accuracy and transparency of the country's election management system. This work forms a vital part of strengthening Rwanda's electoral process and overall democratization and good governance efforts. View Article
Title: Information for All: The Sudan Independent Radio Service (SIRS) DOT: dot-EDU Summary: With support from USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), the Sudan Independent Radio Service (SIRS) was developed by the Education Development Center (EDC) through the dot-EDU initiative. The SIRS will provide Sudanese living in the country and in the East African region with information containing no bias toward race, nationality, religious or political affiliation, opinion or gender. Strict political neutrality and independence in program development and partner selection are its credos. View Article
Title: IT Employability Training Begins for Disadvantaged Brazilian Youth DOT: dot-ORG Summary: On May 5, 2003, the USAID/Brazil funded Programa para o Futuro, (Program for the Future) officially started training activities in Recife, Brazil. The initiative will prepare the participating youth for employment opportunities as ICT technical support staff in small and medium enterprises, NGOs, and the public sector. View Article
Title: Tele-cottages to Meet Universal Service Obligations in Romania DOT: dot-GOV Summary: RITI-Policy dot-GOV Project has developed a proposal for meeting Universal Service Obligations (USO), an European Union Accession (acquis) requirement. The Romanian draft legislation on USO provides a right for all end users to benefit from the provision of basic communications services at a specified quality level, regardless of their geographical location and, at affordable prices. View Article
Title: The Impact of ICTs on Democratization and Good Governance DOT: DOT-COM Summary: On June 5th, 2003, DOT-COM and InterAction co-hosted the first session in its speaker series on ICTs and Development, on the Impact of ICTs on Democratization and Good Governance. Over 60 participants attended the session held at AED's conference center in Washington, DC. View Article
Title: Twelve CLICs to Economic, Social, and Political Growth in Mali DOT: dot-ORG Summary: In response to the development challenges that Malians face, USAID/Mali, through the dot-ORG project and AED, is enabling local NGOs, teacher training centers, local mayoral offices, rural development parastatals, and private radio stations, to establish and operate at least 12 Community Learning and Information Centers (CLICs) across the country. These multi-purpose centers will provide reliable public access to a wide range of development-related information through computers, the Internet and other technologies. View Article
Title: Using ICT for Environmental Education and Youth Empowerment in Lebanon DOT: dot-EDU Summary: The Youth CaN Med (Youth Communicating and Networking - Mediterranean) project is introducing sustainable, systematic technology into Lebanese schools to enhance student's understanding of environmental issues. This USAID/Lebanon dot-EDU project, awarded to the Education Development Center and implemented by iEARN (International Education and Resource Project), is setting the standard for youth empowerment projects through its focus on youth leadership and technical training of students and teachers. View Article
Title: WiderNet Digital Library for African Universities via Satellite DOT: dot-ORG Summary: African universities face a huge bottleneck in accessing the wide variety of educational materials needed for high quality education and research. Through the WiderNet project, this bottleneck is being unblocked, through the ability to access and share digital educational materials via satellite. WiderNet is also training African library staff to digitize their materials so that African research and collections can be shared around the world. View Article
Summer 2003, Issue 4
Title: Building the Multi-sector Regulatory Agency (ARM) in Rwanda DOT: dot-GOV Summary: dot-GOV is in the final phase of the Telecommunications and Information Technology sector - Legal and Regulatory Reform project, funded by USAID/Rwanda. Under this project, dot-GOV and the Government of Rwanda (GOR) have worked together to establish the Rwandan Multi-sector Regulatory Agency (ARM), with jurisdiction over several market sectors including telecommunications and energy. View Article
Title: dot-GOV launches SADC ICT Policy and Regulatory Support Program (SIPRS) DOT: dot-GOV Summary: On 21 November 2002, dot-GOV was awarded the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ICT Policy and Regulatory Support Program (SIPRS) Cooperative Agreement, funded by USAID/ Regional Center for Southern Africa (RCSA) for a period of 18 months. Based in Gaborone, Botswana, the project is lead by Mr. Brian Goulden, Director, and Mr. J. Riley Allen, Senior Technical Advisor. View Article
Title: dot-GOV Supports State Department Telecommunications Leadership Program (TLP) DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Since the fall of 2002, dot-GOV has provided support from its Leader Award to the State Department Telecommunications Leadership Program (TLP), through requests from the dot-GOV CTO, Dr. Edward Malloy. This support has ranged from travel, organizing study tours, to providing speakers for conferences. dot-GOV's assistance is considered part of the larger U.S. Government effort to promote telecommunications liberalization, bridging the digital divide, and adoption of the policies that enable e-commerce and e-government. View Article
Title: Initiative for Namibian Educational Technology (iNET) Kicks Off DOT: dot-EDU Summary: The Initiative for Namibian Educational Technology (iNET) USAID cooperative agreement, was recently signed and kicked off by dot-EDU Deputy Director, Steve Dorsey, and E-Learning Specialist, Kelly Morphy, in Windhoek in early March. iNET is part of Namibia's National Institute for Educational Development's Educational Development and Support Network. 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 View Article
Title: International E-commerce and Information Infrastructure Policies Conference DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Internews Network awarded a $60,000 pilot project sub-grant to the Hawkins Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise to convene a workshop on International E-commerce and Information Infrastructure Policies 12-14 November, Hanoi, Vietnam. The workshop encouraged Vietnamese enterprises to engage in global e-commerce and prepare for international e-commerce policy decision related to trade negotiations. View Article
Title: Launch of dot-ORG/Intel Computer Clubhouses in South Africa DOT: dot-ORG Summary: dot-ORG/Intel Collaborative Project To Develop Strategies for Sustaining and Expanding Computer Clubhouses in Brazil and South Africa was officially launched in South Africa on February 14th by Eric Rusten (Deputy Director, dot-ORG), Phil Christensen (Country Director, AED South Africa), Parthy Chetty, (Education Manager, Intel South Africa), and representatives from the two NGOs that are establishing three Clubhouses in the Johannesburg area. View Article
Title: Launching the Enlace Quiché Bilingual Web Portal DOT: dot-EDU Summary: March 26th, 2003 will see the launch of http://www.ebiguatemala.org, the bilingual, intercultural web portal, created by Director of Materials development, Mario Torres and the local Enlace Staff. A ceremony and presentation will take place on the official launch date at the Camino Real hotel, in Guatemala City, attended by project partners, students, teachers, as well as representatives from both USAID and dot-EDU. View Article
Title: Malian Telecommunications Officials Discuss Pivotal Issues with US Counterparts DOT: dot-GOV Summary: At the request of the Leland Initiative, dot-GOV worked with the Department of State International Visitor Program to assist in the visit of key Malian telecommunications officials in Washington, DC. In January 2003, dot-GOV organized several meetings for Mr. Mobido Camara, Committee for Regulation of Telecommunications (CRT), Mr. Baly Sissoko, National Television, and Mr. Hassane Diombele, National Committee for Access to State Media. Among other venues, the three visited the Federal Communications Commission, a private mobile operator, the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), a local radio station, and other US telecom-related private sector and non-governmental organizations. View Article
Title: NetTel@Africa Key Accomplishments DOT: dot-GOV Summary: NetTel@Africa has achieved several key steps in building the network of African telecommunications regulators. In order to improve sector policy formulation, harmonization, implementation, and help develop regulator training programs within African universities, NetTel@africa has developed ten learning modules for regulators, field visits between US and African counterparts, knowledge exchanges and learning partnerships, and Africa.Dot.Edu case studies View Article
Title: Risk and Innovation for Improved Education in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): DOT: dot-EDU Summary: dot-EDU, via the Education Development Center (EDC) and the Academy for Educational Development (AED), is developing models of how to improve the quality and dissemination of education through information and broadcast technology in a country with limited infrastructure and resources.Small child writing on a blackboard at Kibu-Manza primary school. Photo by Jan Visser Working in the communities of Vanga and Luozi, this project is building the ability to break the cycle of rote learning, and help these areas develop creative ways to address the serious lack of educational materials and teacher training, in a low cost environment. View Article
Title: RITI-Access and Peace Corps Collaborate in Romania DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The Romanian Information Technology Initiative (RITI) - Access project, implemented by dot-ORG, has developed a close working relationship with the Peace Corps/Romania office. RITI-Access and Peace Corps are working together to further economic and social development in Romania through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Brendan Gannon, RITI-Access Chief of Party, and Bill Perry, Deputy Director, Peace Corps Romania signed the MOU marking collaboration efforts. This collaboration has taken the form of work plan development, co-organizing training and capacity building programs, and using Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) for ongoing project management and local partner development. View Article
Title: RITI-Policy Working Hand-in-Hand with the Romanian Regulatory Authority DOT: dot-GOV Summary: The Romanian National Regulatory Authority for Communications (ANRC) and Romania Information Technology Initiative (RITI)-Policy, implemented by Internews Network, continue their work to build a competitive telecommunications market in Romania. RITI-Policy, whose offices are housed in the ANRC, works closely with the Regulatory Authority, bringing experienced perspectives and options, responding to urgent situations facing the ANRC, and demonstrating the impact of ANRC decisions on the competitive market. View Article
Title: Strategies to Cross the Gender Digital Divide DOT: DOT-COM Summary: Information and communication technology (ICT) offers potent tools to overcome obstacles women and girls typically face, and opens new opportunities in education, political participation, health care, and income generation. For example, ICT bridges communication barriers by allowing women to access many of these opportunities without having to leave their homes, villages, or communities. To realize this potential, ICT activities must recognize and address gender differences that affect ICT access, usage, and benefits. Recognition of these barriers starts at the policy level and continues through to final evaluation. Without such explicit consideration of gender equity, ICT activities may inadvertently exacerbate rather than bridge the gender digital divide. View Article
Title: Using Radio and IT to Build Community in Africa DOT: dot-EDU Summary: On January 17, 2003, dot-EDU hosted a group of visiting radio journalists from Africa for a day-long workshop on "Building a Sense of Community in African Countries through Radio and Information Technology (IT)." View Article
Title: Zambia Interactive Radio Instruction Reaches Out-of-School Children DOT: dot-EDU Summary: For more than 25 years, Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) has been used to improve the quality of learning in classrooms. In Zambia, it is going beyond this intial purpose to deliver basic education to out-of-school children, especially orphans and other vulnerable children, in community learning centers View Article
Spring 2003, Issue 3
Title: DOT-COM TAG Shares Thoughts on Future of ICT and Development DOT: DOT-COM Summary: As part of the First Annual Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting, October 22nd, 2002, the eight TAG members each shared their thoughts about the future of ICT for development over the next five years. Summaries of their statements are listed below View Article
Winter 2002, Issue 2
Title: Academic Computing at the University of Bamako, Mali DOT: dot-EDU Summary: The Educational Exchange with the University of Bamako Project will enhance the university's capacity to administer its IT network, and to help faculty and students use this network for academic purposes. Nineteen Internet-connected computer labs for teachers and students will open in November at the University of Bamako. View Article
Title: Building Capacity in Afghanistan's Ministry of Communications DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Through pilot project funds from the core dot-GOV grant, Internews is providing support to the Ministry of Communications, Afghanistan through external training of staff tasked with telecommunications (in collaboration with the USAID/State Department Telecom Leadership Program and USTTI), and advising the Minister of Communications on telecom policy. View Article
Title: Building of Bilingual Virtual Learning Community Underway in Quiché Region, Guatemala DOT: DOT-COM Summary: Expansion plans are off to a great start for former LearnLink project, Enlace Quiché in Guatemala. Under its new cooperative agreement, Proyecto Enlace Quiché is using ICTs to strengthen the training of intercultural, bilingual educators. New plans include the opening of seven additional technology centers, training of new technology center staff, and the creation of a web portal which will serve as a virtual bilingual learning community for Mayan language teachers, community members, and partners affiliated with the project. View Article
Title: Building Romanian Regulatory Capacity DOT: dot-GOV Summary: Internews' implementation of the Romania Information Technology Initiative - Policy component continues apace, having completed two initial capacity-building workshops and one US study tour for Romania's newly created National Regulatory Authority for Communications (ANRC). View Article
Title: dot-ORG & Intel Collaborate for Sustainable Computer Clubhouses DOT: dot-ORG Summary: The dot-ORG project is investing some of its pilot project funds to collaborate with Intel Computer Clubhouses in Brazil and South Africa to design and test strategies and business plans that may enable these Clubhouse and other types of public access centers become sustainable enterprises. To facilitate this collaborative pilot project, Intel and the Academy for Educational Development (AED) signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2002. View Article
Title: Education over the Airways - New Directions for Interactive Radio Instruction in Haiti DOT: dot-EDU Summary: Continuing the progress of previous USAID programs, dot-EDU is working closely with the Haitian Foundation for Private Education (FONHEP) to strengthen and expand Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) in Haiti. The intervention, which has proven successful in basic primary education, will be examined to see how it can be used to address other audiences and subject matters fit for radio.