People, Networks and Capacity

From ApcAccess

Lauren Elder:

Capacity building has been mentioned at all time as a major need. We look into the connection between capacity and equitable access.

David Souter:

Access for equitable capacity. Capacity of networks – or capacity of communities – or capacity of individuals? Ambiguities:

1. Served and commercially viable 2. Not served but commercially viable 3. Not served and not commercially viable. So moving services from 1 and using them in 3 is the task.

Connectivity has gone an enormous distance, to compare with other infrastructure development.

This is a dynamic issue: the challenge will be different in a few years time.

Connectivity access and meaningful access – two sides of the coin. Communications is just one aspect of a wide range of deficits that communities suffer from.]

Relationship between communications infrastructure and other areas of infrastructure: we should think of communications connectivity not in isolation but as part of process.

Connectivity does not provide meaningful access for individuals. The socially marginalized do not meaningful use of telecommunication facilities.

We have far too little knowledge of what happens in communities when resources are made available. More research is needed into: actual experience with what people do when new communications are made available. Research of what those who do not have access to these new services do. And what happens over time – behaviourial trends over period of time.

People are dependent on the information – who do they trust as a source?

Community level analysis is needed to understand the correlation between individual access and group access formats (telecentres, NGO networks).

Lauren Elder: Proprietary research is not public. Most aid agencies do not

Parminder: Communal appropriation of technologies. Appropriation is at the user end.

James Nguo: Explains how a IT suppor network runs, involving telecentres and capacity building for farmers in Kenya.

Online Pest Information Projects. Building partnerships for farmers. Farmers resource centre.

Information dissemination techniques.

Relevant content.

Paraminder: how do you combine revenue generation services with knowledge services?

Toni Elias

Ungana: Capacity building in 9 countries of Africa – for NGOs, and incubating capacity building processes.

Capacity crisis + lack of rural services = extremely high costs & long waiting periods.

Community champions have basic level of skills.

The future does not look brighter: Limited formal support/development of ICT sector in rural areas, and low profit opportunities/lack of business interests.

Ungana’s experience: Great results from capacity building + no sustainability = continuous failures.

innovative model:

Support for rural ICT entrepreneurs via a social franchise model.

What needs to be achieved: Feasible business model; Positive investment environment; Enterperneurship builds commitment. Key customers from the public service – to match the income from the interpreneurs.