FYI. There is an instruction of how to get a free CD-Rom on E-Governmant. At
the beginning of April this year, the UK's Foriegn and Commonwealth Office held
a seminar for ministers and officials all over the world on Electronic
Government and there was a representative from the Gambia too. Unfortunately I
could not find his presentation on the CD.
Momodou Camara
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 16:38:29 -0700
Subject: NEWS UPDATE 68: VERNON ELLIS OF ACCENTURE ON AFRICA'S DIGITAL
OPPORTUNITIES
From: Russell Southwood <[log in to unmask]>
To: News Update 2 <[log in to unmask]>
COMING SOON: TRANSLATING AFRICAN LANGUAGES ON THE INTERNET
____________________________________________________________________________
NEWS UPDATE 68: VERNON ELLIS OF ACCENTURE ON AFRICA'S DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES
Tomorrow is the launch of the Digital Opportunity Initiative, a partnership
between the UNDP, the Markle Foundation and private sector consultancy
Accenture. This week we interview Accenture's International Chair Vernon Ellis
who is also the UK's private sector representative on the G8 Dot Force whose
work will shortly conclude.
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VERNON ELLIS OF ACCENTURE ON AFRICA'S DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES
____________________________________________________________________________
> How did the Digital Opportunity Initiative (DOI) come about?
It was launched at last year¹s G8 Summit in response to the Okinawa "Charter on
the Global Information Society," and the Japanese government¹s "Comprehensive
Cooperation Package to Address the International Digital Divide." The
partnership between the UNDP, the Markle Foundation, and Accenture was
underpinned by the strong belief that collaboration between the public and
private sectors is essential for creating digital opportunities and
accelerating sustainable development.
> What was the scope of the work?
When the Digital Opportunities Task Force was formed at last year¹s G8
meeting, protestors marked the occasion by burning computers on the streets of
Okinawa. They saw a simple trade-off between computers and development needs.
We wanted to gather hard evidence on whether or not that trade off existed, or
whether digital development could play a role in wider development.
The DOI research team conducted a comprehensive survey of Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) initiatives around the world. Our research
focused on community development needs such as health, education, economic
opportunity, empowerment and participation, and environmental
sustainability.
In addition to research on targeted ICT interventions, we also researched
national approaches to ICT and the implications for development outcomes.
The goal of the research was to understand how countries are using ICT to
advance national objectives, and to identify innovative solutions to common
barriers. In particular we aimed to understand some of the complex dynamics
relating ICT to development, and looked for opportunities to generate sustained
growth.
> What was the research you did in Africa?
Members of our project team traveled to a number of countries, including
South Africa, Tanzania and Senegal, and their findings were supplemented by
desk research. Initiatives highlighted in the report are achieving high-impact
results in Africa, including HealthNet¹s healthcare information system,
University of South Africa¹s distance learning programs, Pride Africa
microfinance and SANGONet¹s communications network for development and human
rights workers in Southern Africa. The final report also profiles South
Africa's approach to incorporating ICT as an enabler of social and economic
development and Tanzania¹s experience as an LDC (least developed country)
taking bold steps to leverage the benefits of ICT for its national priorities
of economic growth and poverty reduction.
> What needs to happen for there to be successful digital development in the
> South?
One of the reasons the digital gap is widening is because the role that ICT can
play in social and economic development has not been fully understood. There is
a need to move beyond the debate about choosing between ICT and other
development needs such as health and education. The issue is not about a
trade-off between technology and health or education, but an understanding that
these go hand and hand. One of the most important contributions of the DOI has
been to address the scepticism that persists by finding a compelling case for
ICT and development on the basis of empirical evidence.
But technology by itself is not enough: it can only help bring about
sustainable development if the other fundamentals are also right. Our
research points strongly to five fundamentals: infrastructure; policy;
education and training; local relevance; and, above all, entrepreneurship.
These are the five pillars of sustainable development. Of course they apply
equally North and South, but given the urgent need to accelerate development,
they are probably even more significant in the South.
The first pillar, infrastructure, is of course important. Without a basic
communications infrastructure progress is hard and slow. However, this is
not just about communications backbones or wiring everyone to a personal
computer an expensive futility in countries where literacy rates are low. In
such conditions, direct access to a telephone is more valuable than access to
the Internet. In many developing countries public or community access centres
have a key role to play.
Secondly, the overall policy environment must also be right. Take, for
example, the question of liberalising telecommunications markets, which in
many developing countries are state monopolies. This often raises the need to
balance several competing objectives, such as securing incentives for
investment and the entry of new operators, while at the same time encouraging
universal access and preventing too much erosion of government revenues.
Education and training form the third pillar. Simply providing computers
without the training to use them is a sure-fire formula for disaster. Basic
literacy and numeracy are of course important. But it is crucial to ensure a
core of knowledge workers: people with the technical capabilities to maintain
ICT infrastructure and adapt it to local requirements.
A focus on locally relevant content provides the fourth pillar. After all it is
useless building elaborate Internet networks or providing computers if the only
software and content available is that designed for people living thousands of
miles away.
The fifth and for me the key - element is entrepreneurship. This is a
subject we care passionately about, having just published a major study on
it. It is vital for sustainable development, providing the engine for
economic growth and generating the revenue to pay for social goals.
Most importantly, initiatives must secure the participation and commitment
of all key stakeholders - local communities, NGOs, governments, the private
sector, and multilateral agencies. Political leaders must provide the vision
and leadership needed to confront existing barriers. National and international
private sectors must work closely together to adapt and develop technologies to
meet the unique needs and challenges of the less fortunate. And civil society
must be a critical player to ensure that ICT targets local needs and
priorities.
> If you had to pick just three things, what do you believe are the most
> exciting things in terms of the opportunities you identified?
Of course one of the most exciting opportunities is the development of
national e-strategies which cover the five pillars of development outlined
in the DOI report. These strategies, generated and owned by the countries
themselves, would bring together the public, private and civil society
sectors, national and international,in support of a practical and well
focused national programme.
In terms of more specific opportunities, I would say supporting local
entrepreneurs in generating wealth and economic opportunity in less
developed countries, deploying ICT in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and
enabling longer term development via distance learning are three very
powerful and far-reaching opportunities for leveraging ICT for development.
On entrepreneurship my interest lies in finding ways for international
business to channel its expertise, know-how, and other resources to help
local enterprise develop on the ground. There is increasing support for this
approach in a number of international business forums and amongst a series of
our clients and partner organisations, and I hope to help initiate some
practical action soon.
Another promising opportunity is to leverage ICT for health care,
particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other infectious and
communicable diseases. ICT offers valuable applications in health and
education, monitoring, statistical analysis, and delivery of care. The use
of ICT should be expanded in the campaign against HIV/AIDS, utilising every
available form of communication from community radio to broadcast media,
telecommunications and the Internet.
Thirdly, distance learning provides a powerful mechanism for enhancing human
capacity, knowledge creation and sharing. Breaking down the traditional barrier
of geographical isolation, distance learning can bring world-class learning
opportunities to people living in underserved areas. The Africa Virtual
University project serves as an example of knowledge sharing between North and
South that fosters scientific and technological capacity building in spite of
the shortage of local teachers and current curricula in Africa.
> Can you give me some examples of countries or organisations that are
> "getting it right" and some where things just aren't working?
Our research strongly demonstrates that there is no single path to using ICT
for development, and many countries and organisations are experimenting with
different approaches. While there are no "one-size-fits-all" solutions, there
are important lessons to be learned from the multitude of specific
interventions currently underway around the globe, as well as from diverse
national approaches to ICT.
Organisations supporting specific initiatives should be explicit about their
development goals. Initiatives should reflect local needs and local conditions,
be sustainable, participatory, and well coordinated. Grameen Village Pay Phones
- an initiative that aims to reduce poverty through the economic empowerment of
women in rural Bangladesh - is highly successful in all these terms and serves
as a model for community development.
At the national level, countries have pursued diverse strategies: some have
focused on developing ICT as an economic sector either to boost exports or to
build domestic capacity while others are focused on deploying ICT as an
enabler of wider social and economic development. Countries with an export
focus, such as India and Costa Rica, may achieve significant economic benefits,
but these benefits do not necessarily translate into progress on broader
development goals. Countries with an explicit focus on using ICT in pursuit of
development goals, such as Estonia and South Africa, achieve a wide diffusion
of benefits contributing to both economic growth and specific development
goals.
Estonia is an interesting case because it is the first country to declare
internet access as a right.
In cases where things "just aren¹t working," the problem is often because
interventions are narrowly conceived and implemented in isolation without
consideration for the complex relationships between infrastructure, policy,
human capacity, enterprise, and content and applications. Far too often,
solutions are based on technology as an end in itself - "build it and they will
come" - and fail to consider local demand or skill requirements. This can lead
to costly investments in infrastructure with very little benefit to the local
community.
> How will this piece of work go forward? What sort of practical projects will
> come out of it?
We are currently planning pilot initiatives where the DOI conclusions will
be used as a basis for developing national ICT strategies, and in some
cases, applied to specific sectoral strategies such as health, education and
e-government. We aim to develop a methodology and toolkit that can be re-used
and tailored to developing countries with diverse conditions and priorities.
> How do you think the G8 Dot Force's report will be able to make a difference
> to what might happen? How well do you think inter-governmental initiatives of
> this kind work?
ICT can only enable sustainable development if it is part of an holistic
long-term approach, in which business works co-operatively with other parts of
society especially government and civil society. These partners will need to
work together on a programme which addresses the 5 pillars of development I
referred to earlier. The Dot Force report establishes just such a programme.
Provided it is seen through to implementation, I believe it will make a
significant difference. And I believe there is a good chance of that
happening.
Certainly I and my private sector colleagues on the Dot Force have offered
real resources and real management commitment to turn this programme into a
reality.
Working on the Dot Force which is both an inter-governmental and a
cross-sector project - has been an interesting experience. Too often in the
past each party has stayed in its own silo, unwilling or unable to see areas of
mutual interest where much more could be achieved by working together. But I
was particularly struck by the great spirit of co-operation among all those
involved in the Dot Force governments, both G8 and developing, civil society,
and the business sector and the determination to bring about real change.
Compared with what might have happened only a few years ago, there was far less
suspicion from G8 governments and the non-profit organisations that the private
sector was only out to grab subsidies for large-scale infrastructure projects.
Perhaps the biggest shift in attitudes was among developing-country
governments. Initially suspicious of the process, they were gradually re-
assured that it would not after all turn into yet another attempt by
Western governments and companies to gain unfettered and unreciprocated access
to their markets.
> How does all of the above fit into Accenture's work?
One reason we choose to be involved in all this is that it is in our
long-term interest. Accenture has offices in 46 countries in the world, and
those countries cover 98% of current global GDP. Accelerated development in the
rest of the world will ultimately expand the size of the markets we can hope to
serve.
More broadly, this set of development issues also represents an excellent
opportunity to further our mission to make a difference in the way the world
works and lives. Too often in recent years global business has allowed itself
to appear remote, unaccountable, and blind to its impact on local communities
and world society. At Accenture we have understood for some years that
business must do more to recognise its interdependence with wider society, and
that if global corporations wish to remain free to generate the many benefits
which they can undoubtedly bring such as increased business efficiency;
rising prosperity for many; greater knowledge and awareness of different
cultures - then those corporations must also place a significant emphasis on
disseminating and sharing these benefits with people who have so far been left
behind.
Tackling the challenge of the digital divide one of the most complex
challenges facing the global community - is a good fit for Accenture because of
our global reach and broad experience in both strategy formulation and
practical implementation. In addition to the Digital Opportunity Initiative and
the Dot Force, Accenture has also been active in the World Economic Forum (WEF)
Digital Divide Task Force, relevant work in the Global Business Dialogue on
eCommerce and, in related areas of work for the Prince of Wales International
Business Leaders Forum. We are working in many local programmes that aim to
create digital opportunities in countries across the world.
____________________________________________________________________________
LETTERS
____________________________________________________________________________
* UGANDA'S BIG INVESTORS SEEK TO KEEP OUT COMPETITION
Pam Sykes wrote: "Uganda is the poster child for successful
telecommunications liberalisation in Africa"
What the report does not mention, is that since 27 July 2000 there's been a
moratorium on awarding any further IDG (or VSAT) licences in the country. Not
an inviting message to potential investors in the ICT field. Clearly, this is
a step backwards. A year ago, Uganda was a more free market than what it is
today and the big investors are playing a role in setting up these
restrictions.
The Uganda Communications Commission currently places no restriction on the
number of ISPs there may be, neither does it place any universal service
obligations on those that exist. An ISP license cost US$2000 annually with a
US$340 application fee and US$4000 annually for an IDG (International Data
Gateway) license. There are currently 8 IDG license holders and since an
agreement that was signed 27 July 2000 no further IDG licenses will be issued,
applicants would need to acquire their access via the existing licensees
Yes, mobile technology is rolling out in Uganda and the differences this
makes in everyday people's lives, are great. This moratorium clearly shows how
the MTN's and DT's of this world are investing, yes, but they are also placing
huge hurdles in front of development. Ghana is doing much better, in fact West
Africa generally, where there is also a greater entrepreneurial spirit.
Irma Verwey
* LACK OF CONNECTEDNESS IN RURAL AREAS THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE
You have written about how many countries in Africa are unconnected (see
News Update 66). The more fundermental issue is that not all Africans are
connected. We just have to get out of the capital cities and there will be
thousands who have never used a phone at all. The problem has been
acknowledged elsewhere in a number of discussion of digital divide;
infrastracture and literacy. Since more that 80% of typical Africans live
in rural areas, we should review the situation in rural areas as a benchmark
for connecting Africa.
Meddie Mayanja
Project Officer
Nakaseke Telecenter, Uganda.
____________________________________________________________________________
NEWS ROUND-UP AND SNIPPETS
____________________________________________________________________________
* AFRICAN SATELLITE CORPORATION LAUNCHES 64Kbps LINK PRICED BY VOLUME
African Satellite Corporation has launched an IPDS service on Inmarsat High
Speed portable satellite phones. In a nutshell, the new product is an instant,
permanent 64Kbps link from any place in the world to any 64Kbps line in the
world, (Global Area Network, Internet). The pricing structure is per volume of
data transmitted at less than US$ 0.05 per Kbyte, instead of US$ 7.50 per
minute. If you were to receive an e-mail on a contruction site, in the desert,
in the center of Lagos or even on an oil rig, it would cost less than US$ 0.10.
For more information please contact African Satellite Corporation at
[log in to unmask]
* DIDATA IN VIDEO KIOSK DEVELOPMENT
Local technology company, Dimension Data (Didata), is spearheading the video
kiosk concept in South Africa - designed to bring back the human quality of
consulting in an age of technology. (source:
http://commtech.b2bafrica.com/industry_news/510287.htm )
* CELL-C CONCLUDES VODACOM AGREEMENT
Third cellular operator, Cell-C, has concluded a roaming agreement with
rival operator Vodacom that will give it national coverage from the day the
Saudi-backed consortium switches on its network. (source:
http://commtech.b2bafrica.com/industry_news/500349.htm )
* METROCOMIA SURVEY CLAIMS 0.5 MILLION UGANDANS USE INTERNET
About 500,000 people in Uganda consistently use the internet daily, but 38% of
the companies in the country prefer Online advertisement, an independent
research on Internet Use and Advertisement revealed last week. The research,
done by Metrocomia International, a website company, covered Kampala City and
found that the number of consistent daily users in Kampala was 0.5million, 84%
of the total Internet users.
The research indicated that 7% of the internet users visit the net weekly,
2% monthly, 1% quarterly and 6% do not have access or do not know about it
at all. It further indicated that a large proportion of companies (88%)
expect to have web sites revised or developed within the foreseeable future (1
to 18months).
Presenting the research report at the Metrocomia offices in Kamwokya, in
Kampala the Managing Director, Robert Wakabi said the participants in the
survey-included users, middle and higher administrative staff of Internet
cafes and large companies. He said the research was conducted over six weeks
using questionnaires, direct interviews, and complied in a month. "I think the
use of the Internet today has grown tremendously over the last one and half
years. Some people don't believe me when I tell them that there are 36 Internet
cafes in Kampala alone," he told the press. (source: New Vision, Friday July
13,
2001)
* SENEGAL'S CUSTOMS BUYS ITSELF A NEW SERVER
La Direction des Systèmes Informatiques Douaniers (DSI) who were responsible
for automating certain stages of the customs process have installed an IBM
Multiprises 3000 in Senegal's Customs. The new system is meant to overcome a
number of system breakdowns that had occurred previously. The Senegalese
Customs is planning to create a system that allows Electronic Data Interchange
with users throughout the world. (source: Via Batik - Trade Point Sénégal :
http://www.tpsnet.org )
* TELEFONICA AND PT FINALISTS FOR TUNISIAN GSM LICENCE
A consortium of Spanish Telecoms firm Telefonica and Portugal Telecom is the
final contender for Tunisia's second GSM phone licence, a senior official
said.The official said talks were underway between the authorities and the
consortium towards finalising an accord on the licence. He did not say when the
talks will be concluded.
He declined to comment on talk among industry executives that the licence
fee would be worth about 800 million dinars ($540 million) and that the only
other bidder had been Telecom Italia Mobile, the mobile division of Telecom
Italia.The Tunisian Telecommunications Ministry had postponed the tender for
the sale of a second GSM phone licence, initially set for May 5, to May 19. The
authorities had set June 30 as the deadline to announce the winner but failed
to give an explanation for the delay.The first mobile phone licence, awarded in
1996, is held by state-owned Tunisia Telecom, which has about 150,000 users and
intends expanding its network capacity to 400,000 by end of 2001. (source:
Reuters 2001 via DigAfrica )
* SEQURA-FINTECH EFT SEEKS TO BOOST E-COMMERCE IN NIGERIA
Unimpressed by the impact of electronic payment solutions in Nigeria
compared to other parts of the world, Sequra-Fintech EFT (Nigeria)
Limited has unveiled a comprehensive programme aimed at boosting
electronic commerce in the country.
(source: Via the Big Change http://allafrica.com/stories/200107050532.html )
___________________________________________________________________________ ON
THE MONEY
___________________________________________________________________________
* GOVERNMENT CONFUSING THE MARKETS WITH TELKOM IPO DATE
The government could be doing further damage to the local bond and currency
markets by sending crossed signals on the initial public offering (IPO) of
state-owned telecommunications utility, Telkom, local economists warn. (source:
http://commtech.b2bafrica.com/industry_news/510290.htm )
* DATATEC WAITS TECH UPTURN BEFORE US LISTING FOR WESTECH
Datatec says it is waiting for stronger world technology markets before
listing its US unit Westcon, and is sticking to the group's earnings
outlook.
(source: http://www.itweb.co.za )
* NEDCOR'S SOFTWARE COMPANY MOVES INTO UK
Nedcor's Indian software company Nihilent has opened its doors in the UK. It
will be looking to leverage off its ties to the UK operations of Dimension Data
and Old Mutual. (source: http://www.itweb.co.za )
____________________________________________________________________________
AFRICAN WEB NEWS AND USEFUL SITES
____________________________________________________________________________
* SOUTH AFRICA ABANDONS DOMAIN FIGHT
The nation of South Africa has abandoned its fight to own the domain name
southafrica.com. The ownership battle began last year, when South African
officials tried to wrestle the domain name from US dotcom Virtual Countries,
which registered southafrica.com in 1995. Virtual Countries owns a stack of
country name-based sites, such as e-england.com and russia.com.
Last week the dispute came to a head - with US District Court Judge Allen G
Schwartz dismissing Virtual Countries' suit because the New York court lacked
jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. South Africa also said
it would drop its threat to take the company to WIPO. In dismissing the suit,
the judge added that South Africa would be unlikely to succeed at WIPO under
the current rules governing domain name disputes.
* UK'S FCO LAUNCHES DISCUSSION FORUM ON GENOA SUMMIT
The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office's EcPol has launched a discussion
forum on the Genoa summit. The forum is an area on the FCO website where
users will write in what they think the G8 should do about the world's
problems. The forum will be moderated to filter out any "coarse
vituperation". It goes live on Monday...
The main text is at http://www.fco.gov.uk/news/keythemehome.asp?32
<http://www.fco.gov.uk/news/keythemehome.asp?32> (see right hand side links on
the G8).
The forum text is at http://www.fco.gov.uk/news/keythemepage.asp?PageId=285
<http://www.fco.gov.uk/news/keythemepage.asp?PageId=285> .
* UGANDA'S IRREPRESSIBLE LIA RELAUNCHES AS MONTHLY ONLINE MAGAZINE
After a couple of months of struggling with ever worsening internet access
troubles in Kampala, www.LifeInAfrica.com has launched Echoes of Africa - a new
monthly online magazine with stories, images and educational fun from all over
Africa. We've already got just under 2,000 subscribers and the debut issue is
according to LIA "shaping up into something pretty unique".
It is seeking contributions of stories and images to be published in
future issues For more info, see
http://lifeinafrica.com/voices/writers.htm
* SOMALILAND PROJECT GOES LIVE
You can view a multimedia CD project research prepared for a Somali Women's
Group a year ago in London by Lulu Todd in collaboration with London Guildhall
University. This is where most of the project was created from videos, tapes
and resources with the help of Somaliland Forum organisation.
http://www.jtodd-uk.dircon.co.uk
* TANZANIAN SITE FOCUSED ON NATIONAL E-STRATEGY
A voluntary group of Tanzanians have come together to help put together a
national strategy for ICT development. Find out more on their web site:
http://www.ethinktanktz.org
* AABWA LAUNCHES ENTREPRENEUR'S SITE IN BOTSWANA
The American and African Business Women's Alliance (AABWA) has launched
its website and update on activities in Botswana. AABWA has launched its
website: http://www.aabwa.com Please log on to learn more about the
organization and events in Gaborone, Botswana, October 29-November 5, 2001. On
November 1, 2001, one hundred entrepreneurial African business women will meet
with one hundred entrepreneurial American business women for what AABWA
describes as "a bellwether conference and trade fair signaling a new era in
trade relations between the two continents".
____________________________________________________________________________
DIGITAL TOOLBOX
____________________________________________________________________________
* MERCHANTS CAN NOW FIND THE CYBERSOURCE OF FRAUD
CyberSource has unveiled Java-based software that lets online retailers
filter out fraudulent credit cards from Web-based orders and transfer alerts
directly to customer service representatives. (source:
http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=506132 )
* SOAP SPEC FOR WEB SERVICES PROGRESSES
The World Wide Web Consortium has published a working draft for the Simple
Object Access Protocol 1.2 standard.
* THE SIMPUTER: A NEW BRIDGE ACCROSS THE DIVIDE
Its cheap, its clever and it speaks your language: the Simputer. Indian
scientists have invented a handheld device with text-to-speech tanslation
software. This means access to information for illiterate and/ or
non-English-speaking people in developing countries. The device is produced for
a fraction of the cost of a PC and uses IML (Information Markup Language). With
smartcards, it can be used by more than one person. One of the striking
advantages of the Simputer (SIMple comPUTER) is that it is designed for use
over a long time. Not much hardware is designed with that in mind... but then,
most hardware is not designed with the developing world in mind either. (via
Kabissa Newsletter http://www.simputer.org/ )
* NOVELL AND COMPUTER ASSOCIATES ANNOUNCE SOFTWARE INTEGRATION
Novell and Computer Associates International have announced the integration of
Novell ZENworks, Novell's industry-leading policy-enabled network management
software, into Unicenter, CA's industry-leading enterprise management solution.
The integrated solution will offer customers a unified management console from
which they can optimise the management of their heterogeneous networks while
securely maintaining the high availability and performance required by their
eCommerce applications and systems.
___________________________________________________________________________
PEOPLE AND JOBS
___________________________________________________________________________
* South Africa's 2001 Businesswoman of the Year contest organised by the
Businesswomen's Association (BWA) is under way. The current Businesswoman of
the Year is Irene Charnley, executive director of Johnnic Holdings and chairman
of M-Cell. Unfortunately there are no high-tech runners in the current field:
Lulu Gwagwa (Independent Development Trust), Feliicia Mabuza-Suttle (talkshow
host, businesswoman and author), Almorie Maule (Engen), Moira Moses (Land
Rover) and Maria Ramos (National Treasury). Figures an All Media Products
Survey (AMPS) show that the number of female managers in South Africa is also
growing. In 1990, 19 percent of managers were women. By the end of the decade
this figure rose to 28 percent.
* Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, the lead author of this year's Human Development
Report, says: "No government can single-handedly cope with global market
failures and lack of public investment in new technologies designed to suit the
needs of developing countries. And these issues are simply too important for
the international community to ignore. Governments in both developed and
developing countries need to recognize that technology policy affects a host of
development issues including public health, education and job creation."
* John W. Thompson, chair, president and CEO of Symantec
(Cupertino, CA), will keynote the twenty-third annual national conference of
Black Data Processing Associates. The conference takes place August 15-19 in
Chicago, USA. Thompson was one of the first African Americans to head a Silicon
Valley company.
* Pieter du Plessis has resigned as a member of IT Public Relations with
effect end July and will have no dealings with the company thereafter. Ivor Van
Rensburg of the company says:"Nothing has really changed with regards to my
clients, I will continue as in the past with Novell, CS Holdings, Netcom CRM,
Navision and ASI."
* According to ItWeb, Mark Gilfillan has resigned as CEO of MB Worksoft
and the company faces legal action that may soon find it in South Africa's
Supreme Court. However, management describes the legal dispute as ³a storm
in a teacup
____________________________________________________________________________
EVENTS
____________________________________________________________________________
* 3RD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FAIR (26 - 28 JULY 2001 - WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA)
3nd Science & Technology Fair incorporating: 9th Computer & Communications
Expo + 17th ELECTRA Electrical & Mechanical Show (information, communication &
multi-media systems including telecoms, satcoms, GIS, telemetry, radio,
broadcasting, sound, video, networking, office automation; applied sciences &
technologies including engineering, infrastructure, construction, manufacturing
& technical training). Please contact Exhibition Manager Anita Schmid for
further information and/or bookings on: [log in to unmask]
____________________________________________________________________________
BACK NUMBERS: AFRICA'S INTERNET CONTENT PROVIDERS
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65. Bringing audiences and information together - A tale of three web
publishers http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act65.html
59. African online advertising market set for medium-term growth
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act59.html
58. The internet meets radio - New content forms for rural audiences
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act58.html
56. Internet hits African wildlife pix sales
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act56.html
51. Cape Town Special: A creative city in the making?
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act51.html
50. Africa Online vs M-Web - Continent-wide content providers slug it out
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act50.html
39. Zimbabwe's MDC uses the web to fight the government
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act39.html
37. Uganda's Life in Africa Foundation - Expanding the art of the
possible http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act37.html
33. Africa's e-press for ICT professionals
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act33.html
29. Kenya:Busting corruption using the internet
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act29.html
19. WOZA: Building a content-rich site
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act19.html
14. Speaking in Tongues? A Shona language web site
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act14.html
8. The All-African portal - A new contender enters the field
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act8.html
7. Sierre Leone's leading independent newspaper on the internet
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act7.html
You can read and download these at http://www.balancingact-africa.com . If
you have difficulties accessing the web, mail us on info@balancingact-
africa.com.
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PAID FOR ADS
___________________________________________________________________________
In response to an increasing number of enquiries from companies wanting to
advertise their products and services, we have drawn up a rate card for ads in
this section (or in other parts of News Update) and for banner ads on our web
site. To see a copy of our rate card, e-mail a request
([log in to unmask])
**************************************************************************** WE
NEED 240 BOOKKEEPING DATA ENTRY OPERATORS
Our client represents a number of mostly Canadian and US accounting firms
with a requirement for outsourced bookkeeping data entry. The client has
developed a software which reduces the qualification requirements of
individual data entry operators by separating individual accounting
documents such as cheques, invoices etc. into individual streams, each
handled by dedicated operators.
Data entry operators work with a limited number of on-line "entry screens"
and do not need to have expertise in accounting, although supervisors
should.
The main requirements are for good connectivity, quality, consistency, good
supervision and quality control and last but not least, very competitive costs.
At this time, the client has embarked upon a major marketing effort to sign up
large numbers of new accounting firms and expectations are that about 240
operators will be required to service the new accounts, with a ramp up of about
six months. We are looking for up to 10 new contractors across several
countries.
In the first stage, we expect to keep up to 5 to 10 operators busy at each
contractor, slowly ramping up to 20 and eventually to a maximum of 40
operators per contractor.
Our client will be in Kampala on July 25/26th,2001 to meet with interested
groups. The meeting will be by invitation only. If you are interested,
please contact the undersigned as soon as possible and email us the
following information:
- Name of contact person
- Name, size and location of company, as well as current line of business
- Size of facilities, available equipment, connectivity
- Staff, qualifications of supervisors
- Hourly rates for bookkeeping data entry in US$
- Confirmation of your availability to attend the July 25/26th meeting in
Kampala.
Jacques Rostenne
PERWIT International
Ottawa, CANADA
Voice: (613) 729-2090
Fax: (613) 729-2144
ICQ: 10018672
[log in to unmask]
****************************************************************************
FREE CD-ROM ON E-GOVERNMENT: At the beginning of April the UK's Foreign and
Commonwealth Office held a seminar for ministers and officials all over the
world on Electronic Government. Out of 64 delegates, 22 came from Africa. There
were a series of presentations from: developing governments that have got to
grips with implementing e-government, consultants providing advice to those
involved in the process and honest assessments from those only just starting
out. If you would like a free copy of the presentations and other useful items
of information on a CD-ROM, write saying that you saw this item in News Update
to: Philip Barclay, Electronic Government seminar organiser, Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AH, UK. NB: E-mail requests can be
sent directly to: Philip Barclay <[log in to unmask]>. Please include
the address to which you want the CD-ROM sent.
****************************************************************************
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