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. If our correspondent is "off the mark" or you have factual amendments, mail them to us and we will include them in subsequent News Updates. If you'd like to contribute, write and let us know. If you need information about a particular place or issue, just send your questions in. We are always happy to follow up on readers concerns. If you want to subscribe to News Update, simply send a message saying I want to subscribe to [log in to unmask] Also if you no longer wish to subscribe, simply send a message saying I no longer want to subscribe to the same address. - > WEEKLY PUBLICATION DEADLINE: 12 pm GMT Sunday - > FREE SMALL ADS - NOT-FOR-PROFITS/ED ONLY: [log in to unmask] - > PAID FOR ADS? MAIL US FOR A RATE CARD: [log in to unmask] URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT: 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. !FOR ALL THE DETAILS GO TO PAID FOR ADS SECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS E-LETTER! ____________________________________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________________________________ 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. ___________________________________________________________________________ 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. **************************************************************************** ------- End of forwarded message ------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------