[UgaBYTES] AFRICA KOWLEDGE NETWORK launched in Dar es salaam

[Florence Etta]

Great Post Paul.

ONE MORE NETWORK?

Why is there another network? What is the value added? Is it in the interest of Africa and Africans or is it again serving narrow self interests promoting one or other new or re-energised agency in need of a chorus of adulating self seeking, hungry, or smart people? Has there been a continent wide evaluation of the ICT networks that have for the past decade been created to see that this one will respond to all the issues of the ones of the last generation? 

Why are we not more critical of what we do? What good has come of the things we are have been doing in the ICT terrain? When is all of this going to lead to true tranforamation for the most africans who so desprately need water, food, health acre etc? Or is it just another scheme of 'jobs for the boys and the few connected ( read lucky) girls'?

Cheers,
FE

 
Florence Etta 
Telephone:
Nairobi  Mobile: +254-733-621-851
New York Mobile: +1-917-873-1224
New York Res: +1-917-639-3691

Alternative Email:florence.etta at gmail.com




________________________________
From: Kiringai Kamau <kiringai at willpower.co.ke>
To: ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
Sent: Wednesday, 8 July, 2009 5:22:41
Subject: Re: [UgaBYTES] AFRICA KOWLEDGE NETWORK launched in Dar es salaam

Paul, I hope I am not condemning your initiative, but I have worked with
many institutions as a partner implementing all manner of projects and
happen to have my doubts on many issues.

I therefore want to be excused if this sounds judgmental, but, the only
thing you can be sure of is that, if you Paul and the rest of the country
representatives are not just anchors of a thought that is imported from 'out
there' to create 'another ICT something', then we excuse you and understand
that you may not have much of the facts to deliver to this network.

My experience with development programme modeling is that in many cases, it
is the funds that drive the idea rather than the other way round. What this
means for Africa is that many workshops will be called and not a single
benefit will flow to the communities. 

The telecentre model is different....excuse my bias once more...

I suppose that ICT and all that drives it should be a different place for
talk-shoppers. We need to do more at the content level rather than in
meetings. Allow me to clarify though that, meetings are important, but to
share experiences and benefit the participants through such networks. It is
for this reason that e-conferences and pre-conference discussions are the
in-thing today. When you hear of workshops that are not in the public
gallery, be weary!

I suppose you will say that my other name should be Thomas, but let me
remain:

Kiringai Kamau




-----Original Message-----
From: ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org
[mailto:ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org] On Behalf Of Polly Gaster
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 10:58 AM
To: ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
Subject: Re: [UgaBYTES] AFRICA KOWLEDGE NETWORK launched in Dar es salaam

Sorry, I think I just sent a blank message by mistake!

It looks like quite a few people have the same interest as I have in finding
out more about AKN's proposed strategy and actions (just re-read Paul's info
and it does sound a bit like the old OKN and various other initiatives, with
a
global hub, etc), and wondering how the new network can benefit or is
already
benefiting from previous experiences. We certainly had interesting times
with
our OKN pilot in Mozambique, and learned a lot.

So I just Googled Africa Knowledge Network, but the only thing that came up
quickly was the WOUGNET website with a notice of the workshop, but no
details
(but great website, by the way, full of information and I liked the Google
Map). So perhaps one of the solutions for us all wd be to at least get the
workshop documents and results online?

Polly



----

Polly Gaster
TICs para Desenvolvimento/ICT4D
Centro de Informatica da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (CIUEM)
Campus Universitario, Maputo, Mozambique
e-mail: polly.gaster at uem.mz
cel: +258-82-3264540
tel/fax: +258-21-485779
Skype: polly_gaster


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