[UgaBYTES] AFRICA KOWLEDGE NETWORK launched in Dar es salaam|Strategy

[Vignesh Sornamohan]

Dear Sulah,

Hope you are doing well.

Recently, I came across your posting in Ugabytes. I am surprised to see your
observations about Drishtee. I just wanted to explain more about our model,
Drishtee is a social enterprise with focus on Base of the Pyramid market.
Our model has evolved over the past ten years.

Based on our learnings, we have developed a livelihood framework at the
village level. At every stage, we try to add more value to our entrepreneurs
with very minimal cost. To be very precise, our business plan explains that
75% of the total profit is retained by the entrepreneur and the remaining
25% goes to Drishtee for providing the right services. This goes against
your observation and factually incorrect.

To add more, Drishtee and its partners have been pro-actively encouraging
people at the base of the pyramid to become franchisee. Drishtee provides
micro-finance loans to entrepreneurs who does not have enough financial
resources. Our objective is to empower all sections of the community and
provide them with critical products and services.

I have also attached a brief profile about Drishtee for your reference.

It would be great, if you could circulate this mail with rest of the
community and add a note from your side. I would be happy to provide more
explanations, if needed.

Looking forward to your reply.

Cheers
Vignesh


*From: *Ndaula Sulah <ndaulasula at ugabytes.org>
> *Date: *17 July 2009 12:35:54 PM GMT+05:30
> *To: *ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
> *Subject: **Re: [UgaBYTES] AFRICA KOWLEDGE NETWORK launched in Dar es
> salaam|Strategy*
> *Reply-To: *ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
>
> Pete, hi
>
> It is grate to mention the commercial bit of the story - I remember it was
> our discomfort with the Drishtee model; especially the small percentage of
> profits that was being retained at the tele-kiosk while the big chunk was
> being drifted to head office. [I guess things must be different now with
> their model]
>
> In risk management we say - a risk identified is 50% mitigated. So to all
> of
> us, let people bleed their experience, it will be upto UNECA to sensibly
> get
> out a piece that makes their project better, now or in future.
>
> Best Regards,
> ---
> Sulah
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 16, 2009 at 9:52 AM, FELICIAN NCHEYE <ncheyefb at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
>
> Just a caution.
>
>
> During the discussion a lot of profound ideas have been put forward of
>
> which are nstrumental for the implementation and success of the AKN.
>
> However, the lessons from other especially those didn/t perform well should
>
> not create a fear to UNECA and other participants.
>
>
> This is an initiative developed after a critical analysis of the situation,
>
> particularly to address the shortcomings available including references
>
> from initiatives available. People and  communitites are still sufering and
>
> some of the implementing agents failing to deliver.
>
>
> UNECA's plans could play a great rrole when integrate their first thinking
>
> and the input provided so far. I indeed encourage them to work as planned ,
>
> contributions, knowledge sharing and other cooperation will help to improve
>
> the implementation.
>
>
> Experience shows that any undertaking attracts a lot of observations some
>
> of them distructive, so one has to be careful.Let me give one example;
>
> Long time ago, there was a huge and energetic man who used to rule other
>
> neighbouring countries beacuse of his might. Leaders and many people tried
>
> to fight him but failed. It was then thought that it was very difficult to
>
> fight hime because of the experience. One young man decided to go to fight
>
> him because he believed he was able and prepared enough regadless of his
>
> size and experience. A big number of people and rulers said a lot of words
>
> leading to dsicourage him.
>
>
> He mantained his plan and easily fought that giant and surprised every
>
> one.UNECA can do the same regardless of the fears from the experience of
> OKN
>
> and others.
>
>
> The most important thing here is for UNECA to abide to the fundamentals of
>
> success. Initiatives fail because they overlook this important factor. Even
>
> if you apply any intellectualism and might, without foundations you are
>
> bound to fail. Any atheletic will win only if he abides to the basics of
> the
>
> game. Experiences and methodologies change with time., but basics never.
>
>
> Let us see UNECA come up with their ideas and we participate positively to
>
> make it happen.
>
>
> Ncheye
>
>
> Manager
>
> Sengerema Multipurpose Community Telecentre
>
> P.O.BOX.399 Sengerema-Mwanza Tanzania
>
> E-mail:ncheyefb at yahoo.com <E-mail%3Ancheyefb at yahoo.com>
>
> Cell:
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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>
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>
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>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Executive Director
> UgaBYTES Initiative
> Tel: +256414370163
> Mob: +256712314969
> Skype: sulah.ndaula
> Yahoo: ndaulasula
> Email: ndaulasula@
> (ugabytes.org,yahoo.co.uk or gmail)
> _______________________________________________
> ugabytes mailing list
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>
>
>
>
>
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