Title: DSpace in Africa: Growing Open Access to Knowledge and Culture
Author: Carol Minton Morris
Source: Open Access Week
Date (published): 21/10/2011
Date (accessed): 25/10/2011
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"PART ONE: Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana This is the first of a five-part series that looks at Open Access repository development in twelve African countries in celebration of Open Access Week Oct. 24-30, 2011…
…
In Africa and in many countries around the world the need to manage, preserve and create open access to formerly “locked down” knowledge and culture has become apparent. Developing countries have recognized the need to utilize knowledge resources in order to leverage economic development, research and educational opportunities. One example is Kenya Open Data (http://opendata.go.ke/) which creates greater government transparency by providing open access to original data.
“This site makes public government data accessible to the people of Kenya. High quality national census data, government expenditure, parliamentary proceedings and public service locations are just a taste of what's to come. There's something for everyone: maps to start exploring, interactive charts and tables for a deeper understanding, and raw data for technical users to build their own apps and analyses. Our information is a national asset, and it's time it was shared: this data is key to improving transparency; unlocking social and economic value; and building Government 2.0 in Kenya.”

DSpace has been a player in creating open access to information since it was launched in 2002. This open source, easy-to-use repository application has been instrumental in providing universities and institutions all over the world with a tool for getting resources online and making them accessible. In 2004 there were 9 DSpace instances in Africa. Due the work of DSpace Ambassadors and other community outreach efforts that number has increased to 46 today. For the next five days DuraSpace will offer a glimpse into what’s “in” some DSpace repositories in Africa on each day in celebration of Open Access Week 2011 (http://www.openaccessweek.org/)."

Title: Making the Most of Mobiles in Africa
Source: Africa the Good News
Date (published): 13/09/2010
Date (accessed): 21/09/2011
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"It is not often a technology guru will say, “Forget the internet!” but Ken Banks, founder of Kiwanja.net, advocates going back to basics – using mobile phones rather than the internet, and pretty basic phones at that.

While mobile phones are ubiquitous in Africa, the internet has nothing like the same penetration and is almost non-existent in rural areas. Says Banks: “For example, in Zimbabwe, there’s 2-3 percent internet penetration. If your amazing, whizzy mobile tool needs the internet, and you are looking to deploy it in Zimbabwe, you have lost 97 percent of people before you start.”

Dillon Dhanecha's company, The Change Studio, was trying to distribute management tools and training through the internet, and admits it fell into exactly the trap Banks was describing. “We were developing short YouTube clips and so on, but I was in Rwanda a few weeks ago and trying to access our site from my Smartphone, and it just wasn’t happening.”

But there are plenty of options with even a not-very-smart phone: one of the pioneers was M-Pesa, designed as a tool for repaying microfinance loans. But Kenyans found all kinds of other uses; for instance, people afraid to carry large sums of cash while travelling would send it to themselves for collection at their destination. It was also key to the recent Kenyans for Kenya drought aid funding drive."

Title: Towards an Information Society in Botswana: ICT4D Country Report
Authors: Balulwami Grand, Stephen M Mutula, Peter M. Sebina, Saul Zulu
Pages: 86 pp.
Source: Botswana Thetha ICT Discussion Forum
Publisher: Department of Library and Information Studies University of Botswana and Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT)
Date (published): 08/03/2010
Date (accessed): 10/03/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
The Thetha - Regional ICT Discussion Forum Project is an initiative of SANGONeT aimed at tracking ICT4D initiatives in SADC member states and facilitating networking and dialogue among civil society organisations, academia, government organisations, corporate sector and development agencies to share information and experiences of the different countries in this regard. The Thetha project is funded by the Embassy of Finland (South Africa) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), and is administered by SANGONeT.
The Botswana Thetha - Regional ICT Discussion Forum is organised through the partnership of the Department of Library and Information Studies (University of Botswana) and SANGONeT. A similar event was co-hosted by BOCONGO and SANGONeT - dubbed the Botswana ICT Discussion Forum - in Gaborone from 5-6 October 2006. The Forum at that time sought to provide a platform for discussing the Maitlamo ICT policy which was at that stage a draft document. The policy was subsequently enacted by Parliament in 2007 and is the foundation upon which ICT4D initiatives are being undertaken in Botswana. The policy, for example, aims at creating an enabling environment for the growth of an ICT industry in Botswana, the provision of universal service and access to information and communication facilities and making Botswana an ICT hub for the region. It is therefore timely to review again what progress has been achieved not only after the enactment of the 'Maitlamo' policy but also with regard to WSIS, AISI, the SADC IT protocol and Vision 2016.