The SWOPNet Vision is under development by the SC. However
the overarching theme might be expressed as set out below.
"
A gradual and managed merging of the diverse interests
of the IICD Project Partners, eThink Tank, and other projects
in the ICT for development arena, fostering lasting and
mutually reinforcing partnerships through sustainable Information
Networking and Knowledge Sharing to deepen and nurture
a maturing development community utilizing ICT for Tanzania's
development."
Regardless of precisely what Vision and Mission finally
emerges, it is key that IN is not restricted to Dar es
Salaam, but embraces the whole of Tanzania with ICT and
Development as core themes. In addition we intend to swap
experiences, thus learn from our partners and counterparts
in other countries.
Building Blocks
IN activities in Tanzania will be supported by a number
of building blocks. Some of the building blocks that
are currently envisaged by the SC are set out below.
Note that some of these activities have already started.
A website including the who-is-who database
A newsletter focused on ICT and development bi-monthly
hopefully in Kiswahili as well as English
Face-to-face meetings with at least two major meetings
each year
Virtual meetings with other IN Partners in other countries
via video conferencing
Content production and content links
Awareness raising
A discussion group including a mailing list.
Establishing all these building blocks to the quality
that is required is an ambitious task for the SC during
2003. Therefore it will be critical to "start small
and scale upwards".
A Concrete Example
It is useful to cite a concrete example of a SWOPNet Building
Block. On Wednesday 19th March 2003 the Tanzania Global
Development Learning Centre (TGDLC) in partnership with
IICD facilitated a videoconference between SWOPNet and
I-Network (the SWOPNet equivalent in Uganda) focused
on e-Learning. I-Network had two excellent resource persons
who presented e-Learning in theory, and subsequently
the SchoolNet Uganda experience in installing the first
school-based VSAT network in Africa. This VSAT network
connects 49 schools in rural and urban Uganda, and has
recently moved from face-to-face training to e-Learning.
In other words this is a shift from the "Lecture
Method" of education to Activity-based Learning
centred on the student whereby the teacher becomes a
mentor.
Meanwhile the videoconference was very well attended indeed
with nearly 40 Tanzanian participants including practitioners
in the Education Sector. The feedback was excellent and
very many practical lessons and real obstacles towards
introducing e-Learning were learnt by all.
It is also noteworthy that the videoconference was covered
by two national television stations (ITV and TVT), thus
disseminating further an overview on e-Learning, and the
excellent facilities available at TGDLC.
Following the success of the videoconference, the Tanzanian
SWOPNet SC promised to "host" a similar event
with the content coming from Tanzania in May 2003. This
upcoming event will hopefully involve SWOPNet's IN counterparts
in Uganda and Ghana in order to exchange knowledge on an
issue of interest to all. So please watch this space for
more information!
Conclusion
In conclusion, we wish to build a vibrant community with
information networking and knowledge sharing at its core.
We welcome your comments on this introductory note and
encourage your inputs into SWOPNet as we develop its framework
further, it's Vision, Building Blocks and any other matters
of interest. Most importantly, please be encouraged to
contribute freely to swopnet@dgroups.org since your contributions
will make it vibrant, and foster information networking
and knowledge sharing, thus contributing to Tanzania's
Development.
Knowledge is power, but only if shared
About IICD
What is IICD?
The International Institute for Communication and Development
(IICD) partners with developing countries to realise
locally owned sustainable development by harnessing the
potential of information and communication technologies
(ICTs). IICD realises its mission through two strategic
approaches. First, Country Programmes bring local organisations
together and help them to formulate and execute ICT-supported
development policies and projects. The approach aims
to strengthen local institutional capacities to develop
and manage Country Programmes, that are currently being
implemented in Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Jamaica,
Mali, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Second, Thematic Networks link local and international
partners working in similar areas, connecting local knowledge
with global knowledge and promoting South-South and South-North
exchanges. Thematic Networks focus on sectors and themes
like education, health, governance, the environment, livelihood
opportunities (especially agriculture), and training.
These efforts are supported by various information and
communication activities provided by IICD or its partners.
To support IICD Country Programmes futher, the intention
is to have Information and Exchange Networks (IN) in place
to function as a platform where people come together to
learn, to share, and to communicate/disseminate ICT and
development issues; they may help to set a wider ICT-enabled
development agenda; they may have specific functions within
the CP.
