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What ICT Solution Works in A Developing World

posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 11:53 AM

If the Digital Devide will be bridged, the following should be done:

While working for United nation Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) we carried out a ICT Needs Assessment in Uganda and Uganda can be representative of many developing countries. this study preceded the establishment of a computer refurbishment plant by Microsoft in kampala Uganda.

1) Genuine and affordable hardware and software solutions for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises because these MSMEs have three components that need to be addressed:

a) The Employ 80-85% of the Populations in Developing countries
b) They are 70% Women
c) They contribute 75-80% to the GDP of their countries.

2) Power Solutions for ICT Users; I will give the data in Uganda for example;

a)There are 5.6million mobile phone subscribers but these have to have a charger to charge a phone and so people in the villages share a a socket in a trading centre to have a day's charge but if a solar charging system worth maybe $15 was added to the sales figure of the phone then maybe this woud lower the amount of subscribers by maybe 20% to 4.48 Million but all could charge their phones with a solar charger.

This inturn would create employment if its the deliberate measure by governments to make sure every phone has a solar charger.

b) The radio came in the early 1910s and we have an average of 3-5Million radios and a mobile phone that came in 1997 has beaten the radio in statistics, what is happening? people attach value to how quick an ICT component communication turns into money or satisifaction or closes a transaction. So we should look at that (think about this)

3) Working with Village SAvings and Loan associations (VSLAs) or Rotational savings and cooperative Associations (ROSCAs)for small entrepreneurs that save with these associations to access PCs or ICT components through cost sharing or ICT component loans.

i can Talk till tommorow
but I have developed workplans and papers on the same. I can present if called upon to share what I have and seen missing in the ICT development World.

Humphrey Mutaasa
ICT for Rural Areas.-the way to go

Comments

Timothy Ogene

Sunday, October 19, 2008 01:47 PM

Great Idea!

Humphrey Mutaasa

Monday, October 20, 2008 07:07 AM

Thanks Tim We need to Link up and make certain things happen. Lets make Africa a better place.