New models of Cooperation in ICT for Human Development field: Innovation from the South

Nuevos modelos de Cooperación en el ámbito de las TIC para el Desarrollo Humano: Innovando desde el Sur

2010

Achieving digital inclusion: ICT R&D from a community perspective

www.csir.co.za

Presented by Kagiso Chikane - CSIR

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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MERAKA

www.csir.co.za

• Unit at the CSIR

(Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)

• A leading African R&D and implementation organisation

• Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945

• Mandate - contributing to industrial development;

quality of life of people

• Research impact areas: Health; energy; defence and

security; natural environment; built environment; industry

• ICT: Enabling technology

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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• Meraka: Hub of CSIR ICT R&D activity

• Largest concentration of ICT researchers in South Africa

• Track record of growth

• Strong partnerships: nationally, internationally with HEIs and research institutions; highestno of FP7 projects

MERAKA

www.csir.co.za

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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PROJECTSMeraka has done extensive work to achieve digital inclusion through ICT R&D from a community perspective. Some of our projects are:

www.csir.co.za

National Accessibility Project (NAP)Connectivity for rural areasMobile for DevelopmentDigital DoorwayLwaziLiving Labs

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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PROJECTS

Connectivity for rural areas

www.csir.co.za

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PROJECTS

Mobile for Development

www.csir.co.za

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PROJECTS : DIGITAL DOORWAYS

DIGITAL DOORWAY

Lwazi

LIVING LABS

www.csir.co.za

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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www.csir.co.za

• Ensure community buy-in • Make it easily accessible• Importance of ‘champions’• System must be robust• Minimise ‘downtime’ frustrations• Appropriate content• Time to explore

Lessons learnt:MERAKA

PROJECTS

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PEOPLES’ VOICE

DIGITAL DOORWAY

Lwazi

LIVING LABS

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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www.csir.co.za

• Creates opportunities

• Value for school projects

• Own time at own pace

• Tool for information dissemination

(e.g. partnership with Syngenta,

Eskom and UNICEF)

Results:MERAKA

PROJECTS

CHALLENGES

CONCLUSION

PEOPLES’ VOICE

DIGITAL DOORWAY

Lwazi

LIVING LABS

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

PROJECTS: Lwazi

www.csir.co.za

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DIGITAL DOORWAY

Lwazi

LIVING LABS

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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www.csir.co.za

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DIGITAL DOORWAY

Lwazi

LIVING LABS

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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CHALLENGESQUANTIFYING what happens to a community when technology is introduced: educational/social/economic

PLANNING,monitoring, and research on outcomes of different initiatives

FINDINGsupport – technical and financially www.csir.co.za

Photo: Rudi de Louw

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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CHALLENGESENSURING that all levels of the community engages and benefits

DEVELOPING local skills and local ownership

IDENTIFYING a holistic system of enablers and support

www.csir.co.za

Photo: Rudi de Louw

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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CONCLUSION• Access to information and services

• Social connectedness

• Skills development

• Opportunities for service creation

and entrepreneurship – leads to

local economic development.

www.csir.co.za

III Encuentro Internacional de TIC en la Cooperación el DesarrolloIII International Meeting of ICT for Development Cooperation

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CONCLUSIONAdditional technologies - Cyberinfrastructure:Sun Microsystems hybrid supercomputer;  Blue Gene®/P system; South African National Research Network- Advanced Fire Information System: SA and SADC- National Accessibility Programme: www.napsa.org.za - Other CSIR units

www.csir.co.za