Attached please find the latest collection of snippets from the world of

Telematics and Development.

We are pleased to be able to announce that, as part of an agreement, Times

Media Limited has kindly agreed to sponsor a new section within Consortium

circulars that will focus on profiling organizations and the work that they

do. We launch this new feature with a detailed proposal sent to us by

Sandile Ndawonde on the Greater Edendale Environmental Network (GREEN). At

least one organization will be profiled very month, although we will profile

more organizations as time allows.

Regards,

Neil Butcher

NEWS

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DAR ES SALAAM, July 15 (Reuters) - Tanzania has approved an application by

South Africa's Vodacom to operate a mobile phone network, making it the

fifth cellular phone operator in the east African country, officials said on

Thursday. "We got the award letter from the Tanzania Telecommunications

Company the day before yesterday and are now processing the licence and

registering Vodacom Tanzania," Jacqueline Noni, managing director of

Planetel Communication Ltd, Vodacom's local partner, told Reuters.

Vodacom Tanzania, the locally registered company, will operate the cellular

phone network. South Africa's Vodacom will hold a 55 percent stake while

Planetel, owned by Tanzanian shareholders, will hold a 45 percent stake.

"The total investment is $90 million and we expect to be operational in

about six months," Noni said.

The entry of a fifth mobile phone operator in Tanzania is expected to bring

down mobile phone rates -- currently between 24 U.S. cents and 39 U.S.

cents -- significantly, and help increase the telephone density in the

country. Tanzania has one of the lowest telephone densities in the world

with an estimated seven lines per 100,000 people.

Thursday, 15 July 1999 09:25:12

Taken from the Media Beat (July 18 1999): Edited by Warren Feek

Swaziland To Have Agricultural Projects With Mozambique, SA - Swaziland

The Swazi Observer - July 13, 1999

MBABANE - Swaziland will have trilateral agricultural projects with

Mozambique and South Africa. The projects will be aimed at alleviating

poverty through agricultural and tourism projects under the Lubombo Spatial

PROFILED ORGANIZATIONS

(This component of the TAD Consortium Newsletter kindly sponsored by Times

Media Limited - www.tml.co.za)

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In this post, Sandile Ndawonde introduces TAD readers to GREEN and project

for which he is currently seeking funding. Anyone interested in the project

or aware of people who may be interested in funding the project should

please contact Sandile at sandile.green@pixie.co.za

GREATER EDENDALE ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK (GREEN)

Website: www.greensa.co.za

The Greater Edendale Environmental Network was established in 1993. It is a

formally constituted association operating as a community based network and

currently comprises more than 45 community based organizations (CBO's).

Members of the network are located in the urban and peri-urban environment

of Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi. Members include women's groups, youth groups,

environmental clubs, agricultural clubs and a variety of other civic

organizations. Although certain member groups are politically aligned the

Network itself is apolitical. GREEN's aim is to provide a platform for and

a medium through which previously disadvantaged individuals and

organizations can:

GREEN is directed by a Board of Management comprising 10 community leaders

and has a staff compliment of four:-

1. Sandile Ndawonde - co-ordinator

2. Gugu Ngcobo - project financial and media administrator

3. Welile Hlongwa-receptionist and general administrator

4. Nhlanhla Sihlophe-Network developer and Manager

GREEN's previous and current project activities include:

1. waste recycling/management and clean-up campaigns (in cooperation with

the Pietermaritzburg- Msunduzi TLC and the Keep Pietermaritzburg Clean

Association);

2. directing community tree planting and gardening exercises;

3. environmental education initiatives (in cooperation with ShareNet and the

Natal Parks Board)

4. catchment management initiatives (in partnership with the Institute of

Natural Resource, Computing Centre for Water Research and ShareNet); and

5. environmental awareness campaigns.

6. people and land (negotiations on land disputes between land owners and

users).

Previous and current project funders include:

--- DANCED

--- GTZ-Rural Development

--- Shell

--- Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi TLC

--- Independent Development Trust (IDT).

--- Interfund(International Fund-raising Consortium)

PROFILE OF THE COLLABORATING ORGANISATION (INR) - Institute of Natural

Resources

Website: www.inr.unp.ac.za

The INR was established in 1980. It is a Section 21 (non-profit) company

and an Associate Institute of the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg.

The purpose of the INR is to contribute to the management of natural

resources and socio-economic advancement of the people of South Africa

through the integration of conservation and development initiatives. This is

achieved through:

1. assessment of development and resource management needs;

2. environmental and social impact analysis of development initiatives;

3. design and testing of development and resource management systems on a

pilot scale;

4. design and testing of appropriate education and training programmes to

support the implementation of these systems; and

5. formulation of policy and procedural guidelines for adoption and

implementation of these systems by development agencies and organizations.

6. The Institute acts as a research, development and application (on a pilot

7. Landcare - KwaZulu-Natal and National (for Department of Agriculture)

PROJECT PROPOSAL

The Msunduzi Community Network (Phase 2): Empowering Community Based

Decision Making through Exposure to Information and Communication

Technology, and Environmental Education in the Msunduzi River Catchment.

INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The Msunduzi River Catchment and project development

The Msunduzi River catchment is 540 km2 in extent and contains over 500 000

people, 400 000 of which live in the urban and peri-urban area of

Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi . The vast majority of these people are

disadvantaged, are materially and intellectually impoverished; and have

limited understanding of environmental and development issues. This,

combined with inappropriate development and land use by administrative and

management authorities, and commercial and industrial interests, has caused

a significant decline in the environmental health of the catchment. Soil

erosion and contamination, reduced water quality and quantity, and declining

human health are symptoms of these fundamental socio-economic causes.

One of the keys to addressing these issues is improving the understanding of

those whose actions impact on the environment - not only the poor but also

industrialists, developers and city administrators. People from all

socio-economic sectors need understand the consequences of their actions.

Only through this will people modify their behaviour towards the

environment. The basis for improved understanding is access to information

and increased interaction between and within socio-economic levels and

sectors. For the vast majority of people gaining access to information and

interacting through formal education on environment and development issues

is not a realistic option. Gaining knowledge and understanding which allows

people to make informed decisions on their lives and the environment has to

take a different and less formal route. "Local - Local" dialogue -

interaction and the exchange of information between community groups,

between community groups and experts, and between community groups, NGOs

and government (local, provincial and national) - is essential so that

different perspectives are understood and all parties are empowered to take

decisions and act effectively.

GREEN operates at the interface of these divergent socio-economic sectors -

it has extensive formal and informal links with community groups, university

departments, government, NGOs and the private sector. GREEN is ideally

placed to facilitate interaction and information transfer within

Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi and in the entire catchment. Although the project

is aimed at the residents of peri-urban and urban areas it is important to

include also those rural residents in the upper catchment. Their activities

impact on the urban environment downstream and so their participation in the

project process is critical.

The need for improved information management and communication in a

catchment context was spurred by the floods of Christmas Day 1995.

Immediately following these floods, projects aimed at unifying focus in

water commenced. However, there was a general realisation that, in order to

solve the multifaceted problems that exist in the catchment, a more holistic

and long term approach was also needed. With funds donated by the GTZ Rural

Development Foundation, four organisations teamed up to commence the

Msunduzi Integrated Catchment Management Initiative. They were:

1. Institute of Natural Resources (INR)

2. Greater Edendale Environmental Network (GREEN)

3. Computing Centre for Water Research (CCWR)

4. Share-Net

OVERARCHING GOAL

Acceptable environmental quality in the Msunduzi Catchment achieved through

focussed communication and co-ordinated action on key environmental issues.

SPECIFIC PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. GREEN effectively leading and servicing an environmentally focussed

electronic network in the Msunduzi River Catchment

2. Community representatives empowered to operate computer based electronic

hubs, and lead, service and facilitate their constituents in engaging

environmental issues.

3. Administrative, specialist, service delivery and non-government

institutions actively involved in the network and in network activities.

4. All aspects of the project analysed and documented so as to provide

refined guidelines for network establishment and operation, and to establish

guidelines for self-sufficiency.

5. A broad audience informed of lessons learnt in this initiative.

6. Project delivery and sustainability evaluated.

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PROJECT TASKS/ACTIVITIES

DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING THE ELECTRONIC HUBS

With the exception of Vulindlela, all the hubs are connected, and operators

are trained in and have received considerable education on environmental

issues. Currently, without dedicated support in all areas they are not

self-sustaining. It is critical that these hubs become sustainable,

especially financially. It is also critical that the networked computer

becomes the means to improve communication and subsequent action rather than

an end in itself. Activities focusing on the electronic hubs will include:

further network and computer training;

1. further environmental education focusing on issues relevant at particular

hubs

2. leadership and service training;

3. training in hub administration (At most of the hubs there appears to be

an almost complete inability to carry out the simplest financial

administration. Attempts to provide hubs with their own financial

allocations and budgets failed and that responsibility was returned to

GREEN.)

4. One of the major barriers to financial sustainability is the inability of

the clients these hubs service (poor black people) to pay for services.

Creative mechanisms to achieve income by the hubs need to be explored and

developed. (See Research activities).

BROADENING THE NETWORK BASE

While the network is confined largely to community based organisations it

will have limited positive effect. The network needs to act as a medium of

improved communication between all role players in the catchment. Only in

this way will co-ordinated action be achieved. Workshops and meetings will

be held with the following organisations in order to recruit them into the

network and define a role for each:

1. Pietermaritzburg Msunduzi TLC through the Local Agenda 21 initiative

2. Umgeni Water through its environmental management section

3. iNdlovu Regional Council through the Vulindlela Tribal Authority

4. The Msunduzi River Catchment Management Forum (multiple stakeholders)

7. University of Natal through the Centre for Environment and Development

8. Computing Centre for Water Research

9. ShareNet

RESEARCH

The research methodology is primarily observing the activities of the

project, analysing the experiences and translating them into tools for

broader application. Research will have two linked components:

1. Refinement of the network communication model and guidelines. During the

first phase of the project the focus of model and guideline development was

on communication network development. In the second phase research will

shift focus to developing guidelines for the most effective methods of

empowerment ie what is necessary to empower hub operators so that they can

effectively service the communities they represent. The first steps have

been taken with hub operators convening community workshops to discuss and

search for solutions to environment and development issues. The results of

these workshops will be posted on the hub's websites.

2. Linked to the first activity is the issue of network and hub

sustainability. The major concern is financial viability and

self-sufficiency. Here the research will focus on exploring income

opportunities for the network as a whole and for the individual hubs. This

will include a mix of advertising, selling services, incorporation into an

institutional base (that is already funded), sponsorship, and twinning with

a larger institution on a mutual needs basis. These various options will be

tested and from the results guidelines for financial self-sufficiency will

be developed.

BROAD COMMUNICATION

The project experience will be of limited value to the Acacia Programme if

direct interaction on it does not take place. Project management can learn

from the experiences of other projects and can pass on the experience gained

in this project. Virtual workshops have a role but it is also critical that

researchers and practitioners actually meet to discuss ideas of common

interest. Two workshops will be convened involving IDRC staff and

organisations involved in other Acacia projects with the specific focus of

information sharing between projects.

PROJECT EVALUATION

The project will be evaluated about six months after its completion based on

its financial, social and ecological sustainability. A detailed evaluation

procedure will be worked out with IDRC. Following is an example of the type

of questions that will be asked (criteria):

1. Are the hubs (including GREEN) still functioning?

2. Do they have income that is sufficient to cover the running costs of the

computer and network?

3. Is the computer and network system a normal part of daily hub operation

i.e. are operators sending e-mail messages and exploring the Internet on a

daily basis as a part of there normal activity?

4. Do the constituents serviced by the hub understand what services the hub

can deliver and is it accepted by and utilised by the community?

5. Does the information communicated on the network relate primarily to

environment and development issues.?

6. To what extent is communication occurring between CBO participants and

between CBOs and formal institutions?

7. Is the flow of information resulting in improved catchment management

practices by community and institutional participants?

8. Have the research results been published and what is the demand for the

results/reports?

BUDGET:

The estimated total budget in rand (ZAR) is R639 200 over two years.

ARTICLES

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Promoting Electronic Commerce in East Africa

Curt Labond

June 28, 1999

An international team hopes to encourage wider use of the Internet in East

Africa by helping local entrepreneurs get started in electronic commerce

(e-commerce). The initiative, which is backed by the International

Development Research Centre (IDRC), assumes that once businesses experience

commercial success over the Internet, private enterprise will drive the

expansion of the electronic highway.

The research project, entitled 'Connectivity and Commerce: Accelerating the

Diffusion of the Internet in Uganda and Tanzania' is supported by IDRC's

Acacia Initiative and Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises Innovation and

Technology program initiatives. The project is being implemented by the

Ottawa-based firm, PERWIT International, in partnership with the Private

Sector Foundation of Uganda and the Economic and Social Research Foundation

of Tanzania.

Workshops

So far, a series of workshops has been held in Dar es Salaam and Kampala for

potential e-commerce entrepreneurs. The project coordinators are now

reviewing business plans for possible business pilot projects (that will

receive partial funding from the World Bank's Information for Development

Program); exploring potential twinning relationships with similar,

established businesses in North America and Europe; and promoting mentoring

arrangements with businesses and individuals that could help with regulatory

questions and other issues.

Not all e-businesses are equally suited to East Africa. For example,

catalogue shopping might be impractical because of the costs and

difficulties associated with shipping goods to overseas markets. But

'virtual products' such as newspapers produced on the Internet could easily

reach the sizeable market of East Africans living abroad.

Teleservices

Teleservices are another promising business area. This would involve using

the Internet to deliver contracted services performed in Africa. "The real

opportunities are here," says Jeffrey Fine of PERWIT International.

"Businesses are already becoming used to purchasing services such as

accounting, translation, and transcription over the Internet. Their main

concerns are simply how fast, how well, and how cheaply they can get the

work done."

He adds that many companies providing teleservices could start small, and

scale up as opportunities arise. Moreover, the Internet provides instant

access to the relatively affluent North American and European markets, where

African labour rates would provide an advantage.

"While some regulatory and accreditation obstacles are expected, they are

surmountable," notes Fine's partner, Jacques Rostenne. For example,

subcontracting through a firm within the target country could provide an

African company with the 'local' presence that might be necessary to attract

business.

Window of opportunity

Whichever e-businesses take off, "it's important to realize that there is a

window of opportunity here," says Fine. "If you look at the way industry

develops, early entrants have less competition, and often develop a certain

'presence' that late-comers will have to overcome."

Curt Labond is an Ottawa-based freelance writer.

Resource Persons:

Jeffrey Fine, PERWIT International, 505 Westminster Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario,

K2A 2T9, Canada; Tel: (613) 729-2090; Fax: (613) 729-2144; E-mail:

jcfine@telepraxis.com

Jacques Rostenne, PERWIT International, 505 Westminster Avenue, Ottawa,

Ontario, K2A 2T9, Canada; Tel: (613) 729-2090; Fax: (613) 729-2144; E-mail:

rostenne@perwit.com IDRC).

***************************

Telematics for African Development Consortium

P.O. Box 31822

Braamfontein

2017

Johannesburg

South Africa

Tel: +27 +11 403-2813

Fax: +27 +11 403-2814

neilshel@icon.co.za

www.saide.org.za