Government-led Telecenter Projects Countries featured: Angola Brazil Ghana Honduras Iran Kenya Malaysia Oman Pakistan Peru Rwanda Sri Lanka Swaziland Tanzania Uganda
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ANGOLA Project Name: Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites: Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: Estimated costs: Main funders: Main implementing partners: Overview:
Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions: Links to evaluations:
INFRASAT "Liga-Liga" February 2012 < 600 All At least $2 million INFRASAT (the Angolan satellite telecommunications system) INFRASAT (the Angolan satellite telecommunications system) Seeks to reactivate previously established antennas/telecenters and install new telecenters in various public institutions, especially in schools, prisons, according to requests. No http://allafrica.com/stories/201202091306.html Unavailable
BRAZIL Project Name:
Acessa São Paulo Program (Acessa SP) 1
Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites: Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: Estimated costs: Main funders: Main implementing partners: Overview:
Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions: Links to evaluations:
March 2012 679 All Unclear State of São Paulo Ministry of Public Management, with management by Prodesp, Data Processing Company of the State of Sao Paulo - Department of Citizen Services Seeks to end the digital divide by offering free access to computers and internet. Access centers may be municipal or POPAI (public pay phones internet access). Municipal access centers typically operate out of city libraries. http://seer.ufrgs.br/InfEducTeoriaPratica/article/ view/2392/3044; www.acessasaopaulo.sp.gov.br/ Unavailable. Here is a useful document describing a range of digital inclusion and information access initiatives throughout Brazil: http://www.spotlightonbrazil.com/2011/09/14/di gital-inclusion-in-brazil-the-cdi/
GHANA Project Name:
GIFEC: Universal Access to Electronic Communications Programme: Community Information Centers project Date of last viewed project update: unclear--strategic plan from 2010-2012 Total number of telecenter sites: 125 (note: website provides different numbers from linked PDF) Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: 74 (note: website provides different numbers from linked PDF) Estimated costs: unclear Main funders: Ghana Ministry of Communications, UNDP Main implementing partners: Ghana Ministry of Communications Overview: CICs will function as district information hubs, providing connectivity to ministries, departments and agencies, private businesses, and educational institutions in beneficiary communities. Libraries mentioned? Yes, in another component of the electronic communications project Links to project descriptions: http://gifec.gov.gh/uaec-programme/the2
Links to evaluations:
community-information-centers-project.html; http://gifec.gov.gh/file/CIC%20status_Public %20info.pdf http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/news/feature s/9366-role-of-community-information-centres-inbridging-the-digital-divide-in-africa; IICD evaluation: http://www.iicd.org/projects/ghanacic; gifec.gov.gh/file/Appraisal%20of%20UATP %202010.pdf
GHANA Project Name:
GIFEC: Universal Access to Electronic Communications Programme: Library Connectivity project Date of last viewed project update: Unclear—strategic plan from 2010-2012 Total number of telecenter sites: n/a Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: 73 Estimated costs: unclear Main funders: Ghana Ministry of Communications, UNDP Main implementing partners: Ghana Ministry of Communications Overview: GIFEC intends to support the Ghana Library Board to equip identified libraries with computers, accessories and internet connectivity. Libraries mentioned? This is a library connectivity project. Links to project descriptions: http://gifec.gov.gh/UAEC-Programme/the-libraryconnectivity-project.html Links to evaluations: None
HONDURAS Project Name:
COHCIT Centros Comunitarios de Conocimientos y Comunicaciones (CCCCs) Date of last viewed project update: 2008 Total number of telecenter sites: At least 122 Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: unclear Estimated costs: At least $2 billion, including loan of $5 million from Taiwan, $700,000 from Honduras Main funders: Inter-American Development Bank, Taiwanese cooperation, Honduran government Main implementing partners: Honduran Council of Science and Technology (COHCIT), Ministry of Education, Technical 3
Cooperation, HONDUTEL Centers for ICT access in rural areas. No http://bit.ly/MNNPRO Long doc with multiple case studies including COHCIT (Spanish): http://www.itu.int/ITUD/ict/mexico04/doc/doc/12_CPT_Manual_s.pdf; Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) evaluation of COHCIT-sponsored Communication and Knowledge Community Centers starting p.117: http://faculty.washington.edu/rgomez/projects/la ndscape/countryreports/Honduras/Report_Honduras.pdf
Overview: Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions: Links to evaluations:
IRAN Project Name: Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites: Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: Estimated costs: Main funders: Main implementing partners: Overview:
Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions: Links to evaluations:
10000 Rural ICT Center project January 2012 10,000 planned Presumably all Unclear Telecommunication Company of Iran, I.R.Iran Post Company, Post Bank of Iran Telecommunication Company of Iran, I.R.Iran Post Company, Post Bank of Iran Seeks to connect rural communities to public services including post, post bank, telecommunications, internet connection and access. No http://www.itu.int/wsis/stocktaking/plugin/docu ments.asp?project=1327046910&lang=en; http://www.eroosta.ir/Page-179-about.aspx siteresources.worldbank.org/INTGENDER/Resourc es/AliJalali.pdf
KENYA Project Name: Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites:
Pasha Centres 2011 10 pilot projects according to Kenya ICT Board 4
website Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: all Estimated costs: Sh210 million in 2011 (?); Dec 2010 article says entrepreneurs get USD37 000 per centre to set up/revamp Main funders: World Bank Main implementing partners: Kenya ICT Board, Family Bank Overview: Invests in entrepreneurs (for example, cybercafe owners) to upgrade their models or set up new ones. Funds given as loans, not grants. Libraries mentioned? No Links to project descriptions: http://allafrica.com/stories/201106150511.html, http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac79/docs/case /Kenya-PashaCentres_Engagement_Overview_IBSG.pdf, http://www.pasha.co.ke/node/2 Links to evaluations: None
MALAYSIA Project Name: Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites: Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: Estimated costs: Main funders: Main implementing partners: Overview: Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions: Links to evaluations:
ICT Libraries project March 2012 230 230 Unclear Government of Malaysia The National Library Seeks to develop ICT in rural libraries, moving towards establishing Hypermedia Centres (in libraries). Yes. The purpose of the project is to put ICTs in rural libraries. http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/10/06/nati onal-library-plans-to-harness-ict-in-230-rurallibraries Unavailable
OMAN Project Name:
Universal Access in the Sultanate of Oman through Telecenters (this may not be the actual project name) 5
Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites: Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: Estimated costs: Main funders:
Main implementing partners: Overview: Libraries mentioned?
Links to project descriptions:
Links to evaluations:
March 2012 Project not yet launched. All Unclear The implementers are currently exploring funding options; options may include commercial franchises, NGOs, or municipal/state institutions. Could be funded through small loans and seed finance. Telecoms Regulatory Authority (TRA) Seeks to ensure a minimum standard of telecoms services to all Omanis regardless of their location, gender or income. Yes. Consultation document suggests embedding telecenters services into existing entities including libraries as a sustainable method of managing costs. http://www.tra.gov.om/newsite1/Portal/Upload/ Documents/516_PublicConsultation_TelecentersEn. pdf; http://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Oman/TRAplans-telecentres-across-the-sultanate The project is currently in a "public consultation" phase, seeking to measure public perceptions of the project. Causes of telecenter failure in other settings have been carefully considered—the public has been invited to comment on issues like target population, training, and telecenter design.
PAKISTAN Project Name: Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites:
Universal Telecentres (UTCs) project February 2012 994 IT centers, 11 telecenters. Pilot phase which began in July 2011 had 24 telecenters. Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: All Estimated costs: Concept paper estimated cost of 10-Seat Universal Telecenter (including alternative energy and broadband connection, excluding civil works) at between 8-12 million rupees. Main funders: Government Universal Service Fund, funding perhaps via World Bank 6
Main implementing partners:
Overview: Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions:
Links to evaluations:
Universal Service Fund, broadband service providers, telecenter operators (organizations with presence in rural areas, like Rural Support Programs, Rural NGOs, corporate entities with operations in rural areas, local entrepreneurs/communities). Main goal: to create partnerships between service providers and local community organizations to provide sustainable internet access to rural areas. No http://propakistani.pk/2012/02/28/usf-bodapproved-universal-telecenters-for-unservedareas/; concept paper: http://bit.ly/xJqM8f; blog entry describing initiative: http://www.piftikhar.com/2011/08/usftelecenters-%E2%80%93-the-simple-concept/ Unavailable
PERU Project Name:
Telecentre Network, Chancay-Huaral Valley District Date of last viewed project update: 2010 Total number of telecenter sites: 14 Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: All Estimated costs: $166,000 (includes generator for electricity source, transmission, computers, etc.) Main funders: Universal Access Fund, Ministry of Agriculture, the local farmers association (Irrigation Cooperative of the Huaral Valley) Main implementing partners: The local farmers association (hosts sites), CEPES (an NGO) (provides technical assistance, evaluates progress) Overview: “The rural wireless broadband network was originally established to communicate the water flow schedule for local irrigation systems, and make agricultural information available to farmers and to give Internet access to schools.” Libraries mentioned? No Links to project descriptions: http://www.ictregulationtoolkit.org/en/PracticeN ote.3177.html, http://90.146.8.18/en/archives/prix_archive/prix_ 7
Links to evaluations:
projekt.asp?iProjectID=13416 Telecenters in Latin America/Caribbean: http://www.dirsi.net/espanol/files/05-GalperinGirard_23nov.pdf; great "perceptions" evaluation by APC: http://www.apc.org/en/node/10065/
RWANDA Project Name:
Community Information Centres (CIC) project – Rwanda Telecentre Network (RTN) Date of last viewed project update: 2012 Total number of telecenter sites: Originally 30. In 2010 planned to begin scaling up to 1,000. Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: Presumably all Estimated costs: As of 2006: $3 million/year setup, $1 million/year maintenance for subsequent 3 years Main funders: UNDP, Government of Rwanda through RITA (Rwanda Information Technology Authority), other government institutions, and private organizations Main implementing partners: Government of Rwanda through RITA (Rwanda Information Technology Authority), other government institutions, and private organizations Overview: Based mainly in small rural towns and urban areas throughout Rwanda, the community information centers (CICs) serve the unique needs of their communities and promote community development, information provision, technologybased training, distance education, email and Internet access, secretarial services, and desktop publishing services. RTN's mission is to create a telecenter network by 2015 that would reach 70% of the total population of Rwanda. Libraries mentioned? No Links to project descriptions: http://www.balancingactafrica.com/news/en/issue-no301/computing/rwanda-to-invest-us3/en; http://www.ugabytes.org/rtn/aboutus.html; http://www.rtnrwanda.org/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=116%3Arw anda-telecentre-network-rtn-to-manage-some-ofthe-governmenttelecentres&catid=1%3Alatest&lang=en 8
Links to evaluations:
IDRC evaluation of telecenters in Rwanda: http://idlbnc.idrc.ca/dspace/bitstream/10625/45564/1/13 2027.pdf; UNDP evaluation: http://erc.undp.org/evaluationadmin/downloaddo cument.html?docid=1808
SRI LANKA Project Name: Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites: Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: Estimated costs: Main funders: Main implementing partners: Overview:
Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions: Links to evaluations:
1000 Nenasala (Knowledge Centre) project March 2012 665 All monthly operating cost less than 10,000 rupees/center per month; revenues roughly 13,000 rupees/month welfare societies, NGOs, personal donations, ICTA; centers provide services for fees (sale of computer accessories, new courses, capital items) ICT ministry, various temples, individual entrepreneurs, CSOs "The objective of the ‘Nenasala’ Project is to upgrade the living standards of all rural communities across Sri Lanka with equal affordable access to ICT based services." Roughly 2% of centers operate out of libraries. (http://www.nanasala.lk/pdfdoc/Nenasala_Outco me_Evaluation_Final_Report_October_2010.pdf) http://www.icta.lk/; http://www.nanasala.lk/ http://www.nanasala.lk/pdfdoc/Nenasala_Outcom e_Evaluation_Final_Report_October_2010.pdf; http://faculty.washington.edu/rgomez/projects/la ndscape/country-reports/Sri %20Lanka/Report_Sri_Lanka.pdf
SWAZILAND Project Name:
Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) Telecentre Project Date of last viewed project update: February 2012 Total number of telecenter sites: > 15 Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: at least 15 9
Estimated costs: Main funders:
unclear UNDP (funds Digital Villages initiative, unclear as to whether it funds the SPTC project as well) unclear Broad goal: to develop national postal and telecommunications services. Internet cafes are opened in post offices. No http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php? news=33631; February 2012 update: http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php? news=35175; http://www.docstoc.com/docs/54683086/Swazila nd-Policy-modified unavailable
Main implementing partners: Overview: Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions:
Links to evaluations:
TANZANIA Project Name: Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites: Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: Estimated costs: Main funders:
Main implementing partners: Overview: Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions: Links to evaluations:
Rural Telecommunications Service Project 2011 > 15, eventually 3000 Presumably all unclear Universal Communications Access Fund: government, Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Development Partners and Telecom Operators Government Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology Seeks to bring telecommunications services in rural areas. Uses post offices as internet sites in many cases. No http://thecitizen.co.tz/business/13-localbusiness/17038-government-to-build-3000telecentres-in-rural-areas.html World Bank “pre” evaluation of several countries including Tanzania: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTINFORMA TIONANDCOMMUNICATIONANDTECHNOLOGIES/ Resources/PostalTelecenters.pdf 10
UGANDA Project Name: Date of last viewed project update: Total number of telecenter sites: Total number of telecenter sites with ICT: Estimated costs:
Main funders: Main implementing partners: Overview:
Libraries mentioned? Links to project descriptions:
Links to evaluations:
Rural Communication Development Fund Program 2012 Unclear, but over 500 All At least 7.83 billion but not all spent on telecenters: http://www.africa-uganda-business-travelguide.com/mtn-uganda-gives-sh78b-to-ruralfund.html IDRC, World Bank. Telecom operators: MTN Uganda, UTL. Uganda Communications Commission RCDF set up wireless connectivity network, established ICT training centers and Internet Cafes in districts outside of Kampala, & equipped over 500 government-aided schools with ICT laboratories to increase access to and usage of ICT in secondary schools. No www.ucc.co.ug/rcdf/district/KAMWENGE.pdf; http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2011/03/ugandagets-new-ict-center/; http://www.ictregulationtoolkit.org/en/PracticeN ote.3144.html From a gender perspective: www.genderit.org/sites/default/upload/RCDF_Uga nda.pdf
Note: This is a sampling of national telecenter projects that has been prepared as part of the Beyond Access Initiative. It is not an exhaustive list of government-led telecenter projects. Information provided used the most recent documents available, encompassing academic and government reports, news articles, and commentary from bloggers and other online resources.
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