Africans using ICT for sustainable development

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Africans using ICT for sustainable development
In partnership with the global society
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Why? Objectives of the Network

• To strengthen capability to generate advanced
  level policy, regulatory, managerial and
  technical expertise to address the needs of the
  telecommunication sector in the SADC region and
  member countries.
• To enhance the capacity of key decision-makers,
  policy-makers, and human resources engaged in the
  implementation of telecommunications policy to
  keep abreast of new developments in technology
  and regional standards and procedures
• To maintain similar and adequate standards of
  performance

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Network services

• Harmonize focal points for training, professional
  development and research and information
• Develop common curriculum framework
• Develop common standards for competence
  evaluation and certification of personnel
• Develop regional directory of training
  specialization and centers and experts
• Provide training share Internet-based modules
• Conclude regional agreements to support
  reciprocal recognition of qualifications

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Who is NetTel_at_Africa?

• Public. Private and Academic Partners
• Regulatory Associations (TRASA, NARUC, ARICEA,
  WATRA?)
• Academics
• Private sector (operators)
• Public Sector (Ministry of Communications)
• Ordinary citizens (consumer advocacy groups)

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Partnerships Africa-Africa-US

• Within Africa and Between Africa and U.S.
• Regulator to regulator
• Academic to academic
• Regulator to academic

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Content development and delivery
UNISA
1) Macro environment and implications
of telecommunications
6) Approaches to regulation Basic
principles Types of regulation Rate of return,
price cap, etc
Fort Hare
2) ICT Technologies Basic Tech
Principles Network planning Convergence/standards
dev
WITS
7) Univ access/quality of service user or univ
service/access consumer protection service quality
Botswana
AFRALTI
8) Service pricing tariffing price
flexibility cost measurement, etc
3) ICT Industry Markets Interconnection Fair
trade competition Licensing approvals
Zambia
9) Policy law and institutions stakeholder roles
respon admin procedures governance, etc
4) Provider resources allocations,
assignments, registration enforcement numbering,
naming, spectrum
UNISA
W Cape
10) ICT applications e-business e-government e-hea
lth e-education e-.
5) Financial analysis Project analysis cost of
capital accounting statement
DaresSalaam
DaresSalaam
TRASA NARUC
USAID, CTO, DFID, SIDA?, NORAD? ITU, DBSA,
African Connections
Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Washington State,
USTTI, FCC
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On-line Learning Technology?

• Leadership from University of Western Cape
• Fully integrated digital e-learning platform
  (KEWL)
• African Centric in Structure
• Open Source
• Institutional change supporting e-learning
  teaching practice
• All module developers agree to use KEWL on-line
  learning platform to support teaching and learning

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Network Challenges

• Networking is deemed to be a success when
  members don't act without considering the bigger
  picture (Kamensky, 2002)
• build trust, be a co-equal partner instead of
  trying to be in charge, be willing to operate
  with open decision-making processes and to engage
  in collaborative problem-solving
• nurture a different style of leadership with
  good communication, energy, and passion for the
  objectives of the network (2)
• learn to hold each other (network members)
  mutually accountable for results"
• appreciate better the importance of the "dynamics
  of the technology

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Mode of Delivery

• Stand-alone short courses (face to face)
• F-2-F short courses used to develop on-line
  courses
• Experienced practitioner/faculty collaboration
• Content based on modules from courses (on-line
  references)
• Practitioner hot topics
• Collect credits (mixed media, combination face to
  face and on-line learning platform)
• Post-graduate diploma (1 year)
• Masters programme (plus 6 months 1year)

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Target audience for capacity building

• Regulators from African regulatory bodies
• Telecommunications Operators
• Government ministries
• Students (future regulators, private and
  government leaders)

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Challenges/Lessons Learned

• Sustainable Higher Education Network Governance
• Ability to seamless add new institutions to
  Network
• Working around digital infrastructure limitations
• Acceptance by higher education institutions of
  e-learning structure
• Continued evolution of effective e-learning
  practices

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So what? Long-term evaluation questions

• Does Network facilitated on-line learning lead to
  better regulation?
• Does better regulation improve the performance of
  the telcoms sector?
• Does improved performance of the telcoms sector
  make a difference in the lives of ordinary
  citizens?

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NetTel_at_Africa
Citizens are using ICT
Private sector
Public sector
Network for Capacity-Building and Knowledge
Exchange in the Telecoms Sector
Academics
Regulators
Content and delivery
Peer to peer