[africs-ig] [AfrICANN-discuss] Africa report

Dr Yassin Mshana ymshana2003 at gmail.com
Thu May 30 10:53:33 SAST 2013


Hi
I totally agree on that. Good progress!
Then some of us will volunteer our talents and time to analyse the
information and come up with a Report.
Kind regards
Yassin

On 30 May 2013 08:47, Poncelet Ileleji <pileleji at ymca.gm> wrote:

> Hello Nnenna,
>
> Morning I totally concur with your suggestions, the wiki set up, is a
> start and I personally  think we should add  "Stakeholders  Institutions /
> Organisations" to the list you recommended for the wiki.
>
> Thank you
>
> Poncelet
>
>
> On 30 May 2013 07:55, Nnenna Nwakanma <nnenna75 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi people:
>>
>> Here is my thinking:
>>
>>
>>    1. Set up the wiki - I have copied Seun and Judy from FOSSFA end
>>    (AfrICANN can also do this)
>>    2. On the wiki, have  the following pages:
>>
>>
>>    - Resources - documents, links to documents
>>    - Key initiatives - what has happened, what is happening, what is
>>    upcoming
>>    - Issues
>>    - Action points
>>    - People?
>>
>> Just initial thought
>>
>>
>> All for now
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, May 29, 2013 at 10:43 PM, Mawaki Chango <kichango at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> This is getting more and more interesting! I'm available to participate
>>> in the design team, and inviting other people to join in. I propose anybody
>>> who volunteers to join a team should make the effort to formulate (for
>>> themselves) a clear idea about how they can contribute. This is not the
>>> place for endless debates and blah blah blah; must be focused and result
>>> oriented. As a consequence, our notion of the output at every level must be
>>> clear. Please, everybody, share any information and materials that might
>>> help us formulate or break down the design process and result. Anyone with
>>> handy experience who would like to guide us is much welcome!
>>>
>>> mc
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, May 29, 2013 at 9:22 PM, Ken Lohento <lohento at oridev.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi all
>>>>
>>>> I hope something concrete will come out of this. That would be great.
>>>> As far as I'm concerned, I'm ready to devote some time, from time to time,
>>>> to contribute to the design and implementation of the the sort of
>>>> crowdsourced space on ICT policy issues.
>>>>
>>>> Ken Lohento
>>>>
>>>> Le 29/05/2013 22:44, Adiel Akplogan a écrit :
>>>>
>>>>  You are funny Ben! over to us :)? Well in term of research, data
>>>>> analysis and linking research to grassroots projects, AFRINIC is trying
>>>>> through its FIRE program (http://www.fireafrica.org). I believe that
>>>>> an initiative that can effectively help in telling success stories will
>>>>> qualify for funding under such Fund. But definitely we need to start
>>>>> telling our own success stories. It is about mindset and education ...
>>>>> positioning ourselves as players and not beggers.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now leaving the path of big data research and coming back to one of
>>>>> the simple suggestion of have a repository to collect information about the
>>>>> community participation and contribution to various ICT Public Policy
>>>>> debate:
>>>>>
>>>>>  ---
>>>>>> 1. Which African countries contribted content to a giving meeting
>>>>>> 2. In which areas/domains were African countries working/interested in
>>>>>> 3. Which Countries had delegations and from which sector
>>>>>> 4. What commissions/committees of the policy rounds did they
>>>>>> chair/work on
>>>>>> 5. What Ministers were present? What panels did they feature on? What
>>>>>> content did they contribute?
>>>>>> 6. What engagements, what plans, what future..
>>>>>> All of that in the framework of global Internet/ICT Policy
>>>>>> ----
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Certainly this may be refined to few keys and pertinent data but
>>>>> talking for AFRNIC I can for sure commit part (or all) the infrastructure
>>>>> needed to host such a simple repository. Someone (or a group of people)
>>>>> need to design the framework, and someone else (or a group) implement it.
>>>>> If the task is properly distributed and everyone commit to contribute in a
>>>>> systematic way to the content we can do it. This will be a kind of ICT
>>>>> policy trend crowd sourcing platform for the region (or an Internet/ICT
>>>>> Policy observatory (the EU has just decided to launch one few weeks ago).
>>>>> Well I don't know I'm just trowing ideas and it is late here … I need some
>>>>> sleep.
>>>>>
>>>>> - a.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2013-05-29, at 22:36 PM, Ben Akoh <me at benakoh.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>  Healthy dialogue Mawaki,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Perhaps Adiele and others can chime in with the necessary support.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Over to them...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ben
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 5/29/13 11:56 AM, Mawaki Chango wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Ben,
>>>>>>> Thanks for such a thoughtful response! In the light of your vibrant
>>>>>>> case
>>>>>>> for such, I hope I didn't convey the impression that I was dismissing
>>>>>>> donor-funded and commissioned research/studies/reports as part of
>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>> programs. They are of course useful since they are supposed to reach
>>>>>>> specific objectives and programmatic goals, which generally consist
>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>> helping bring about improvements on some issues or in some areas.
>>>>>>> My main point for making the distinction between both research
>>>>>>> avenues
>>>>>>> was to say we (both public and policy-makers, at least) cannot
>>>>>>> fundamentally change our rapport to research in the sense you are
>>>>>>> advocating for if we do not commit to research. And the indicator
>>>>>>> showing that we are seriously committed to research is not to be
>>>>>>> found in the number of studies or reports that may be commissioned by
>>>>>>> foreign/international donors (the recommendations of which, as you
>>>>>>> deplore, are rarely translated into actions by policy-makers), but in
>>>>>>> the ways we support our local/national/regional research institutions
>>>>>>> and tap into them for, and associate them as much as possible with,
>>>>>>> our
>>>>>>> various activities for social, economical and political change which
>>>>>>> may
>>>>>>> gain from research. And the day such level of sustainable support
>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>> manifest, you'll see that (well, that's my speculation but I think
>>>>>>> it's
>>>>>>> a sound one ;)) even recommendations from donor-sponsored studies
>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>> also be given more attention and they will be more readiness to
>>>>>>> translate them into actions. Because, as I think we agree, it is a
>>>>>>> cultural thing in addition to being a resource challenge.
>>>>>>> I might add some of the donors actually commissioned their studies
>>>>>>> through local/national academic institutions keeping institutional
>>>>>>> capacity-building as one of their objectives (I'm very much aware of
>>>>>>> this since that was what I did with the project 'Scan-ICT' at IDRC.)
>>>>>>> On
>>>>>>> the other hand you and I know very well that development projects are
>>>>>>> not always followed with a robust evaluation and they chronically
>>>>>>> suffer
>>>>>>> from lack of sustainability. I believe healthier academic research
>>>>>>> institutions will help foster the spirit of taking into account any
>>>>>>> research outcomes, and consequently, increase the potential impact of
>>>>>>> the research-based work done by development actors. So while I put my
>>>>>>> emphasis on research institutions, particularly academic research, I
>>>>>>> did
>>>>>>> not mean to be exclusive but cumulative in order to power the change
>>>>>>> we're all seeking.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     I would add finally, that African based institutions with funding
>>>>>>>     should step up to the plate and provide the necessary supports
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>     creates a space for African research on internet and digital
>>>>>>> futures.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> With the clarification I've provided above, I think it's safe to say
>>>>>>> we're in violent agreement not only on the point above but all the
>>>>>>> preceding ones you made.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     Apart from Research ICT in Africa, and other open access
>>>>>>> journals,
>>>>>>>     few or none else provides any support for the telling of success
>>>>>>>     stories of African ICT grassroots initiatives. Perhaps you can
>>>>>>>     initiate an African Journal for this sort of research, Mawaki, my
>>>>>>>     friend. I, and I am sure, a few others would gladly provide
>>>>>>> articles.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm just getting back in the blocks, my dear... I mean the starting
>>>>>>> blocks, scrutinizing the horizon and gauging the challenge ahead ;)
>>>>>>> Well, let me just say for now, we will all need each other to make
>>>>>>> change happen in these matters of concern to us all.
>>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>>> Mawaki
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, May 29, 2013 at 3:26 PM, Ben Akoh <me at benakoh.com
>>>>>>> <mailto:me at benakoh.com>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     Hi Mawaki,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     On 5/28/13 3:33 PM, Mawaki Chango wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         Ben, and all:
>>>>>>>         Could you please provide a link to the web page of the
>>>>>>> organization
>>>>>>>         you're referring to? There are many pages that respond to
>>>>>>> the name
>>>>>>>         "Research in Africa" a link would help disambiguate the
>>>>>>> search
>>>>>>>         results.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     Research ICT in Africa does not only provide primary data, but
>>>>>>>     analysis of primary data. See
>>>>>>>     http://www.researchictafrica._**_net/data.php
>>>>>>>     <http://www.researchictafrica.**net/data.php<http://www.researchictafrica.net/data.php>>.
>>>>>>> Data is also available
>>>>>>>     at the world bank and ITU data sites. Few Project based and
>>>>>>> Program
>>>>>>>     funded research exists on the sites of the institution you work
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>     - APC, and as are the regional policy institutes such as CIPACO
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>     CIPESA. As it concerns internet governance, substantial amount of
>>>>>>>     research data exists on Afrinic sites. I have conducted a few
>>>>>>>     research available on www.iisd.org <http://www.iisd.org>. Ken
>>>>>>>     Lohento does substantial amount of work on ICTs and Agriculture.
>>>>>>> And
>>>>>>>     there are numerous others sites to mention with research work of
>>>>>>> may
>>>>>>>     Africans local and in the Diaspora (rigorous search would help).
>>>>>>> Not
>>>>>>>     to mention reports that have been written for publications in
>>>>>>>     Academic journals, some of which you have written but may never
>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>     available to us in Africa. The kind of reports that Nnenna
>>>>>>> mentions
>>>>>>>     may be possible if a blogger takes this as his/her task to
>>>>>>> report on
>>>>>>>     such global international arrangements. But not all bloggers have
>>>>>>>     the luxury of physically attending these events. Perhaps those
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>     do could capture the data and make them available to researchers
>>>>>>>     like you and I for "proper" presentation to a wider audience.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         Clearly we agree on the root of the problem being in the
>>>>>>> mindset
>>>>>>>         you're
>>>>>>>         describing rather than the simple lack of data (after all
>>>>>>> that very
>>>>>>>         mindset might well be one of the causal factors why data may
>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>         lacking
>>>>>>>         on some issues.).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     Agreed. Still speculative though but generally a fair assumption
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>     begin from.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         Having said that, we need to go beyond publishing reports
>>>>>>>         commissioned
>>>>>>>         by international/external donors as part of their
>>>>>>> programs/projects.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     There is nothing wrong with commissioning reports as a part of a
>>>>>>>     program/project or as I would put it, a strategic focus. It is
>>>>>>>     besides the point if a program's strategic focus, be it local or
>>>>>>>     international, is commissioned by a donor. What is most
>>>>>>> important is
>>>>>>>     that it  generates useful data and analysis of data, it is
>>>>>>> conducted
>>>>>>>     in a rigorous, systematic and empirical manner, that bias and
>>>>>>> other
>>>>>>>     factors are declared and stated, and that the report recognizes
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>     nuances of the local context. You would agree that these are more
>>>>>>>     important than a mere brush stroke painting of internationally
>>>>>>>     funded programs or project.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     It
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         seems to me the intended or natural audience for those
>>>>>>> reports are,
>>>>>>>         or in any case their audience is most of the time limited
>>>>>>>         to, policy-makers and other policy-driven actors.And
>>>>>>> unfortunately,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         unless another round of activities is funded to package the
>>>>>>>         findings help launch advocacy or campaign efforts, etc. they
>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>         likely
>>>>>>>         to die on the shelves or worse in the office drawers.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     In most cases (anecdotally) yes, but there remain very good
>>>>>>> projects
>>>>>>>     that have taken research outcomes to the grassroots in the form
>>>>>>> of,
>>>>>>>     for instance, role plays and theaters, that change belief systems
>>>>>>>     and attitudes about for instance, climate change and adaptation,
>>>>>>>     finance, reproductive health, and rights. I have researched some
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>     these in the past 3 to four years and have funded those sorts of
>>>>>>>     projects in West Africa for about six years. Certainly,
>>>>>>> successful
>>>>>>>     grassroots initiatives like Mpesa did not hit the ground without
>>>>>>>     some research. The point is, policy makers are a part of a
>>>>>>> research
>>>>>>>     audience, but the mechanisms are required by which such
>>>>>>>     reports/researches can reach a wider audience base. The point
>>>>>>> about
>>>>>>>     my earlier email is that there is first, a fundamental
>>>>>>> difference;
>>>>>>>     and second, a gulf between the commissioning/dissemination of
>>>>>>>     reports and the implementation of report recommendations.
>>>>>>>  Linking
>>>>>>>     those two is the "will" (or if you like, mechanism) that must be
>>>>>>>     developed to transition from the one to the other. That is what
>>>>>>> we
>>>>>>>     are missing. That gap needs to be bridged.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         While we should keep making those efforts and pushing
>>>>>>>         policy-makers to
>>>>>>>         embrace evidence-based policy making aided by those reports,
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>         is in my
>>>>>>>         view crucial to invest also in academic research on those
>>>>>>> issues
>>>>>>>         --not
>>>>>>>         just studies and reports, but sheer scholarly research.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     Agreed.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>       Because there is
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         a wider array of questions that academics are prepared to
>>>>>>> tackle and
>>>>>>>         demonstrate the relevance thereof (as opposed to studies
>>>>>>> that are
>>>>>>>         designed as part of, say, a charity or development
>>>>>>>         organization-funded
>>>>>>>         program).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     I wouldnt disregard these ll together (although some needs to be
>>>>>>>     questioned). They provide useful sources of data from which
>>>>>>> academic
>>>>>>>     research papers can be written. Not all researchers are
>>>>>>> ethnographic
>>>>>>>     or willing to situate themselves in their research context for a
>>>>>>>     long period of time. However, these reports seen through the
>>>>>>> eyes of
>>>>>>>     the research participants help academics to provide research
>>>>>>> useful
>>>>>>>     for academic debate and knowledge.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     There are two points here, that I would like to conclude with:
>>>>>>>     1. Producing critical, empirical, rigorous, systematic research
>>>>>>>     useful for contributing to knowledge and for academic debate.
>>>>>>>     Research of this form have a place in our African societies and
>>>>>>>     context. The capacities for these need to be created. These
>>>>>>> include:
>>>>>>>     developing the human research capacity; creating the necessary
>>>>>>>     research departments and faculties in academic institutions;
>>>>>>>     commissioning and providing the necessary funding for such
>>>>>>> research
>>>>>>>     by African governments, private sectors,  economic commissions,
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>     institution communities (i.e. Afrinic); and creating a space for
>>>>>>>     wider policy debate of research in our countries and regions.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     2. Linking research to grassroots development. I mentioned in my
>>>>>>>     previous email that research should not just be for the sake of
>>>>>>> it,
>>>>>>>     but that it should make meaning in the lives of people. We
>>>>>>> should be
>>>>>>>     able to say that, "this policy or government program was
>>>>>>> influenced
>>>>>>>     by this or that research". I can however, not substantially
>>>>>>> assert
>>>>>>>     that  policy makers and governments can say so. These mechanisms
>>>>>>>     need to be developed and systematized within the African
>>>>>>> governance
>>>>>>>     structures.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     I would add finally, that African based institutions with funding
>>>>>>>     should step up to the plate and provide the necessary supports
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>     creates a space for African research on internet and digital
>>>>>>>     futures. Apart from Research ICT in Africa, and other open access
>>>>>>>     journals, few or none else provides any support for the telling
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>     success stories of African ICT grassroots initiatives. Perhaps
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>     can initiate an African Journal for this sort of research,
>>>>>>> Mawaki,
>>>>>>>     my friend. I, and I am sure, a few others would gladly provide
>>>>>>> articles.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     Best,
>>>>>>>     Ben
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     Because research leads to an orderly accumulation of
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         knowledge, and research generates more research. Students and
>>>>>>>         peers read
>>>>>>>         the outcomes and seek to critique it and to add their
>>>>>>>         contribution (and
>>>>>>>         this ripple effect doesn't require that much additional
>>>>>>>         funding.) And
>>>>>>>         because once research findings are recognized as valid by the
>>>>>>>         community
>>>>>>>         of peers, it is more likely that they will raise questions
>>>>>>>         wherever they
>>>>>>>         apply, eg, to policy-makers, and sparkle debates, which can
>>>>>>> in turn
>>>>>>>         drive the public attention, etc.
>>>>>>>         So this is my impassioned call ;) for all practitioners and
>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>         those
>>>>>>>         already in this field to make particular efforts to associate
>>>>>>>         researchers, particularly social science researchers (and
>>>>>>> further
>>>>>>>         particularly the younger ones who might be interested in new
>>>>>>>         areas to
>>>>>>>         specialize in), to your relevant activities and proceedings.
>>>>>>> We
>>>>>>>         could
>>>>>>>         wait for them to come to us but we are the ones closer to the
>>>>>>>         field, so
>>>>>>>         we can afford to be more proactive and reach out to them
>>>>>>> knowing
>>>>>>>         that to
>>>>>>>         date there's no subject area labeled internet governance in
>>>>>>>         university
>>>>>>>         curricula.
>>>>>>>         Mawaki
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 12:28 PM, Ben Akoh <me at benakoh.com
>>>>>>>         <mailto:me at benakoh.com>
>>>>>>>         <mailto:me at benakoh.com <mailto:me at benakoh.com>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>              Some organizations, eg Research in Africa are producing
>>>>>>>         reports from
>>>>>>>              primary data (because of the challenges of accessing
>>>>>>> both
>>>>>>>         primary
>>>>>>>              and secondary data) such as mawaki describes. A
>>>>>>> substantial
>>>>>>>         amount
>>>>>>>              of data and analysis of data already exists, although
>>>>>>> more
>>>>>>>         needs to
>>>>>>>              be done. However, the fundamental question pertains to a
>>>>>>>         mindset
>>>>>>>              that fails to read these reports or to associate
>>>>>>> research
>>>>>>>         findings
>>>>>>>              with policy action. It shouldn't be a report just for
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>         sake of it!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>              Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>              On 2013-05-28, at 6:27 AM, Dandjinou Pierre
>>>>>>>         <pdandjinou at gmail.com <mailto:pdandjinou at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>              <mailto:pdandjinou at gmail.com
>>>>>>>         <mailto:pdandjinou at gmail.com>>**> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                  Mawaki,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                  You said it all ! collecting the information and
>>>>>>>             documenting those
>>>>>>>                  relevant events as the ones Nnenna alludes to
>>>>>>> should be
>>>>>>>             the focus.
>>>>>>>                  But this calls for resources (human and financial
>>>>>>>             resources). The
>>>>>>>                  way some parts of the world do this is through
>>>>>>> regional
>>>>>>>                  organizations such as the European commission who
>>>>>>>             commissioned
>>>>>>>                  (!!) appropriate studies and white papers.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                  Our challenge here is how to get the Africa Union
>>>>>>>             commission and
>>>>>>>                  other RECs interested.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                   Pierre
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                  On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 12:42 PM, Mawaki Chango
>>>>>>>                  <kichango at gmail.com <mailto:kichango at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>             <mailto:kichango at gmail.com <mailto:kichango at gmail.com>>>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                      All,
>>>>>>>                      There is a lot to be done in Africa. So one
>>>>>>> might
>>>>>>>             think it
>>>>>>>                      is even more crucial here to bring in all
>>>>>>> segments of
>>>>>>>                      the society which can help improve our
>>>>>>>             understanding and
>>>>>>>                      practice. I totally agree that academia should
>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>             invited in
>>>>>>>                      what we do at all levels. It doesn't matter how
>>>>>>>             much you slice
>>>>>>>                      this, you can't avoid education, training,
>>>>>>> research
>>>>>>>             without a
>>>>>>>                      serious loss. As recently as last year I was
>>>>>>> doing
>>>>>>>             a survey in
>>>>>>>                      an African country and one of my respondents
>>>>>>>             working in a
>>>>>>>                      public research agency told me once she asked to
>>>>>>>             consult a
>>>>>>>                      document (which was not a government classified
>>>>>>>             document but
>>>>>>>                      has to do with some development issues in one
>>>>>>> sector of
>>>>>>>                      activity) at another government agency, then
>>>>>>> after
>>>>>>>             asking what
>>>>>>>                      exactly she was looking for her colleague
>>>>>>> opened the
>>>>>>>                      corresponding pages for her to make note of,
>>>>>>> while
>>>>>>>             concealing
>>>>>>>                      the non-related contents. That's the mindset
>>>>>>> we're up
>>>>>>>                      against. In many places, it is the very notion
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>             collecting
>>>>>>>                      information and making it easy to retrieve
>>>>>>> later on
>>>>>>>             which is
>>>>>>>                      lacking. Believe it or not, in some countries
>>>>>>>             ICT-related
>>>>>>>                      policy documents are said to exist but cannot be
>>>>>>>             easily found
>>>>>>>                      by the public. For the medium and long-term
>>>>>>> there
>>>>>>>             is a need to
>>>>>>>                      educate and train information specialists,
>>>>>>>             librarians, people
>>>>>>>                      who are prepared to identify relevant data
>>>>>>> gathering
>>>>>>>                      opportunities and sources and people who are
>>>>>>>             prepared to
>>>>>>>                      systematically gather and curate information,
>>>>>>> index
>>>>>>>             it and
>>>>>>>                      make it easy to find and retrieve at any point
>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>             the future.
>>>>>>>                      This can only help all researchers, academic or
>>>>>>>             practitioners,
>>>>>>>                      to do their job better as well as
>>>>>>> decision-makers,
>>>>>>>             for that
>>>>>>>                      matter.
>>>>>>>                      In any case, and particularly for the short
>>>>>>> term,
>>>>>>>             the best we
>>>>>>>                      can do is to gather raw data whenever possible,
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>             agree with
>>>>>>>                      Nnenna on that (Reports are just a means to
>>>>>>> build
>>>>>>>             reference
>>>>>>>                      repositories for such data and there may be
>>>>>>> other
>>>>>>>             ways). The
>>>>>>>                      most important (and urgent) is to make sure the
>>>>>>>             data (as per
>>>>>>>                      the data points she just indicated) is available
>>>>>>>             somewhere for
>>>>>>>                      the public to access. Otherwise, how is one to
>>>>>>>             debate cogently
>>>>>>>                      about the geopolitics of the Internet in Africa
>>>>>>> without
>>>>>>>                      knowing which African countries were there
>>>>>>> during
>>>>>>>             relevant
>>>>>>>                      proceedings, which ones contributed language,
>>>>>>> what
>>>>>>>             their
>>>>>>>                      rationale was, what the different positions
>>>>>>> among
>>>>>>>             African
>>>>>>>                      countries are and which ones took which
>>>>>>> positions
>>>>>>>             and why,
>>>>>>>                      etc. A handful of people may be able to find
>>>>>>> out with a
>>>>>>>                      reasonable time investment but most people, who
>>>>>>>             might use that
>>>>>>>                      information for useful things that we cannot
>>>>>>> even
>>>>>>>                      predict, won't be able to find it. Not to
>>>>>>> mention
>>>>>>>             that the
>>>>>>>                      more aware the public, the greater the benefits
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>             the debate.
>>>>>>>                      So yes, we need to demonstrate more awareness
>>>>>>> for the
>>>>>>>                      necessity to collect information and
>>>>>>> systematically
>>>>>>>             document
>>>>>>>                      what we do and relevant events, to associate
>>>>>>>             academia and
>>>>>>>                      other researchers and work with them in order to
>>>>>>>             facilitate
>>>>>>>                      data collection and information retrieval for
>>>>>>>             research and
>>>>>>>                      policy analysis as well as for decision-making,
>>>>>>>             policy-making
>>>>>>>                      and public information.
>>>>>>>                      Best,
>>>>>>>                      Mawaki
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                      On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 9:40 AM, Nnenna Nwakanma
>>>>>>>                      <nnenna75 at gmail.com <mailto:nnenna75 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>             <mailto:nnenna75 at gmail.com <mailto:nnenna75 at gmail.com>>>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                          SM, all
>>>>>>>                           I am talking about an Africa report
>>>>>>> directly
>>>>>>>             in relation
>>>>>>>                          to the:
>>>>>>>                          WCIT - World Conference on Information
>>>>>>> Technology
>>>>>>>                          WTPF - World Telecommunications and ICT
>>>>>>> Policy
>>>>>>>             Forum
>>>>>>>                          WSIS+10 - World Summit of Information
>>>>>>> SOciety +
>>>>>>>             10 meetings
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                          It is not about "what worked in a country"
>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>             rather the
>>>>>>>                          sum total of:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                           1. Which African countries contribted
>>>>>>> content
>>>>>>>                           2. In which areas/domains were African
>>>>>>> countries
>>>>>>>                              working/interested in
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                           3. Which Countries had delegations
>>>>>>>                           4. What commissions/committees of the
>>>>>>> policy
>>>>>>>             rounds did
>>>>>>>                              they chair/work on
>>>>>>>                           5. What Ministers were present? What panels
>>>>>>>             did they
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                              feature on? What content did they
>>>>>>> contribute?
>>>>>>>                           6. What engagements, what plans, what
>>>>>>> future..
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                              All of that in the framework of global
>>>>>>>             Internet/ICT Policy
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                          Best
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                          Nnenna
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                          On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 8:28 AM, SM
>>>>>>>             <sm at resistor.net <mailto:sm at resistor.net>
>>>>>>>                          <mailto:sm at resistor.net
>>>>>>>             <mailto:sm at resistor.net>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                              Hi Nnenna,
>>>>>>>                              At 00:04 28-05-2013, Nnenna Nwakanma
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                                  I honestly do believe that if we
>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>>             an "Africa
>>>>>>>                                  report" after each of these
>>>>>>> meetings,
>>>>>>>             such will
>>>>>>>                                  come in handy when we are planning
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>             the future.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                              Replicating what worked in Country X
>>>>>>> does
>>>>>>>             not work
>>>>>>>                              well.  The quality of reports are in my
>>>>>>> opinion
>>>>>>>                              relatively low.  That might be due to
>>>>>>> research
>>>>>>>                              constraints.  The reader would expect an
>>>>>>>             Africa report
>>>>>>>                              to include as many countries as
>>>>>>> possible.
>>>>>>>               Reports
>>>>>>>                              generally cover a few countries as case
>>>>>>>             studies and
>>>>>>>                              are extrapolated from there.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                              There isn't a breath of expertise as
>>>>>>> input;
>>>>>>>             either the
>>>>>>>                              expertise is not there, or it is
>>>>>>> untapped,
>>>>>>>             or there is
>>>>>>>                              lack of interest.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                              Regards,
>>>>>>>                              -sm
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>             ______________________________**_____________________
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                              AfriCS-IG mailing list
>>>>>>>                              Info and options:
>>>>>>>             http://lists.apc.org/mailman/_**___listinfo/africs-ig<http://lists.apc.org/mailman/____listinfo/africs-ig>
>>>>>>>             <http://lists.apc.org/mailman/**__listinfo/africs-ig<http://lists.apc.org/mailman/__listinfo/africs-ig>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>             <http://lists.apc.org/mailman/**__listinfo/africs-ig<http://lists.apc.org/mailman/__listinfo/africs-ig>
>>>>>>>             <http://lists.apc.org/mailman/**listinfo/africs-ig<http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/africs-ig>
>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>                              To unsubscribe, email
>>>>>>>                              africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.__**__
>>>>>>> apc.org
>>>>>>>             <http://apc.org>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>             <mailto:africs-ig-unsubscribe@**__lists.apc.org
>>>>>>>             <mailto:africs-ig-unsubscribe@**lists.apc.org<africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.apc.org>
>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                          ______________________________**
>>>>>>> ___________________
>>>>>>>                          AfriCS-IG mailing list
>>>>>>>                          Info and options:
>>>>>>>             http://lists.apc.org/mailman/_**_listinfo/africs-ig<http://lists.apc.org/mailman/__listinfo/africs-ig>
>>>>>>>             <http://lists.apc.org/mailman/**listinfo/africs-ig<http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/africs-ig>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>                          To unsubscribe, email
>>>>>>>             africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.__**apc.org <http://apc.org>
>>>>>>>             <mailto:africs-ig-unsubscribe@**lists.apc.org<africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.apc.org>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>                          <mailto:africs-ig-unsubscribe@**__
>>>>>>> lists.apc.org
>>>>>>>             <mailto:africs-ig-unsubscribe@**lists.apc.org<africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.apc.org>
>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                      ______________________________**
>>>>>>> ___________________
>>>>>>>                      AfriCS-IG mailing list
>>>>>>>                      Info and options:
>>>>>>>             http://lists.apc.org/mailman/_**_listinfo/africs-ig<http://lists.apc.org/mailman/__listinfo/africs-ig>
>>>>>>>             <http://lists.apc.org/mailman/**listinfo/africs-ig<http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/africs-ig>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>                      To unsubscribe, email
>>>>>>>             africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.__**apc.org <http://apc.org>
>>>>>>>             <mailto:africs-ig-unsubscribe@**lists.apc.org<africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.apc.org>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>                      <mailto:africs-ig-unsubscribe@**__lists.apc.org
>>>>>>>             <mailto:africs-ig-unsubscribe@**lists.apc.org<africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.apc.org>
>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                  --
>>>>>>>                  Pierre Dandjinou
>>>>>>>                  Cotonou - 229 90 087784 / 66566610
>>>>>>>                  Dakar 221 77 639 30 41
>>>>>>>             www.scg.bj <http://www.scg.bj> <http://www.scg.bj/>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                  skype : sagbo1953
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                  ______________________________**___________________
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>                  AfrICANN mailing list
>>>>>>>             AfrICANN at afrinic.net <mailto:AfrICANN at afrinic.net>
>>>>>>>             <mailto:AfrICANN at afrinic.net <mailto:
>>>>>>> AfrICANN at afrinic.net>>
>>>>>>>             https://lists.afrinic.net/__**
>>>>>>> mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/__mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>>             <https://lists.afrinic.net/**
>>>>>>> mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>              ______________________________**___________________
>>>>>>>              AfrICANN mailing list
>>>>>>>         AfrICANN at afrinic.net <mailto:AfrICANN at afrinic.net>
>>>>>>>         <mailto:AfrICANN at afrinic.net <mailto:AfrICANN at afrinic.net>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         https://lists.afrinic.net/__**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/__mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>>         <https://lists.afrinic.net/**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>         ______________________________**___________________
>>>>>>>         AfrICANN mailing list
>>>>>>>         AfrICANN at afrinic.net <mailto:AfrICANN at afrinic.net>
>>>>>>>         https://lists.afrinic.net/__**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/__mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>>         <https://lists.afrinic.net/**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>     ______________________________**___________________
>>>>>>>     AfrICANN mailing list
>>>>>>>     AfrICANN at afrinic.net <mailto:AfrICANN at afrinic.net>
>>>>>>>     https://lists.afrinic.net/__**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/__mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>>     <https://lists.afrinic.net/**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>>>>> AfrICANN mailing list
>>>>>>> AfrICANN at afrinic.net
>>>>>>> https://lists.afrinic.net/**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  ______________________________**_________________
>>>>>> AfrICANN mailing list
>>>>>> AfrICANN at afrinic.net
>>>>>> https://lists.afrinic.net/**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>>
>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>>> AfrICANN mailing list
>>>>> AfrICANN at afrinic.net
>>>>> https://lists.afrinic.net/**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>> AfrICANN mailing list
>>>> AfrICANN at afrinic.net
>>>> https://lists.afrinic.net/**mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann<https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AfriCS-IG mailing list
>>> Info and options: http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/africs-ig
>>> To unsubscribe, email africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.apc.org
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> AfriCS-IG mailing list
>> Info and options: http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/africs-ig
>> To unsubscribe, email africs-ig-unsubscribe at lists.apc.org
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Poncelet O. Ileleji MBCS
> Coordinator
> The Gambia YMCAs Computer Training Centre & Digital Studio
> MDI Road Kanifing South
> P. O. Box 421 Banjul
> The Gambia, West Africa
> Tel: (220) 4370240
> Fax:(220) 4390793
> Cell:(220) 9912508
> Skype: pons_utd
> *www.ymca.gm
> www.waigf.org
> www.aficta.org
> www.itag.gm
> www.npoc.org
> http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753
> *www.diplointernetgovernance.org
>
> *
> *
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> AfrICANN mailing list
> AfrICANN at afrinic.net
> https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann
>
>


-- 
*Independent Consultant*
c/o DFID-Sierra Leone, 5 Off Spur Road, Wilberforce, Freetown,SIERRA LEONE
Skype: yassinmshana1, Mobile:+23276926697, Fax: (+232) 22235769
*Do You really NEED TO PRINT THIS?*
 * "The illiterates of the 21st century are not those who cannot read or*
* write** but those who cannot learn, relearn and unlearn" Alvin Toffler*
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