[AfrICANN-discuss] Re: AfrICANN Digest, Vol 75, Issue 62

Remmy Nweke remmyn at gmail.com
Thu May 30 16:59:26 SAST 2013


Good idea, lets keep the push.


On Thu, May 30, 2013 at 9:54 AM, <africann-request at afrinic.net> wrote:

> Send AfrICANN mailing list submissions to
>         africann at afrinic.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>         https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>         africann-request at afrinic.net
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>         africann-owner at afrinic.net
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of AfrICANN digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: [africs-ig] [AfrICANN-discuss] Africa report
>       (Dr Yassin Mshana)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 30 May 2013 08:53:33 +0000
> From: Dr Yassin Mshana <ymshana2003 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [africs-ig] [AfrICANN-discuss] Africa report
> To: AfrICANN list <africann at afrinic.net>
> Cc: Judy Okite <judyokite at gmail.com>, seun.ojedeji at fossfa.net,
>         AfriCS-IG <africs-ig at lists.apc.org>
> Message-ID:
>         <CAM2OVBrXK4gfVPgtH+qB5Ee4rKAZo==
> wYAtCOB4h21fZLxxAMA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> 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*
> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL:
> https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/africann/attachments/20130530/86d84ee3/attachment.htm
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> AfrICANN mailing list
> AfrICANN at afrinic.net
> https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann
>
>
> End of AfrICANN Digest, Vol 75, Issue 62
> ****************************************
>



-- 
REMMY NWEKE,
Group Executive Editor, DigitalSENSE News
ITREALMS Online <http://www.itrealms.com.ng/>,
NaijaAgroNet<http://www.naijaagronet.blogspot.com>
(Multiple-award winning medium)
Published by: DigitalSENSE Africa Media Ltd
Bloc F1, Shop 133 Moyosore Aboderin Plaza
Bolade Junction, Oshodi-Lagos
M: 234-8033592762, 8023122558, 8051000475,
First runner up, Highway Africa New Media awards 2010
Follow us@: www.twitter.com/ITRealmsOnline
Author: A Decade of ICT Reportage in
Nigeria<http://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fadecadeofictreportageinnigeria&ei=6lQWUfr2NvOr0AWpl4DgDA&usg=AFQjCNF7g9pBrX9vG_SvVYzIv2Iv4-IJEQ&sig2=cInPY70goNDMbcvYCgDkoQ&bvm=bv.42080656,d.d2k>
Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable 2013 - June 6 @Welcome Centre Hotels. Register now.
Email: remnekkv at gmail.com
_____________________________________________________________________
*Confidentiality Notice:* The information in this document and attachments
are confidential and may also be privileged information. It is intended
only for the use of the named recipient. Remmy Nweke does not accept legal
responsibility for the contents of this e-mail. If you are not the intended
recipient, please notify me immediately, then delete this document and do
not disclose the contents of this document to any other person, nor make
any copies. Violators may face court persecution.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/africann/attachments/20130530/71b8b676/attachment-0001.htm


More information about the AfrICANN mailing list