In memory of Koda: What key factors must we focus on to ensure the sustainability of the Telecentres Africa project?

The TelecentresAfrica Project at CTA was the brainchild of Aboubacar Koda-Traore (fondly known as Koda by his friends and colleagues) who sadly has passed on.

Koda had a clear view of the problem of food insecurity and increasing poverty in Africa. He strongly agreed with the consensus that these were caused by low productivity, low disposable income and an increasing degradation of the natural resource base. He believed that shared access to relevant information and knowledge could significantly contribute towards a positive change.

TelecentresAfrica aims to serve as a platform for sharing experiences among the key players involved in Telecentre activities in Africa. As an effective service for improving the livelihoods of rural communities, it is a model which exists all over the world but Koda championed it at CTA.

The TelecentresAfrica project as championed by Koda was geared to contribute to rural communities social and economical changes consistent with the MDGs.
Three clear expected results were: improvement in a. Access to content and services b. Strengthening capacities and c. Awareness raising and networking.

Service framework
The selection of content and services would be based on their ability to cause significant improvement in rural livelihood. So, a specific content/ service must be in a marketable format for it to be selected as a part of the multiple services to be provided by the telecentres. ICTs will be important enablers for these services.

The Proposed Activities
Access to content and services
The project will extensively use the CTA publications programme to provide content to the telecentre movement through available platforms such as SATNET.

In addition, if needed CTA will dedicate resources to develop new publications. The development of such publications will require the full participation of telecentre practitioners and stakeholders.

The TelecentresAfrica portal will be further developed to serve as a platform for sharing experiences and content among the key players involved. Specifically, the following activities will be implemented: i) Develop a TelecentresAfrica Repository - thousands of records (including videos) are already stored in a relational database; ii) Develop a working space for sharing knowledge and experiences on solutions for the priority challenges of telecentres in African rural areas. Experiences and lessons learnt from past and current telecentre activities and ICT4D activities of a wide range of development partners inAfrica will be shared.

Strengthening capacities
Centre selection for support will consider as priority criterion, their ability to integrate the sustainability factors identified. This support will be provided through targeted documentation, content management training, technical maintenance, ICT use and telecentre management as a private company with social objectives.

Awareness raising and networking
The CTA Telecentre project will support the global telecentre movement initiatives especially through www.Telecentre.organd others in promoting the empowerment of local communities to use ICTs better. Accordingly, the project will contribute to identifying the key development agenda link to agricultural and rural development sector by using the most appropriate platforms and tools to bring local community development issues to the debate.

Choices for the policy agenda will be made in dialogue with key stakeholders. Policy support may be provided through conferences bringing in thematic expertise at regional or global level, the collection of policy documents and other information to support regional and national telecentre stakeholders.

As we reflect on Koda’s dreams and expectations, the question for our discussion is What key factors must we focus on to ensure the sustainability of the Telecentres Africa project? Your contributions will help a great deal to ensure that Koda’s dreams come to reality. The success of this project will be his richest legacy.