ICTs for Africa:

Examples from Agriculture and the Health Sector

Cybervolunteering, linking rural areas and global challenges

International Conference Center of Geneva
Rooms: 5-6, 17, rue de Varembé, 1202 Geneva
Date: 21st September 2012
Time: 2:00 – 6:00 pm

Purpose of the Roundtable

It has been five years to the day since the initial launch of the “E-TIC: Sahel InfoHubs” project. The objective of this roundtable is to present the results and achievements to date and open new perspectives about initiatives related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) for Africa, but which are also applicable to the rest of the world.

Pursuing these goals, the roundtable will bring together some actors from 2007, as well as those having joined the various projects along the way.

Participants will present their experiences and share best practices, the challenges they have faced and solutions to consider. The second part of the conference will focus on best practices for organic farming, as well as the ingredients needed for successful partnerships and projects. We will also make the link to the implementation strategy of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS +10).

Expected Results

Building “win-win” partnerships and solutions, involving academic institutions, non-governmental and international organizations, as well as other partners such as the private sector.

14:00 – 14:20: Welcome Conference

n   Opening remarks: Ms. Viola Krebs, Executive Director, ICVolunteers

n   Opening remarks: Ms. Arame Diaw-Diop, Responsable de suivi et d'évaluation de projets, Fonds Francophone des Inforoutes, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)

n   Opening remarks: Mr. Jose María Díaz Batanero, Coordinator, Inter-Sectoral Activities, International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

14:20 – 15:30 Ongoing Initiatives: Communication, ICT and Development

n   Colonel Souleymane Ndiamé Guéye, Director of the National Civic Service of Senegal, Agricultural Volunteers of Senegal

n   Mr. Moustapha Ndiaye, CRESP - Eco-Villages Senegal, ICV-Desk

n   Mr. Shindouk Mohamed Lamine, Oulad Nagim Association in Mali

n   Mr. Swithun Mutaasa, Bwindi National Park, cybervolunteer, Uganda

n   Ms. Céline Castiglione and Mr. Filmon Abraha, Université of Geneva, Switzerland

n   Moderator: Viola Krebs, ICVolunteers

This session will focus on concrete projects related to knowledge sharing, ICT and development within various sectors in Africa. The speakers will share their experiences, with a particular focus on the “E-TIC: Sahel InfoHubs project” related to agriculture, fishing and husbandry. The session will also present the experience of Bwindi National Park and its telecenter in Uganda and the Ethical Fashion project, starting in Ghana.

-- 15 minute Coffee Break --

Contact: ICVolunteers, Case postale 755, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland tel. +41 22 800 14 36, fax +41 22 800 14 37, email: info@icvolontaires.org, web: www.icvolunteers.org

15:45-17:00 Best practices: agriculture for tomorrow?

n  Mr. Ousman Aly Pame, Mayor of Guede-Chantier and Professor at the University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar

n  Namory Diakhate, ICVolontaires-Sénégal

n  Dr. Lucas Luisoni, hepia (Haute Ecole du paysage, d'ingénierie et d'architecture de Genève, filière agronomie)

n  Mr. Michael Riggs, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

n  Moderator: Dr. Sigfrido Romeo, agronomist, Agriguide and ICVolunteers

The starting point of this session will be the experiences of the work done in the development of AgriGuide. The question of the use of pesticides, environmentally respectful practices and organic farming as well as the proper use of relevant communication tools are at the heart of the discussion.

17:00 - 17:45 What are the ingredients for future projects and partnerships - requirements, interests and needs

n  Professor Michel Oris, Institut de Socioéconomie, University of Geneva

n  Ms. Arame Diaw-Diop, Responsable de suivi et d'évaluation de projets, Fonds Francophone des Inforoutes, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)

n  Mr. Jose María Díaz Batanero, Coordinator, Inter-Sectoral Activities, International Telecommunications Unions (ITU)

n  Mr. Fernando Terry, Ecotransferts

n  Moderator: Mr. Nazir Sunderji, ICVolunteers

In order for projects such as E-TIC.net to succeed long-term partnerships and collaborations with financing institutions are essential. What are the criteria today? What are the challenges and opportunities, and how to work with the private sector and foundations?

17:45 - 18:00 Conclusions and Next Steps

-- Cocktail --

Support:

This roundtable was made possible thanks to the support of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)

Organizer:

ICVolunteers (www.icvolunteers.org) is an international non-profit organization specialized in the field of communication, in particular languages, cybervolunteering and conference services. Development, exchange of information and service to society as a whole are shared by communities and organizations involved and volunteers who work with the ICV Network.

Please see also: http://www.agriguide.org and http://www.e-tic.net , which contain information about the toolbox and projects developed.