Question 5: What are the challenges and priorities for telecentre networks in the next five years? And what role can telecentre.org Foundation play?

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Permalink Reply by OWINO Fredrick on November 17, 2009 at 6:11am

The major challenge that faces telecentres, those entrusted with the responsibility of information dissemination, particularly ICT4D in any particular area of specialty (I deal in timely application of appropriate ICT4D in Agriculture), is the chameleon nature of ICT itself, constantly changing.. practitioners like myself have to constantly put a keen finger on the sometimes erratic pulse of ICT so as to avoid being rendered redundant or providing information that is out of date or irrelevant to the needs of the end user. This, of course comes at a cost...constant trainings (check out http://www.owinofredrick.blogspot.com to see one such training I attended recently), extensive reading, research, etc.. TCF can step in handy by mobilizing resource people and organizing training clinics/workshops/seminars in conjunction with the practitioners with whom it is in fraternal accord in any particular area(s). They could also lobby corporations for their support in provision of free or affordable software/hardware/peripherals and distribute them to partner organizations who display exemplary results in their work in line with TCF mandate. TCF itself could encourage people-as we are already doing- to participate in some topical issue, maybe via a wiki, harmonise the result through experts and distribute it to areas where its mostly needed, of course through telecentres that have exemplary results.

Permalink Reply by Niranjan Meegammana on November 18, 2009 at 1:01pm

Networks and Network based Telecenter Services is the way to move forward!

Telecenter Network challenges
1. Creating an Identity and Leadership to present Telecenter Networks to the world
2. Handling Bureaucracy and Resistances from those who like old style of divide and rule
3. Keeping diverse members believe in the moment
4. Ownership and Benefits Sharing / Trust Relationships
5. Co existance with over lapping and Networks With in
6. People Factors
7. Enabling Open Participation, Collaboration Plat forms

These issues will comes When each Telecenter is an autonomous identity

telecentre.org Foundation will be a Network of these, so it required to act as a role model for others to follow.
A difficult but only way to go!

Open seems to the way ahead!


Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. - Elbert Einstein

Niranjan Meegammana
Shilpa Sayura Foundation
http://www.shilpasayura.org

Permalink Reply by Ananya Raihan on November 18, 2009 at 1:34pm

The most important thing is many failure stories will emerge as a five year cycle is coming to an end for many countries. at the same time, many success stories will emerge. the challenge will be to strike the balance between promoting success and failure by the media and other stakeholders. Many good practices are already there, it needs to be captures and shared.

Evolution of technology will challenge traditional ideas about telecentre. There is on-going debate on mobile vs. telecentre, particularly fueled by LirneAsia. The reality does not always support the findings by them. We are conducting a study on linkage of community empowerment and ICTs, we can see clearly that 95% of the rural users do use mobile phones only for voice communication and listening to music. Even local language texting is not getting popular. Mobile TV failed miserably. Due to the price factor and behavioral factor, the advance use will take time. Inthe mean time, this hype may kill good and sustainable initiatives, which were waiting for scaling up. It would be a challenge to over the "either-or" mentality among a few researchers in terms of technology choice.

Telecentres should emphasize on information rather than communication. there will be fierce competition from its twin cyber cafe. So, innovation will be key for telecentre movement.

Permalink Reply by Meddie Mayanja on November 23, 2009 at 4:03pm

I think documentation and effective communication is equally a key challenge. It has already been.

Telecentre community and networks (with support institutions) need to engage is systematic research about the impact of what they do. You see, the voices on Mobile phones are loud because partly there is data to report - you can debate the relevance and whether or not the data is interpreted well etc.

We need to make a case for telecentres every day. Its not a sign of weakness of the enterprise. Everyone knows that the world is more interested in hard evidence of outcomes, impact and influences etc. We have to respond to this for us - and those that need to know what we are doing. Because networks would work better if they knew the nature of outcomes and impact out there.

We need to communicate what we learn. Engage public media and direct communication to key stakeholders etc.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Yumul-Manugue on November 18, 2009 at 10:35pm

The greates challenge for me is sustainability in light of the fact that the attention and channeling of resources is veering away from ICT4D to a more urgent and sexier concern like climate change.


What can the foundation do?

1. nurture networks towards sustainability --"independence"and maturity--socially, technologically, financially in light of network defined directions and goals by building network capabilities and "hand-holding" if needed during the initial stages.
2. #1 should set the stage for the next phase of TRUE interdependence based on network developed strengths and expertise.
3. Highlight/Call atention and develop strategies by which the potential of telecentres can be unleashed as change agents in local communities on concerted local initiatives and programs on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Permalink Reply by Francis Mwathi on November 19, 2009 at 2:09am

Many Telecentre communities still rarely have the opportunity to share their valuable experience and learn from others in broader or more formal exchanges of knowledge. There is a need to look out for and promote new ways of sharing knowledge that can help address this problem.

telecentre.org Foundation could help Regional or National Networks in formulating strategies to overcome barriers to share knowledge with ’hard to reach’ or marginalised Telecentre communities. These barriers may be related to language, access to information and marginalisation due to gender or disability. The key is to ensure these groups too can learn and share.

Permalink Reply by Shipra Sharma on November 19, 2009 at 2:32am

In response to this question, we can see an interesting thread of answers by some eminent telecentre leaders.

Owino thinks that telecentre.org Foundation should mobilise resource persons and experts to address the challenges posed by innovations in ICTs (ICT being such a dynamic field!) and also encourage exemplary networks and telecentres through a reward system (not necessarily monetary).

Niranjan firmly believes in the power of the networks in the telecentre domain. Under the network umbrella, the telecentres are more equipped to face all the challenges that he has listed. His idea of network identity and leadership is worth considering, as these provide a face to the network when they act in the Gloabl areana. He envisages a tough role for the telecentre.org Foundation to present itself as a MODEL network of networks for others to emulate.

Ananya takes up the pertinent issue of balancing successes and failures in the telecentre field since these impact the present and future telecentre movement across the globe. He is also not in favour of the unnecessary comparison between telecentres and mobiles since at the grassroots level, the mobile remains a communication (and to some extent, entertainment) instrument. Its use for seeking information is limited, as you require a very sophisticated and "necessarily" expensive device with all the applications for that purpose. The "People's mobiles" don't support them no matter how much you argue in their favour! I am speaking based on my experience dear members!
(A very well taken point! While the telecentre has the potential of being translated into an INSTITUTION within the community, the mobile will remain a technology).

Elizabeth diverts our attention to the "urgent and sexier concern like climate change" which is attracting all the attention and consequently, all the FUNDS. Her suggestions are very thoughtful: susatinability is as important in the context of telecentre networks as it is for individaul telecentres. A sustainable and strong network positively affects all its constituent telecentres.

This thread of discussion further leads us to explore the idea of network capacity building. So, far, we have been talking about the capacity building of those associated with individual telecentres. But, what about those who manage the telecentre networks? Isn't it time to pay attention to their capacity building? I hope telecentre.org Foundation, since it is going to interact with telecentre networks globally, pays attention to this issue.

Dear members, Please share your views on the issue of the capacity building of people who manage the telecentre networks.

Permalink Reply by Meddie Mayanja on November 23, 2009 at 4:23pm

Shipra - thanks for raising this issue

I think telecentre networks will be the centres of action in the next couple of years. They will have to organise the community _ as is been the case, engage private and public sector partners for resources and promotion of telecentre work while supporting telecentres etc.

But, networks have to be ready for this task.

Associated Questions: What would it take to increase the capacity of networks to a level where they can take more and more leadership roles and provide thinktank functions for the telecentre community.

How would those that are experienced help young or emerging networks to get better?

How can networks in Asia work with counterparts in Latin America or Africa on issues they know better?

Permalink Reply by Meddie Mayanja on November 24, 2009 at 1:31pm

Further to Shipra's question about network capacity building there is a new publication: the Network Management Guide.

I think with this publication, telecentre networks have immortalized what they have learned from experience about network building and management since 2005 in many ways. The Guide has been developed collaboratively by network leaders in this community. It addresses practical issues that networks face on a daily basis. It discusses the challenges and proposes solutions from the practitioners’ perspectives.

Look out for the document as wiki or pdf on this site in the next few days. This is one of key assets that we can fall back to in the coming months.

Permalink Reply by Niranjan Meegammana on November 24, 2009 at 2:06pm

Thanks Maddie,
Lots of effort would have consumed in this volunteer online collaboration of ours, an example of open participation, I am honored to have involved in Network Management Guide.
I am waiting to see telecentre.org communities good work.

Niranjan Meegammana
Shilpa Sayura Foundation
http://www.shilpasayura.org

Permalink Reply by gunadasa rathnayaka on November 26, 2009 at 4:22am

thanks Mr Neranjan Meegammana I agree with the suggestions and solutions persented by you in regard to the expectcd compositon and role of the future telecnter.org foundation.At the same time I wish to highlight the following paragraph indicated in your series of suggestioins which are the most inportant facts preseated by you in this eadeavour .thereforc i invite your special attention to the paragraph
thus the said paragarph is reproduced here for your kind perusal:-
'' one idea I would like to suggest is to form a telecenter leaders network inviting local ;provincial,national Global leaders at all levels to from an open participatory network................;;

Permalink Reply by Jimmy L. Calata on November 28, 2009 at 3:05am

I think the idea is solidifying in this online community.

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