A group of young graduates in Kenya have introduced a mobile-phone enabled technology which will help farmers in rural Africa to link up with crop researchers, meteorological departments and veterinary scientists to better their farm yields.

Calvins Okello, a science graduate from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and a colleague, Gordon Owiti, have developed the new technology that seeks to digitalize Africa’s agriculture and enable the government agencies to solve the crisis of poor food distribution.

The technology, known as M-SHAMBA, a Kiswahili word for Mobile Farming, seeks to empower farmers with the latest technology innovations from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and the weather updates from the Kenya Meteorological Department to increase predictability of farming.

“This is a unique new technology that gives information to farmers. This information is stored in a chip in the phone memory and enables the farmer to receive information on the various aspects of farming”, Okello said during the Science and Technology Innovation (STI) conference underway in Nairobi. Farmers can receive the latest information on cattle rearing techniques and have a chance to bargain for the highest price for their produce by placing their produce in the online platform. “It helps the farmers to sell online, notifying the market about the farm produce. Farmers are able to connect with buyers from great distances but it is up to the farmer in Kisumu to decide whether they want to sell to a buyer in Mombasa despite the great transportation barriers”, Okello said.

The information is directly obtained from certified research, which is a more cost-effective way of allowing the researchers to see the outcomes of their work. To make the product more easily accessible to the farmers, the two innovators are currently investing in translating research papers into the more popularly spoken Kiswahili language. However, they say they are constrained by a lack of funding.

Okello said the software enables the farmers to manage their farm records by entering the date of planting into an automated database, from where they are able to receive short messages and reminders about when to plant, based on the meteorological data findings. Owiti said the new technology has been developed with the sole intention of enticing the youth and those in professional cadres that agriculture can be technological savvy and is “cool”.

(Source: Adeanet)
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The e-Navigator smartphone application and website can search more than 3,000 items in the Joint University Programmes Admissions System, the Information Portal for Accredited Post-secondary Programmes and the Qualifications Register.

The e-Navigator provides students with more information on the study opportunities in Hong Kong. It helps to compare different programmes and figure out which ones are most relevant to them.

All information is based on publicised data on official websites, and students can access the sites to view detailed information on individual programmes via hyperlinks. Hyperlinks to various official web pages are created for users who wish to find out more details of individual programmes.

Users can also enter their expected or actual Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination results to search for suitable courses.

The e-Navigator was jointly developed by Education Bureau and Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters (HKACMGM).

(Source: FutureGov)
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Solar panels have been installed in the remote area of Ilkerin in Kenya, where many people from the Maasai tribe live. The generator powers computers that will help to increase the quality of education.

Solar panels will provide power for computer labs that will serve the local community, students and out of school youth that are receiving vocational training. The computers that are used are energy efficient and save money because they are so called thin clients, a type of solution where a computer network of multiple users is powered by just one PC or server.

Up until now, the area of Ilkerin had no access to Kenya’s national power grid and the transport of fuel to support power generators was extremely difficult due to its location. For this reason, the installation of Solar Power Systems is extremely important for the area as it provides power efficiency to support projects such this, which will enhance computer literacy within the community of Ilkerin and especially of youth and primary school students. Being exposed to computers and internet ensures maasai children that they will be enabled to benefit from a similar learning environment as their peers in Nairobi. Developing context specific educational materials for the children will make their education also more relevant.  The project is the product of collaboration between IICD and Edukans in the Connect4Change consortium and local partner ILIDP.

Next step after the installation of the generators and the computer lab is that teachers and administrators are trained by a locally hired ICT officer. The courses will include training on how to apply ICT in vocational training and the building of entrepreneurial skills. In addition, local teachers will receive training in developing educational material digitally for primary school students.

(Source: IICD)
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Prime Minister Najib reveals his plans to make education smart.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohammad Najib Tun Razak, says that Malaysia is ‘extremely likely’ to adopt cheap tablet computers such as those developed in India.

He says that the US$ 50 price tag for the mobile internet devices makes adoption much easier.

Najib reveals that the objective is to equip every student with a tablet computer; however at this juncture the government expects 10 students to share one tablet.

The government will make smart education plans to significantly improve smart children’s performance in school. “It is very important to increase the children’s market value from cradle all the way to their employment”, he says.

(Source: FutureGov)
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Apurimac is the first region to provide free Internet service through pilot virtual centers which will be built and implemented with the support from mining companies operating in the area, announced its regional president, Elias Ruiz Segovia.

He said that through the project "Construction and implementation of pilot virtual centers to achieve contents in curriculum learning in primary and secondary- Apurimac" aims to provide a quality education.

The regional authority said Apurimac is entering to a new stage thanks to mining and stressed that rural children have the same opportunities as the city, they will receive a quality education.

Segovia said that mining companies operating in Apurimac pay the cost of Internet service, while the regional government will take care of maintenance. The proposal is embodied in an agreement to be signed soon.

"Apurimac will be the first region in the country that will have internet access throughout its jurisdiction, it means, from Chincheros until Cotabambas", he said.

He called on teachers to be trained, so that students receive quality education, since "the success of this project will be thanks to them".

He added that the initiative is a great tool that should serve to get out from the last places where Apurimac is found in regarding the quality of education.

The symbolic act of commissioning of the project took place on Thursday in the building of the regional government.

(Source: Andina News)
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Women in Gomboussougou, a village in the Centre-Sud Region of Burkina Faso, are now for the first time in their lives able to participate in debates and municipal meetings in their community. These meetings are also broadcasted by the community radio started by women’s association Pag La Yiri.

Before, it was unthinkable for women to be actively involved in their community and participate in municipal meetings, debates and exchange of ideas. However, now they can attend any of the meetings on the agenda that is interesting to them.

The meetings are facilitated by local citizen journalists that have received training in reporting skills. All the discussions are being recorded in order to be broadcasted by Pag La Yiri radio. This is a radio station by rural women organisation Pag la Yiri, that is supported by IICD. The broadcasts are in five local languages and French. Local primary and secondary school teachers are also contributing to this radio project.

The municipal meetings and debates follow after a women week that was held in February. Listeners were invited to talk about topics related to women empowerment and gender issues in rural areas and could call to the radio station to answer quiz questions. With the support of IICD and Dutch capacity building organisation PSO, Pag la Yiri will continue to produce targeted content for women, as well as integrating gender topics in existing programmes.

You can watch a video report about the project in Gomboussougou here:

(Source: IICD)
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To commemorate this day, May 17 INICTEL-UNI held the International Forum "Women and girls in ICT". The event aims to promote the use of Information and Communication Technologies - ICTs on women and girls as a tool to integrate a gender equality perspective.

The event promoted by INICTEL-UNI, share the goals of ITU to encourages governments and institutions inviting girls and university students to spend a day on the premises or arrange visit programs observation ("shadowing") with female mentors in order to gain a better understanding of the opportunities offered by ICT.

This year, the World Day of Telecommunications and Information Society is especially devoted to the theme of "Women and girls in ICT", adopted by the ITU Council in 2010.

The celebration aims to ensure that vulnerable female half of the world progress towards equality. Gender equality is one of the main goals of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations.

The forum will bring all the sectors involved in the field to encourage the adoption of policies and strategies to promote ICT related to the female gender and achieve the integration. It will feature panelists from the following institutions: Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Education, Department of Lima Council Engineers Association of Peru, National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation - CONCYTEC, National University of San Marcos, the Regulator in Telecommunications - OSIPTEL, among other important entities.

(Source: INICTEL – Perú)
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The 2012 World Telecommunication and Information Society Award was presented to three eminent personalities: President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina, Huawei Chairman Sun Yafang, and Academy Award winning actor Geena Davis, founder of the Geena Davis Institute of Gender in Media. The ceremony took place in Geneva to mark the 147th anniversary of the establishment of ITU in 1865.

The theme for the 2012 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day focuses on ‘Women and girls in ICT’. It is aimed at extending digital opportunities by providing avenues of advancement to professional women at the highest echelons of decision-making, and by encouraging young women to seek new careers within the sector.

In a message on the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “On this World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, I call again for wide-ranging efforts to close both the digital divide and the gender gap.  All people must be able to make the best use of information and communications technology to help create the future we want”.

ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré further reaffirmed that gender equality is a basic human right enshrined in the UN Charter, and one of the main objectives of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

“We are focusing our efforts this year on women and girls, using the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to provide new digital opportunities to end discrimination, and to empower women and girls to participate fully in society” Dr Touré said. “Girls and young women with ICT skills will find jobs that offer creativity, innovation, and entirely new ways of working. And encouraging girls into the technology industry will create a positive feedback loop – in turn creating inspiring role models for the next generation”.

One such role model, is represented by H.E. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President of Argentina who has spearheaded numerous digital initiatives such as the ‘Equal Connect Programme’ which aims to reduce the digital divide across Argentina’s educational system with a specific focus on developing quality digital content.

Ms Sun Yafang emphasized that positive role models and real gender equality are critical for the ICT industry. “The ICT market is full of uncertainties, requiring companies to be highly adaptive,” said Ms Sun. “In light of this, I have been promoting female manager development at Huawei. This programme gives preference to women in manager selection when all qualifications are equal. In this way, we can provide real development opportunities for our female employees.”

Ms Geena Davis, founder of the Geena Davis Institute of Gender in Media, has dedicated herself to advocating more positive representations of women and girls in the media and knows well the importance of reinforcing positive role models.

(Source: ITU Newsroom)
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A group of primary schools in Kenya’s Pokot and Turkana tribes’ districts is improving its management and education quality by using computers and training teachers and administrators in the use of them. Ultimate goal is to significantly reduce the dropout rate of primary schools students.

In the first year, with the support of IICD and Edukans in the Connect4Change consortium and local partner NCCK Northrift, 4 schools will be targeted: 2 in West Pokot County and 2 in Turkana District. Both these areas are located in the Northern part of the Rift Valley Province. With the support of Edukans, community education facilitators train the School Management Committees on their roles and responsibilities in the management of their schools. These management committees are elected volunteers that have the mandate to approve or dismiss school’s decisions.

To this improved management training, IICD adds a digital component. An ICT officer was hired to support and train the schools and equipment was procured and distributed to the schools over the last few months. Coming June, staff will be trained in the use of basic ICT for  school administration (for instance the use of Excel) and will discuss what should be in the administration system. This will lead to a school administration system where teachers, headmasters and administrators can more easily store school results and monitor dropout rates. It is also easier for teachers and administrators to keep the enrollment lists up to date and to act swiftly if they see that someone is not attending class regularly. They can also see how not attending classes regularly has affected students’ grades.

Another advantage of a digitalised administration system is that it gets easier for School Management Committees in Pokot and Turkana districts to understand how money is spent and how this could be improved. In the future, an online component could also be added so financial and administrative data is also available (in a secure way) if the committee members or school staff are not at school and still would like to access the data. 

Also, t he Pokot and Turkana are pastoralist people who are in a constant conflict over land and cattle. About a third of the the children in the IICD-supported schools in the region are orphan or miss at least one parent because of this conflict. There is a lot of distrust between the people, but schools indicate that they are interested in using computers to get closer. A proposed idea was for each school to build their own simple website to promote their school, which can also be used for Turkana and Pokot children to share their ideas and poetry. Though schools are quite far apart, at some point during the implementation phase, schools could also visit each other. Teachers and school management committees may be from different tribes, but their all have the same aim: improving education, and using ICT to do it.

(Source: IICD)
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The Information and Communications Technology Ministry yesterday inked a THB-1.02-billion (US$ 32.8 mil) tablet-computer supply contract with the Chinese manufacturer Shenzhen Scope for the purchase of 400,000 tablets for primary school students.

The first 2,000 devices will be delivered next week and the rest to be arrived within 60 days. The model is specifically produced for Thailand, according to ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap.

Under the contract, Thailand will buy 400,000 devices at THB 2,400 (US$ 81) per unit and a contract for the remaining 530,000 units will be signed later with the same price after the first batch of Scope Tablets passes government quality control standards. The remaining units must be delivered within 90 days from May 10.

“The specs are higher than what was specified in the terms of reference. This model is being produced specifically for this project, not according to the general specs offered in the market,” he said and added that the ministry’s committee would thoroughly check the devices’ specification.

Thailand Post will deliver the devices, which will have software installed, to school nationwide in July.

The devices, Scope’s Scopad SP0712 model, come in four colours- red, blue, silver and gold and features a seven-inch touchscreen, a 1.2 GHz single core CPU, 1 GB RAM, a storage memory unit of 8GB, Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, and a GPS navigation system for monitoring and tracking purposes. The devices also come with two-year international standard warrantee.

The purchase is under One Tablet PC Per Child campaign promise, a series of populist policies promoted by the ruling government which pledged to provide the country’s 860,000 first graders with the tablet PC.

(Source: FutureGov)
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The ExxonMobil Foundation and Cherie Blair Foundation for Women released new research demonstrating how mobile phones can help women entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses. The analysis across three emerging countries -- Egypt, Nigeria and Indonesia -- concludes there are a number of mobile technology-based solutions which, if tailored and scaled commercially, could support the business needs of women entrepreneurs.

Based on the research findings, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women will follow the study with a pilot program to provide women entrepreneurs with tailored mobile phone applications that will help them manage their businesses more effectively.

Research for the Mobile Value Added Services: A Business Growth Opportunity for Women Entrepreneurs report was conducted by the global management consultancy, Booz & Company. The report concluded that the extensive and ever-increasing penetration of mobile phones in developing and emerging markets presents a significant opportunity to women entrepreneurs who want to develop their micro businesses into flourishing small and growing enterprises. Mobile value added services are products offered through a mobile platform, such as text messaging and multimedia message services.

"We already know that when mobile technology is properly incorporated into daily use, it can address an ever-increasing range of needs", said Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. "Yet many of these technologies are not designed with a woman entrepreneur in mind. This groundbreaking research and subsequent pilot program will identify the technology that is most effective for women entrepreneurs and will provide women with new opportunities to maximize the effectiveness and reach of their businesses".

"In recent years, we have seen mobile phones evolve from a convenience to an essential business tool, enabling entrepreneurs to address pressing business challenges, increase access to new markets and operate more efficiently", said Suzanne M. McCarron, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation. "Yet all too often, women entrepreneurs around the world lack access to the technology and resources needed to succeed. Expanding the effective uses of mobile technology can help women earn more income and lead to more prosperity for them, their families, their communities and their countries".

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(Source: Market Watch)

“e-Agriculture” includes 8 500 members from over 165 countries

A global online community on the use of information and communication technologies in agriculture (called "e-Agriculture") run by FAO has received a prestigious award from the organizing body of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), called the WSIS Project Prize 2012.

The e-Agriculture Community today has grown to more than 8 500 registered members from over 165 countries, including development practitioners, policymakers, representatives of farmer organizations, researchers, and information and communication specialists involved in agriculture and rural development.

The e-Agriculture Community is active on three levels. A web-based, multilingual (English, French, Spanish) platform (www.e-agriculture.org)  provides a neutral space for knowledge sharing and collaboration. The Community also participates in face-to-face events organized around the world, and through in-country interventions lead by Community members and their institutions.

Holding discussion forums online allows the Community to reach tens of thousands of individuals annually, a level of participation that could not be achieved otherwise.

Partnerships with international, regional and national institutions, is an integral part of the continuing success of the e-Agriculture Community.

The e-Agriculture Community also provides the basis for the international community to monitor development and validation of conceptual models and methodologies, and to package and disseminate them once tested.

The e-Agriculture Community continues to make active use of social media, including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The participation of young people in the sector, in addition to seasoned experts, is encouraged through collaboration with YPARD, including a blog series on the subject of "youth, ICT and agriculture".

(Source: e-agriculture)
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The Government of Brazil is organizing, with the support of the United Nations, the Sustainable Development Dialogues, a forum for civil society, to be held in Riocentro, between June 16 to 19, in the context of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development - Rio+20.

Ten topics will be debated, based on their relevance to the furthering of sustainable development. They are: (1) Sustainable development for fighting poverty; (2) Sustainable development as an answer to the economic and financial crises; (3) Unemployment, decent work and migrations; (4) The economics of sustainable development, including sustainable patterns of production and consumption; (5) Forests; (6) Food and nutrition security; (7) Sustainable energy for all; (8) Water; (9) Sustainable cities and innovation; (10) Oceans. The debates will be broadcast live through the UN website.

With the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Dialogues initiative is being launched through a digital platform in order to provide the wide public with a democratic space for discussion. The on-line debates on each of the ten themes of the Dialogues will be facilitated by researchers from renowned academic institutions around the world. The platform is available in four languages (Portuguese, English, French and Spanish), with an in-built tool that allows the translation of specific posts into 40 languages. It also includes a voting system through which a set of recommendations will be chosen for transmission to the participants of the Dialogues, in Rio.

This innovative bridge between civil society and Heads of State and Government is expected to contribute to the incorporation and engagement of stakeholders, based on the understanding that public participation is essential to the promotion of sustainable development as the paradigm for action.

For more information visit: http://www.rio20.gov.br/ or send an email to support@riodialogues.org

(Source: UNCSD)

In about two months will be ready “Siembra”, an Internet portal that will allow to Colombian farmers to find all the information related to production chains, entrepreneurship programs and the status of their projects, among other benefits.

According to Juan Lucas Restrepo, Executive Director of Corpoica, entity that is developing the site, 'Siembra' will be a member of Agronet, the information system of the Ministry of Agriculture. "This portal will enable people to make a clear innovation management and competitive intelligence, especially from the agricultural context", the official said.

After registration, the person who enters to 'Siembra' can improve their knowledge of the business where he is, meet the existing demand and supply of goods and sectoral projects, and research findings.

'There you can learn about events and news. Additionally, it will create a space for video conferencing which can simultaneously connect up to 100 players. The idea is that you can also say, for which forums work ", said Restrepo.

This initiative is directly related to the proposed objective of Corpoica that is aimed at promoting research, development and innovation in agriculture. 'These three components should be the guiding framework for public sector investment", he explained.

In that sense, Corpoica prepares to gradually adjust their capabilities, structure and culture in order to guarantee the coherence of innovation policy for agriculture.

With the launch of 'Siembra' the first beneficiaries will be the 37members of formed groups, from which 34 have already made significant progress. These include cocoa, cotton, bananas, pota toes and beef.

(Source: La República de Colombia)
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