Digital Dividend Digest vol. 15 January
29, 2003
CONTENTS
1. New Address for the New Year:
Digital Dividend Digest has Changed E-Mail Providers
2. Latest in the "Quick Look" Series:
AKASHKANGA: Simple Technologies in Indian Dairy Cooperatives
3. What Would YOU Like to See in the "Quick
Look" Series?
4. New in the Digital Dividend Clearinghouse:
McInternet, Mobile Phone Recycling, and Computer Center for
the Blind
5. Make the Clearinghouse Work for You!
Project Owners
6. Funding Opportunities: InfoDev
Incubator Initiative and INFOLAC Web Award
1. New Address for the New
Year: Digital Dividend Digest has Changed E-Mail Providers
After taking a short break for the holidays, the Digest is
back with our first issue of the New Year. With our new issue,
we have changed our e-mail system for the Digest. If this
is the first time you have received the Digest in a while,
it may be because it was being blocked by an anti-spam filter
that recognized our old server address as spam. We are now
using a different return address which should eliminate reported
delivery problems. We hope you enjoy the reappearance of the
Digest, but if you wish to unsubscribe, send a reply to this
e-mail address with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
2. Latest in the "Quick Look"
Series: AKASHKANGA: Simple Technologies in Indian Dairy Cooperatives
Creating greater efficiency and accuracy in milk collection
and distribution, AKASHGANGA Automatic Milk Collection System
(AMCS) is a technology solution that demonstrates the potential
of ICTs to help solve day-to-day problems in the rural developing
world. Benefits to both individual farmers and dairy collectives
in India are driving the demand for increased availability
of the system. Cost-effectively automating the milk collecting
process at hundreds of traditional Indian dairy cooperative
societies, AKASHGANGA has shown that even simple technologies
can provide significant benefits to rural communities.
Check out the full story 
Digital Dividend's new "Quick Look" case studies are ideal
for people who need the What Works series' high-quality ICT-for-development
business model analysis in short, focused formats.
3. What Would YOU Like to
See in the "Quick Look" Series?
Our goal is to document and disseminate best practices information
that will be helpful to you, as IT for development practitioners.
What organizations or enterprises would you like to see in
future "Quick Look" case studies? What do you think are the
most promising business models--sustainable, scalable, and
replicable, with significant social impact? Send
us your suggestions!
4. New in the Digital Dividend
Clearinghouse: McInternet, Mobile Phone Recycling, and Computer
Center for the Blind
Eight new projects have been added to the Clearinghouse since
our last edition of the Digest. Among the project highlights
are:
McInternet:
Even the Internet can be "Mc'd"! Aimed at popularizing the
Internet and providing access to those who may not have a
computer at home or work, McDonald's Brazil has partnered
with HP's e-Inclusion to provide customers with McInternet.
Now available in over 50 restaurants, McInternet users can
access local news, weather, maps, services, surf the Internet,
and connect to Isau Bank for financial services all from the
McInternet homepage.
Mobile
Phone Recycling: The Mobile Phone Recycling program has
been set up to collect and refurbish donated recent-model
mobile phones and sell them in Eastern European and African
markets where they can be used in areas where landline infrastructure
is poor. The initiative provides reduced-cost mobile phones
to developing areas while also providing the local benefit
of reducing waste.
Computer Center for the Blind: Adaptive Technology Center
for the Blind (ATCB) runs a technology center that provides
ICT access to visually impaired persons in Ethiopia. The center
provides training in computer applications and Web design
using adaptive technologies such as speech synthesizers, Braille
display, and text magnifiers.
5. Make the Clearinghouse
Work For You! Project Owners
Is your project included in the Clearinghouse? Should it be?
The Clearinghouse provides a versatile platform for project
owners to disseminate their project information online. Having
"ownership" of your project capsule lets you to regularly
update your information, host discussions online, or add related
links and documents making your capsule a de facto Web site
through which the media, potential funders, and other similar
projects can find out about you. Or use our Search page to
find projects similar to your own with whom you can collaborate
or share best practices. You can also sign up for e-mail alerts
that automatically let you know when new projects have been
added!
If your project isn't included yet, but you would like it
to be, log in at the Clearinghouse.
If you have questions, e-mail
us
6. Funding Opportunities:
InfoDev Incubator Initiative and INFOLAC Web Award
InfoDev Incubator Initiative: InfoDev
is accepting proposals for phase two of its Incubator Initiative.
Existing incubators and non-profit business development centers
in developing countries are encouraged to submit original,
creative, and cost-effective proposals aimed at improving
their own performance and helping them reach their development
potential. 15-25 grants of $300,000 - $500,000 will be awarded.
The application deadline is Monday, February 17, 2003. For
additional details, click
here
INFOLAC Web Award: The Information
Society Program for Latin America and the Caribbean (INFOLAC)
is accepting submissions for its Web Award. Web sites that
have an educational value for youth in the region and contribute
to fostering endogenous culture in Latin America and the Caribbean
are invited to register online before March 31, 2003. Awards
range between $500 and $1,500. For additional information,
or to apply online, click
here
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