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Digital Dividend Digest vol. 33
November 12, 2003
CONTENTS
1. New "What Works" Case Study Released:
Afrique
Initiatives--Attempts at Combining Social Purpose and Sustainable
Business
2. New
in the Digital Dividend Clearinghouse: DireqLearn, Bhutan's E-Commerce for Women Weavers, and SchoolWeb Africa's School-Connect
3. Special Opportunity Reminder: UN Public Service Awards
1. New "What Works" Case
Study Released: Afrique Initiatives--Attempts at Combining Social Purpose and Sustainable Business
The fifth in a series of "What
Works" case studies to be released, this case study
presents the efforts of Afrique Initiatives in creating a
partnership-based suite of IT-enabled services in Senegal.
The flagship service, Pesinet, focuses on disease prevention
among Saint Louis-area children by monitoring weight and communicating
fluctuations to local doctors via email. This simple model
is an affordable and effective way of quickly identifying
and addressing common childhood illnesses. Afrique Initiatives
is also planning to launch a network of telecenters providing
local content, such as weather for local fishermen, job postings,
and access to government document services.
Read the executive
summary or the full
case study (PDF).
2. New in the
Digital Dividend
Clearinghouse: DireqLearn, Bhutan's E-Commerce
for Women Weavers, and SchoolWeb Africa's School-Connect
DireqLearn
DireqLearn is a private company whose goal is to promote
the use of information technology in education. With operations
in Western Africa, Eastern Africa, and Southern Africa, DireqLearn
seeks out underdeveloped markets for its low-cost education
solutions, and is able to make a profit while serving some
of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Services
offered by DireqLearn include consulting and project management,
content, alternative connectivity, and technology platform
solutions.
Bhutan's E-Commerce for Women Weavers
The Bhutanese Ministry of Trade and Industry, with support
from UNDP, has started a pilot project to bring e-business
solutions to women weavers in Bhutan. The project is aimed
at providing access to markets and attracting international
buyers for hand-woven traditional Bhutanese clothing and handicrafts
and will provide training in e-business and entrepreneurial
skills, connectivity to rural areas, and resources to help
to improve working conditions. The e-business project will
also allow women artisans to communicate directly with their
Indian suppliers of raw materials.
SchoolWeb Africa's School-Connect
The School-Connect program aims to establish networked computer
labs in schools starting in Kenya and eventually throughout
East Africa. Not only will computers and requisite hardware
be provided at a low cost for schools, the School-Connect
program is in the process of developing appropriate content
for local users. School computer labs will be used for primary
and secondary education, health education, training, small
business services, and community development. Labs will be
open to the public during non-school hours.
3. Special Opportunity Reminder:
UN Public Service Award
UN
Public Service Awards
The United Nations Division for Public Administration and
Development Management invites nominations for the UN Public
Service Awards for 2003. The awards will recognize institutional
contributions made to enhance the role, professionalism, and
visibility of public service. One of the categories this year
is the application of information and communication technology
(ICT) in local government. Nominations should Reach DPADM
no later than November 30, 2003.
For more information on these and many other special opportunities,
browse to the
Resource Marketplace.
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