Increasing Access to Technology & Expanding Communications Networks
Macedonia Connects
Macedonia Connects is a USAID-funded project implemented by AED. The wildly successful activity helped to de-regulate the telecommunications industry in Macedonia to provide affordable broadband access to the entire country; including, 550 elementary schools, research institutions, universities and businesses throughout Macedonia. The MK Connects project increased county-wide internet penetration from less than 5% to over 90%. Making broadband internet connectivity available has not only increased the number of internet users, but enabled Information and Communication Technologies to further educational curriculum development and the e-Commerce environment as well.
Making the Connection: Scaling Telecenters for Development
Three organizations, the Academy for Educational Development (AED), Microsoft Corporation, and telecenter.org collaborated to develop the book, Making the Connection: Scaling Telecenters for Development. The book identifies and discusses the most pressing issues facing the booming global telecenter movement, presents a condensed view of the current state of knowledge with regards to telecenters, and highlights possible paths forward.
Our primary audience for this book consists of those individuals, firms, and organizations that are most likely to be involved, either directly or indirectly, in the planning and deployment of telecenters around the world, with an emphasis on large-scale deployments. Our secondary audience for this book consists of all those who might benefit from telecenters and therefore would be interested in better understanding their evolution and future potential. Whether you are a government official thinking through how best to support a national telecenter scale-up initiative, an entrepreneur hoping to start up your first telecenter, or the CEO of a private company seeking to expand the range of services offered through your existing network of telecenters, this book is for you.
For additional information visit the Making the Connection website at, http://connection.aed.org
CLICs of Mali
The project established 13 Community Learning and Information Centers (CLICs) across Mali, offering a range of fee-for-use services including Internet access, development-oriented information, e-mail accounts, training in computer and Internet use and applications, desktop publishing, and customized local development content. The CLICs serve the needs of local entrepreneurs, students and youth in general, teachers, as well as local governments and other local entities.
eCenters of Kyrgyzstan
The eCenter project developed a network of seven replicable, sustainable and entrepreneurially-run telecenters in Kyrgyzstan; these seven eCenter locations developed into a functioning franchise network. A key aim of the project is to support the technical and educational development of rural Kyrgyzstan by providing affordable high-speed internet as a tool for training knowledge workers and developing a workforce that is able to contribute to 21st century business and education opportunities.
A main objective of the project is to provide face-to-face and on-line computer literacy training in order to teach the basics on how to operate computers and then to introduce new online jobs and market opportunities.
As a result of the eCenter Kyrgyzstan project: 1800 people have received micro-scholarships to complete computer literacy training courses; and a partnership was established with ARIS, World Bank Project, establishing joint eCenters with a substantial contribution of computers and use of premises. (More)
Paraguay Last Mile Initiative
This project's primary objective is to extend Internet connectivity to and provide training in information and communication technologies (ICTs) and relevant content for rural and underserved areas of Paraguay.
In the first phase, the project connected 100 sites to the Internet using wireless broadband technology creating public telecommunications access centers. These 100 sites included schools, local NGOs, community radio stations and health centers. The second phase continues to provide training to enhance the use of the Internet and promote sustainability of these centers and also is developing a Content Management Service (CMS) platform and mobile banking platform. The CMS, a simple interface for web page design, will allow centers to create and post their own content on-line.
The mobile banking platform will link rural microfinance clients to their lending institutions via cell phone, allowing customers to access and repay their loans electronically. This electronic interface saves users money and eliminates the long-distance travel time that was once necessary for community members to re-pay their loans in person. (More)
Romania RITI
The Romania Information Technology Initiative (RITI)/ AED project is a bold and exciting approach to improving access and utilization of ICTs for public and private sector organizations in Romania. Recognizing an acute need to spread ICT benefits to Romania’ underserved communities, AED’s dot-GOV Access team partnered with USAID/Romania and the Romania Information Technology Initiative (RITI) to improve ICT access at the grassroots and municipality levels. Working in close collaboration with Romania’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCTI), AED helped Romania in realizing its rural development agenda.
The RITI/AED project focuses on four key areas:
1) Expanding equitable public access to ICT resources
2) Increased eGovernance and NGO transparency, efficiency and responsiveness
3) eHealth and access to medical technology
4) eBusiness for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and business associations
As a result of the project, RITI/AED project has established telecenters in underserved communities in rural areas of northeastern Romania. The telecenters offer a range of services, including, communication with surrounding villages via telephone, internet access, email, copying, scanning, printing and other computer applications.
As a means of encouraging sustainability, AED worked in close collaboration with its partners at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCTI), RITI/dot-GOV and the United States Peace Corps in implementing this project. The telecenters are operated in mayor’s offices and schools. (More)
