- isoc - Skunkworks Site

GAIA 2017 AgTech Innovation Challenge I 2017 Konza Enterprise Innovation Challenge: Apply Now! | Opportunities for Entrepreneurs
by WANGARI KABIRU 03 Mar '17

03 Mar '17

May interest your networks. Blessed Furahi day. Regards/Wangari --- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth". On Thursday, 2 March 2017, 12:57, Intellecap wrote: @media screen and (max-width:480px){#yiv4162462268 td .filtered99999 {display:none;}}@media screen and (max-width:480px){#yiv4162462268 table .filtered99999 , #yiv4162462268 img .filtered99999 , #yiv4162462268 td .filtered99999 , #yiv4162462268 span .filtered99999 {display:none;}#yiv4162462268 td .filtered99999 , #yiv4162462268 table .filtered99999 , #yiv4162462268 span .filtered99999 {display:block;}#yiv4162462268 .yiv4162462268FooterText {line-height:1.6 !important;}}#yiv4162462268 blockquote .yiv4162462268hideInRplyFwd, #yiv4162462268 .yiv4162462268WordSection1 .yiv4162462268hideInRplyFwd, #yiv4162462268 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Calling all Entrepreneurs! Enterprise Opportunities open now Agriculture Technology | Health Science | Engineering | ICT Dear WANGARI, Intellecap and its partners are delighted to announce three opportunities for entrepreneurs to gain advise, feedback, and exposure: Applications are now open for the GAIA 2017 AgTech Innovation Challenge for enterprises from West, North, Southern & Central Africa! Innovations should contribute towards transforming agricultural practices for improved incomes and food security for ALL. Successful AgTech innovations should demonstrate a clear focus on bridging the gender gap in African agriculture. They should also be scalable across multiple geographies in sub-Saharan Africa. Qualified applicants are enterprises who: - Serve the agricultural or allied sectors - Demonstrate clear benefits to groups that are often marginalized in agriculture including women smallholder farmers and other women value chain actors - Have an innovative technology or business model - Have a clear for-profit business model with high potential for scale - Have some proof of concept on the ground, conducted pilots, and are preferably generating revenues - Are seeking support to commercialize or scale West & North Africa enterprises should apply here by 9th March. Southern & Central Africa enterprises should apply here by 16th March. Selected enterprises will benefit from an in-depth boot camp and demo day to incubators, investors, and key stakeholders in the agriculture sector in April 2017. Konza Technopolis Development Authority is now accepting applications for the 2017 Konza Enterprise Innovation Challenge! Konza is looking for businesses and institutions that use science, technology, and innovation to transform the lives of Kenyans. Innovations should contribute towards transforming science and technology practices for increased productivity and job creation. Qualifying innovations should demonstrate clear benefits for end users, and in particular base of the pyramid consumers. They should also be scalable across multiple geographies in sub-Saharan Africa. Apply here by 31st March if your enterprise meets the following criteria: - Is in Life Sciences, Engineering, or ICT sector(s) - Have a tested, and innovative technology or business model - Have an experienced, credible and dedicated management teams - Have some proof of concept on the ground, conducted pilots and is preferably generating revenues - Is looking to commercialize/scale - Have operations in Kenya The top 25 companies will be chosen from the applicants to participate in an in-depth boot camp, and then be showcased to investors, incubators, and other support organizations in Nairobi, Kenya in May 2017. | | | | | | | | | | | | INTELLECAP Intellecap is a pioneer in providing innovative business solutions that help build and scale profitable and sustainable enterprises dedicated to social and environmental change. Founded in 2002, Intellecap has grown into a Group with more than 900 employees and 300 engagements across 25 countries. GAIA Gender in Agribusiness Investments for Africa (GAIA) is an initiative of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) focused on increasing agribusiness investments in technological innovations to help close the gender gap in African agriculture. Through a call for applications, intensive boot camp, GAIA ensures visibility, commercialization and scale up of AgTech innovations that respond to women needs across the agricultural value chain. KONZA TECHNOPOLIS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Konza Technopolis is a vision 2030 project whose objective is to position Kenya as knowledge based economy and a preferred Science, Technology and Innovation destination. Through building a vibrant innovation ecosystem, Konza Technopolis shall focus on key sectors of the economy, among them, Life Science, Engineering and ICT/ITES that will enhance local innovation, R&D, entrepreneurship and Technology enterprise formation culture. Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) will initiate programs that will support the generation of 17,000 direct jobs and 200,000 residence in Technopolis by the end of 2030. | | | | | | | | | | | Intellecap, Tetezi Towers, Ground Floor, At the corner of George Padmore Road & Marcus Garvey Road, Nairobi, Kenya | | | | | | |

1 0

Re: [isoc_ke] Launch of the Digital Gender Gap Audit Scorecard and Workshop for leaders and ICT Industry Stakeholders
by Barrack Otieno 02 Mar '17

02 Mar '17

Listers, The above mentioned meeting is happening now. You can participate remotely through the following link: https://livestream.com/accounts/23663258/iaowirat The meeting is organized by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television with the support of the World Wide Web Foundation, the Embassy of the United States of America and UNESCO. Best Regards -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

1 0

Why Bill Gates would tax robots
by WANGARI KABIRU 27 Feb '17

27 Feb '17

Read on... Robots are taking human jobs, so should they pay up for what the human(s) would have? Blessed day. Regards/Wangari --- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth". The robot that takes your job should pay taxes, says Bill Gates | | | | | | | | | | | The robot that takes your job should pay taxes, says Bill Gates By Kevin J. Delaney The world's richest man is arguing for taxing and slowing automation. | | | | DROID DUTIES The robot that takes your job should pay taxes, says Bill Gates Why Bill Gates would tax robots Quartz VideoWhy Bill Gates would tax robots0:001:40 Share Written by Kevin J. Delaney Obsession Machines with Brains February 17, 2017 Robots are taking human jobs. But Bill Gates believes that governments should tax companies’ use of them, as a way to at least temporarily slow the spread of automation and to fund other types of employment.It’s a striking position from the world’s richest man and a self-described techno-optimist who co-founded Microsoft, one of the leading players in artificial-intelligence technology.In a recent interview with Quartz, Gates said that a robot tax could finance jobs taking care of elderly people or working with kids in schools, for which needs are unmet and to which humans are particularly well suited. He argues that governments must oversee such programs rather than relying on businesses, in order to redirect the jobs to help people with lower incomes. The idea is not totally theoretical: EU lawmakers considered a proposal to tax robot owners to pay for training for workers who lose their jobs, though on Feb. 16 the legislators ultimately rejected it.“You ought to be willing to raise the tax level and even slow down the speed” of automation, Gates argues. That’s because the technology and business cases for replacing humans in a wide range of jobs are arriving simultaneously, and it’s important to be able to manage that displacement. “You cross the threshold of job replacement of certain activities all sort of at once,” Gates says, citing warehouse work and driving as some of the job categories that in the next 20 years will have robots doing them.You can watch Gates’ remarks in the video above. Below is a transcript, lightly edited for style and clarity.Quartz: What do you think of a robot tax? This is the idea that in order to generate funds for training of workers, in areas such as manufacturing, who are displaced by automation, one concrete thing that governments could do is tax the installation of a robot in a factory, for example.Bill Gates: Certainly there will be taxes that relate to automation. Right now, the human worker who does, say, $50,000 worth of work in a factory, that income is taxed and you get income tax, social security tax, all those things. If a robot comes in to do the same thing, you’d think that we’d tax the robot at a similar level.And what the world wants is to take this opportunity to make all the goods and services we have today, and free up labor, let us do a better job of reaching out to the elderly, having smaller class sizes, helping kids with special needs. You know, all of those are things where human empathy and understanding are still very, very unique. And we still deal with an immense shortage of people to help out there.So if you can take the labor that used to do the thing automation replaces, and financially and training-wise and fulfillment-wise have that person go off and do these other things, then you’re net ahead. But you can’t just give up that income tax, because that’s part of how you’ve been funding that level of human workers.And so you could introduce a tax on robots…There are many ways to take that extra productivity and generate more taxes. Exactly how you’d do it, measure it, you know, it’s interesting for people to start talking about now. Some of it can come on the profits that are generated by the labor-saving efficiency there. Some of it can come directly in some type of robot tax. I don’t think the robot companies are going to be outraged that there might be a tax. It’s OK.Could you figure out a way to do it that didn’t dis-incentivize innovation?Well, at a time when people are saying that the arrival of that robot is a net loss because of displacement, you ought to be willing to raise the tax level and even slow down the speed of that adoption somewhat to figure out, “OK, what about the communities where this has a particularly big impact? Which transition programs have worked and what type of funding do those require?”You cross the threshold of job-replacement of certain activities all sort of at once. So, you know, warehouse work, driving, room cleanup, there’s quite a few things that are meaningful job categories that, certainly in the next 20 years, being thoughtful about that extra supply is a net benefit. It’s important to have the policies to go with that.People should be figuring it out. It is really bad if people overall have more fear about what innovation is going to do than they have enthusiasm. That means they won’t shape it for the positive things it can do. And, you know, taxation is certainly a better way to handle it than just banning some elements of it. But [innovation] appears in many forms, like self-order at a restaurant—what do you call that? There’s a Silicon Valley machine that can make hamburgers without human hands—seriously! No human hands touch the thing. [Laughs]And you’re more on the side that government should play an active role rather than rely on businesses to figure this out?Well, business can’t. If you want to do [something about] inequity, a lot of the excess labor is going to need to go help the people who have lower incomes. And so it means that you can amp up social services for old people and handicapped people and you can take the education sector and put more labor in there. Yes, some of it will go to, “Hey, we’ll be richer and people will buy more things.” But the inequity-solving part, absolutely government’s got a big role to play there. The nice thing about taxation though, is that it really separates the issue: “OK, so that gives you the resources, now how do you want to deploy it?”

1 0

Fwd: [Internet Policy] FYI - Joint statement by 50 orgs on proposal to require social media passwords at US border
by Barrack Otieno 22 Feb '17

22 Feb '17

Listers, For your information and attention. Circulate widely ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dan York <york(a)isoc.org> Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2017 14:50:11 +0000 Subject: [Internet Policy] FYI - Joint statement by 50 orgs on proposal to require social media passwords at US border To: Internet Policy External <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> FYI, today the Internet Society joined with 50 other organizations to issue a joint statement expressing concerns about a proposal to require disclosure of social media account passwords as a condition of entry to the U.S.: https://cdt.org/insight/no-to-dhs-social-media-password-requirement/ We published our own companion statement as a post from our President and CEO Kathy Brown: https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/public-policy/2017/02/internet-society… That has been shared on our @InternetSociety social media channels at: https://twitter.com/internetsociety/status/834044479501959169 https://www.facebook.com/InternetSociety/photos/a.10150120109253239.254763.… https://plus.google.com/+InternetSociety/posts/92XyJvx4yzk Additionally, we also published a supporting post explaining more about why social media accounts are of such a great concern: https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/tech-matters/2017/02/danger-giving-soc… We will be circulating that on our social channels as well. Any assistance with amplifying these messages on social channels would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Dan -- Dan York Senior Manager, Content & Web Strategy, Internet Society york(a)isoc.org<mailto:york@isoc.org> +1-802-735-1624 Jabber: york(a)jabber.isoc.org<mailto:york@jabber.isoc.org> Skype: danyork http://twitter.com/danyork http://www.internetsociety.org/ -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

2 1

Fwd: [kictanet] Invitation: Hacks/Hackers Nairobi Meetup, Wed 22 Feb, 6 - 8 pm, Nairobi Garage, Ngong Rd.
by Barrack Otieno 20 Feb '17

20 Feb '17

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Florence Sipalla via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2017 11:32:41 +0300 Subject: [kictanet] Invitation: Hacks/Hackers Nairobi Meetup, Wed 22 Feb, 6 - 8 pm, Nairobi Garage, Ngong Rd. To: otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com Cc: Florence Sipalla <flo(a)codeforkenya.org> Topic: Think Before You Post! Date: Wednesday, 22 February 2017 Venue: Nairobi Garage, Ngong Road, Piedmont Plaza, 4th Floor Time: 6 – 8 pm Today, many people can easily access the internet either on their cellphones, through free Wi-Fi at educational institutions or workplaces. The thousands of cyber-cafes that have come up in most urban and some rural areas have also increased internet access. Access to digital media technologies means that everyone can now become a publisher (blog) can create and distribute radio (podcast) and TV (video) far and wide especially through social media platforms. But how many people think of the risks they face when they click that button to share some interesting content they have come across or have created? There have been reports in the media of people being arrested <http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/04/08/blogger-david-zawadi-arrested-for…> because of what they post online and others have lost their jobs <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/22/pr-exec-fired-racist-tweet-ai…> as a result of statements made online. When journalists publish online, they are bound by their code of ethics. What issues should other netizens take into consideration before posting information online? Our guests for the February session of Hacks/Hackers Nairobi #HHNBO will help us address the following questions: 1. What ethical considerations do I need to make before posting online? 2. What are the legal ramifications of what I post online? 3. Do my posts pose a risk to my personal security? In addition, Code for Africa will showcase tools to track deleted tweets. Guest speakers: Henry Maina – Article 19 <https://www.article19.org/pages/en/east-africa.html> Grace Githaiga – Kictanet <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/> Hacks/Hackers Nairobi is a forum where journalists and techies meet on a monthly basis to discuss issues that affect their work. Speak out! Let your voice be heard! To participate in the conversation, please sign up here <http://bit.ly/2kx7IA4> and share the invite widely. Follow us on Twitter <https://twitter.com/hhafrica> and Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/HacksHackersAfrica/>. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

2 1

As Facebook and Google collect more data on Africans, their governments will seek to exploit that — Quartz
by Ali Hussein 20 Feb '17

20 Feb '17

Listers The trend towards less internet privacy is spreading the world over. Western Countries unfortunately have been at the forefront of this worrying trend. Africa is simply catching up. Does this mean that we in Africa should simply give up and let our governments across the continent borrow a dark leaf from their counterparts in Europe and the US (as a lister seemed to suggest last week)? Let us continue to be vigilant and if we are unable to stop them let us at least shine a light on those who will strive to limit our freedoms in the name of 'National Security'. https://qz.com/914708/as-facebook-and-google-collect-more-data-on-africans-… Ali Hussein Principal Hussein & Associates +254 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle Sent from my iPad

1 0

Govt to start phone tapping in war on counterfeit trade - Daily Nation
by Ali Hussein 18 Feb '17

18 Feb '17

Listers From Tuesday, the government wants to be allowed to listen to your calls, read your texts and review your mobile money transactions. The government, through the Communications Authority of Kenya, has ordered mobile phone companies to allow it to tap their computers. Read on:- http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Government-likely-to-start-phone-tapping/1056-… Ali Hussein Principal Hussein & Associates +254 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle Sent from my iPad

7 10

Improving the customer experience to achieve government-agency goals | McKinsey & Company
by Ali Hussein 15 Feb '17

15 Feb '17

Listers A very interesting read on how Government Agencies can improve the citizen experience and gain loyalty (and votes?) to stay in office. Excerpt:- Mastering the concept and execution of an exceptionally good citizen experience is a challenge, but it can help government agencies reach new heights against their stated missions, achieve revenue and cost targets, and improve the overall engagement of their employees. By focusing on the citizen’s overall journey and scientifically applying lessons learned from other customer-experience leaders, public entities can gain significant ground in the satisfaction of the citizens they serve. Read on:- http://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/improving-the… Ali Hussein Principal Hussein & Associates +254 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle Sent from my iPad

1 0

Save the date for the 3 days of sharing, learning and networking at the 5th Africa Domain Name System- DNS Forum 2017!
by Barrack Otieno 10 Feb '17

10 Feb '17

Save the date for the 3 days of sharing, learning and networking at the 5th Africa Domain Name System- DNS Forum 2017! Date: 26-28 July 2017 Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Venue: TBC What is the Africa DNS Forum? The Africa Domain Name System Forum is an annual open event for stakeholders in the Domain Name Industry in Africa organized by Africa Top Level Domains Organization (AfTLD), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Society. The objective of the three-day event is to help the African domain name industry in Africa to grow at a competitive rate and ensure that the continent is on par with the rest of the world. Who should attend? Registries, registrars, resellers, registrants DNS experts, government representatives, policy makers from the African region and beyond as well as entrepreneurs interested in investing in the African Domain Name space. Why should you attend? More that 200 technical people, business people and government representatives drawn from all over Africa are expected to take part in this multi stakeholder Forum where they will be leading interesting discussions highlighting opportunities in the African Domain Name industry. This will be the fifth African DNS Forum following events in Durban, South Africa (2013), Abuja, Nigeria (2014), Nairobi, Kenya (2015) and Marrakech, Morocco (2016). More information about the event to be shared in the coming weeks Réservez ces dates pour les 3 jours de partage d’informations, d’apprentissage et de networking à l’occasion de la 5ème édition du forum de système de noms de domaine africain de l’an 2017 ! Date : 26-28 Juillet 2017 Pays : Dar es Salaam, Tanzanie Lieu : À confirmer Qu’est-ce le forum de système de noms de domaine africain ? Le forum de système de noms de domaine africain est un évènement annuel ouvert pour toutes les parties prenantes de l’industrie de noms de domaine en Afrique, organisé par l’organisation des domaines africaines de premier niveau (AfTLD), la Société pour l'attribution des noms de domaine et des numéros sur Internet (ICANN) et l’Internet Society. L’objectif de cet évènement de 3 jours est d’aider l’industrie de noms de domaine africain en Afrique à se développer à une vitesse compétitive et à assurer que le continent soit sur un pied d’égalité avec le reste du monde . Qui devrait y participer? Les registres, les opérateurs de registre, les revendeurs, ceux qui se sont enregistrés, les experts de système de noms, les représentants de Gouvernements, les décideurs politiques provenant de la région africaine et d’au-delà ainsi que les entrepreneurs intéressés à investir dans le cadre du nom de domaine africain. Pourquoi y participer? Plus de 200 personnes issues des milieux technique, commercial et gouvernemental de l’Afrique entière prendront part à ce forum à multiples parties prenantes. Lors de ces réunions se tiendront plusieurs discussions intéressantes mettant en évidence les opportunités de l’industrie de noms de domaine en Afrique. Cette version représentera la 5ème édition du forum venant après les éditions de Durban, en Afrique du Sud (2013), d’Abuja, au Nigeria (2014), de Nairobi, au Kenya (2015) et du Marrakech, au Maroc (2016). Plus d'informations sur l'événement seront partagés dans les semaines à venir -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

1 0

Governments Websites under Maintenance
by Ali Hussein 30 Jan '17

30 Jan '17

Listers 1. Treasury.go.ke 2. ICTA.go.ke These two sites are down. The screenshots attached say:- WEBSITE UNDER MAINTENANCE. Whilst we can forgive Treasury for this Rookie Mistake what do we say about ICTA? If you guys need help please crowdsource this because surely this is an embarrassment to Kenya not to mention that stakeholders can't access information. *Ali Hussein* *Principal* *Hussein & Associates* Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.

2 1