Listers,
As tasked by members, captured by minutes (MIN05/16/06/2012) posted by ISOC-KE secretary, to lead Training / Capacity Building programme, I write to seek members' views on their expectations in this regard. As you are also aware the Internet ecosystem being multifaceted, our training demands cut across layers of interests. We need a comprehensive training agenda that shall enable us drive ISOC global case as strengthened by our chapter bylaws. Members who are keen on strengthening this capacity building programme to actively come forth and join the team. Capacity building is our members' priority and a collaborative approach shall enable us case our agenda in a more conclusive manner. Remember we shall achieve our goals and elevate our credibility when we expand our membership with technology experts and individuals rich in knowledge about Internet policy, technology, education and cultural values.
Kindly help me answer the following questions in regards to our training needs;
(i) What level of training(s) do we need given that our members (and potential ones) has varied ability in technology depth?
(ii) How many training tracks do we need to focus on given that the Internet has infrastructural design, support, governance, entrepreneurship and development issues to consider?
(iii) How do we need to conduct our trainings? Do we need to adopt rotational approach in terms of venues i.e. change training locations?
(iv) How many capacity building events do we need in a year?
(v) What type of capacity building meetings do we need in our calendar of events? Workshops? Conferences? Seminars? Campaign Awareness? Exhibitions?
Don't we need to agree that we must be sensitive to the following?
(i) Internet is free for all. How do we strengthen participation for all (including physically impaired persons) in internet issues through capacity building initiatives?
(ii) Our potential catch space has illiteracy challenges that delimit their activated participation in Internet issues. How do we blend our capacity building agenda to envelope interests of purely (to be precise technology) illiterate masses?
(iii) Digital Gender Gap (or Gender Digital Gap?) is still a visible ache within our participating population. How do we create a strong balance within gender participation in Internet issues through our capacity building plan?
(iv) There is skewed infrastructural penetration in Telco networks with bandwidth headache as potential letdown. How do we enfold masses that members these geographical statistics as we plan our capacity building agenda?
(v) The Internet ecosystem lists members of various age groups (from kindergarten age to nonagenarians). What capacity building plan do we enlist for specific age groups as it is clear their interests are not the same?
(vi) The Internet popularly survives on UN languages. Do we need to domesticate our training contents to incorporate our local dialects? Do we need the likes of my grandpa in the village to be Internet Evangelists (Ambassadors)?
(vii) The Internet is still etched in mindset of bigger population that it is an imported product (foreign concept) and a preserve for the elites. Don't we agree that our capacity building approach need to consider diluting this standpoint? How?
(viii) At the end of the day, the consumer operational power comes into play i.e. the costs of acquiring equipments, applications, licensing, tax etc is pretty high. How do we make our consumer market be functional operators? How do we motivate the willing but 'weak' masses in continuing with what we have build in terms of training?
(ix) And the list continues...................
These are some few simple lines that we need to consider while we draft our capacity building work plan. May your contribution make it flow!
Regards.
Richard Otieno
Team Leader, Training / Capacity Building Programme