On my 'curtain raiser' announcement before the PS spoke.. Adding my contribution to this 'crowd-sourced' blog entry:-) On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 1:54 PM, ndungu stephen<ndungustephen@gmail.com> wrote:
-There was a promise by Alex Gakuru/ICT board for support of IT community through a 3 stage funding by the World Bank
1) training for a 1000 software managers - to be determined by a criteria
see below
2) provision for 1,000,000 laptops to kenyans - to be determined by criteria
I am a member (representing FOSS and ICt consumers) in multi-stakeholder steering committee appointed by the PS that is jangling with the 1 million laptops implementation parameters/framework. Included also are hardware vendors(Intel and HP), Microsoft, banks, universities, University students, World Bank, telecommunication companies, ICT Village, community ICT development organisation, among others, led by the Kenya ICT Board. Polished detailed will be publicly announced once the committee thrashes out the many surrounding issues. This is a Ministry of Information and Communications initiative, being implemented by the ICT Board with participation of diverse ICT stakeholders. Paul Kukubo Chairs this committee.
3) i cannot remember the third point - but it has to do with support of IT/ICT/Development projects [which I would assume includes the support for content generation for local use]
Thanks for making time for skunkworks meeting... We were pleased PS Ndemo found time to speak to us. Kenya now has a grant US$ 3 million (Kshs 240 million) over next 2 years from the World Bank. Funds to be used for ICT incubation partner institutions support. The partners include universities and institutions that will provide incubator facilities (e.g.land/premises) The ministry of Information, through Kenya ICT Board, will facilitate the incubators with industry linkages and promotion of those facilities The second component Software Projects Management Certification. Targeting 1,000 local software developers, this will support them have internationally recognised Software Development Standards-will attract business. The third component will involve assistance on software Intellectual Property protection e.g. patenting games, animation, and other local patentable digital innovations. PS reiterated, there are more local content development. funds available at the ICT Board. I asked for the governments plans on O3Bnetwork.com?on the To assure connectivity throughout Kenya/far flung areas. (Someone please contribute the response..) Appreciated Multi Media University's continued support. Venue was their courtesy donation to skunkworks. ICT Board was thanked for sponsoring chai and mandazi. Mr. Jotham Mwale represented MMU - gave vote of thanks. I hope this illuminates further and that you can make use of the opportunities presented. Sincerely, Alex Gakuru