Mobilizing for Development - Civil Society and ICTs in Southern Africa

Mobilizing for Development

Civil Society and ICTs in Southern Africa

David Barnard

Executive Director

SANGONeT

13 November 2008

Overview of Presentation

• Socio-political context in Southern Africa

• Role and contribution of SANGONeT

• ICT challenges and opportunities

• Mobile phones and Africa

Civil Society and ICTs - The Challenges

• NGO ICT characteristics - low ICT uptake and awareness, lack of involvement in ICT policy issues and very few ICT NGOs

• Macro ICT trends, policy and regulatory environment influences impact and progress - e.g. cost, access, affordability

• Internal NGO challenges impact on ICT uptake• Funding for non-profit technology not a priority • NGO sector not perceived as a “market” by IT sector• Role of NGO boards and senior management• Mobile technology presents new opportunities• Advocacy, policy and technology support - need for integrated

approach

SANGONeT Vision & Mission

VisionA strategic leadership organisation influencing

social transformation through ICTs

MissionA non-profit organisation that supports the

effective use of ICTs in Southern African civil society by providing quality services and

initiatives

Key Interventions

• 1987 - Worknet• 1993 - SANGONeT• 1996 - ISAD• 1997 - Women’sNet• 1999 - Africa Pulse• 2000 - Service Provider to Facilitator• 2003 - Thetha ICT Discussion Forums• 2003 - WSIS 1• 2005 - 1st SANGONeT “ICTs for Civil Society” Conference• 2005 - WSIS 2 / Civil Society Open Source Petition / NGO Portal• 2006 - NGO Web Awards / Regional Thetha Forums / SANGOTeCH• 2007 - State of ICTs in the South African NGO Sector Study• 2007 - Citizen Journalism in Africa / 20th Anniversary• 2008 - MobileActive08 Summit

Core Focus

• Providing information / generating knowledge– Thought leadership / deepen knowledge on NGO sector

• Brokering ICT services– Stimulate ICT investment / partnerships

• Facilitating discussions– Learning and knowledge exchange around ICT issues

= Content, Technology, Advocacy

Linking civil society through ICTs

SANGONeT Programmes

ICT Advocacy• Annual ICT Conference•MobileActive08 Summit

•Thetha ICT Forums•NGO Web Awards

•NGO CEO Circle

TechnologyServices

•SANGOTeCH•Technology Planning•IT Managers Forum

•Telecentre Initiatives•NGO ICT Research

Civil SocietyInformation Services

•NGO Pulse Portal•Prodder NGO Directory•NGO Pulse e-Newsletter

•Citizen Journalism in Africa•SN-Announce

•NGO CEO CircleLinking Civil Society Through

ICTs

Growth in Global Mobile Users

“Mobile subscriptions continue to increase at a rapid pace. Between 2003 and 2006, the number of mobile subscriptions doubled, reaching

2.8bn subscriptions at the end of 2006. Between 2006 and 2010, operators around the world will add 1.4bn subscribers, raising the total base of mobile subscribers from 2.8bn to 4.2bn and the resultant global

penetration rate from 44% to 63%. Of the 1.4bn subscribers added, roughly 87% will come from emerging economies.”

Pyramid Research, “The Next Billion: How Emerging Markets are Shaping the Mobile Industry”, October 2007

Mobile Phone Explosion in Africa

• Rapid uptake of mobile phones across Africa• Most prevalent, interactive information and

communication channel on the continent• Africa is the first continent with more mobile than

fixed-line subscribers• 30% population coverage / around 60% by 2012• Mobile market is growing 50-60% per annum• More mobile phones than bank accounts• Most people living below $2 a day are in some way

connected to the global grid via the mobile phone, either directly or indirectly (shared use)

Civil Society and Mobile Phones

• Rapidly growing number of rural mobile phone subscribers

• Access to advice and information on-demand services

• Many application providers already reaching millions of users

• Home grown (Africa) solutions• Many initiatives now aiming to serve bottom of the

pyramid

But, the mobile phone space is complex…

Looking Ahead

• Increase ICT investment and awareness, and involvement of NGOs in ICT policy processes

• Improve the efficiency and impact of NGO sector – exposure to new tech developments

• Ensure that NGO sector is an active participant in, and contributor to the Information Society

• Support sustainability efforts of NGO sector• After 21 years – we are only starting now!!

Contact Details

David Barnard

Executive Director

SANGONeT

Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4935

E-mail: [email protected]

www.sangonet.org.za