Connecting Communities Part 2
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This document discusses the Internet Now! project in Northern Uganda, which aims to improve livelihoods through establishing internet access. It does this by creating a sustainable social enterprise called SINFA that sets up "service and employment centers" providing internet access, training, and jobs. Specifically, the project goals are to establish 50 centers connected by wireless networks, provide affordable internet access and training, generate income through outsourced digital jobs, and enhance agricultural revenues through an online marketplace. The project faces challenges of infrastructure gaps and unemployment in rural Northern Uganda but aims to be financially sustainable through various revenue streams like digital jobs, wireless internet services, and access fees.
Connecting Communities Part 2
- 1. Connecting Communities Connect 2 Connect Conference, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Joseph Walusimbi General Manager, SINFA Uganda Tuesday, 30 September 2014
- 2. Page 2 Internet Now! Project Background •Oxfam funded project to improve livelihoods in Northern Uganda via Internet driven services •Establish a sustainable social enterprise as a micro telco(SINFA), comprising local ‘service & employment’ centres all connected to the Internet •SINFA interconnects these service & employment centres via a license free wireless infrastructure •The Internet Now!project will help generate income and employment in rural communities.
- 3. Page 3 Internet Now!Project Goals •Establish a sustainable social enterprise (SINFA); •Deploy Fifty (50) “Service & Employment” centres in rural communities in Northern Uganda •Connect these centres via license free wireless infrastructure •Provide Internet cafe services at affordable prices, i.e. at least equal or below the price level of 0.3 dollars per hour (800 Uganda shillings, 514 Tanzanian shillings, 27 Kenya shillings) •450 people have directly generated an income via impact sourcing (a specialised form of business process outsourcing also known as microwork); •5,000 people have received free basic ICT training; •Actors in the various value chains in the agricultural sector have enhanced their revenuesvia an online web and mobile connected platform (OctionX)
- 4. Page 4 Internet Now!Project Goals •Share lessons learnt, successes and failures at international Conferences; •Develop a market tested Plan of Action for spinning off the Microtelcosocial enterprise concept in other rural areas of Africa; •Develop a Business Plan for business growth in terms of service portfolio (i.e. the number of additional income generating services) and geographical spread (i.e. the number of additional centres).
- 5. Page 5 PROJECT PARTNERS •An International NGO that works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. •A Kenyan based NGO whose mission is to improve the livelihoods of arid lands communities in East Africa through delivery of practical information using modern technologies •A non profit social enterprise with a mission to connect and empower rural and underserved communities in the developing world with information and communication technologies •a non-profit social business that provides life changing work opportunities via the Internet
- 6. Page 6 Northern Uganda at a Glance Challenges •Disconnected villages (Rural Communities) •Severe lack of infrastructure •Huge youthful population •Agriculture-based economy •High levels of unemployment Our Population Coverage Adjumani202,000 Agago184,000 Amuru135,000 Gulu 298,000 Lamwo115,000 Kitgum167,000 Moyo194,000 Pader142,000 Nwoya41,000 TOTAL1,478,000
- 7. Page 7 How do we do it? Building Infrastructure Specially designed, solar powered, flat pack, fully furnished containers
- 8. Page 8 How do we do it? Building Infrastructure All centersconnected via license free wireless infrastructure (5.8Ghz ISM band)
- 10. Page 10 SINFA: THE SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE •SINFA was incorporated in Uganda in May 2013 •SINFA now has 40 permanent staff
- 11. Page 11 BPO SUPER CENTER •A Super Centrehosted by Gulu University •50 workplaces fully dedicated to Impact sourcing (Microwork) -a specialised form of business process outsourcing that provides rural indigents with a daily income of 5 to 10 dollars a day
- 12. Page 12 20 CENTERS ESTABLISHED IN 2013 30 more centersto be established in 2014-2015
- 13. Page 13 CREATING EMPLOYMENT •Impact Sourcing is a type of business process outsourcing (BPO) that creates jobs for individuals with limited opportunity in rural or economically depressed communities. •Work is sourced (digital jobs) from companies in the USA •SINFA employs local community members (18-30 years old) as microworkersto do the work •To date about 300 individuals have benefited from microworkwith 75 currently employed at the Super Centerand 25 at centersaround the region
- 14. Page 14 OCTIONX •The Agricultural Commodity Resource Platform developed for •Online platform for agricultural trading •Enables sale/purchase of agricultural goods and supplies •Links farmer to suppliers of farming implements, extension workers, financial services, storage facilities etc •Enables interaction and knowledge exchange with local and international stakeholders •Some services are free, some are subscription based
- 15. Page 15 Village Level Services via Centers •Mobile Money •Free Basic ICT Training •Internet Cafe •Secretarial Services
- 16. CHALLENGES
- 17. Page 17 Common to Most Africa rural communities •Northern Uganda has very sparse and unreliable electricity supply •Millitary, political and social conflicts have caused population displacement, instability and extreme poverty •Very high unemployed youthful (18-35) population •Unaffordable & unreliable internet services (2G & 3G) provided by mobile network operators.
- 19. Page 19 A SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE •Driven by a well thought out Business Plan •Identifying revenue opportunities •Microwork •Broadband Resale (Wireless ISP Services) –most rural communities have no dedicated Internet Service Providers •Internet & Secretarial Services to Local Government, organisations and institutions, •Mobile money distribution points
- 20. Page 20 Current Goals (by March 2016) •50 functioning centres: special containers, solar powered, fully furnished, equipped with 10 computers and connected via high speed wireless internet. •At least 600 youth employed in microwork. •5.000 people in remote villages have received free basic IT training and are computer literate. •7,200 farmers are making use of the commodity resource platform. •1,000 internet users a week (combination of visitors to village based centres and monthly internet service subscribers) •A complete funding proposal for establishment of a microtelcobased on the same model at least one other African country. •A open access model (in the form of a white paper) for delivery/implementation of the microtelcoconcept in rural areas in Africa
- 21. THANK YOU!