e-Policy Africa

Helping Afghanistan- General Information You Need

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:51:31 +0000

In the efforts to create peace in the Middle East, the newly formed democracy in Afghanistan shows great promise. With the aid of the United States, the people of Afghanistan now have the power to make their country whatever they choose. Helping Afghanistan, then, has become a major concern, not only in America, but across the globe, and as a country that is beginning to forge a new identity, the more help they can get, the better off they will be. Rebuilding a country from the ground up takes more than just supplies and knowledge.

It requires years of perseverance, commitment, and passion, but if everyone works together, it will all be worth it.

If helping Afghanistan is on your to-do list this month, the first and most obvious thing you can do is write a check to charity. Since foreign aid has become welcome in this region, many organizations have formed, aimed at helping in both traditional and unique ways.

Help the Afghan Children, for example, is dedicated to making sure the children of this country understand and embrace their roles as the future leaders; and they do this through quality education and further academic development. JAHAN is a word that means world or universe, but as an acronym stands for Join And Help Afghanistan Now.

They are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, apolitical, humanitarian organization committed to improving the quality of life for women and children. ARYA has a similar objective, but their means for supplying aid is by donating 100 percent of their profits of the sale of semi-precious stone jewelry and embroidered shirts and bags.

The International Red Cross, United Way, and Partners in Health are all international charity organizations who can assist you in helping Afghanistan. Whether you are looking for something led solely by volunteers or managed by a more corporate-type entity, there are many different ways to give.

Digital Camera – Manual and Guides

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:04:41 +0000

Many people think that getting digital SLRs is a requirement to be able to get spectacular photos. There is some truth to the tendency of photos to get grainier especially when people use a high ISO. It is also true that a DSLR yields to bigger files with better resolution but people who are not meaning to have the pictures blown up can do quite well with a digital camera.

It sounds basic enough but many people still tend to overlook reviewing the instruction manual. Oftentimes people are too excited to try their latest gadget so they quickly set the manual aside. Even those people who have background in photography still need to understand the mechanics of the digital camera because the buttons and other dials are not the same for all models. Those who do not have any background in photography would also get a lot of tips in taking good photos. Actually, it is recommended to read it more than once especially if an individual wants to maximize all the features that the digital camera has to offer.

Aside from the basic processes, the manual also covers a lot of helpful tidbits. For example, there are breakdowns of how many shots can be taken depending on the compression of the file. How long the battery would last is also handy so that people will not have to worry about the digital camera shutting down during an important affair. Downloading the images will also be discussed thoroughly. There are also product websites that contain more than what can be found in the manual. Those would be perfect for people who feel like they have already exhausted all the features that their camera has. Those tutorials can also be in form of flash animation or videos that makes it simpler for the end user. There can also be detailed diagrams that would be useful in letting people understand all the problem areas in using a camera.

The guides available would also touch on the other accessories that would help photographers in their field of expertise. High end digital cameras can also have interchangeable lenses to be made more fitting for their preferred subject. Some examples of the lenses that can be bought separately include wide angle and telephoto lenses. Other accessories are also elaborated in the manual. Extra straps, leather cases, camera bags and filters are some examples of what people can add to their cameras.

Find the different view of the world
Buy your own canon camera at the shop

It sounds basic enough but many people still tend to overlook reviewing the instruction manual. Oftentimes people are too excited to try their latest gadget so they quickly set the manual aside. Even those people who have background in photography still need to understand the mechanics of the digital camera because the buttons and other dials are not the same for all models. Those who do not have any background in photography would also get a lot of tips in taking good photos. Actually, it is recommended to read it more than once especially if an individual wants to maximize all the features that the digital camera has to offer.

Aside from the basic processes, the manual also covers a lot of helpful tidbits. For example, there are breakdowns of how many shots can be taken depending on the compression of the file. How long the battery would last is also handy so that people will not have to worry about the digital camera shutting down during an important affair. Downloading the images will also be discussed thoroughly. There are also product websites that contain more than what can be found in the manual. Those would be perfect for people who feel like they have already exhausted all the features that their camera has. Those tutorials can also be in form of flash animation or videos that makes it simpler for the end user. There can also be detailed diagrams that would be useful in letting people understand all the problem areas in using a camera.

The guides available would also touch on the other accessories that would help photographers in their field of expertise. High end digital cameras can also have interchangeable lenses to be made more fitting for their preferred subject. Some examples of the lenses that can be bought separately include wide angle and telephoto lenses. Other accessories are also elaborated in the manual. Extra straps, leather cases, camera bags and filters are some examples of what people can add to their cameras.

The Power And Freedom Of The Internet

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:43:49 +0000

The internet has opened up a wide world to everyone everywhere. No longer do you need to find information from any other source as you can find any type of information online. There are millions of sources for anything you can think of and the world is only one search away.

Shopping just got a whole lot easier online. Whether it is ordering a pizza or purchasing a one of a kind designer gown you can click and buy from the comfort of your own home. Anything you can imagine can be purchased somewhere online and have it delivered to your door.

Education online is also possible through the internet. From kindergarten to high school you can access online education for any grade level. And if college is your goal it can be achieved easily through many sites. This is great for the college student of any age and a great idea for many people who would not have the opportunity otherwise to get a higher level of education.

Entertainment is also a click away from your computer anywhere you are. Games and other opportunities are available as well as full length movies and television shows. You can find most anything and if you cannot watch it online you can have it delivered to your home to rent or buy. Or you peruse through You Tube and other similar sites for hours.

Connecting with friends is easy through Facebook and many other different sites. You are able to rediscover long lost friendships and keep in touch easily with anyone all over the world. Snail mail is gone and email is in. Talk to people instantly through instant messaging or video chat.

With power comes responsibility. There are places that you can go online that maybe you should not. There are temptations out there and also predators. Care should not only be given to children who use the internet but also care should happen with people of any age. If you fall into temptation with sites you should not be visiting there is always help for you out there as well online.

The Power Of E-Commerce In The World Of Business

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:08:33 +0000

The internet has become a mecca for the business world through e-Commerce. Buying and selling online is an everyday occurrence with the colossal buying power of people shopping online. And being a player in the online world has become big business for many.

The process of eCommerce is simply defined as buying and selling of goods online. Many people set up stores online to sell products and services directly through the internet without any physical business address. It can be a way for people to do business and lower the extreme overhead costs that are passed on to the consumer for a physical retail store must have to survive for selling goods and services.

The online shopper has a larger ability to compare pricing when they shop online. Because of this competitors must know what prices are out there and people can outbid others by the click of compare pricing button. There are even search engines set up for the sole purpose of navigating through the web and finding the best price of an item.

On top of this competitive pricing people in eCommerce also offer perks such as buying power for quantity and free shipping making it appealing to the consumer. If a person finds a store online that they like and have competitive pricing they will not only return themselves but give others referrals to the site. A smart store owner online will give discounts and incentives to pointing business their way from their current clients.

Setting up an online store is simple and there are several business models to choose from that offer this competitive pricing. Paypal makes the shopper feel secure with buying online and now even other sites such as Google are climbing on board to offer secure purchasing for a competitive rate for the online store owner.

Online shopping and eCommerce is here to stay and the amount of store owners are growing every year. If you are interested in the idea of making your own online store there are companies that will offer you a model store with options for your goods at a competitive monthly rate for services. Check them out online or build your own site for your personal services you would like to offer.

The Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) Africa Day

admin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:38:20 +0000

During CODI-3, the ECA and the GKP jointly organized the GKP Africa Day that focused, among other things, on ICT and governance experiences from African countries, strategies for promoting e-governance in Africa, progress on ICT policies, and information and knowledge developments. In addition, participants showcased successful best practices, demonstrated project experiences, and conducted multimedia demonstrations and poster sessions during the GKP Marketplace.

Presentation was made on ePol-Net to the CODI plenary and the second GKP Africa Day that focused on concepts, strategic goals, principles & priorities, partnership model, role of ECA, and the way forward. Over 400 people participated in CODI-3 including delegates from 41 African countries and observers from over 80 national, regional and international organisations.

Participants recommended that ECA should assist in publicizing the ePol-Net initiative to all stakeholders in Africa. In addition, it was suggested that the ePol-Net activities be included in and linked to the AISI Outreach programme and other African-based ICT initiatives that can strengthen information and knowledge sharing among member States.

The African Stakeholders Network (ASN) Steering Committee meeting

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:35:18 +0000

The ASN is the Africa regional network of the United Nations ICT Task Force created in January 2002, with its secretariat based in ECA. It aims at ensuring that UN’s efforts to bridge the digital divide in Africa are better coordinated, more inclusive and reflective of the significant efforts already underway to develop an African information society.

During the ASN Steering Committee meeting, a presentation was made by Mr. Richard Bourassa and Mr. Raymond Lepage of Industry Canada that focused on the goals, principles, priorities, and partnership mechanisms for the global ePol-Net and its regional node for Africa.

Participants noted that the initiative is very important in assisting developing countries in formulating ICT strategies, and that ECA has been partnering with Canada as the regional node of the initiative and will serve to channel demand and supply and coordinate with partners. The discussions highlighted the importance of benchmarking, sharing knowledge and experiences with ongoing initiatives, coordination with partners and evaluation with clear performance indicators.

What is ePol-net?

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:03:32 +0000

In the DOT Force Plan of Action endorsed by G8 Leaders at the 2001 Genoa Summit, a commitment was made to establish a Global ePolicy Resource Network (formerly known as the “International eDevelopment Resource Network” – IeDRN), designed to marshal global efforts in support of national e-strategies for development. The Network will establish a focal point for bringing together providers of e-strategy information and expertise for the benefit of individuals, organizations and governments.

The Global ePolicy Resource Network (ePol-NET) will provide policy makers in developing countries with development assistance services and information products and services. Development assistance services will assist individuals and organizations to find, understand and apply the wealth of existing knowledge about ICTs. Information products and services will meet the needs for specialized information and knowledge about e-strategies that are not readily available elsewhere. ePol-NET’s products and services will focus entirely on adding value to what already exists in a manner that is uniquely responsive to specific needs of developing countries for access to world knowledge and experience concerning e-readiness strategies.

Products and services will be offered to any individual or institution requiring:

* access to information about e-strategies;
* support in acquiring knowledge, formulating and implementation e-strategies and policy frameworks.

Speech by Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:47:34 +0000

Speech by Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) during a press conference at the launch of the Global ePolicy Resource network (ePol-Net)

Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me first start by saying how happy I am to attend the launch of the Global e-Policy Network (ePol-Net), here in Geneva, after having been part of the launch of the African regional node that is based in ECA.

Canada and ECA have had a long standing partnership in the field of development information as well as in other fields. I am happy to see that 25 years later the two institutions are still working ever closer together in advancing Information Society goals.

For the African continent the advent of ePol-Net is timely. This is because many countries are in the process of formulating, and a few, are finalizing the implementation of their national e-strategies and plans. ECA alone, under the framework of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) has assisted approximately 36 countries to date. Undoubtedly, these countries will require information on e-strategy expertise, guidance and advice through the services of ePol-Net.

We hope that there will be greater synergies and more partners coming to join the ePol-Net initiative for promoting ICT4 development activities in a more concerted way.

Earlier today I chaired a high level panel on regional strategies for promoting the Information Society with Ministers from Finland, Lebanon, Jamaica and Senegal. The issues raised from various regions of the world suggest that we all have similar challenges. I therefore urge ePol-Net to also think of addressing national e-strategies that support regional approaches to the Information Society. Such steps are becoming necessary as more countries begin to harmonize their policies in the sub-regions of Africa, for instance.

Finally,

ECA congratulates the Government of Canada and its partners:

The Governments of Ireland, Italy, France, Japan and the UK for this exemplary effort.

I thank-you.

Needs Assessment for ePol-NET Services – Mali

admin — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:25:59 +0000

NICI plans documents from other countries	Rank
Database on ICT Policies success stories or lessons learned	1
Database on ICT strategies success stories or lessons learned	1
E-local administration applications (lessons learned)	1
Alternative Energy and solar Energy (lessons learned)	1
E-strategies from other countries	1
E-learning applications (lessons learned)	2
E-government applications (lessons learned)	2
E-health applications (lessons learned)	2
E-governance applications (lessons learned)	2
Telecommunication Regulation lessons learned	2
Telecommunication privatisation or liberalisation (lessons learned)	2
Gender and ICT (lessons learned)	2
Youth and ICT	2
ICT for Job promotion	2
TOR of various phases from other countries	2
E-vote	3
E-parliament	3
NICI plans documents from other countries	3

Expertise was required in the following areas:

LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Competition
ICT regulation
Institutional
Investments
Legal
Resources mobilisation
Telecommunication regulation

HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING

Capacity building for ICT specialists
Capacity building for ICT use

BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
(technology transfer -investments)

Energy
Fixed telephony strategies
Investment in telecommunication basic infrastructure
Low cost connectivity at remote and rural area
Mobil telephony strategies
Spectrum Management
Telecommunication infrastructure

ICT APPLICATIONS

E-Education
E-Governance
E-Government (facilitating of Government Administration and Services delivery)
E-Health
E-services (call-centers/e-work/etc..)
ICT and Community Radio
ICT for disfranchised
Information security
Local content

Needs Assessment for ePol-NET Services – The Gambia

admin — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:22:24 +0000

	Rank
E-government applications (lessons learned)	1
E-governance applications (lessons learned)	1
E-local administration applications (lessons learned)	1
ICT for Job promotion	1
NICI plans documents from other countries	2
E-health applications (lessons learned)	2
E-strategies from other countries	3
Database on ICT Policies success stories or lessons learned	3
E-learning applications (lessons learned)	3
Telecommunication privatisation or liberalisation (lessons learned)	3
Alternative Energy and solar Energy (lessons learned)	3
Gender and ICT (lessons learned)	3
Youth and ICT	3
Database on ICT strategies success stories or lessons learned	4
E-vote	4
Telecommunication Regulation lessons learned	4
TOR of various phases from other countries	5

Expertise was required in the following areas:

LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Digital signature
ICT regulation
Institutional
Investments
Resources mobilisation
Telecommunication regulation
Universal access

HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING

Capacity building for ICT specialists
Capacity building for ICT use

BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE
(technology transfer -investments)

Energy
Telecommunication infrastructure
Wireless –VSAT- Electrical network – WIFI

ICT APPLICATIONS

Business and Trade
E-Community
E-Education
E-Governance
E-Government (facilitating of Government Administration and Services delivery)
E-Health
Environment and Agriculture
E-services (call-centers/e-work/etc..)
ICT and Community Radio
ICT and Gender
ICT and Youth
Local content
Open standard and open source strategy