ICT4AfricaEd/Regional Initiatives

Some notable regional and multi-country initiatives related to ICT use in education in Africa

''Please note that this list is provided as a general reference to some of the more prominent organizations active in supporting and promoting technology-related activities in the education sector in Africa; individual country activities are described in the relevant country survey reports. The list is indicative, not exhaustive.''

Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) |  www.adeanet.org

ADEA is a network of partners promoting the development of effective education policies based on African leadership and ownership. encourage exchanges and reinforce links between ministries of education and development agencies.

African Development Bank | www.afdb.org The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a regional multilateral development finance institution established in 1964 and engaged in mobilising resources towards the economic and social progress of its Regional Member Countries (RMCs). In keeping with its Education Policy, the Bank Group continues to focus support on basic, vocational and adult education as well as on training. In the area of basic education, the Bank actively promotes the Millenium Development Goal of universal primary education for all by the year 2015, and particularly to redress the gender disparity in primary school enrollment.

African Virtual University (AVU) |  www.avu.org Their website is not up and running….

Advanced Micro Devices |  www.amd.com

AMD a leading global provider of innovative processing solutions in the computing, graphics and consumer electronics markets. AMD is dedicated to driving open innovation, choice and industry growth by delivering superior customer-centric solutions that empower consumers and businesses worldwide. In Africa, AMD supported 5 NEPAD eSchools Demonstration Project countries as one of 5 lead consortium companies.

British Council | 

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development |  www.bmz.de

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany aims to help to resolve crises and conflicts in a peaceful manner. It aims to help to ensure that scarce resources are more equitably shared, and that our environment is preserved for coming generations. And it aims to help reduce poverty. Promoting Education is a key task in German development policy. Germany is involved in the "Education for All" initiative. However, Germany does not only focus on promoting primary education. It also plays an active role in the development of vocational training and higher education.

Community Education Computer Society (CECS) |  www.cecs.org.za CECS is one of the oldest national computer training NGO established in April 1985 for the technological empowerment of the historically disadvantaged. CECS has developed a range of ICT training courses and works with various partners throughout Southern Africa

Computers for African Schools (CFAS) |  www.cfas.org.uk

CFAS is a registered charity committed to improving educational opportunity in Africa. Based in Bristol and Reading, we are run in the UK exclusively by volunteers. As our name suggests, we work to place redundant working computers, donated by firms and other computer users in the UK, in to schools in southern Africa .Their main programs are in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and now more recently in Tanzania.

Cisco Systems I www.cisco.com

Cisco Systems, Inc. is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. The company focuses on three areas of corporate philanthropy: providing basic human needs, access to education, and responsible citizenship

By partnering with local schools, government and non-profit organizations, Cisco plans to use technology to create state-of-the-art schools that provide teachers and students with the best technological resources. Improved educational opportunities will lead to stronger and more vibrant communities.

To help foster access to education and professional opportunities worldwide, the company founded the Cisco Networking Academy Program, which trains students to design, build, and maintain computer networks. By combining education and the Internet, Cisco Networking Academies help students acquire the skills needed for IT-related jobs and for higher education in engineering, computer science, and related fields—and ultimately, aid in the development of their countries and their local economies.

Commonwealth of Learning (COL) I www.col.org

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL is helping developing nations improve access to quality education and training.

ComputerAid I

Department for International Development (DFID) I www.dfid.gov.uk

DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the British government ’ s fight against world poverty.DFID supports long-term programmes to help tackle the underlying causes of poverty. DFID also responds to emergencies, both natural and man-made.

DFID ’ s work forms part of a global promise to


 * halve the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger
 * ensure that all children receive primary education
 * promote sexual equality and give women a stronger voice
 * reduce child death rates
 * improve the health of mothers
 * combat HIV & AIDS, malaria and other diseases
 * make sure the environment is protected
 * build a global partnership for those working in development.

eGranary Digital Library I

e-Learning Africa I www.elearning-africa.com e-Learning Africa is a regional conference that focus on issues related to ICTs in education in Africa, that takes place annually. The conference is organized by ICWE and Hoffmann & Reif Consultants

Free and Open Source Software Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) |  www.fossfa.net

FOSSFA was launched in February 2003. Its vision is to promote free and open source software and models in African development

Geek Corps I www.geekcorps.org

IESC Geekcorps is an international nonprofit organization that promotes stability and prosperity in the developing world through information and communication technology (ICT). Geekcorps ’ international technology experts teach communities how to be digitally independent by expanding private enterprise with innovative, appropriate, and affordable information and communication technologies.

Global eSchools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI) | www.gesci.org

Promoted by Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden and Canada, the concept of GeSCI was established in 2003 by the United Nations ICT Task Force in an attempt to raise global standards of education for communities in the developing world and making the U.N. Millennium Development Goals a reality. In Africa, GeSCI has focused its work in Namibia and Ghana and more recently in Kenya and Tanzania.

Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) I www.gdln.org

The Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) is a global partnership of learning centers (GDLN Affiliates) that offer the use of advanced information and communication technologies to connect people working in development around the world. By applying tools and services developed in the field of distance learning – learning that takes place when participants in an event are separated by space and time – GDLN Affiliates enable organizations, teams, and individuals around the world to communicate, share knowledge, and learn from each others ’ experiences in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Hewlett Foundation I www.hewlett.org

The Foundation concentrates its resources on activities in education, environment, global development, performing arts, and population. In addition, the Foundation has programs that make grants to advance the field of philanthropy, and to support disadvantaged communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Highway Africa |  www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za

Highway Africa is an annual ICT conference hosted by Rhodes University which is situated in Grahamstown, South Africa. Each year, more than 500 delegates from across the globe attend the conference to discuss issues relating to Internet governance, ICT policy and media for democracy.

International Development Research Centre Acacia (IDRC) |  www.idrc.ca

The IDRC Acacia Program is an international program to empower sub-Saharan communities with the ability to apply information and communication technologies (ICTs) to their own social and economic development

International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) |  www.iicd.org

The IICD is a non-profit foundation that specializes in ICTs as a tool for development. IICD assists various countries in Africa, Latin-America and the Caribbean to improve development within the fields of education, environment, good governance, health and livelihood opportunities.

Intel I www.intel.com

Intel is a world leader in silicon innovation and develops technologies, products, and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Intel ’ s education efforts center on improving teaching and learning through the effective use of technology. We focus on advancing math, science, and engineering education and research. In addition Intel works with education leaders worldwide on solutions that support the creation of twenty-first century skills.

Intel has a program which supports teacher development called Intel Teach which is currently running in South Africa and Nigeria

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) I www.jica.go.jp

JICA is working to achieve the MDGs adopted by the UN in 2000 by undertaking various projects around the world. JICA is working toward the goal of universal access to education by contributing to the spread of basic education in developing countries. It also helps developing countries to improve their higher education and technical education systems as part of efforts to reduce poverty and build up the human resources needed to support economic development.

LinuxChix Africa I www.africalinuxchix.org

Microsoft I http://www.microsoft.com/education/

Working closely with worldwide education communities, Microsoft has developed technology, tools, programs, and solutions to help address education challenges while improving teaching and learning opportunities. Microsoft is committed to working with educators, educational organizations, and industry partners to expand the world of learning through technology.

Mtandao Afrika | www.mtandao-afrika.org

Formerly known as ThinkQuest Africa, Mtandao Afrika (MAf) Internet Challenge is a website contest for African youth in the age of 12-19. The contest is focusing on the creation of African web sites with african content and promotes the use of African local languages.

NEPAD e-Schools | www.eafricacommission.org

The Initiative aims to impart ICT skills to young Africans in primary and secondary schools as well as harness ICT technology to improve, enrich and expand education in African countries. The aim is to equip all African primary and secondary schools with ICT apparatus such as computers, radio and television sets, phones and fax machines, communication equipment, scanners, digital cameras, copiers, etc, and to connect them to the internet. Each school will be equipped with a ’ health point ’.

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) | www.laptop.org or www.olpc.com

OLPC is a non-profit organization providing a means to an end—an end that sees children in even the most remote regions of the globe being given the opportunity to tap into their own potential, to be exposed to a whole world of ideas, and to contribute to a more productive and saner world community.

Peace Corps | www.peacecorps.gov

Peace Corps is working in emerging and essential areas such as information technology and business development, and committing more than 1,000 new Volunteers as a part of the President ’ s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Peace Corps Volunteers continue to help countless individuals who want to build a better life for themselves, their children, and their communities.

South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE) | www.saide.org.za

SAIDE is committed to increasing democratic access to knowledge, skills and learning through the adoption of open learning principles and distance education strategies.

Schoolnet Africa |  www.schoolnetafrica.net SchoolNet Africa is one of Africa ’ s first African-led, African-based non-government organisations (NGO) that promotes education through the use of ICTs in African schools. SchoolNet Africa functions as a network of schoolnet organizations operating in 33 African countries on the basis of regional programs on ICT access, teacher training and collaborative learning.

Shuttleworth Foundation I www.tsf.org.za

Shuttleworth Foundation ’ s goal is to invest in projects that offer unique and innovative solutions to educational challenges faced by the developing world.

Teacher Education for Sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA)

TESSA (Teacher Education for Sub-Saharan Africa) aims to create ’ open content ’ multimedia resources and course design guidance for teachers and teacher educators working across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ubuntu Alliance for Education and Research Networking | www.ubuntunet.net

UbuntuNet Alliance has been established to capitalise on the emergence of optical fibre and other terrestrial infrastructure opportunities and thus become the Research and Education Network (REN) backbone of Africa! Tertiary education and research institutions throughout the rest of the world are connected to the Internet using fast low-cost fibre.

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) |  www.uneca.org The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UN ’ s five regional commissions. ECA ’ s mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa ’ s development. ECA ’ s dual role as a regional arm of the UN, and a part of the regional institutional landscape in Africa, positions it well to make unique contributions to member States ’ efforts to address their development challenges. Its strength derives from its role as the only UN agency mandated to operate at the regional and subregional levels to harness resources and bring them to bear on Africa ’ s priorities. the Commission focuses on the following thematic areas:

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) | www.unesco.org
 * Regional Integration, Trade and Infrastructure
 * Meeting the MDGs with a special emphasis on Poverty Reduction and Growth, Sustainable Development and Gender
 * Promoting Good Governance and Popular Participation
 * ICT, Science and Technology for Development
 * Statistics and Statistical Development

US Agency for International Development (USAID) | www.usaid.gov

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency that provides economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States. USAID works in agriculture, democracy & governance, economic growth, the environment, education, health, global partnerships, and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries to provide a better future for all. USAID emphasizes programs of support for basic education and places a special emphasis on improving opportunities for girls, women and other underserved and disadvantaged populations.

The World Bank | www.worldbank.org

The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. The World Bank provides low-interest loans, interest-free credit and grants to developing countries for education, health, infrastructure, communications and many other purposes. The World Bank ’ s work focuses on achievement of the Millennium Development Goals that call for the elimination of poverty and sustained development.

World Computer Exchange  I

World Links |  www.world-links.org

World Links is an innovative, award-winning, and independent not-for-profit enterprise, spun off from the World Bank, which leverages the unique potential of technology to bring opportunity and hope to disadvantaged youth around the world. World Links has historically worked in 8 African countries by promoting various programs.