NUANCE – November 2009

Minister Awori opens UbuntuNet-Connect 2009

In his own words, “Accordingly, as the Minister responsible for ICT, I welcome the growth and strengthening of ICT-enabled networks like RENU in Uganda and I recognize their potential in extending and deepening our work. We regard you (the Alliance) as core partners in the cause of putting ICT to work for the people of Uganda. Effective deployment of ICTs is integral to the economic and social development strategy of Uganda – making it possible for people and institutions to share ideas, resources and facilities”.

The Conference Key Note presentation was given by the Chairman of the Alliance, Prof Kadzamira, who outlined the challenges faced by the research and education networking community in the region, and how the Alliance is addressing them.  He also challenged African governments to be more responsive to the ICT needs of students, academics and researchers, and not to wait for development partners for all interventions: “We are convinced in the Alliance that our governments have the resources for the interventions to enable this. We are in the information society, the knowledge economy. Shooting wars, of which there have been too many in our continent, require guns and bullets. Our governments always appear to have funds for these. The national armies we must deploy in the information age need computers and connectivity. If our governments fail to arm our young people properly, our countries will always be defeated and occupied, and our people will be subjected to an even worse form of slavery than physical slavery: intellectual slavery”.

Concluding the Key Note on a very positive note, Prof Kadzamira stated: “The challenges we face are not beyond us to address, and we are committed to addressing them. All the challenges pale besides the exciting potential of the new frontiers”.

UbuntuNet Connect 2009 was preceded by a 5 day NREN Routing Workshop co-sponsored by the AAU, ISIC, AfriNIC and the Alliance; and a one day meeting of the FEAST Team, the EC and UbuntuNet Alliance NRENs to discuss AfricaConnect.   Presentations and discussions at all these events can be through www.ubuntunet.net

The support of IDRC, the Association of African Universities, the Uganda Communications Commission, ISOC, WIOCC, and Broadband to the conference and the various meetings and workshops around it are acknowledged with thanks and appreciation.

Content Networks and Industry Show a Strong Presence at UbuntuNet-Connect 2009

Industry, with its three four key components, was also well represented: the policy makers (led by the Minister); the regulators, the service providers, and the consumers (in this case the NREN Community).  The Chairman of the Uganda Communications Commission, Eng Dr Abel Katahoire, chaired a session on the policy and regulatory challenges faced by NRENs, where Dr Abi Jagun from Nigeria gave the key note presentation; and there were high level representatives from the two major cable companies, SEACOM, and WIOCC: both made presentations and participated in all the proceedings.

SomaliREN becomes the 11th Member of UbuntuNet

Seven Somali Universities coordinated by Somali Family Services (SFS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish Somali Research and Education Network (SomaliREN) in January 2009. Among the objectives of SomaliREN is to promote and facilitate research and education networking among Somali Universities and Research organizations.

Alert and Invitation to potential Connectivity Providers

Somali Universities as Agents for Change

The universities include Mogadishu University, Benadir University, SIMAD, Puntland State University, East Africa University, Amoud University, University of Hargeisa, University of Burao and Gollis University.
The members agreed to move on four urgent tasks: securing their autonomous system number and IP address space to enable operations by tunneling to the UbuntuNet router in London based on the Alliance VLAN concept; promoting the formation of a Somali communication infrastructure consortium with SomaliREN as an anchor customer requesting terrestrial links between the SomaliREN member institutions to replace the VSAT links as soon as possible; boosting capacity building in ICT through curriculum review and sharing resources; and strengthening research capacity, along with linkages to research initiatives at Swedish Universities with focus on maternal and child health.

The University presidents and representatives from the Somali Diaspora in Sweden also met with Sida, Swedfund and the Swedish Government to seek support for their plans.

MOU between KENET and DFN signed at UbuntuNet Connect

KENET is expected to benefit from DFN’s experience in building and operating an NREN.  DFN is expected to benefit from the knowledge of KENET’s infrastructure as well as local commercial, technical and organisational models and challenges. This will enable the DFN staff to give appropriate support to institutions connected to the DFN network and cooperating with Kenyan institutions (e.g. in the areas of medicine, climate research etc.).

The exchange will also help DFN to understand other NRENs in sub-Sahara Africa and will open opportunities for German institutions connected to DFN to collaborate with universities and research institutions in the region.

Professor Kadzamira appointed for a second three year term as Chairperson of UbuntuNet Alliance

Prof Kadzamira was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) in July 1941. He attended primary school there before returning to Nyasaland (now Malawi) for secondary school. He then moved to the United States, where he graduated from Princeton University with a degree in political science in 1964. He graduated from the University of Manchester in 1974 with a doctorate in government.  He has worked with the University of Malawi in various capacities and finally as Vice-Chancellor.

A person with a high level of international exposure, Prof Kadzamira served on the committee for the Supreme Council for Sportd in Africa for Zone VII (1987-1992), the World Fish Center (1990-1995) and as ambassador to Japan from 1992-1994.  He was first appointed as chairman of the UbuntuNet Alliance in February 2007.  NUANCE is excited to welcome Prof Kadzamira, who has very ably steered the Alliance during its start-up challenges, back to the Chair.

GLOBAL remote event: 5th BELIEF Symposium in conjunction with the CHPC National Meeting 2009

The event will be an excellent opportunity to get insight into developments of cyber-infrastructure through a selection of successful research projects from different local (South Africa) and international reputable institutions. In addition, GLOBAL will organize a remote training on innovative communication tools (GLOBAL Plaza and ISABEL virtual conferencing tool) to foster international communication and collaboration.

For both events, you will find the event description, program and registry under:http://isabel.dit.upm.es/mediawiki/index.php/BELIEF_II_South_Africa_Symp….

What is UbuntuNet? – “the quiet miracle!”

But above all these, the trust and friendship that has been and is growing among the members of the Alliance is “the quiet miracle”. The photo taken at UbuntuNet Connect2 in Kampala in November shows Dr Iman Abuel Maaly Abdelrahman of Sudan   and Margaret Ngwira, of Malawi: two Board Members of the Alliance.  But more than that, two friends who over the four years that they have known each other through UbuntuNet have built trust and can share experiences at all levels. Iman writes “And to me UbuntuNet is a success in itself, because this successful human network is a clue of a bright future for Africa. To me it is a real: I AM because WE ARE”.

The Chair, CEO, NREN CEOs, CTOs, Council and Board Members are a family.  This relationship, as in any family, allows frank interchange as an evolving future emerges, but never loss of trust.  The meaning of “Ubuntu” is truly being worked out in our very special community!

Public Library Innovation Program: First Call for Proposals

We invite public libraries or other organizations in developing and transitioning countries to submit proposals to develop innovative services for and by public libraries. A maximum of 10 best proposals will be awarded up to $30,000 USD each for a 1 year project to implement the service in support of community needs.

Applications must be received by the deadline of 18:00 (Rome/Italy) time February 28th, 2010. Selected projects will start in April 2010 and end in March 2011.

For more information, visit the eIFL website, http://plip.eifl.net/. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact our e-mail help desk at plip@eifl.net

Online Facilitation – A Course Leader’s guide

Further details can be obtained Shirley Rix at Shirley.Rix@uct.ac.za with your request and your postal details.