BasicInternet:GotoMeet UNICEF - BasicInternet
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GotoMeet UNICEF - BasicInternet | |||||||
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BasicInternet:GotoMeet UNICEF - BasicInternet
Title | BasicInternet:GotoMeet UNICEF - BasicInternet |
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Place | https://unicef.zoom.us/j/231863261 |
Date, Time | 2020/03/31, 0930-1000 TZ time (0830-0900 NO time) |
Contact Person | Catherine R. Kimambo |
Participants | Josef.Noll, Felix Sukums, Catherine R. Kimambo, Ayoub Kafyulilo, Daniel Baheta |
related to Project | BasicInternet, DigI |
Keywords |
this page was created by Special:FormEdit/Meeting, and can be edited by Special:FormEdit/Meeting/BasicInternet:GotoMeet UNICEF - BasicInternet |
Category:Meeting |
Agenda
- Introduction of UNICEFs work in TZ
- Introduction of Basic Internet Foundation and connectivity in Tanzania
- School connectivity & Empowering Youth (out of school)
- National Knowledge Platform for TZ
Notes and agreements
These notes covers only the main topics of the discussion, and supports further discussion through links
The common understanding is that it is always a question of access to Internet to reach the most excluded people. As such, any solution that can contribute to access to Internet is appreciated. The main agreements reached:
- UNICEF is invited to the school connectivity pilot on connecting 10 schools, which was agreed under the Sustainability of School connectivity workshop in Feb 2020 at MUHAS
- UNICEF will visit one of our sites, e.g. the Julius Nyerere High School to see the complete solution in praxis
Introduction of UNICEFs work in TZ
UNICEF has the focus on enabling learning for children. Some of the main challenges addressed were
- how to reach children in the most remote areas?
- how can we enhance connectivity?
- how can we ensure that children who are "out of school" can learn
- The recurring costs for connectivity
Some of the activities where UNICEF TZ is involved
- Vodacom activity for school in the box
- Rachilo solution for off-line schools
Main outcome: see how the solutions developed during the DigI project can be applied for the out of school program.
Introduction of Basic Internet Foundation
The Basic Internet Foundation was established to solely focus on connecting the unconnected, and provide affordable access to the Internet. The solution, following the freemium for access, consists of the free access to information, and the premium access to broadband. The Solutions for connectivity is further outlined here.
Though the "Non-discriminating Access for Digital Inclusion" (DigI) project we connected more than 10 villages in Tanzania, see DigI:Villages for an overview over all activities in Tanzania, as well as the pilots in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Myanmar, , and other countries. Focus in TZ has been on the knowledge uptake through digital health information - with tremendous success, see a.o. 6he 60% knowledge increase in Cysticercosis, see Free_access_to_digital_health_information-results_2019/10/25
Another main outcome was the connectivity in areas which were "far outside the reach of the mobile network:
- Selela, Arusha District - connecting the market place to the mobile tower being more than 20 km away
- Izazi, Iringa, District - see also our Blog on It takes 90 min to connect a village
School connectivity & Empowering Youth
The solutions discussed on connecting schools was implemented in Migoli, Iringa District - connecting the Julius Nyerere High School, and from there the Community Office and the Dispensary. Thus, from an initial school connectivity we reached out to other places in Migoli, providing information spots.
Some aspects being discussed were
- the costs of access, can they be tailored to the needs? - Yes, we start often with a 10 GB/month package (costs of typical 35,000 TZS), but it is up to the school to adjust
- can the costs of the access be even lower? - Yes, applying either a model where several schools share one access (one SIM card), or where a wholesale model is applied, e.g. providing 1 contract with 10 SIM cards, and a total of 100 GB/month. Through such a contract the costs per GB are lower, being able to come down to 20,000 TZS/month.
The National Knowledge Portal
COVID-19 is a driver for digitalisation, and the affordable (fri?) access to the National Knowledge Portal. We need to ensure that every pupil has free access to the National Knowledge Portal - regardless of where he or she is. Though, there is no "quick fix". we need to establish local points of presence at schools and information spots.
The advantages for a National Knowledge Portal
- Ability to upload and download contents
- Multilingual
- Inclusive to variety of target groups
- Online and offline courses
- Revenue streams created
- Digital literacy courses
For further reading, please see the meeting notes on The National Knowledge Platform, as presented to the Government of Mexico
for background information, please see:
- DigI:TZ-Sustainability_SchoolConnectivity_Feb2020 on Sustainable School connectivity
- DigI:TZ-Hackathon_Feb2020 Hackathon on Community involvement
- DigI:Meeting_the_Ministry_of_ICT_Uganda_Feb2020 Discussing National Knowledge Portal with Ministry of ICT in Uganda