BasicInternet:GotoMeet UNICEF - BasicInternet

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BasicInternet:GotoMeet UNICEF - BasicInternet

Title BasicInternet:GotoMeet UNICEF - BasicInternet
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 pilot with UCSAF & IPOSA (Intergrated Program for Out of School Adolescents) program under UNICEF
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
  • UNICEF invited us to participate in IPOSA as a starting point for the project connect the unconnected and connect the Out of School Adolescents in their program.

Introduction of UNICEFs work in TZ

UNICEF has the focus on Digital Education (EdTech) and how Technology can enable learning for children in Tanzania. 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
  • Solutions like Rachelfor off-line schools

Main outcome: see how the solutions developed during the DigI project can be applied for the out of School Adolescents 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:

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:

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