Download - TIS Talks Launch - July 23, 2012
Welcome toTIS TalksWe believe that today’s ICT4D (information and community technology for development) environment presents us with trends and opportunities with great potential to generate game changing innovations to telecentres and their growing number of users.
Join us and learn how!
Host and moderator
Jimena BetancourtTELECENTE SUSTAINABILITY WEBINAR COORDINATOR
Jimena Betancourt is an international consultant with more than 10 years of experience in social innovation, strategy and management for sustainable development enterprises and social businesses in ICT4D. She has been involved with the telecentre movement since 2009. Jimena has an Master’s in Business Administration from Simmons College and a degree in Finance and International Relations from Universidad Externado de Colombia.
Sustainability Models
Trends & Opportunities
TIS Talks Phase 1.
Product Development oriented• Syrian Telecentre
Project• BIID N Bangladesh
Partnership oriented• ATN Brasil• Colnodo Colombia
• Social Innovation
• Social Enterprise
• ICT Business models leveraging ICT for the Base of the Pyramid
1. 2.
Sustainability is possible
Florencio Ceballos & Miguel Raimilla
Telecentres history & TIS Talks Overview
Sustainability of Telecentres
Telecentre.org origins (2005)
• We initiated telecentre.org with a rather simple idea: how to catalyze an ongoing, global and distributed endeavor to facilitate communities with public access to ICT related opportunities.
• Nevertheless, especially during the first year, several “debates” emerged (or were revisited) as we refined telecentre.org approach.
• I will focus today in 4 of them, related with the very basis of the telecentre movement, its rationale and evolution during the recent years.
Sustainability is possible
Building on paradoxes
• Many socially valued grassroots initiatives / a devaluation of the perception of effectiveness of telecentres among some policymakers at a global scale.
• Few international organizations with a solid track of working and researching with telecentres / A lack of systematized proofs of effectiveness –“return of investment”- able to build a new theory of change.
Sustainability is possible
Building on paradoxes
• An evolving technological environment reducing cost for social innovation / a lag among telecentres to adopt new technologies to improve their own capacity and services
• Telecentres as entry points to information / network / knowledge bases society / incapacity for those telecentres to take advantage of those changes in their own way of working.
Sustainability is possible
Sustainability is possible
To a systemic approach
• As we moved from an idea into a concrete social innovation effort, several debates helped to configure our priorities and approaches, especially regarding sustainability: policy, economics, technology and organization.
Sustainability is possible
To a systemic approach• As a response, telecentre.org adopted a systemic
approach, moving away from involvement in telecentre start-up and pilots towards strengthening existing telecentre initiatives from an Eco systemic perspective.
• 1. Building networks• 2. Creating content and services• 3. Sharing knowledge• 4. Connecting people
The policy question
• Despite sustainability issues, the number of initiatives kept growing –national pilot programs and ambitious statements about scaling up telecentres .
• The very concept of digital divide was questioned by changes in access to technology – mobile telephony , residential Internet penetration and private shared access initiatives (cybercafés).
Sustainability is possible
The policy question
• Questions on telecentres effectiveness. Telecentres were -generally speaking- unable to demonstrate and communicate impacts, ensure return of investment, and increase the variety of services they provided to communities (McNamara, 2003).
• The idea of telecentres as public goods was questioned. Shall they be publicly funded?
Sustainability is possible
A warm network
• Main asset of successful telecentres is not the infrastructure, nor the financial capital, but the human one (champions & leaders)…
• Many initiatives existed, but were disconnected at a national, regional and global level. They did not know about each other.
Sustainability is possible
A warm network
• telecentre.org envisioned itself not as a program nor a funding initiative, but a movement: a warm network by shared values, affection and trust. If leaders could trust each other they will be able to engage in associative efforts (training, business, services).
• We prioritized on a first moment the face to face, the local/national networking rather than the global. Regional and global networks came later.
Sustainability is possible
A changing technology
• Telecentre.org started before facebook, twitter and most of the current social media commodities existed.
• Ongoing social debate about technologies & innovation: proprietary v/s open software, collaborative v/s individualistic technologies, social v/s private licensing, social networking, etc . IDRC and Microsoft were organizations historically (and mistakenly) assimilated with two opposite sides of that debate.
Sustainability is possible
A changing technology
• Digital divide and information society, were concepts associated with access to computing via “traditional devises”. But the gap was increasingly filled by mobile, low cost devises not incorporated to the “digital divide discourse”.
• Technology neutral approach, appropriateness as the key element in using technologies to reach development and increase opportunities.
Sustainability is possible
New economy at the grassroots• Telecentre.org emerged in a time of growing economy.
A new idea on how ICTs could bring wealth to the poor was also emerging.
• New idea of philanthropy as investment in social entrepreneurship. New landscape and practices from donors.
• Wealth at the basis of the pyramid as the new frontier of markets> Opportunities of scaling up in a networked, knowledge based economy.
• Sustainability as a result of diversification and improvements on services provided.
Sustainability is possible
Florencio CeballosSenior Program SpecialistGovernance, Security and Justice at IDRC.
Florencio is a former Program Manager of Telecentre.org and has served as Board of Director for the Foundation.
Florencio is an expert on citizen participation and information and communication technologies (ICTs) as tools for development of poor and marginalized communities. His focus now is on how technology helps communities to redefine the quality and accountability of governance and states.
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
From Internet and ICT Accessto
Innovation and Development Centers
The Telecentre 2.0 is within easy reach
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
Think out of the box
Sustainability is possible
Don’t be afraid to be different
Unleash your creativity
Explore new grounds
Time to move on
Even better; create your own
Most Telecentre networks have developed a unique expertise, knowledge and capacity, that have yet to
be explore to its full potential
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
Unleash Telecentre Talents & Creativity
Enable and empower virtual communities
Lead your communities to meaningful discussions
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
Highlight your knowledge
Develop and diversify services
Every telecentre service must add true value to
the end users
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
The power of a global community
Success is better recognized when impact large number of people
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
Embrace the power of collaboration
Build a much stronger network
Partner with other networks
Invite new partners to join
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
Expand your notion of partnerships andstrategic alliances
Opportunities are growing in unexpected areas
Always ask yourself; What can I do to change and improve my current reality?
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
Bring the best of the business world to reachhigher social impacts
Learn how to best speak the language of new donors
Explore technologies for better management and data collection
Develop and/or improve your business plan
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
Telecentre as Social Enterprise
Social Entrepreneurship a way of sustainability
A Social Entrepreneur model for Telecentre Networks
Sustainability is possible
Time to move on
Telecentre as a channel for new products and services
Telecentre global reach
Telecentre local knowledge and expertise
Sustainability is possible
Time to move onTelecentre in your
phone
Connect your Telecentre with the mobile industry
Transform your telecentre in a hub of
mobile services
Telecentre 2.0
Sustainability is possible
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Moving forward - Telecentre 2.0Key
components:Global
exchange knowledge 2.0
Collaboration at its best
Sustainability is possible
Moving forward – Telecentre 2.0Key components:
Connect with private sectors and innovators
Sustainability is possible
Moving forward – Telecentre 2.0Key components:
Develop regional projects with multiple stakeholders
Sustainability is possible
About the TIS Talks Webinar Series & Pilots opportunities
We are presenting you with a living Lab
a platform where to cook your own ideas
Continue the discussion onlineSearch for additional information
Develop new steps in your region
Sustainability is possible
Webinar series & Pilots opportunities
We expect you will: Learn, join, apply, promote, and share
Sustainability is possible
Webinar series & Pilots opportunitiesHow to join a pilot or initiative
TCF will coordinate how to develop pilots in different regions
Sustainability is possible
TIS Talks Phase 2. • Identify potential partners to develop
distribution channels of products and services (E-health, distance education, telecomunications solutions, and others)
• .Identify solutions for network’s management based in open software applications
• .Identify solutions to lower hardware cost• .Identify partners to develop applications for
greater impact in the communities served by telecentre networks
Miguel RaimillaExecutive DirectorTelecentre.org Foundation
Miguel is a Social Entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience as a founding member of various multinational/multicultural initiatives linked with youth, social development, and social enterprises throughout Latin America, Asia, Europe and the United States.. Miguel is also the co-founder of private companies dedicated to software development, and coaching of entrepreneurs. Facilitator of new funding partnerships with multilateral foundations, private investors and corporations; Developer of Telecentre models, training content, and methodologies; Leader in the ICT4D concept for under-served and rural communities worldwide.
Sustainability is possible
Sustainability is possible
Next Steps:1.Complete TIS Talks evaluation form at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TISTalks01
This is a requisite to receive your certificate of attendance
2. Join us on Tuesday (tomorrow) to learn about the Syrian Telecentre Project• English : 8:00am GMT• Arabic: 10:00amGMT• Spanish: 4:00pm GMT
Thank you !
Sustainability of Telecentres
Telecentre.org FoundationJuly 23, 2012