Today is Saturday...the conference is Monday....and how long have you known about this?

It could/would have been cool to try to get Moses and some of the other Ned Kenyan gang to attend and report online.

This sounds like a great Conference...but given that its to start on Monday it will be so hard for me to make arrangements to attend and i am far from Nairobi. I wish Chris you had informed us before,but there is always a next time.

I first tried to announce Kenya summit at ned on 10 april http://www.ned.com/group/communi ty-general/news/179/ which is about when i first knew about it

you may realise there is a flow-disruption pattern here which I am at least as frustrated by as you are : I know about 30 communities that could gain from speaking to each other but dont seem to want to

I do try my best to suggest hosts of the communities at least keep in touch with each other

I am not an african expert but silly me back in fall 2006 when so much seemed to be converging in africa 007- kenya's world social forum; ted.com's tanzania, I started spending a lot of time trying to connect people, and at least my old thread at onet on this served some purpose; but since onet died it is my view that not enough non-Uganda focused people have been welcomed amongst the diverser set of africans that were at onet; I am not the best person to do africa welcoming coss the last time i was in africa was back in 1980s in apartheid south africa when government sponsored professors got very angry with me for modelling and publishing - why they should not put the price of mealie meal up in a famine...

TELL ME IF YOU TRULY WANT DETAILS OF FOLOWING looking forward the 3 things that closely trusted peers of mine (ie we have already been through hellish projects and still speak to each other) know about africa that I find hugely promising are as follows:

1 a major human rights conference in johannesburg expected early january 2009; this is connected by the conference organiser in the UK I personally trust most to keep network sharing going before after and during a conference) most after surveying over 20 big ones and the local south african transparency researcher I have seen caringly connect diaspora groups across europe; the latter also has known of the cida free university in johannesburg since its inuaguration by taddy blecher; in my research on collaboration entrepreneurs - of scalable open source things that can whiz round the world, the free uni is second only to microcredit

2 after many hours of meetings on many different visits, I believe we have just recently http://collaborationcafe.blogspot.com got both new yorkers and londoners have agreed on one person to post in suggestins of who knows grassroots challenges most deeply n which cpountry across the atlas of africa; this is something the transparency communities I have been helping to host fpr over 5 year now http:/www.valuetrue.com find highly useful if we have finally got this level of colaboration to be happening

3 I have 4 friends interning in dhaka before the http://microcreditsummit.org in bali end of july; 2 of the big issues at this summit are:

1 now the floodgates of microaid are pening to africa how does one make sure 1 these dont get taken over by microbanks whilst also not being atken over by people without the double competence of huge local trust and knowing how difficult it is to get a bank started

2 the person dping the keynote visions fo rthis summit commutes between dhaka and the world bank (which is about the first time I have seen the wb behave in a ay that could be microeconomics sustainable

chris macrae http://microcredit.tv http://wholeplanet.tv http://smbaworld.com us tel 301 881 1655

anyhow I propose this- I know both the local and worldwide host of this irobi naevent- if anyone wants me to send an external email circulation between the hosts and a group of nedsters , tell me who you are by 1 june and I will send a one-time to email to all-if you want to tell me your external email for this one-time purpose either use internal mail here or mail me at chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk

[Deleted by author on 26 May 2008 08:21 PDT: .]

people from the old place may remember that before american idol last year I set $1000 competition of who in africa was doing most useful stuff at an informal level- my prize winner was samuel in kenya who still occasionaly updates me - by coincindence he posted this in today

bringing youths together is paramount. I will be comfortable with this. I am already in Accra Ghana to attend the e-learning conference.

We are doing more intervention on youth and awareness: check here,

SUBA TEACHERS GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING ASSOCIATION (SUTGUCA)

SUTGUCA is a professional body of like minded counselors, social workers in Suba district. To promote professionalism and unity of purpose ,teacher counselors, social workers and those who had the interest of Suba community at heart, felt the need to form a an all inclusive Association of counselors to coordinate and promote counseling programs in and out of school youth in the district. This resulted in the initiation of various social enterprise ventures all now currently run under the flagship of Suba Youth Resource Centre (SYRC).

Many of the youth who are productive and energetic, remain unemployed and continue to suffer from poor health, lack of sufficient support. Some have special needs that require special attention, yet the youth are a potential resource of the country.

Our Mission Reaching the Unreached

GOAL OF SYRC. SYRC endeavors to be a hub of resource mobilization for addressing issues affecting young people in Suba District, by providing broad based strategies that can be used to give the youth’s meaningful opportunities to reach their maximum potential.

In doing this, the SYRC draws its strength and focus from the eight thematic areas from the National Youth Policy in the Ministry of youth Affairs (MOYA). 1. Youth empowerment. 2. Employment creation. 3. Education and training (vocational training) 4. Health especially reproductive health, HIV/AIDS. 5. Environment. 6. Crime and Drug Abuse. 7. Leisure, recreation and community service. 8. Information’s Communications Technology.

We are driven by the overall policy goals and objectives of MOYA in the promotion of youth participation in the democratization process as well as community and civic affairs by ensuring that the programs that involve them are youth centered.

In our endeavors to proactively mobilize and provide affirmative action to various creeds of the Suba Community, Sutguca has recently acquired radio transmission equipment for use as a Community radio, (JANAM FM). This radio station will help spur development programmes within Suba district

Hence our objectives are geared towards: 1. Creating proper conditions for the youth to empower themselves and exploit their potential. 2. Initiating positive partnerships, initiatives and programs with non profits groups to help the youth to fulfill their objectives. 3. Identifying ways of empowering the youth, taking into cognizance the socio-economic environment. 4. Promoting the culture of volunteerism, honesty and hard work among the youth.

Our vision To integrate the development of Information Communications Technologies (ICT), with societal applications to promote Government business and Community welfare.

OUR ACTIVITIES Our activities are carried under the flagship of Suba Youth Resource Centre hosted at the Mbita Catholic Church. The SYRC is a hub for initiating and implementing youth development programs in the intended satellite divisional youth resource centers in Suba district. This will take a multi-sect oral approach by encouraging youth initiatives consistent with the national laws and development priorities. In doing this, the SYRC eschews the principles of: 1. Mainstreaming of youth issues.(needs, opportunities and challenges) 2. Equity and accessibility.(equitable distribution of programs and services) 3. Gender inclusiveness.(gender equity and equality) 4. Good governance.(tolerance,transparency,accountability and patriotism) 5. Respect of cultural belief systems and ethical values.(religion, customs and ethnicity)

Having realized the importance of ICT4 D .The SYRC is already offering free training services in the Suba Community. Some 200 youth have already benefited from the training programme that focuses on. 1. ICT (digital literacy) training on a Microsoft Unlimited Potential platform. 2. Entrepreneurship training for the youth 3. Life- skills training. 4. A digital library facility

Reaching the Unreached which is a Youth entrepreneurship development program helps the beneficiaries, most of who have secondary school education background with no employable skills and are not prepared to enter the job market is helped to. • Create an entrepreneurial culture. • Link the women and the youth M.F.I’sto to fiscal organizations • Create an entrepreneurial culture and attitude to improve their income prospects. • Help them take entrepreneurship as a career • Provide skills to identify business opportunities

Our existence is justified by the following problems: 1. High school dropout rates. 2. Increasing crime and deviant behavior. 3. Limited access to sports and recreation activities. 4. Rampant cases of abuse and exploitation of the youth. 5. Limited/lack of access to information communication Technology. 6. Limited participation of the youth in development process.

Employment opportunities are always very limited in the rural areas. Self employment in small enterprises can make it possible to generate income to satisfy needs improve the standards of living for the rural youth. The SYRC is keen on using the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) bottom- up growth strategy in developing rural entrepreneurship to provide opportunity for the poor to as a path out of poverty by facilitating the: • Transfer informal activity to the formal sector and lead rural and women entrepreneurs an the rural poor to the growth path to • Improvement of business regulatory environment • Strengthening of entrepreneurial capabilities and collective self–help efforts • Creation of market networks.(establishing contacts with marketing firms) • Development of entrepreneurial skills of young people.

KENYA SUMMITS

Back in london most of my networking peers know the founder of this conference circuit and attended its 475 person inuguration in week 2 of 008 http://wes08.net http://worldentrepreneur.net - if you have queries on how to connect with its after-networks etc please do note them - if you want me to introduce you by external mail to the founders can do that to

Join the event of Kenya’s entrepreneurial calendar As a globally ambitious and connected organization, you are warmly invited to attend the Sacoma World Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi on the 26th and 27th May 2008. This is an action-oriented event with a focus on re- building Kenya’s dynamic entrepreneurial sector through creativity, innovation and enterprise. Entrepreneurs are the world’s change agents. They are ordinary people who take personal risks to be creative, to innovate and to make a difference, either economically, socially or environmentally. Entrepreneurs may set up businesses, push at the boundaries of knowledge or simply want to improve the way in which they do their work. They are the networked, flexible and dynamic wealth creation engines behind every business from the smallest community-based firm to the largest corporate in the world. This group of people, so vital for sustainable development globally, need a place to meet, network, discuss ideas and take real and enduring action.

Previously world social forum 2007

http://www.lfsc.org/wsf/wsf07_ja n20-21.xls If I understand correctly, this is an archive of 300+ meetings convened during Kenya's World Social Forum January 07- the big question is to how to use such info. One way might be to contact the 100 or so organisational networks who travelled to kenya to host an event to see what if anything their latest contributions to africa are, and ask whether, if active, they would register a correspondent at ned to update us

GHANA May 29 2008

Hon. Prof. Dominic K. Fobih Minister for Education, Science and Sports

2nd UNESCO-UNEVOC Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Summit, May 28th, 2008

First Africa Forum on Open Educational Resources, May 28th, 2008

NEWS Interview with George Siemens, Canadian eLearning expert and keynote presenter at eLA 2008

Bridging the Scientific Content Divide in African Universities

eLearning is Access to Lifelong Learning: Interview with Alan Yates, Microsoft

Opening Doors Through Education: Interview with Ferruh Gurtas, Intel

eLA 2007 conference report [PDF 1.7 MB]

lower resolution

[PDF 1.2 MB]

eLA 2008 Call for Papers [PDF 0.4 MB]

Keep me informed about the event!

Subscribe here to the eLA Newsletter

More than 1390 delegates from 78 countries are registered so far for the third edition of the eLearning Africa conference. The event will be opened by His Excellency Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana on Thursday, May 29th. The Opening Plenary will mark the kick-off for two full days of sessions, discussions and debates around ICT-supported education and training in Africa. -reporting correspondents include samuel kongere

http://www.elearning-africa.com/

South Africa, Joburg - mother of all rights conferences expected Jan 2009 -details as they come in from main organisers

*prep (file note after woodrow wilson center meet may 27 on who's who of anti-apartheid in 1980s) : mapping which people in today's congress give a damn http://www.ned.com/group/communi ty-general/news/224/

Uganda 8-11 July

Health & safe water for the world conference will provide opportunities for water quality individuals, Donors, Organizations communities engaged in providing clean water for the world , extension, and education to share knowledge and ideas, to identify and update emerging issues concerning water borne illness through creating networks internationally. You are invited to attend a Health & Safe water for the world international conference to be held in MUBENDE UGANDA from 8th to 11th/July/2008 http://www.facebook.com/event.ph p?eid=4051529682

june 5 lagos youth climate change conference http://www.wsf2008.net/eng/node/ 6564

may 29 nigeria IPPA Nigeria & AfricanRoundtable.org Invites You to a Luncheon Roundtable on:

Is Islam Against Profit and Business?

Featuring Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos

Moderator Mr. Thompson Ayodele, Executive Director, IPPA Nigeria

Date: Thursday May 29, 2008

Time: 11:00am-1.30pm, with Lunch to follow

Venue: IPPA Main office, 9A Adekunle Odunlami Street Ilupeju, Lagos

Since September 11, 2001; the world has never been the same either in terms of how people travel across the globe, do business or communicate with one another. In the wake of the attack that came at a period when there was expansion and increasing levels of economic and political integration among previously inward looking countries there has been several measures taken which has undermined global economic integration. The most affected continent is Africa.

Terror and pains have been unleashed on the civilized world under the guise of promoting one religion or the other. One religion that has allegedly been fingered in wrecking havoc on modern civilization and business has been Islam. This has generated a lot of questions and concerns whether Islam supports business or not, whether it is against profit making or otherwise and if violence has been the hallmark of Islam.

Prof. Akintola would shed more light on these pertinent issues while at the same time stressing that Islam does not promote violence but peace. We hope you will honor us with your participation in our flagship luncheon roundtable. We are confident that you will find that the event offers both a stimulating and informative discussion about Islam, profit, business and violence.

This event is free but STRICTLY by invitation, to reserve a place, please RSVP: michael@ippanigeria.org or call 01-791-0959 or 080 23167031

Thompson Ayodele Director Initiative for Public Policy Analysis P.O.Box 6434 Shomolu,Lagos Nigeria Email:thompson@ippanigeria.org Backup: thompsondele@onebox.com Website: www.ippanigeria.org

Continent wide facts or fictions part 1

I invite you to add posts that may help us understand africa system problems across 2 or more nations

Paul Collier has wriiten a book : the bottom billion - why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it. I do not know which of his summary of findings are particularly africa appropriate but his lenses may offer some scope for pattern recognition

His 4 greatest traps in perpetual poverty are described as:

Conflict Trap -that societies have conflict is inherent in politics- however the bottom billion exhibit 2 forms of serial conflict : civil war or coup d'etat

Natural Resource Trap - sometimes the discovery of natural resource wealth contributes to prosperity but paradoxically? it is more liable to become a root cause of bottom billion nationhood

Landlocked with bad neighbours -being landlocked doesnt necessarly condemn a country to poverty or slow growth but 38% of bottom billion people live in landlocked countries, and this is notably an african problem

Bad governance in a small country - "governance & economic ploicies help to shape economic performance but there is an asymmetry in the consequences of getting them right or wrong. Excellent governance and economic policies can help the growth process, but there is a ceiling to feasible year in year out growth rates at around 10%; economies just cant compound growth much faster tha that no matter what governments do. By contrast, terrible governance and politics can destroy an economy at alarming speed. President Mugabe must take responsibility for the economic collapse in Zimbabwe since 1998 culminating in inflation of over 1000 per cent a year. Beacuse of this asymetry, the implentation of restraints is likely to be even more important than the promotion of government effectiveness.

:

Grameen Foundation Village Phone Regional Training September 29 - October 2, 2008 Kigali, Rwanda

http://www.villagephonedirect.or g/contents/

IPPA Nigeria & AfricanRoundtable.org Invites You to a Luncheon Roundtable

on:

Qualitative Education: Lessons from India

Featuring Dr. Parth J Shah President, Centre for Civil Society, New Delhi, India (www.ccs.in; www.schoolchoice.in)

Moderator Mr. Thompson Ayodele, Executive Director, IPPA Nigeria

Date: Thursday June 26, 2008

Time: 11:00am-1.30pm, with Lunch to follow

Venue: IPPA Main office, 9A Adekunle Odunlami Street Ilupeju, Lagos

Since independence Nigeria has tried various approaches to improve school enrolments and quality of education received. The debate has largely centered on how government should spend more money to increase the quality of education. But increased public funding has not translated into qualitative education.

Faced with this reality, a lot of parents particularly the poor who want education that best equip their children for the challenges of the 21st Century are voting against free public funded schools preferring private fee paying schools. In the process, two brands of education systems have been created: those who can afford fees go to private schools and those that cannot go to free public schools.

Ironically many of these private schools that service poor communities are unrecognized. A former education minister referred to these schools as "illegal." They are harassed and shut down for not complying with regulations. Private schools are responding to the incentives and the needs of the communities where they serve. They are vital to the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The challenge now is not how much government has spent on education but how the money is spent. There is a need to critically analyse the age-old solutions and explore innovative ideas including school vouchers, deregulation and decentralization of curriculum, examinations and textbooks.

Education should be made competitive like any other products with alternatives and options for parents as well as pupils. What should be the role of policymakers do to get this end view? Should government fund students directly or fund government schools?

This event is free but STRICTLY by invitation, to reserve a place, please RSVP: michael@ippanigeria.org or call 01-791-0959 or 080 5670 6884

Thompson Ayodele Director Initiative for Public Policy Analysis P.O.Box 6434 Shomolu,Lagos Nigeria Email:thompson@ippanigeria.org Backup: thompsondele@onebox.com Website: www.ippanigeria.org ***Good Public Policy is Sound Politics********

Tel:01-791-0959 Cell:080 2302 5079

earlier nigeria conferences: http://www.ned.com/group/econo-p olitics/news/17/11/

I finally met Thompson Ayodele featured host of Nigerian summits 10 days ago

A great pleasure - he was the only African author living in Africa to contribute to Lessons from the poor, a book whose launch party drew an audience of several hundred and keynote supporting talks from the likes of Bill eastreby

I gather that Thompson's Lagos thinktank is staffed by 4; he would like to grow it to 10; typical staff members cost $500 per month in terms of salary - quite a bargain