ICT have become targets of malevolence (theft of computers or data, hijacking of resources ...) or means to commit unlawful acts (blackmail, embezzlement, money laundering money ...). The Internet facilitates traditional crimes, especially those associated with economic crime, and gives rise to new forms of crime (computer fraud, software piracy ...).

Dematerialisation services and transactions, tools for linking and communication, the ability to act at a distance and under false names or identities usurped to go through many intermediate technology (servers, access providers, etc..) and from different countries: this allows all forms of organization, trade and criminal activity very profitable under the investment required and the risk involved.

Furthermore, in cyberspace, anyone can contact anyone, anytime, anywhere. Users - children, elderly or other people without stories - rub shoulders with virtually all kinds of malicious actors (pedophiles, terrorists, criminals, delinquents, professional criminals, etc..). Internet is therefore an area where risk of arson data is structural, pervasive and permanent.

Beyond their interest for people, infrastructures and telecommunications are also important strategic resources for organizations or States. They are the target of cyber threats on their availability, integrity or confidentiality. They can also be used to manipulate opinion (indoctrination, spreading rumors ...), for espionage, surveillance and social control, or to destabilize an economy or a state. The Internet is certainly a wonderful communication tool, but it is also an instrument of power and a weapon of war.

The democratization of access to computers and more precisely to the Internet and the globalization of networks are associated with the development of cybercrime. It is a broad term that includes "all criminal offenses likely to commit on or through a computer system usually connected to a network. "
This is a new form of crime and delinquency that differs from traditional forms in that it is in a virtual space called cyberspace. In recent years the democratization of access to information technology and globalization networks were key factors for the development of cybercrime.

by Cleopa Otieno

The Kenya ICT Board was established by the government of Kenya as a state corporation under the State Corporations Act Cap. 446 on 19th February 2007. It is under the Ministry of Information and Communication and is set up to mainstream ICT for economic and social good of citizens. This is in line with Kenya Vision 2030 goal of economic, social and political prosperity for all. It also aims to market and position Kenya as an ICT destination.

The achievement of an information-based society is one of the main priorities of the Government towards the realization of national development goals and objectives for wealth and employment creation.ICT is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. Harnessing of ICTs will therefore help the Government to realize a number of its key public policy objectives. In general, ICT will contribute significantly to the process by improving government operations as outlined in the e-government strategy.

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Telecenter, a tool at the service of community development Telecentres are facilities offering public access to the telephone, the internet or to a wide range of other Information and Communication Technology tools and services. They have various names, including “Community Access Points” (CAP), cybercentres, cybercafés, multimedia centers. They can include fixed and mobile facilities. Telecentres targeted in this activity are those that offer access to community development information or services, apart from the classic email and web communication, especially in rural areas.In developing countries like Zambia where citizens and organizations still face important challenges to access new information technologies, telecentres have been recognized as effective tools supporting universal access to ICTs and as key vehicles of development information, particularly in rural areas. Indeed, through its various models, telecentres have the potential to promote access to low cost communication through the telephone, the internet, and other traditional tools of communication.

Even though ICTs are more and more developed and available at individual level in Africa (SADC Region), in many countries of this region, the relevance of telecentres especially in rural areas seems undisputed. Community telecentres in particular, basically understood as non profit facilities put in place usually by government authorities or associations, NGOs and installed mostly in rural or sub-urban areas, have been playing a key role to ensure access to ICT for local communities. More than private cybercafés, they are facing sustainability and connectivity problems. Many community telecentres are closing doors because of the development of individual access to internet or voice communication, via landline or mobile phones (which is positive technological and social transformation). Where the need still exists, strategies to strengthen them have to be identified. They include networking at national and regional level for experience sharing, mutualisation of resources, etc.

As you are aware, Energy is a major concern for rural connectivity in Zambia, only 3 percent of rural households have access to electricity energy and only 22 percent of urban households have access to the National Grid Electricity energy. Currently the urban electricity consumers are subjected to relentless load shedding due to the nationwide electric power generation shortage.

It is in this context, that the idea of a phased approach to Energy Poverty Reduction for Zambia was deemed critical, with projects representing a phased approach to Energy Poverty Reduction for Zambia, consequently being established. The crucial role of this approach can be seen in the fact that, had this phased approach been implemented at independence back in 1964, Zambia would be experiencing an energy surplus today (2011).

This is how the idea of the Chamulimba Community Digital Divide Telecentre (CCDDT) is derived. The proposed Chamulimba Community Digital Divide Telecentre has a total of about 28 villages with an estimated population of 16,000 people in the Chiefdom of His Royal Highness Chief Bunda Bunda. Chamulimba is a vibrant organic farming community. The centre will be strategically located along the Great East Road within close proximity of vital basic economic and social amenities such as Basic school, health centre, agricultural storage shed, grocery shops and the surrounding organic crop farming areas. Provision of Solar power to this Area will be seen as principal to the prosperity of Chamulimba as the area is off the main electrical grid of Zambia. It is 30km east of Chongwe, the nearest township providing electricity and communications facilities.Chamulimba Community Digital Divide Telecentre (CCDDT) will be a viable pilot for Community-Public Partnership, with various partners consolidating their resources to ensure its establishment is possible.

The benefits of the Chamulimba Community Digital Divide Telecentre to the local community will be immense. The purpose of this centre is to contribute to economic empowerment through providing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to the rural community and thereby advancing the interests of member groups and the living standards of the surrounding communities. Besides economic empowerment, this initiative is equally geared at promoting environmental sustainability, a concern that impinges directly on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

The task is to ascertain the market potential and hence, long-term sustainability of the proposed renewably powered ICT centres within Zambia’ rural environment. It will also be useful to evaluate and design effective activities aimed at eradicating barriers to the effective utilization of different renewable energy sources for commercial rural community-based ICT applications.

The anticipated results are:

• A self-sustaining enterprise to ensure continuity and growth;
• Easy up agriculture Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) Dissemination
• A growing community of Internet and computer users, who will be willing to use the telecentres services and pay for them.
• A one-stop shop for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)-based products

Among services that will be offered at the Chamulimba Pilot Telecentre are: Telephony; Internet Access; Database Management; Organic Crop storage, Order Consolidation, and Marketing; ICT services; Entertainment: Both film (including educational); Solar Powered Battery and Cell Phone Charging; Student ICT classes; Dedicated printing services to the Surrounding schools; Adult ICT education classes and HIV and AIDS Programmes Presentations; and Distance Learning Support. Provision of these facilities to the community is seen as vital to the success of Zambia’ poverty eradication efforts, particularly in as far as they relate to the empowerment of Women and Young men, who play a central role in advancing economic prosperity at national level. When women and young men are fully empowered and engaged, all of society benefits.

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by Schombe

The dynamic of telecentres in the Democratic Republic of Congo shortness of breath. Since launching this initiative in 2008, we are still at a standstill despite all efforts to materialize the objectives agreed at the workshop in 2008. However, another line has been identified, that of agricultural support professional corporations organized in the "Agricultural Management Council" (CARG), whose website was shut down by the Ministry of Agriculture. Currently, we have focused our interventions in the direction of the member organizations of the platform and at the same time we proposed working with the soon to be decentralized entities: municipalities, territories .. We hope to benefit from expertise and know-how of the members of this platform for driving again dynamics of telecentres not only in DRC but also throughout Central Africa.

by Schombe

Genèse de l'initiative de plate forme des télécentres en RD Congo

Il s’est tenu au Centre Pastoral Diocésain Lindonge, à Kinshasa, du jeudi 23 au 25 Octobre 2008, sous le parrainage du Ministère des PTT, avec le soutien du Centre de Recherche pour le Développement International, en sigle CRDI, un atelier d’échange sur la pérennité des télécentres communautaires en République Démocratique du Congo.

En prélude à cet atelier diagnostic, des séances de concertation se sont avérées indispensable notamment avec les Ministères de la Santé, des PTT, de l’Agriculture, du Développement Rural et du Plan.

Cet atelier prévoyait la participation des 40 participants provenant des « centres d’accès communautaires » identifiés, des radios communautaires, des ONG, des Ministères ciblés, des missions de coopération bilatérale ciblées, des institutions internationales et des systèmes des Nations Unies.

Compte tenu du contexte politique qui a prévalu durant la période du mois d’Octobre 2008 avec la démission du Premier Ministre, le patriarche Antoine Gizenga, les missions de coopération bilatérale, les institutions internationales et des systèmes des Nations Unies invitées n’ont pas pu participer aux activités de l’atelier, excepté l’UNESCO à travers le Professeur LINO PUNGI.

Objectifs de l’atelier

-identifier les différents services offerts par les télécentres qui se pérennisent ;

-créer un cadre pour la résolution des problèmes liés à la pérennité des télécentres ;

-étudier les possibilités de réseautage des télécentres en RD Congo.