Ungana-Afrika, with the support of OSISA, will be hosting a Southern African eRiders Network Strategic Planning Workshop in Gauteng Province (14 � 15 February 2007) aimed at developing a foundation for a three year strategy for the growth of a Southern African eRider Network.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

eRiding is a model for providing mission-driven technology support for networks of organisations in the civil society sector. Open Society Institution (OSI) has been one of the few international foundations supporting the growth of the global eRider Network and are behind the start-up of several country initiatives around the world.

Over the past few years Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA) has been supporting Ungana-Afrika to build the foundation for the Southern African eRider Network. Not only has this been achieved through the developed basic support processes and the increased awareness of the eRider approach but also through the first in-country initiatives that have been incubated (Zambia, Mozambique) or planned (Zimbabwe, Swaziland). In order to ensure a collaboration among eRider initiatives in the region, Ungana-Afrika, with the support of OSISA & Hivos, is implementing a two days strategic planning workshop that will look at the growth of the regional network and support mechanisms to ensure the success of the established or future initiatives.

ABOUT UNGANA-AFRIKA

Ungana-Afrika is a regional organisation addressing the technology capacity crisis by building innovative support programs and tools that are empowering the development community. It was established in 2003 as pilot initiative by OSISA to test the feasibility of the eRiding model in the SADC region. This initiative was based on the positive impact created within development sector by eRiding projects around the world. In mid-2004, Ungana-Afrika registered as an independent non-profit organisation in South Africa.

After gaining experience providing direct eRiding services to organisations in the region the strategy of Ungana-Afrika broadened including an objective to become a regional hub for initiatives of other countries in the continent and ensuring the quality of these initiatives by helping them to incubate, implement, and evaluate the activities of their eRiding programs. With the aim of building an African eRider Network Ungana-Afrika has facilitated several incubation workshops, supported local initiatives in program design, feasibility studies, and project coordination, developed an eRider training program, and trained in-country eRiders. For more info see: /services/erider_model.htm

AT THE WORKSHOP

The workshop will focus developing a foundation for a three year strategy for the growth of a Southern African eRider Network by bringing together key stakeholders that includes donor organisations supporting eRiding, leaders of established or already planned initiatives and experts of the eRider model, and other organisations of interest in the ICT for Development sector.

Specific issues to be discussed at the workshop includes:

DAY 1 (14 February 2007):

• Overview, Ideas, Needs, Expectations:
• Overview of the Global eRiding initiatives and goals (Global eRider Community)
• Introduction of initial ideas for the regional network strategy (Hub)
• Introduction of in-country needs (Country Initiatives)
• Introduction of donor expectations (Donors)
• Brainstorming:
• Southern African eRider Network and Global eRider Community
• Regional eRiding Hub
• Established and New eRiding Initiatives

DAY 2 (15 February 2007):

• Planning:
• Overview of the Global eRiding initiatives and goals (Global eRider Community)
• Group 1: Southern African eRider Network and Global eRider Community
• Group 2: Regional eRiding Hub
• Group 3: Established and New eRiding Initiatives
• Decision making:
• Introduction of the plans, discussion, and modifications, and final agreement

* Please note that the program is at a draft stage. Should there be changes all invitees shall be notified.
* Information on the social program during the workshop shall be communicated with you in due course.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Since this will be a focused event only a few key individual shall be invited by Ungana-Afrika.

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

• WHEN: Wednesday 14th � Thursday 15th February 2007
• WHERE: Gauteng, South Africa, Specific location to be announced.
• COST: Participants transport, accommodation and catering will be covered by Ungana-Afrika

To confirm your attendance please send us the following details to tshepo@ungana-afrika.org:

• Your name & surname
• Your position in your organisation
• Name, contact information of your organisation and information about its mission and programs
• Brief background of involvement and/or interest in eRiding

* All confirmations should be done by the 27th of January 2007.

Any questions or comments may also be directed to workshop@ungana-afrika.org

This is not intended to be a large-scale event, so specific arrangements will be made on an individual basis once we receive your confirmation. Your early confirmations will highly apprecited as it will allow us to make all logistical arrangements on time.

UNGANA-AFRIKA CONTACTS

This event is supported by Ungana-Afrika's partner OSISA (www.osisa.org)