Projects Supporting the Development and
Rollout of Technology Applications (Project Details)
Ungana-Afrika's
expertise has been used to test, evaluate, and pilot on the ground
different technology applications to ensure that these applications are
designed to meet the needs of the on-the-ground development community,
and the challenges and requirements the African continent have been
kept in mind.
Service and Program Area:
Technology Consulting
Partner
Status: On-going - We
are open for new opportunities
Contact Person: Toni Eliasz
Supporters/Customers:
Different customers depending on particular project
Partners: Different
partners depending on particular project
Most of the technology applications African
organisations are
using have been developed elsewhere. Unfortunately on-the-ground
realities in Africa are different compared to first world countries.
Lack of reliable connectivity, low skills levels of users and similar
challenges have often not been understood when new products have been
developed, and eventually rolled out in new territories including
Africa. To ensure that an application is appropriate to the African
context, the expertise of Ungana-Afrika has been used to evaluate,
test, and pilot applications while they are still under development.
The feedback and recommendations Ungana-Afrika have provided has been
valuable to technology providers interested in expanding into new
markets.
Project Examples
Specific examples of projects. These are simply abstracts, please
contact Toni Eliasz for additional information regarding any of these
examples.
Website Content Management System Case Studies
In November 2003, the Embassy of Finland agreed to
fund Ungana-Afrika in their efforts to explore new information and
communication technology (ICT) tools within the African development
community. One concept that received special attention was the use and
feasibility of website content management systems (CMS). As part of
this effort, Ungana-Afrika documented a case study to share its
experiences and insights while researching and testing CMS solutions
for its own internal use. During this process Ungana-Afrika also
facilitated several CMS concept and usage trainings, to which several
local partners and organisations were invited.
The formal case study was published openly in 2005 and is offered as a reference for any organisations exploring CMS solutions and concepts.
Implementation of List-Checking Tools for Grant Providers
Since the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act in
2001, all organizations doing re-granting with US funds are required to
check terrorism watch lists and to refrain from providing financial or
material support to any listed individual or organizations. This
list-checking process can be a very difficult administrative task, and
as a result, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation (which distributes
grants via a number of international organisations) decided to provide
new software tools and technical support to its re-granting partners.
Ungana-Afrika was brought on to deliver support
and training regarding Bridger Insight (list checking software) that is
critical to this process. This support was part of a global distributed
support effort and delivered to a number of re-granting Mott partner
organisations in South Africa.
Pilot Open Source Broadcast and Production Tools for Community Radio
As a result Ungana-Afrika, in partnership with
MDLF, set out to help community radios integrate a focused software
solution designed specifically for community radio, Campcaster.
Campcaster is a free and open source radio management software system
that provides both live studio broadcast capabilities as well as remote
automation in one integrated system.
Ungana-Afrika helps stations install and customize
the software, train staff members on its use, and provides support.
Furthermore, Ungana-Afrika continues to work closely with the
developers of Campcaster to provide feedback on how to improve the tool
to be relevant to a wider audience of community radio stations in the
continent.
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