Transcript The ICT4D Research & Resource Centre in Rwenzori Region

The Research & Resource Centre in Rural
Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda:
Promoting ICT-Enabled Entrepreneurship &
Innovation
A PRESENTATION TO THE
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL
INNOVATION FOR A BETTER WORLD IN OUR TIME
0 7 TH – 0 8 TH O C T O B E R 2 0 0 9
ROME, ITALY
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Summary of Presentation
 Brief background of ToroDev
 Concept of ICT-Enabled Entrepreneurship
Innovation
 Rationale of the Research & Resource centre
 Strategic approach, services & activities
 Achievements of the Research & Resource Centre
 Challenges
 Recommendations
 Conclusion
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Background of ToroDev
 Initiated in 2006 to promote ICT research &
training for rural economic development
 Started training unemployed graduates and
local entrepreneurs to access & use of ICTs
 Set up information, knowledge sharing &
discussion forums for professionals
 Advocate for appropriate ICT policy, rural
infrastructure and gender inclusion
 In 2008 started an ICT-enabled business
incubation initiative
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Concept of ICT-Enabled
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
 There is a strong relationship between
innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge
sharing (infoDev, 2007)
 Good entrepreneurship skills and strategies
have to be validated by reliable information
 Need for a research for development lens
while promoting social entrepreneurship
 Scarcity of enterprise start-up resources in
Uganda calls for identifying cost effective
strategies by young entrepreneurs
(Enterprise
Uganda, 2008)
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Rationale of the ICT Research & Resource
Centre In Rural Rwenzori Region, Uganda
 Need to counter high unemployment among
the graduate young people (82% of graduates
unemployed annually – Enterprise Uganda)
 Entrepreneurship & Innovation support not
a priority to graduates in Uganda yet private
sector contributes 75% of national GDP
 Bringing the opportunities provided by
modern ICTs to the rural community
 Need for a public resource access point in the
rural Rwenzori region
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Strategic Approach & Activities of the
Centre
 Addressing the problem of “Double illiteracy”




& combination of both traditional & modern
ICTs (computers, internet & mobiles
radios)
Rollout to lower community levels for gender
inclusion
Tapping the power of mobile ICT tools for
lower rural community (e.g. e-RIS).
Private – Public Partnership with local
governments for expanding ICT infrastructure
investment (MTN-Google, InfoTrade, etc)
Experts’ e-Discussion nodes(success stories &
entrepreneurship mentoring for youths)
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Achievements of Social Innovation &
Entrepreneurship
 Local entrepreneurs in the Hotel,
Agribusiness & Tourism sectors from the
region trained.
 Enrolment of university and high schools
students to orient the with ICT-enabled
entrepreneurship skills has increased from
34% in December 2008 to 67% by August.
 Local government & police staff trained in
ICT4D tools for effective service delivery.
 Rural women leaders trained in using simple
ICT tools for lobbying & advocacy for gender
inclusion policy formulation.
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Challenge of Social Innovation &
Entrepreneurship in a rural community
 Inadequate both social & ICT infrastructure in
the Rwenzori region, Western Uganda (recent
budgetary allocation ICT is 0.1% Vs 12% to GDP)
 ICT illiteracy stands at 89% in Uganda, leave
alone basic illiteracy at 40%.
 Inadequate capital resources to expand the
services and activities to the entire region
 Gender sensitivity in ICT, Innovation &
entrepreneurship not a priority at all levels of
coupled by cultural hindrances.
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Recommendations for Social
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
 In cases of rural communities like Uganda,
ICT infrastructure needs to be expanded
 Understanding the target group’s needs and
context is paramount (literacy, income levels,
age, etc.)
 Gender mainstreaming in developing
communities must be a priority
 Combination of both traditional and modern
ICT tools to improve production, marketing
and knowledge generation.
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Conclusion
 Policy formulation is not a responsibility of
governments alone. It is a collective
responsibility for all development players
and stakeholders.***
 Learning from current experiences in
Uganda and Africa as a whole, the process
requires government commitment, political
good will, local participation and proper
visioning.
 For effective policy formulation and
implementation, to benefit both men and
women, the following steps need to be taken
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015
Thank you all for listening!!
By Johnstone Baguma, Toro Development Network, Uganda
7/20/2015