Community Multimedia Centre = Community Radio + Community Telecentre Community Telecentre = a community business which stimulates and meets the demand for information and communication services Community Radio = The Community radio allows communication with the whole community in the local language. Community Multimedia Centre = Uses radio as an interface to inform and communicate with the locals.

Goal of the CMCs in Africa The CMCs aim essentially to reduce the digital divide in order to stimulate rural development by facilitating access to ICTs.

What are the CMC strategies in Africa? Associate and integrate the use of local media: radio, newspapers etc. to reach the whole community. Participative approach: –Creating local user units at grassroot level, –Forming user groups to define the needs for specific applications, –Developing application projects.

State of ICT use by radios in Africa 65% have at least one computer 15% have permanent Internet connexion 20% use Internet 1% use digital broadcasting and editing 80% have one staff member with ICT training 85% use telecentres to collect information.

An example of project application Women groups in Timbuktu use the telecentre to improve their businesses

Songhay Subanafa women’s microcredit group use Excel to improve the management of their savings and credit accounts.

Savings and credit information and administration system (SIG) of the women’s group Songhoy Subanafa By using Excel and Keyma the women imptove the accountancy of their association : Members’ register Order form Stock sheet Management book Cash book Profit and loss account Receipt

konday ije kadasu (Members’ register)

(Komandi Kaddaso) (Order form)

Jinay jisi Kaddasu (Stock sheet)

Ýeeran Kaddasu berdi (Manager’s ledger)

njorfu hiraw fatta kaddasu (Cash book)

Šeeda taray kaddasu (A receipt in the songhoi language) Hennedi……………………….. Borodi ka bana: a……………… ………………………………….. Hinnedi nda caw ……………….. ………………………………….. Dàlil …………………………… …………………………………. Jaari…………../………/200… Liimoro……….njorfu kan bakoydi…………………….

Electronic voice mail lesson

Women and E-Commerce Trader placing an order for condiments by voic with her supplier in Mopti (400 km away).

Some tangible results in motivating women Increasing turnout of women at CMC Less financial disputes during the weekly meetings Time saved by the women Increasing turnout of men.

Difficulties the CMCs face in Africa Language barriers Unreliable Internet connetion The initial cost of convincing the rural people to use ICTs by developing relevant applications Taxes on IT equipment and telecommunications.

« In the past people emigrated to seek knowledge and today the knowledge is here » Marabout sends

Kids Training Kids Educational CD-ROMs

Radio browsing broadcast Songhay Tamacheq

Broadcasting information processed on the computer Radio Alfarouk’s Kids for Kids broadcast

Suitcase radio training

Repair and maintenance room

Businessmen at the telecentre Preparing bills Consulting

Doctors at the telecentre

Thank you !