1. Web 2.0 and Beyond Social Networking Trends in Africa Dr. Tarek Cheniti The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2. What is special about the social web? -All “middlemen” are gone: new ways of creating and sharing content on a very large scale -Connect with an audience more frequently, in real-time, and in person. -A new paradigm for doing business, reforming government, and strengthening civil society. The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

3. Why look at social media in Africa? -110 million Internet users, 10.9% penetration rate -Numerous African web and mobile applications have appeared in recent years -Uptake and use of ICTs among fastest in the world; e.g. Africa lead global shift from fixed to mobile telephony -Several success stories in using ICTs for positive social change (e.g. village phone operators in Uganda; optimal grain market information via SMS in Niger; e-Care initiative in Ghana, etc.) Opportunities for better governance and more innovation The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

4. East African Tube NaijaBorn Asanja Africa Meets Africa LinkedAfrica The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

5. Ivorian 2010/11 election crisis The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

6. The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -An initiative between Internet Sans Frontières and NGO Akendewa -Used Ushahidi SMS/Web platform as a tool for “citizen reporting” to crow-source and disseminate information on the electoral process and the crisis which followed -This novel form of electoral monitoring was a great catalyst for civic engagement despite the context of violence Wonzomai

8. Tunisia’s (Jasmine? Facebook? Twitter?) Revolution The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

9. Social networking during the revolution - Blackout in official media: people shared information on facebook, twitter, youtube, dailymotion, and mobile phones instead -Photos, videos and reports from the field which were shared via SMS and on the web mobilized the public -Prominent dissident blogger ‘disappeared’; later revealed his position in the ministry of interior on Foursquare -Sporadic protests turned into a general rebellion The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

12. TN-Labs -Real-time information about events circumvented censorship and encouraged all users (not just activists) to spread information -Inaccurate data identified and dismissed by community members -Possibility to ‘visualise’ public opinion -Strong focus on accountability and transparency, before and (especially) after the revolution The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

14. The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Three suggestions - Better inter-connectivity among those African publics (i.e. civil society activists and start-up businesses) striving to promote an open society model - Raising awareness at the level of governments of the necessity to promote bottom-up approaches to innovation -Revising the notion of “digital divide” which poorly accounts for the technological convergence enabled by networking technologies

15. The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Second Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology CODIST-II 2-5 May 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Thank you! t.cheniti@keble.oxon.org