1. FREE SOFTWARE & OPEN SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net FOSSFA Background ➔ FOSSFA started in November 2002 at UNECA to address free software / open source issues. ➔ Formally constituted in February 2003 in Geneva during WSIS Prep Com 2. ➔ FOSSFA Action Plan adopted and endorsed by CODI 3 in May 2003. ➔ Held the first Pan African FOSS conference dubbed as IDLELO1 in Cape Town in January 2004. 250 Delegates attended. ➔ At IDLELO1 FOSSFA Action Plan 2003-2006 Revised and Constitution developed

2. FREE SOFTWARE & OPEN SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net What is Free and Open Source Software ➔ Software that can be accessed freely. ➔ Source code is available. ➔ Software can be altered to suit users needs. ➔ Software can be re-distributed freely without violating copyright.

3. FREE SOFTWARE & OPEN SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net Benefits in African Context ➔ Sovereignty and Security issues. ➔ Induce growth of local software industry. ➔ Induce economic development tapping on local talent and human resources. ➔ Stimulate a hardware market. Now cheaper to assemble clones than bringing refurbs despite taxes on parts - Kenya Experience. ➔ Encourage use of local software at national levels.

4. FREE SOFTWARE & OPEN SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net FOSSFA Strategy ➔ Encouraging change of policies in African governments to adopt its use; - Govts should stop signing MOUs with M$FT which effectively lock local software developers from participating in their own markets!! ➔ Research and Development; ➔ Product Development uniformly across Africa; Take advantage of business alliances such as SADC, COMESA, EAC etc ➔ Local Capacity Building, which will translate into jobs creation.

5. FREE SOFTWARE & OPEN SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net Benefits of FOSS Software ➔ Reduced costs and dependency on imported technology and skills. ➔ Affordable software for individual, enterprise and government. ➔ Access to government data without barrier of proprietary software and formats. ➔ Ability ot customise software to local languages and cultures. ➔ Lowered barriers to entry for software business.

6. FREE SOFTWARE & OPEN SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net Role of Governments ➔ Introducing appropriate policies and legislation that can lead to reduction on ICTs dollar based licenses. ➔ Stimulating local software industry. Govts account to more than 66% of total ICT spend in a country. Use FOSS and create local employment ➔ Lowering entry barriers for various kinds of businesses in ICT industry. ➔ Govts - Do not hang yourselves and your citizens by signing MOUs with just one company monopolising the software industry.

7. FREE SOFTWARE & OPEN SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net Status of FOSS in Africa ➔ Many Countries embracing FOSS in Africa – Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Bukina Faso, Namibia, Ethiopia etc ➔ FOSS has moved from introductory to enabling phases in many countries. ➔ Not an issue of whether FOSS is viable but being actively deployed in many countries ➔ Positive reports on FOSS usage in Govt e.g. World Bank Report by Paul Dravis & UNCTAD FOSS Expert Group Meeting Report. www.unctad.org/ecommercewww.unctad.org/ecommerce ➔ Need for Governments to be exposed to FOSS Products currently available in Africa.

8. FREE SOFTWARE & OPEN SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net Challenges ➔ Exist vis-a-vis IPRs, Lack of Full Product Cycle for most software and issues related to internet rights. ➔ Many international ICT firms embracing FOSS e.g. Siemens, IBM, Novell, Red Hat, HP (HP posted $2 Billion Profit in 2002 from its FOSS Department.) ➔ Local Software companies in Africa starting to thrive. e.g. Linux Solutions-Uganda, PerfectSoft-Nigeria, Obsidian- South Africa, Circuits&Packets-Kenya but still need Pro- FOSS Policies implemented at National Levels. ➔ Surprisingly, most studies including the World Bank show that migration from PS to FOSS has been at ease.

9. FREE SOFTWARE & OPEN SOURCE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net Key Recommendations to ADF ➔ Recognise the UNCTAD Expert Meeting Report on FOSS which will act as a catalyst in entrenching Pro-FOSS Policies in Africa. www.unctad.org/ecommerce www.unctad.org/ecommerce ➔ Recognise and support the IDLELO2 Open Source Meeting and Expo slated for February 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya. Aimed at sensitising Govt Decision Makers and Practitioners on available FOSS Products from both international and local companies. Meeting also to discuss issues pertaining to E-Health, E- Government, E-Education, IPRs, Internet Access and Rights. (Meeting to be held in collaboration with UNECA and UNCTAD) ➔ Pledge to support Local FOSS Software Companies starting to emerge all over Africa especially in Public-Private Partnerships to enhance E-Governance

10. Free Software & Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) www.fossfa.net www.fossfa.net Thank you. For more information please visit www.fossfa.net