In addition to strengthening the government’s prevention system (see Niger: ICT to Prevent Food Crisis), TSF, thanks to funds from the IT Cup football tournament, has been able to extend its activities in Niger to more projects using information and communication technologies to the direct benefit of other NGOs, local authorities, and the population. The funds collected notably supported a long-term satellite-based communication centre opened on February 9th, 2007 to support local and international organizations working with the most underprivileged people in the region of Dakoro.
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Before this centre was created, sending an email involved a six hour long drive. Five years after its creation by TSF, the international NGOs working in the region and the local stakeholders acknowledge the mutual benefit of the IT Cup/long term telecom center in Dakoro to support their respective activities and participate in narrowing the digital divide of the region in the economical, social and health fields.
Partners of the project in the field: Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Belgium, NGO Karkara, Care, CADEV Niger, Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium, ASB.
TSF provides a secure Internet access to these organisations with a shared connection between their offices.
Stéphane Pil, regional coordinator for Western Africa, VSF Belgium, in relation to the IT CUP centre comments:
« We save time and money spent going to Maradi with this access to a common NGO database, and our staff are trained in the use of computers. We are in permanent contact with the outside world, for administration, accounting and to raise important issues. »
« The local partners appreciate the services offered by the centre in Dakoro very much. The solutions it provides are multiple: narrowing the digital gap, ICT training sessions, and continuous technical assistance. » comments Rabiou Aminou, Coordinator of the Dakoro community centre.
The IT Cup Centre is equipped with IT and computer equipment (computers, printers and scanners) linked to a satellite dish enabling connection to broadband internet. This centre is open to all community members, local and international organizations and governmental agencies working in Dakoro. It supports more than 40 organizations. These organizations are involved in different fields of intervention including fighting against poverty and exclusion, cattle breeding, information sharing and health.
THE COMMUNITY CENTRE IN FIGURES
Since January 2010 in Dakoro:
- NGO catchment: 50%
- Average number of users per month: 160
- Average number of trainees per month: 30
- Average number of organizations per month: 40
MISSION TSF DE RENFORCEMENT DU CENTRE TELECOM COMMUNAUTAIRE (août 2011)
In August 2011, the ICT and Emergencies Coordinator from TSF headquarters went to the community centre of Dakoro to provide his expertise and support to the local personnel.
The satellite antenna of the centre was replaced by a bigger one (180cm instead of 120 cm) in order to maintain the connection, including during heavy rain periods. Moreover, following the increased number of computers connected to the network, the possibility to increase the bandwidth as well has been discussed with the partners using the connection (SAREL, MSF, CARE, ASB, CADEV, and VSF).
A new system of stream classification has been implemented; emails are now a high priority compared with Internet surfing. In order to relieve the bandwidth during the peak hours, the program updates have been interrupted between 8 am and 2 pm. As for the advertisements, they have been definitively blocked.
The equipment in the community center of Dakoro (phone, computers, printer, scan, and router) is in good condition and didn’t need any intervention.
So as to be able to respond to any situation, the local coordinator of the centre received further training in the use of the updated firmware and the backup of access points in case of loss of configuration or equipment changing.
To meet the needs of the users, the TSF expert also trained the local coordinator in the use of photo reduction software. Indeed, local partners sent reports containing pictures, creating a very heavy file, which slowed down the sending and receiving of these reports.
STORIES FROM BENEFICIARIES
Illah BASSA, Previous Head teacher of the Primary School, is now the manager of the NGO L’APPEL-NOMADE:
« The IT Cup centre is beneficial for the students of Dakoro and for the NGOs. We can strengthen the relationships with our partners and other NGOs, and better coordinate our actions. Internet makes it possible to rapidly send and receive documents. The centre enables us to enhance our IT skills. Now Dakoro is no longer isolated from the rest of the world».
Emmanuelle TING, Pediatrician for the NGO Doctors Without Borders Belgium at the hospital of Dakoro:
«Thanks to the centre I can easily communicate with my partners, I can follow the evolution of the health sector, have access to medical research journals, and I can check my online bank account. What a satisfaction!»
Omar Adamou, Head of the Community Radio of Dakoro:
«I use the Internet to spread information about the country, the government and the rest of the world collected on Tamtam info, a governmental information website. This enables people from the villages with radio coverage to have real time information about the Republic of Niger and everywhere else».
Tanimoune Maman Sani, Student of Sociology at the University of Abdou in Niamey:
« I am very satisfied with the IT CUP services in the region of Dakoro. The Internet is very helpful, when I am doing research for my studies. I would like to deeply thank this commendable initiative and the hard work of TSF for all the benefits it gives to the Dakoro people».
COMPUTING AND INTERNET COURSES FOR LOCAL STAFF AND YOUNG STUDENTS
Beyond access to the internet, and to a network sharing information from each organisation participating in improving coordination among relief organizations, the IT Cup Centre also offers computing and Internet courses. These are not only for local organizations and local authorities but also for students of the secondary school of Dakoro.
More than 150 members from 30 organizations and students were trained in 2007. Every year since 2007, these training sessions welcome a great number of people.
In order to ensure the professional future of the students of Dakoro, it is crucial to train them on the use of computers and the internet. TSF’s training includes how to write an activity report, search for information on the internet and communicate via email. This will help the local people considerably in looking for work or continuing with their studies. Professional openings are very limited in Dakoro and most young people do not have any choice other than to migrate to the big towns of the country such as Maradi, Niamey and Diffa. A lack of computer knowledge is a real handicap when looking for a first job or going to university.
It’s a priority for TSF to ensure the durability of these projects, through an appropriate handover and by building local capacities. It is TSF’s desire to integrate local partners as much as possible on these projects to guarantee the sustainability of the centres. Local staff are also recruited and trained in the initial part of the project. They deliver the Internet and computer training sessions to the beneficiaries and a local coordinator is in charge of the management of the centre.
In September 2008, TSF and 5 international NGOs (VSF Belgique / NGO Karkara, CARE, CADEV Niger, MSF Belgique, ASB) signed an agreement whereby they recognized they had a mutual interest in developing ICTs in the Dakoro region and making the centre sustainable, sharing the connection of the centre with all local organizations. The transition was completed in 2009. Today, these international organizations cover the operation costs of the centre.