"The iConnect website and monthly e-Bulletin is a major source for information on the application of knowledge and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in sustainable development. In 2005, as part of an effort to get more ‘southern voices’ into the current global discourse on ICT fo
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r development, iConnect formed a team of six coordinators in Africa who regularly commission articles by local journalists on the impact and the use of ICTs for development. The articles, written from a southern perspective, appear regularly on the iConnect website in English, French and Spanish." (Back cover)
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"There has been significant growth in media outlets. In the new regime, the relationship between the media and the government has improved greatly. For the media in Tanzania to develop, resource allocation should be considered as a priority. There is a need to look at how much the government and don
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or community are funding the development of media, and which media should be given priority. Commitment from media players is very important, as is ethical reporting that contributes to a better society. The production of local content should be increased. In order for the media truly to understand the audience and their needs, they must engage in dialogue with the public. There exists a big gap between the concentration and number of media outlets in rural vs urban parts of Tanzania. Community media should be prioritised. There is a critical need for journalists to be trained in specialist areas and in investigative journalism, and for them to understand the importance of the role they play in improving democracy. Although most media organisations have planned media activities, only a few of them have a specific annual budget set aside for such activities. To improve media planning activities there should be a specific planned budget for media activities." (Summary & conclusions, page 57)
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"This research initiative assessed the key media changes and developments in seventeen African countries over the past five years and aimed at recommending intervention strategies for strengthening an independent, professional media sector. The summary report presents the main findings regarding med
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ia landscapes, media legislation, media technology and equipment, journalism training and principles of media development. According to this publication "substantial evidence is provided that points to: non-sustainable and short-term approaches to projects; disconnected programmes; unneccesary competition amongst donors; and, consequently wasted investment of donor funds" (Page 15). In addition, individual country reports have been released, written by renowned African media specialists and researchers. They include: Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Each country report consists of three sections: 1) Media sector developments, 2) Challenges for future media development activities, 3) Case study: illustrating good practice in media development." (commbox)
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"As part of its initiatives to make Information and Communication Technology (ICT) work for the poor, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with four countries in east Africa initiated and carried out a joint project on Pro-Poor ICT. The said countries are Kenya, Rwanda, T
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anzania and Uganda. Primarily, the project aims at designing a community-owned network that will empower the poor people especially in rural areas by providing them with reliable and adequate access to ICT resources and facilities. Furthermore, such resources and facilities will be shared among the people in the area to bring down the operational costs hence ensure affordability to the majority without compromising the quality. In the process consultants from each of the four countries were engaged. Each of the consultants were given nearly the same terms of reference (ToR) to see to it that they all deliver uniform research outcomes that are, of course, tailored to the specificities of a given country. In Tanzania, consultants were from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH). A case study for Tanzania was completed in Bugabo Division of Bukoba District in Kagera Region. The area is in the lake zone along Lake Victoria. The population in Bugabo is about 40,000 people (2002 Census). It is proposed to implement a non-line of sight wireless technology network such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) to cover the division. The major proposed services to be offered by such a local wireless network are Voice and Data. Since the area does not have adequate coverage of GSM Network services, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) facility was proposed. Initial investment cost for the entire project was estimated to US$ 84,040 details of which can be viewed in the report. The annual current cost for the first year was estimated to US$ 93,008 and the annual income for the first year of operation was estimated to US$ 258,000. Section four of the report clearly outlines details of the estimates for initial investment cost, current annual cost, income and expenditure." (Executive summary)
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"Girlfriend als Teil des afrikanischen Videobooms zeigt, dass die Produktion von Filmen im Videoformat eine Möglichkeit für tansanische Regisseure ist, Filme mit ihren eigenen Themen in ihrer eigenen Sprache für den ostafrikanischen Markt gewinnbringend zu vermarkten. Die Swahili-Videofilme sind
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Teil einer populären Kultur Ost-, wie Westafrikas, die ihre eigenen ästhetischen Maßstäbe setzt. Die in Girlfriend sprachlich artikulierten Themen umfassen sowohl populäre Themen wie die Hip-Hop Kultur, als auch für Tansania eher traditionelle Themen, wie die Probleme des Lebens in der Stadt sowie zwischenmenschliche Konflikte. Der Film gewährt Einblicke in die Heterogenität der Menschen Dar es Salaams, insbesondere in die verschiedenen sozialen Gruppen, wie die der Jugendlichen der Hip-Hop-Szene, der Bürgerlichen, der schicken Akademiker und der einfachen ärmlichen Immigranten aus den ländlichen Gegenden Tansanias. Diese Figuren sind im Film besonders durch ihre sprachlichen Merkmale charakterisiert, die entweder von dem Regisseur oder Autor geplant wurden oder die von den für diese Rollen ausgewählten Darsteller automatisch mitgebracht wurden. Girlfriend ist durch seine Verwendung mehrerer Sprachvarietäten ausgezeichnet und zeigt, welch wichtige Rolle die Sprache und der Dialog in tansanischen Filmen spielt. Die Sprachvarietäten Englisch, Swahili, Kiswahili cha Mitaani und Swahili-Englisch Codeswitching dienen der Einordnung der Figuren in soziale Gruppen und charakterisieren die Figuren des Films." (Zusammenfassung S. 84-85)
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"This publication has been produced in order to improve the chances of success of Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRSs) in two ways: 1. To show policymakers how strategic communication can help them to achieve some of their objectives in formulating and executing effective Poverty Reduction Strategies
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; 2. To give the technocrats and officials actively engaged in the execution of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) guidance on best practice as well as lessons from a community of practice spread around the world." (Executive Summary)
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"The research was informed by desk research, two technical reviews and a stakeholder consultation in four countries – Honduras, South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana. It proved very timely as it contributed significantly to ongoing consultations in South Africa and Tanzania. In South Africa ICASA annou
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nced the availability of a four year community television license and ongoing lobbying for frequencies should result in a number of initiatives happening in the next year or so. In Tanzania, the regulator consulted on community radio licensing, resulting in a lowering in license fees [...] The net conclusion is that community television could play a huge role in empowering local communities. While community radio has such a role now, it is possible that television viewing could over the next ten years erode the role of radio. Uptake of low power televisions could leave communities with national or multi channel broadcasts that are entertaining but do very little to stimulate dialogue about development, empower people as agents of change, protect local language and local culture. Community television could play a strong role in stimulating development dialogue, supporting local economies, be a vehicle for decentralised government egovernance and share local content in local language and local culture – a local voice. Advocates of community television need to be realistic in the development of the institutional framework for the station, and in the influence of the wider environment on the shape of the station. The report ends with a number of general recommendations, and a specific recommendation that some pilot community television stations should be set up in the immediate future to document the parameters required for a successful innovative community television station." (Executive summary, page 3-5)
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