Programme Aims

The ict@innovation programme builds capacities in African small and medium ICT enterprises to make a business with Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). ict@innovation aims to encourage the growth of African ICT industries, particularly in Southern and East Africa, through three main actions: spreading FOSS business models for enterprises in Africa, fostering FOSS certification and supporting innovative local FOSS applications for social and economic development. ict@innovation is a partnership of FOSSFA (Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa) and InWEnt - Capacity Building International (Germany).

Funding partners are the German Ministry Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). The programme focuses on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) as a key technology to drive innovation, add local value and create sustainable and affordable ICT-solutions. ict@innovation aims to enhance regional networking and to strengthen consulting capacities of regional and national ICT associations and training institutions as well as of other relevant change agents.

Programme Components

Pillar A. Training on African FOSS Business Models for ICT-based SME

• Capturing profitable business models for FOSS products, services and training, adapted to the African context
• Disseminating such model business approaches and related skills in the African ICT sector

Pillar B. Quality Management for FOSS Services through Certification

• Promotion of internationally accepted quality standards in the field of FOSS
• Enlargement of trainings for certification and accreditation of FOSS training courses, tests and materials

Pillar C. Innovative local FOSS Applications for social and economic development

• “Learning by Coding”: promoting the application of technical skills in locally relevant software projects
• Development and dissemination of FOSS products adapted to the needs of the SME and the public sector

Pillar D. Regional networking and international exchange

• Community Building through trainings and web portal
• Strengtheing regional organisations and assisting international exchange

Programme Scope and Partners

ict@innovation was launched at the Idlelo 3 conference, March 16 - 20, in Dakar. The programme duration is from 2008 to 2010. More information on the implementing and funding partners is online at the section programme partners. ict@innovation relies on a variety of regional and national, implementing and multiplying partners and participants such as IT associations, ICT training institutions, universities, and other change agents. For more information on the programme, also see programme brochure below.