This volume tells 16 remarkable stories—first person accounts of how information and communication technologies have been successfully introduced into institutions for the benefit of scientists and engineers in sub-Saharan Africa. These case studies focus on the lessons learned in designing and implementing projects dealing with scientific and technological information and examine the impact.
- BRIDGE BUILDERS
- Copyright
- Preface
- Contents
- Introduction
- BACKGROUND
- THE EDITORIAL AND SELECTION PROCESSES
- THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) SCENE IN AFRICA
- LESSONS LEARNED IN THE CASE STUDIES
- CD-ROM
- DESKTOP PUBLISHING
- ELECTRONIC NETWORKING
- COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT, AND DISSEMINATION OF LOCAL INFORMATION RESOURCES
- CONCLUSION
- NOTES
- Case Studies on the Introduction of CD-ROM to University Libraries
- The CD-ROM Service for the University of Dar es Salaam
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY FOR THE CD-ROM SERVICES
- OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
- RESULTS, IMPACT, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTES
- CD-ROM for Health Information in Zimbabwe
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- RESULTS, IMPACTS, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- Numbers of MEDLINE Searches Made
- Categories of Search Requesters
- Purpose of Searches
- Survey on the Use of MEDLINE and Its Abstracts
- Training in MEDLINE Searching
- Availability of Full-text Articles
- Immediate and Long-term Outcomes of the Service: Products and Spinoffs
- Searches
- Journal Selection
- Abstracts
- Outcomes for Health Professionals, Patients?
- Promotion of the CD-ROM Literature Search Service
- Other Uses of Microcomputers in the Medical Library
- A Database of Local Health Literature
- Email: Local and International Access to Information
- The Impact of Microcomputer Technologies on Library Staff
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTES
- Background Summary The African Index Medicus (AIM) Project
- Communications for Better Health Project in Zambia
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- About Zambia
- The University of Zambia (UNZA)
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- CD-ROM Databases
- Zambia Health Information Digest (ZHID)
- THE RESULTS, IMPACT, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- Library Partnership Program
- HealthNet News
- Literature Searches
- The HealthNet Communication Service
- Access to Health Information Databases
- Access to the ZAMNET Gopher
- Access to Other Databases
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTE
- Case Studies on Desktop Publishing
- Desktop Publishing at the University of Zimbabwe
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- Historical Background
- Education in Zimbabwe
- Book Production in Zimbabwe
- Information Technology in Zimbabwe
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- Origin and History
- Products, Technologies, and Services Delivered
- PageMaker
- MathEdit
- DERIVE, Version 2
- Fractool
- CSS
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- The Newsletter
- The DTP Software
- The Layout of the Newsletter
- The Scanner
- The Reprographic Facility
- RESULTS, IMPACT, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- Training of DTP Operator
- Training of Academic Users
- The Need for a Network
- The Laser Printer
- Flat Bed Scanner
- Upgrading the Software
- Reprographics by Copy Printer
- The Photographic Library
- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- Conclusions and Plans for Future Development
- Recommendations
- The Newsletter
- Training
- Personnel for the Newsletter
- Planned and Regular Upgrading of Hardware and Software
- Printer and Collator
- Color Presentations
- Networking
- Desktop Publishing at the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- Background Information on Tanzania
- Institutional Information
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- Origin and History of DTP at COSTECH
- General and Particular Objectives of DTP at COSTECH
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- THE RESULTS, IMPACTS, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- Environmental Publishing Network—ENVIRONET at ICIPE Science Press
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- Participating Institutions
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Opportunities
- Threats
- THE RESULTS, IMPACT, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- Benefits of the Project
- The University Students Attachment Programme (USAP)
- Operation
- USAP Benefits
- The USAP Alumni
- Future Prospects: The USAP Resource Centre (URC)
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- Training Organization
- Finances, Trainee Per Diem, and Travel
- Organization
- ENVIRONET - Training Objectives
- Advocacy
- Electronic Publishing
- Evaluation
- Author's Roster
- Publications
- ENVIRONET Phase II
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTE
- Innovations in Desktop Publishing at the African Academy of Sciences, 1989–1992
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Departure of Professor Isoun
- The Peer Review Process at the AAS
- Other Publications
- RESULTS, IMPACTS, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- Case Studies on Electronic Networking
- Electronic Networking for the Research Community in Ethopia
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- The Current STI Environment in Ethiopia
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Leased Line Costs
- National Infrastructure and Political Constraints
- RESULTS, IMPACT, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- Reduced Communication Costs
- Improved Training Options
- Introduction
- Site configuration and training
- Ongoing assistance
- Workshop
- Improved Skills
- Improved Access from Rural Areas
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- Lesson 1
- Lesson 2
- Lesson 3
- Lesson 4
- Lesson 5
- Lesson 6
- Lesson 7
- Lesson 8
- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTES
- Networking in West Africa
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- Fidonet—A Grassroots Network
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- How Users are Trained
- Development of the Network and Perspectives
- Connecting Problems
- Regional Networking
- Methodology for Sensitizing
- Difficulties in Sensitizing
- RESULTS, IMPACT, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTES
- Background Summary SatelLife and HealthNet
- MUKLA: Evolution of a Homegrown Network in Uganda
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- The ESANET Project
- Activities of ESANET
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- The Critical Years
- Project Synergy
- Challenges
- Present Situation
- Recent Developments
- RESULTS, IMPACTS, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- Beyond Email
- Sectoral Involvement
- University
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- Government
- Business Sector
- Others
- Finance
- Results
- Hardware
- Software
- Connectivity
- User Base
- Network Management
- Research and Development
- Beyond the ESANET Project: Future Developments at MUKLA
- New Nodes
- Goals of Expansion
- Improved Services
- Future Needs and Possibilities
- Regional Interconnectivity
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- User Friendliness
- Adherence to Standards
- Promotion and Education
- Training
- Product Champions
- Adequate Funding
- Appropriate Ownership Patterns
- Plans for Financial Sustainability
- Managerial, Sales and Technical Expertise—in that order!
- APPENDIX—INTERNET/EMAIL PROVIDERS IN UGANDA
- The UNIMA Fidonet Network: Computer Networking for Communications in Malawi
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- RESULTS, IMPACT, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- Network Performance
- Cost of the Service
- Billing Users
- Failure Rates
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- Network Use
- Growing the Internet
- Equipment Shortages
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTES
- Background Summary A Global Computer Network for Change
- Dial Locally, Act Globally
- Bringing the Internet to Zambia
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- Computer Skills in Zambia
- The University of Zambia
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- The Early Technology
- UNZANET'S Traditional Users
- UNZANET'S Free Service
- The Need for ZAMNET
- The ZAMNET Proposal
- The Budget
- The Proposed Service
- The Project Objectives
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Establishing the Link to the Internet
- Procuring, Installing, and Configuring the Internet Hardware
- The Mail Server
- The Router
- Providing Customer Access
- Provisions of End User Software
- Software for DOS
- Software for Windows
- Software for Macs
- Integration of Fidonet and the Internet
- Development of Local Information Services
- The Zamnet Gopher
- The Worldwide Web Server
- Provision of Training Facilities and Courses
- User Documentation
- Computerized Accounting
- Determining a Pricing System
- Marketing of the Product
- Staff Recruitment
- RESULTS, IMPACT AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- A Breakdown of the Users
- Feedback
- Media Coverage
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- Capital Funding
- Staff Training
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- Increasing the Bandwidth
- Increasing Dial-up Access
- Covering for Equipment Failures
- Increase Capacity on Mail and Information Servers
- Expanding the Range of Provided Services
- Increasing Technical and Administrative Support
- Looking Forward
- NOTES
- Case Studies on the Collection, Management, and Dissemination of Local Information Resources
- NAPRECA and Its Role in the Dissemination of Information on Natural Products Research in Africa
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Publications
- Administration of Postgraduate Scholarship Program
- Implementing the Exchange of Researchers Scheme
- Organizing the Natural Products Summer School
- Natural Products Symposia
- Conducting Training Workshops
- Coordination of the UNESCO's Botany 2000 program
- RESULTS, IMPACTS, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTES
- A Socioeconomic Development Information System for Botswana
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- The National Institute of Development Research and Documentation (NIR)
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- History of the Project
- Objectives of the Project
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Devindex - Botswana
- Specialized Databases
- The Meetings Database
- Newspaper Clippings Database
- Mailing List Database
- THE RESULTS, IMPACT, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- Impact of the DEVSIS-Botswana on the Documentation Unit
- Impact of the DEVSIS-Botswana Project Outside the Institute
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- Pre-Project Consultations Among Potential Project Participants
- Collection of Documents for the Database
- Provision of Funding for Production of Abstracts
- Immediate Availability of Documents
- Formalization and Regularization of the Attachment Program
- NOTES
- KEMRI's Management Information System
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- The Member Research Centers
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Research Strengthening Support
- Documentation and Library Support
- Human Resource Development
- Desktop Publishing
- Email and Communications
- RESULTS, IMPACTS, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- Hardware and Software
- Usage
- Other Benefits
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- The Ghana National Scientific and Technological Information Network (GHASTINET) Project
- BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
- PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- Human Resources
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Systems and Processes
- Financial Aspects
- PROJECT EXPERIENCE AND IMPLEMENTATION
- Information Transfer
- User Reaction
- Information Marketing
- Popularizing Science
- RESULTS, IMPACT, AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT
- ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED
- Major Success Factors
- Problems
- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- NOTE
- Conclusion
- COMMON PROBLEMS—INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
- Shortage of Funds
- Communication Difficulties
- Shortage of Trained Personnel
- Poor Collection and Dissemination of Indigenous Information Resources
- Lack of an Enabling Environment
- LESSONS LEARNED
- Appendix A List of Authors
- Appendix B List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
- Appendix C Glossary
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