Uganda: People, Poverty and Possibilities

1. Uganda: People, Poverty and Possibilities

2. Agriculture employs over 80% of the work force and accounts for 44% of the $29 billion Gross Domestic Product. Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. Coffee is the major export crop and accounts for the bulk of export revenues. How can agriculture help?

3. Combining strategy with technology and research with action, this plan seeks to provide an online platform to help improve the productivity of farmers in the developing world by interfacing directly with consumers. Proposal: Online Product Information Center

4. Overview of System Crop Product Information (yield and prices) posted online Farmer Consumer

5. building human capacity through improved educational opportunities increasing agricultural productivity and improving the competitiveness of farming products expanding information and telecommunications networks What are the goals of this initiative? Poverty in Uganda is addressed by attacking the problem on multiple fronts:

6. Building human capacity through improved educational opportunities The iNetworking Project AllAfrica Global Media, an African ICT company with offices in Africa and in Washington, DC, has developed a technology platform: • It is an a combination of software and hardware technology. • The platform was designed initially to operate allAfrica.com, a collaboration with over 100 African news organizations that has become one of the Internet’s largest content sites • It has been also used for the technology platform and website of the U.S. Democratic National Committee.

7. Increasing agricultural productivity Ugandan women are becoming better farmers thanks to an interactive CD-Rom. The CD-Rom teaches: • Women farmers practical advice on how to boost crop yields and manage livestock. • How to better market what is produced and helps the women think about new products they can make and sell.

8. Empowerment of Women: Women are regular visitors to the community center that houses the information kiosk and are keen to learn more. Peer Teaching: The first women that used the CD have become role models for many others in the region. Developed Youth Interest: Many of the children of the farmers are now keen to learn about or use the computer and are being encouraged to read so they can find out more. Return on Investment: Since it was introduced, the CD has been a huge success and has helped to dramatically improve the living standards of those who have used it. No Technophobia: Women did not demonstrate any of the "technophobia" frequently ascribed to rural, low-income illiterate women regarding the use of new technologies. Once these women saw their neighbors using the computers successfully, they were eager to also try Increasing agricultural productivity Since the CD-Rom was introduced...

9. Expanding information and telecommunications networks Web kiosks for India's villagers A new, cheap and robust wireless technology could bring the information revolution to rural areas: • The system is cheap using wireless internet stations. • A college professor and students set up a company providing computers with Indian-language software to make the computers accessible to all .

10. Expanding information and telecommunications networks Wireless computer deal for India's poor WorldSpace delivers digital content via satellite to users of the Simputer, a hand-held computer developed in India for the poor and illiterate: • The software reads webpages aloud in native Indian languages, targeting the 35% of Indians who cannot read • 2000 students will receive digital content in the form of news, music, education and entertainment programmes beamed via satellite from WorldSpace radio broadcasts .

11. According to a recent article on global poverty in The Economist, Half the world's population lives on less than $2 a day; and a billion people survive on less than $1 a day. The population in the poorest countries will grow three times faster than the world as a whole over the next 50 years. One of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, set for the year 2015, is to halve the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day.However, the goal quote “is an enormous task that seems more elusive than ever” end quote. Summary

12. Online Distribution Pipeline - High Level Workplan Stage 1 Stage 3 Stage 2 Gather information Design & Develop Pilot & Enhance Implementation Assessing Situation • Evaluate needs and design layout • Create site based on research • Liaise with officials to solicit feedback • Select area and test group for pilot • Have sample launch • Solicit feedback from pilot group • Discuss and test new requests • Pilot tool with test group • Evaluate tool • Make final revisions based on feedback • Demo, explain and train all users and how to set-up new users • Ongoing monitoring & enhancements • Research country’s economic, social and political history to understand social, cultural and education factors • Identify dependable local contact (UN, World Bank, etc.) • Understand agriculture systems (rainfall, production capacity, natural resources, crop markets, etc.) • Understand transportation issues (shipping, costs, etc.) • Conduct initial meetings with government representatives • Conduct initial meetings with potential buyers or vendors • Identify best possible transportation routes for crops • Utilize research to create preliminary cost estimates and map out logistical issues

13. Establish Relationships with Key Organizations There are many agricultural/economic focused initiatives geared toward developing African countries. Some of these include: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

14. Thank You! It was a pleasure presenting to you. For additional information, please feel free to contact me. Sulexan Chery Project Manager