Challenges and progress in 2006
Introduction
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| Graduation ceremony at Paix Bouche computer summer course |
The Community Resource and Internet Centers (CoRICs) initiative is one of the first Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) projects implemented by the UNDP under its poverty reduction programme for the Eastern Caribbean. It aims to promote and enhance access to ICT in small, rural agrarian communities.
Dominica was the first CoRICs country and remains well advanced in its efforts. The CORICs launched formally in 2005 is resident in three rural communities – Good Hope, Petite Soufriere and Paix Bouche.
As CoRICs Dominica has accomplished the phase of acquiring building space, furniture computers and other equipments, it needs more technical support on capacity building, creation of products and service contents and strategic business planning. In this context, some international volunteers visited CoRICs in 2006. From June to August, UNDP Intern visited Dominica to conduct situation analysis and Business Planning Toolkit development. The intern specialized in business administration, produced a toolkit that is practical and tangible. In the final reports, the followings is the summary of analysis as well as business planning.
1. Of the three centers, Paix Bouche and Good Hope, two centers are currently being operated. Both two centers are generating enough revenue to cover their operational costs, however, the financial status should be improved soon to make it self-sustainable
- All three centers have difficulties in network and equipment maintenance. Geological isolation makes it hard for them to receive timely service, so it is important to make them capable to fix simple problems on their own. UNDP can consider providing repair training to the coordinators as well as community members
- Financial performance analysis showed that both centers should increase number of customers as well as utilization level of each customer
2. Improvement plan has been developed across four key areas: product, pricing, promotion, and operation. For each area, specific examples and templates were developed to help management committee implement these ideas and apply them according to the local situation
- Product: Diversify revenue sources and help people use internet for their benefit
- Pricing: Provide diverse offerings to increase utilization
- Promotion: Increase customer awareness on new initiatives
- Operation: Structuralize organization and provide incentive to the coordinator
From August, an International United Nations Volunteer began his assignment with CoRICs to follow up on Business Planning as well as conduct capacity building such as Training for trainers (ToT). After sharing the Business Planning Toolkit with community members and agreeing to develop business plans for each community, coordinators and management committee members are now actively involved in creating new products and service contents. On national level, various ministries and NGOs showed their interest in establishing a strategic partnership to implement ICT projects such as e-agriculture, telemedicine and distance learning.
In September, the communities welcomed three new Peace Corps Volunteers assigned to village council and particularly to CoRICs. They are expected to assist CoRICs activities in general. Some of them have already started organizing computer classes for youth.
Lack of high-speed Internet connection and maintenance skills has been a common challenge and proposed solutions are in action. Cable and Wireless now offers high-speed Internet connection in every community and it is expected that connections can be established in early 2007. Due to low availability of human resources in IT to provide maintenance in the community, it will be outsourced to local technical supplier to provide machine inventory, maintenance and basic training for coordinators.
There still remain obstacles to achieve self-sustainability for CoRICs, but some steps forward have been made in 2006. This report will summarize CoRICs activities.
<For complete report, click here>
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