SDNP Malawi Project Document
UNDP Project Document (PRODOC)
Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP)
in Malawi
Document prepared by:
Dr. Paulos Nyirenda, UNDP SDNP
Consultant, Head, Physics
Department, Chancellor College,
University of Malawi, Zomba
Dr. Joseph J. Uta, UNDP SDNP
Consultant,
Librarian, Chancellor College,
University of Malawi, Zomba
Richard Labelle, Consultant, UNDP
SDNP, Hull, Canada
Lilongwe, Malawi
6 August 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acronyms and abbreviations.
A. CONTEXT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction
1. Description of sub-sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Host country strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Prior or ongoing assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Institutional framework for sub-sector. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
1. Problem to be addressed at the present situation. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Expected end of project situation . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Target beneficiaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Project strategy and institutional arrangements . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. Reasons for assistance from UNDP/executing agency . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
6. Coordination arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7. Counterpart support capacity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
D. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE(S), OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES . . . . . . .
. .
E. INPUTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F. RISKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G. PROJECT REVIEW, REPORTING, AND EVALUATION . . . . . . . . . .
. .
H. BUDGETS
I. REFERENCES
J. APPENDICES
APPENDIX Sources of funding
APPENDIX Background information on computer mediated
communications and glossary
APPENDIX Benefits of computer mediated communications and
of the Internet for development
ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS
AIF Africa Internet Forum
APC Association for Progressive
Communications
BBS bulletin board systems
CABECA Capacity Building for Electronic
Communications for Africa
CD-ROM compact disk- read only memory
CGIAR Consultative Group for
International Agricultural
Research
COMESA Common Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa
CONGOMA Council of NGOs of Malawi
CURE Coordination Unit for the
Rehabilitation of the Environment
DOS disk operating system
EIS Environment Information Systems
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
(USA)
ESANET Eastern and Southern Africa
Network
FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation
FTP file transfer protocol
Gb one gigabyte (one billion bytes)
GEMS Global Environment Monitoring
System
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GEMS Global Environment Monitoring
System
GRID Global Resources Information
Database
IARC international agricultural
research centres
IDRC International Development
Research Centre
IPF indicative planning figures
ISOC Internet Society
ISP Internet Service Provider
IUCN IUCN - The World Conservation
Union
Kb kilobyte (one thousand bytes)
Kbps kilobytes per second
LAN local area network
MEMP Malawi Environmental Monitoring
Project
MIM Malawi Institute of Management
MIPA Malawi Investment Promotion
Agency
MK Malawi Kwacha
MOREA Ministry of Research and
Environmental Affairs
MP&TC Malawi Posts and
Telecommunications Corporation
MOU memorandum of understanding
NGO non-governmental organization
NEAP National Environmental Action
Plan
PADIS Pan-African Development
Information System
PPP point-to-point protocol
RAM random access memory
SADC Southern African Development
Community
SANGONET South Africa NGO Network
SDNP Sustainable Development
Networking Programme
SLIP serial line Internet protocol
SOER state of the environment
reporting
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol
UNCED United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development
UNDP United Nations Development
Programme
UNEP United Nations Environment
Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational and
Scientific Organisation
UNFPA United Nations Fund for
Population Activities
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
UNIMA University of Malawi computer
network
USAID United States Agency for
International Development
USD United States dollars
UPS universal power supply
VSAT very small aperture terminals
WAN wide are networks
WCMC World Conservation Monitoring
Centre
WMO World Meteorological Organization
WTO World Tourism Organization
WUSC World University Service of
Canada
WWW World Wide Web
DRAFT
UNDP Project Document (PRODOC)
Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP)
in Malawi
Brief project description
The SDNP helps countries implement Agenda 21 by facilitating access
to information about sustainable development and by encouraging
participation in decision making for sustainable development. It
aims to involve all stakeholder groups in this process.
The SDNP will help Malawi develop the capacity to do this and to
acquire the information, know how and technology to implement
appropriate solutions for sustainable development and to share this
with stakeholders throughout the country. SDNP will enhance the
capacity of stakeholders to use computer mediated communications,
including the Internet, for this purpose. It will do this through
training and the provision of some equipment to encourage users to
connect. SDNP will also help develop an Internet connection. SDNP
will also develop an information server on sustainable development
and encourage participants to use the SDNP server and to contribute
and share information as well through the server.
The project will also help enhance the capacity for open and
participatory decision making processes, and will strive to have a
role in encouraging local and community based involvement in
sustainable development.
A. CONTEXT
Introduction
Sustainable development is development that meets present needs
without affecting the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.
Country context
Malawi is a landlocked, densely populated country in the Eastern
and Southern Africa region where approximately 10 million people
live in an area of about 120,000 km2. 20% of the country is covered
by surface water resources dominated by Lake Malawi. The climate in
Malawi ranges from semi-arid to sub-humid. Agriculture, the primary
means of subsistence and the mainstay of the economy, is largely
rain fed.
The lack of capacity of many Malawians to meet their basic needs as
far as food, primary health care, education and employment are
concerned, along with a booming population and weak institutional
structures, are some of the main reasons poverty persists and is
increasing with approximately 60 % of the rural and 65 % of the
urban population now below the poverty level.
Environmental degradation is of the main results of and reasons for
this. This vicious cycle is a major obstacle to sustainable human
development in Malawi. This situation persists in spite of an
increase in macro-economic GDP from 0.5% in 1987 to 7.8% in 1991.
A number of reports highlight this situation, including:
"Collaborative programming for Poverty Alleviation" and "Situation
Analysis of Poverty in Malawi" (GOM/UNDP, 1993).
In June 1994, Malawi completed a comprehensive participatory review
of the key environmental concerns facing Malawi. The resulting
National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) identified the following
key issues:
a) increasing pressure on natural resources from high population
growth;
b) soil erosion due to poor land management practices and
overstocking;
c) deforestation leading to scarcity of fuelwood, soil erosion,
flooding and siltation;
d) water pollution from agro-chemicals and industrial and sewage
effluent;
e) depletion of fish resources from water pollution and
overfishing;
f) loss of biological diversity;
g) human habitat degradation;
h) air pollution; and,
i) climate change.
The consequences of not addressing the above environmental problems
will be further environmental degradation which will hamper
sustainable development in Malawi. The rural and urban poor stand
to suffer most from this situation, and especially women, children
and female headed households.
Malawi is a member of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) and is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa (COMESA).
Rapid political transition is ongoing and this has resulted in
rapid democratization. A multiparty political system prevails and
democratic reforms are ongoing. This is leading to liberalization
of the telecommunications sector and greater sharing of
information. Freedom of information is protected by law.
There are four main urban centres in Malawi: Lilongwe, the capital;
Blantyre, the economical centre and largest city; Zomba, a centre
for research, agriculture and education; and Mzuzu, the most
important government and commercial centre in the North. All are
linked by telephone.
Malawi telecommunications policy is currently undergoing rapid
change. This may include eventual liberalizing of this sector of
the economy. Relatively good telecommunications infrastructure
links the main cities, but rural communications at the district
level are not as well developed.
1. Description of sub-sector
1.1 National development strategies and objectives (adapted from
the NEAP
Malawi participated in the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED) and has produced a National Environmental
Action Plan (NEAP). This has been prepared in pursuance of its
constitutional responsibilities and in response to the agreement
made at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The NEAP should be used as a reference document to guide
development activities and to ensure that environmental
considerations are integrated into development programmes.
1.2 National Environmental Action Plan
In order to integrate environment and natural resource management
issues in economic planning, Malawi has developed an institutional
structure comprising both sectoral and cross-sectoral agencies. The
Ministry of Research and Environmental Affairs (MOREA) was
constituted with wide ranging functions for overseeing, directing
and coordinating environmental affairs (p31 of the NEAP Action
Plan, Volume 1). Line ministries implement environmental management
in coordination with MOREA as per the NEAP.
Role of the SDNP
The SDNP could have a role to play in helping MOREA in its task of
coordination in the sectoral ministries and throughout the country
in the districts.
Lack of information has several impacts on the state of the
environment, and especially the ability to manage natural
resources. The following examples taken from the NEAP document
underline this issue and show where the SDNP could have a role to
play.
The NEAP identified the lack of access to information on
sustainable agricultural practices by the very poor. This explains
why the poor, who represent 60-65% of the population, about 6-6.5
million people, have heavily discounted future income and pursue
sub-optimal social consumption patterns, leading to environmental
degradation (p 36 on the NEAP Action Plan).
There is little information about the costs of environmental
degradation (p45). There is little information regarding
appropriate silvicultural management, particularly in the area of
seedling production and tree planting (p45).
As far as fisheries are concerned, there is inadequate information
on fish resources to formulate guidelines for sustainable
management of the resources (p51).
The Government of Malawi has identified several actions to address
environmental issues. The following are directly relevant:
In order to empower local leaders in biodiversity conservation, the
Government of Malawi will give local communities the authority,
power and knowledge to act so as to care for their environment and
to participate in the management of protected areas (p 82).
In order to empower women in decision making, the Government of
Malawi will raise public awareness of women's rights in decisions
affecting the size of the family (p86).
The Government of Malawi will, through the appropriate authorities,
and the National Library Service and NGOs (p 89):
- Develop local environmental information centres to cater to the
information needs of researchers, scientists, decision makers at
all levels, development workers and rural communities;
- Promote the sharing of resources through national networking in
order to strengthen institutions in environmental programmes;
- Develop links with International Environmental Information
systems such as Infoterra, the Global Environment Monitoring
System (GEMS), and others;
- Consolidate, analyze, repackage and publish data and information
from computer network operations at ministerial and departmental
and non-governmental organizations levels regrading a variety of
parameters indicative of environmental trends in Malawi;
- Improve communication patterns with communities and various
organizations and other countries, in order to explore ways of
promoting sustainability and self reliance of projects.
The Government of Malawi will disseminate public information and
raise environmental awareness.
The Government of Malawi recognizes the importance of certain cross
cutting issues that have implications on institutional
responsibilities and organizations. MOREA will be responsible for
implementing an Environmental Information System (EIS) in order to
implement the NEAP.
1.X Capacity 21
....
Role of the SDNP
The SDNP supports the Capacity 21 programme in Malawi. Capacity 21
focuses on environmental issues. While Capacity 21 is therefore
concerned about the environmental dimension of development in
Malawi, sustainable development, and the SDNP, are concerned about
related issues.
These issues include the linkages between the environment and the
economy. Other issues related to social and human welfare and
development, and to the human environment in general, are also
important and cannot be divorced from sustainable development.
Priorities for sustainable development in Malawi are addressed in
the relevant national plans, including the NEAP.
The role of the SDNP is to promote sustainable development by
helping inform decision making on priority issues. SDNP also acts
by enhancing the capacity of elements of civil society to
participate in the development of these plans and their
implementation. This empowerment of the actors or stakeholders for
development and sustainable development, is key to the SDNP
concept.
1.3 Information culture
In 1995, after wide ranging debate, Malawi adopted a new
constitution. The constitution enshrines the principles of
political pluralism and elections by secret ballot for a parliament
and for the President. The new constitution affirmed freedom of
expression.
These developments promote openness, debate and the free flow of
information. They justify more information sharing, among the
various stakeholders for sustainable development and elements of
civil society in general, and especially the government. These
developments are encouraging for the SDNP. Most developing
countries, and especially those in Africa, have not enshrined these
rights nor recognized their importance for development. During the
present feasibility study, many individuals from all sectors have
voiced the need for greater information sharing and networking.
Many felt access to the Internet is a priority.
At present, over 700 end users subscribe to the University of
Malawi 'UNIMA' FidoNet computer network. At present, there are a
few hundred users in Lilongwe and some of the regional centres and
districts where there is telephone access. The vast majority of the
population have little concept of informatics and telematics. For
them, freedom of the press may not be immediately significant.
In spite of the above, the rate of adoption of computer mediated
communications in Malawi is among the highest in the region, with
about 3 new connections established a week on the UNIMA FidoNet
network.
1.4 Information for decision making: needs
A significant information gap exists in Malawi on issues related to
sustainable development and environmental management in general.
Decision making on environmental issues has not been based on up to
date data because this has not been collected regularly. Time
series are not available and benchmarking is made all the more
difficult as a result. Another problem is the lack of ability or
capacity to communicate readily with regional, district and local
authorities.
Although some environmental monitoring has been carried out, there
is little available environmental data. There is no state of the
environment report (SOER) per se in Malawi, although the National
Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) does deal with some of these
issues. Remote sensing technologies need to be more widely used for
monitoring and collecting data on the environment.
MOREA is responsible for meeting these needs and for coordinating
research and data collection for this purpose. Already, and
Environment Information System (EIS) node has been established
within MOREA offices and is contributing to strengthen capacity in
environmental management and state of the environment reporting.
The resulting data and information need to be more widely
disseminated.
Malawi has an extensive network of libraries and research centres.
The Chitedze Agricultural Research Centre and Bunda College of
Agriculture (University of Malawi), along with an extensive network
of agricultural research stations in the country, are important
resources.
These institutions maintain important libraries and collections of
data on agriculture and the environment, as well as socio-economic
data. The Forestry Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM), has an
important collection of data and information, as well as national
expertise, on sustainable forest management and forestry in
general. Malawi is the forestry coordination unit of the Southern
African Development Community (SADC).
The National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens is the national focal
point for the Convention on Biological Diversity and has a mandate
to conserve natural resources, especially botanical resources in
the country. It has a rich collection of information and networks
extensively in the region and around the world with other centres
of botanical expertise, such as Kew Gardens and New York Botanical
Garden. This information needs to be more widely disseminated
within Malawi.
The University of Malawi undertakes biological, agricultural and
demographic research and has important information resources on
these subjects. The University of Malawi networks extensively with
other research and academic institutions in the country, the region
and worldwide. It maintains strong working relationships with the
other national institutions mentioned here. This networking needs
to be enhanced and strengthened.
Accessing information relevant to the state of the environment, on
current trends and policies regarding sustainable development world
wide and in the region, as well as in Malawi in particular, is a
challenge.
Given recognition by the Government of Malawi of the need for
sharing information in local languages, obtaining and being able to
share information in these languages will be important.
Local information is essential, along with regional and
international information. Given the advent of computer mediated
communications, there is an opportunity of helping Malawi develop
and/or access these resources for national development and
sustainable development. There is a need to catalyze the advent of
these developments.
The strong tradition of agricultural research, in support of
plantation crops initially, and now cover a wide range of
agricultural and forestry commodities, processes and practices,
means that there is a solid knowledge base.
Knowledge resources include people, their expertise, experiences
and other tools that help translate information to understanding
and action. Significant agricultural research has taken place in
Malawi. This has generated much valuable information including
indigenous knowledge resources such as locally developed and
adopted or adapted technologies, practices, experiences and
solutions.
Conventional mechanisms of sharing information, such as the media,
correspondence and face to face meetings, will continue to be
important. With computer mediated communications, and especially
the existing and impending developments in telecommunications and
networking infrastructure, it is also possible to readily share
news, views, data, information and knowledge with and among users
and providers of information around the country and around the
world in a timely fashion.
Telecommunications
Present situation : Voice grade telephone services are
available at most institutions, but the telephone network
is sometimes unreliable. International telephone
communications are available from the main urban centres in the
country. These are expensive, with rates of about USD 3 / minute to
all destinations outside the region for example.
There are three satellite earth stations in the country. A radio
based rural telecommunications system exists to link outlying
areas. The possibility of liberalized telecommunications, should
this include the telephone system, could open the way to lower
costs and improved performance and the spread of the telephone
system.
Future plans : Modernization of the telecommunication
infrastructure is a priority of the present government. Given the
availability of telecommunication facilities and level of
computerization of main potential SDNP users in Malawi, there is a
high potential for the success of the SDNP project.
The Government of Malawi plans to provide services that will
require the fastest growth rates of all SADC countries: a 25% per
annum rate of growth (BMI TechKnowledge. 1994. Communication
Technologies Handbook 1994. p62). Telecommunications policy
development in Malawi appears headed in the right direction.
However, a clear written policy on telecommunications is needed
especially in the view of current changes regarding the laws and
decrees on the role and responsibility of the national operator. A
clearly stated Government of Malawi policy is also needed on
private sector participation in the telecommunications sector. It
is hoped that the current changes will lead to a liberalisation of
the sector, with a clear separation between the operator and a
licensing body.
Projections for 1995 are the following: the total exchange capacity
will rise to 58,000 lines. Annual growth in the number of telephone
lines is expected to reach 10% in 1995. Extension of existing
telecommunications infrastructure needs to be done by:(1) increased
exchange automation, (2) increased number of exchange connections,
(3) increased access to rural areas (5) increased digitalization
and (5) introduction of public data services (6) construction of
another satellite earth station for international traffic. A number
of these are under serious considerations and/or are already being
carried out by the Malawi Posts and Telecommunications Corporation
(MP&TC).
In rural areas, radio assisted telephone communications exist. The
MP&TC is also being courted by and/or considering several regional
and international projects to increase connectivity with the world
and in the region.
Existing Networks in the country
In Malawi the computer industry is still young. Most of the big
names ( IBM, DEC, ICL, etc.) are present in Blantyre. There are
very few local area networks (LANs). Those that do exist are not
interconnected or linked to outside networks or wide area networks
(WANs). Those that are, including UNDP, use store and forward
communications software for exchanging files with remote computers
over the telephone lines. These systems are based on FidoNet, UUCP
or proprietary telecommunications packages such as the Higgins mail
system used by UNDP for example. The UNDP Higgins system is not
connected to UNIMA even though it is Internet compatible. At
present, the World Bank offices are not connected.
Several government departments, parastatals and public companies,
the private sector, NGOs and donor organizations use a variety of
these technologies. Most lack maintenance and adequate technical
support. They also require substantial system management.
Unfortunately this area is still very under developed.
There are two main categories of networks in Malawi: private
networks, either LANs or WANs and publicly accessible networks.
Most of the private networks are based on the Novell network
operating system, with a Novell server and workstations.
There is no existing public interactive access to the Internet.
Such access has traditionally been achieved within the region by
introducing expensive but low speed leased lines to South Africa.
There is also now the possibility of installing very small aperture
satellite (VSAT) terminals to achieve better connectivity speeds at
lower costs.
VSAT technology needs to be seriously considered for the
introduction of international Internet access in Malawi. Planned
improvements to the telecommunications system, including
digitalization and introduction of public data services (X.25) in
Malawi would significantly improve potential Internet access in
Malawi.
Of particular interest to the SDNP are the publicly accessible
computer networks. These are described here (see the glossary and
introduction on computer mediated communications for more
information on these and related information technology terms).
FidoNet (and Internet)
FidoNet is a hierarchical store-and-forward computer networking
technology that provides electronic mail and file transfer. Users
on FidoNet are capable of exchanging mail and files with the
Internet using the telephone system. There is no existing public
interactive Internet access in Malawi.
The University of Malawi operates UNIMA, a nation wide publicly
accessible FidoNet computer network. Store-and-forward e-mail and
file transfer access to the Internet is achieved by batched
connections through a gateway in South Africa. Users in Malawi
using either IBM compatible PC's or Macintoshs send mail and files
within Malawi as well as to the Internet via the UNIMA node located
at Chancellor College in Zomba.
Other Internet access such as file search (Archie etc) and file
transfer (FTP) and Gopher are available using the store-and-forward
e-mail access to the Internet. Many users currently use these
facilities to locate and get files from servers on the Internet and
other networks linked to the Internet and FidoNet.
UNIMA uses MP&TC infrastructure for FidoNet and Internet access.
Users on the network must dial into the UNIMA node in Zomba to
send, receive and exchange mail. Local telephone calls in Malawi
are relatively inexpensive. The Zomba node places or receives
international telephone calls to send and receive Internet mail.
There are three telephone calls per day from the Southern Africa
NGO network (SANGONET) gateway in Johannesburg.
These provide the main international Internet access for users on
UNIMA. One other network node calls the node in Zomba: the USAID
TRADENET network from USA, usually at the rate of a call a day.
Email transfer on UNIMA relies on calls originating from abroad in
order to reduce operating costs by taking advantage of lower
telephone costs in countries abroad.
Users on UNIMA currently pay very modest fees for international e-
mail access to the international networks. There is a fixed charge
of MK 10 per user account per month (USD 1= MK 15). Each user is
also charged MK 1 per kilobyte of data transferred internationally.
There is no charge for data transfer within Malawi. These low
charges were put in place to (a) encourage network usage, (b) to
recover international mail transfer costs as well as (c) for basic
equipment maintenance. They are too modest to cover staff costs.
There are between 650 and 700 users in more than 100 organizations
on the UNIMA network who make active use of the system. Appendix B
### shows the list of FidoNet point installations currently
available under UNIMA.
Most users on UNIMA desire fully interactive Internet access for
better information searching and exchange. The services on UNIMA
would therefore be greatly enhanced under SDNP if such interactive
Internet access can be one of the outputs of the SDNP programme.
Although such access has been put in place in the region using
leased lines, such connections are known to be very costly yet
achieve low connectivity speeds. A system based on leased lines
could be too expensive for most Malawian users and organisations.
The possibility of using a direct satellite connection using VSAT
technology would provide better access speeds at a lower cost
affordable to most Malawian users.
The UNIMA network has benefited considerably from funding by the
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) which funded the
East and Southern Africa Network (ESANET) project as well as the
Capacity Building in Electronic Communications in Africa (CABECA)
programme managed by the Pan African Development Information System
(PADIS). Recently, financial, equipment and technical assistance
have also been provided by the World University Service of Canada
(WUSC) and the Canada Fund.
BBS
The BBS systems are locally based and may also have international
connections through store-and-forward technologies. Some of these
BBS systems may also have Internet access. InterAccess is the only
BBS currently available in Malawi, providing access for a limited
time after hours. This BBS does not currently support Internet
compatible electronic mail and file transfer. UNIMA supports
Internet email and file transfer for all InterAccess users.
X.25
There are currently no X.25 services in Malawi. The Malawi Posts
and Telecommunications Corporation will reportedly introduce a
nationwide X.25 network in late 1995.
Private Networks
Foreign and UN missions in Malawi have small in-house private
installation for electronic mail and file transfer. The UNDP, USAID
and other such missions operate such networks. These are not
connected to the UNIMA network. However the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Fund for Population
Activities (UNFPA) have recently been connected to UNIMA.
Computerization
The feasibility study sample and the level of use of
UNIMA suggests many users are computerized. There are 700
end users in UNIMA from 150 organizations.
2. Host country strategy and programmes
The Government is committed to sound environmental management and
endorsed the agreements reached during the Earth Summit in Rio de
Janeiro in June 1992. MOREA is a coordinating ministry.
The telecommunications sector is being restructured and may open up
to more liberalization and services under the MP&TC.
Government policies encourage an open market economy.
3. Prior or ongoing assistance
Capacity 21 project support in Malawi
UNDP is funding the Capacity 21 project which aims to build
capacity to integrate sustainability, improved intersectoral
coordination and environment management issues into the development
process.
Capacity 21 also seeks to enhance national capacity for sustainable
development. Regarding the SDNP, the Capacity 21 project will help
to enhance the human networking necessary for computer networking
to be useful. Capacity 21 will do this by strengthening
institutional linkages between MOREA and other ministries by
supporting joint intersectoral collaboration with the technical
planning units in key ministries.
Similarly at the regional level, Capacity 21 will emphasize
strengthening links between regional economic planning, physical
planning, and other relevant state structures and NGOs. At all
levels, the aim is also to improve intersectoral coordination
mechanisms.
UNEP Infoterra
SDNP will work closely with the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) Infoterra activity. Infoterra is a global
environmental information referral service operated for several
years by UNEP. Infoterra has developed several Internet
applications and shares similar objectives with the SDNP. UNDP and
UNEP have agreed on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that means
they will collaborate as much as possible. The Infoterra national
focal is located at MOREA. This will mean that the SDNP will have
the opportunity of working closely with the Infoterra. SDNP will
help enhance Infoterra connectivity.
At present, there is no direct telephone line to the Infoterra node
and they are not directly connected to UNIMA through their own user
id. Access is through a connection at the USAID funded Malawi
Environmental Monitoring Project (MEMP) domiciled at MOREA.
Networking activities
Africa Internet Forum
Several regional and Africa wide initiatives need to be mentioned.
The Africa Internet Forum (AIF), an ad hoc grouping of donors, has
recently been established. UNDP, the World Bank, the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) and possibly others
have agreed that Internet access is important for development in
Africa. It is considered a tool that can enhance development. The
SDNP needs to continue to remain aware of AIF developments.
CABECA
Building on the experience and success of the earlier pilot
projects, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of
Canada has made USD 800 000 available for a three-year project
which started January 1993. The Capacity Building for Electronic
Communications for Africa (CABECA) project will promote computer
mediated communications throughout Africa. CABECA aims to have an
impact in 34 African countries. It will be executed by the Pan
African Development Information System (PADIS) of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
CABECA will work with local hosts to build a strong base of users
in each country. UNIMA is the CABECA node in Malawi. CABECA hopes
to accelerate national network development to help share the cost
of acquiring interactive access to the Internet.
4. Institutional framework of sub-sector
The Ministry of Research and Environmental Affairs (MOREA) is the
Government institution responsible for the development of a
national strategy for sustainable development.
The Malawi Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (MP&TC) is
responsible for telecommunications.
B. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION
1. Problem to be addressed
The lack of access to relevant information in local languages and
in other languages on the state of the environment, on current
trends and policies regarding sustainable development world wide
and in the region, as well as in Malawi in particular, means that
policy makers, legislators and the public, as well as key
stakeholder groups, are not as aware as they could be of
priorities to be addressed and of ways to best address these
problems, and of the resources and expertise available to solve
these problems.
There is much information in Malawi, but this is not always well
collated nor always readily accessible. The SDNP feasibility
study identified some of the key information resources relevant
to sustainable development in Malawi. The SDNP project itself
will continue to do so and to characterize these resources.
Participation and intersectoral coordination are problems that
need to be addressed before effective communication and
information sharing can take place. The nature of participatory
processes that would allow stakeholders a say in the development
of appropriate policies and practices for sustainable development
is not clear. This is not surprising in a country that has just
had its first free elections. This means that policies and
legislation may not yet reflect the needs of all stakeholder
groups, especially those at the local and community level.
There is a lack of public awareness of the principles and
practices of sustainable development as they relate to Malawi.
Thanks to an active press, these concerns can be addressed by
helping the media to be better informed and networked. These are
a prerequisite for creating an enabling environment for
sustainable development. A first step is to influence attitudes
in order to change behaviour among stakeholders and the public in
general. Enhancing connectivity is a way of helping journalists
and other opinion leaders using the SDNP to become better
informed on sustainable development in Malawi.
There is growing awareness of and capacity to use tools for
computer mediated communications such as Bulletin Board Systems
(BBS), electronic mail and electronic conferencing, and other
similar applications, as ways of facilitating collaboration and
information exchange. There is a need for spreading awareness and
capacity in the public sector and to the rural areas in Malawi.
Access to the telecommunications network in rural areas is
limited and needs improvement.
2. Expected end of project situation
The SDNP Steering Committee and the SDNP Coordination Unit
established and functional.
The SDNP Malawi node connected, operating and offering training
to users and other trainers.
Several representatives of stakeholder groups, including members
of the Steering Committee, trained in the use of computer
mediated communications and connected to the SDNP/UNIMA node at
Chancellor College.
At least nine nodes linked to the SDNP/UNIMA server through the
Chancellor College network, including one established in MOREA in
Lilongwe.
A self sustaining mechanism or commitments for ongoing support in
place to support the continued operation of the SDNP.
The media and opinion leaders better informed about sustainable
development in Malawi.
Over the longer term, the project will lead to greater awareness,
greater access to information for sustainable development, and
better decision making for sustainable development.
As support to the NEAP and the Capacity 21 initiative, SDNP will
also have helped to achieve the following outputs:
I. SDNP will have contributed to supporting the development of
environmental units within the line ministries and helped to
network these to facilitate the NEAP and the Capacity 21
programme in Malawi;
II. SDNP will have helped strengthen environmental management
capacity at the level of the provinces, districts and
communities through the relevant organs of civil society and
the state;
III. SDNP will have helped improve donor coordination.
IV. SDNP will have contributed to the recognition and the
facilitation of the participation of local communities in
natural resource management, giving particular attention to
the role of women.
V. SDNP will have helped users share data they collect for
databases necessary for improved environmental management and
will have helped put in place a mechanism to ensure that
these remain updated;
VI. SDNP will have helped develop public awareness;
VII. SDNP will have helped to enable the teaching of environmental
and sustainable development values through the educational
system in Malawi.
3. Target beneficiaries
Various stakeholders in development will benefit from this project,
in particular the following:
In government, the ministries responsible for the following areas
are the main beneficiaries: environmental affairs and natural
resources, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, wildlife and national
parks and protected areas, women's and children's affairs,
education, health, disaster planning and relief, tourism,
information, posts telephone and telecommunications, and planning
and finance.
Among the community of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the
following have been identified on a preliminary basis because of
their wide ranging and relevant activities and knowledge: Council
of NGOs of Malawi (CONGOMA) a parastatal that coordinates NGOs, an
NGO of NGOs; the Coordination Unit for the Rehabilitation of the
Environment (CURE), a recently created environmental umbrella NGO
dealing with coordination and information sharing among the NGO
community around the country; the Christian Service Committee of
Churches in Malawi. There are likely to be others as well.
The private sector
Several organizations of business professionals have been
identified and some have shown interest and participated in
meetings of the feasibility study team including: the Malawi
Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Malawi Investment Promotion
Agency (MIPA); the Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) a World
Bank project of Malawi; the World Bank; the Reserve Bank of Malawi
and the Commercial Bank of Malawi; and the Malawi Union of Savings
and Credit Cooperatives Ltd.
As a result of the feasibility study, it is clear that the SDNP-
Malawi should be an inter-disciplinary facility, disseminating
information at the following three levels:
Decision-making level : demand at this level is mainly found in
governmental institutions including MOREA, the Ministry of
Agriculture, and other government ministries. Information needs at
this level can be specific and could include a need for information
on management practices, policies and regulations relevant to
sustainable development. Information on natural resource management
and experiences from elsewhere, for example from Zimbabwe on the
management of national parks for example, could be very important
to Malawi.
Information on overseas markets, non-tariff barriers, pollution
standards, pollution abatement methods and clean production
technologies could also interest the private sector. The
relationship between the greening of consumers and international
trade and sustainable
development would also be
directly relevant.
Information on the state of the
environment continues to be
needed. There is a need to
enhance basic telecommunications
infrastructure to permit
headquarters, regional and
district level officers in the
Government of Malawi, and
especially MOREA, to
communicate.
Research level : demand at
this level is mainly found in
some government departments,
research and academic
institutions and some NGO's. Information needs at this level are
wider and include all issues related to sustainable development.
Awareness level : demand here comes mainly from MOREA; and NGO's,
including NGOs working in environment, development and health;
local and community groups; grassroots organizations and religious
groups. Information on news, views, opinions, calenders of events
and directories could be very important at this level. There is a
need for Malawi based NGOs to work more closely together in
collaboration with the Government of Malawi and especially MOREA in
its role as a coordinating agency.
4. Strategy and institutional arrangements
4.1 Strategy :
The strategy adopted in this project is to create an open structure
for managing the SDNP that will foster consensus decision making
processes and develop the SDNP node in Malawi.
An ad hoc advisory group that could eventually be part of the SDNP
Steering Committee has been meeting while the SDNP feasibility
study was ongoing. This ad hoc advisory group is made up of key
representatives from different sectors of the economy and of civil
society. It has helped focus the study on the most feasible options
for the SDNP.
This ad hoc group has benefited from the participation of the
following organizations: UNDP, MOREA, the University of Malawi
(Bunda College of Agriculture, Chancellor College, the
Polytechnic), the Data Processing Unit of the Ministry of Finance,
MIPA, Malawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, MIM, the Department
of Energy, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development,
MP&TC, National Library Service, Department of Human Resources
Management and Development, CONGOMA, CURE, the Food and Agriculture
Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), and the National
Herbarium and Botanical Gardens, the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) and the World University Service
of Canada (WUSC).
The ad hoc group has helped secure valuable feedback and
participation during the feasibility study.
The eventual SDNP, helped by the Steering Committee, will encourage
support from government and other actors in sustainable development
as well as ensure close coordination with on-going programmes. The
SDNP Coordination Unit and the Steering Committee will work
together to help the project raise awareness among decision makers
of the need for sustainable development. The SDNP will focus on
national networking and access to the Internet and the creation of
a national information server on sustainable development. It will
encourage greater use of the existing UNIMA FidoNet network.
The intent of this endeavour is to increase connectivity and
communications between key stakeholders and to encourage and help
develop appropriate participatory processes in support of
sustainable development. Together, these objectives should lead to
better informed decision making.
Informed decision making leads to greater awareness of options,
resources and/or experiences needed for developing appropriate
solutions for sustainable development.
For a wider discussion of the benefits and advantages of using
computer mediated communications, refer to Appendix ###.
Specifically, informed decision making leads to:
. Better ability to learn from existing experiences, especially at
the local and community level;
. Less duplication of effort;
. Better use of existing and sometimes limited resources;
. More timely interventions;
. More consensus.
These in turn, lead to better identification of needs, resources
and a better idea of priorities. Together, these lead to better
development plans and programmes, and more effective and efficient
executions of plans and policies, as well as greater stakeholder
support.
In order to ensure its sustainability, a resource mobilization
mechanism is incorporated into the project design, so as to
catalyse funding of the processes that are developed. This is an
essential and basic principle of operation and a key strategy for
the SDNP. SDNP must start thinking of becoming self sustaining from
the onset of the project.
A priority for the SDNP operation will be to market the SDNP idea.
For this, and for the reasons given above, the SDNP will develop a
business plan.
The SDNP will not participate directly in the creation of large
databases, a role that others can better deal with. Instead, the
SDNP will seek to enhance connectivity between database developers
and users.
For the purposes of this project, MOREA is the executing agency and
is responsible for manning the secretariat of the SDNP Steering
Committee. Chancellor College of the University of Malawi in Zomba,
will house the offices of the SDNP Coordination unit. MOREA's
Infoterra node in the Documentation Unit will be the location of
the SDNP offices in Lilongwe. This will ensure that SDNP is closely
connected to MOREA. This will also help MOREA to discharge its
responsibilities under the NEAP and the Capacity 21 programme.
SDNP will work closely with CURE to ensure that NGOs are directly
involved. SDNP will seek secondment of CURE staff to the SDNP node
and will establish a server in the CURE offices. Together, MOREA
and Chancellor College will provide logistical support to the SDNP
unit.
The SDNP will seek close collaboration with representatives of the
business community, including especially the Malawi Investment
Promotion Agency (MIPA), the Malawi Institute of Management (MIM)
and the Malawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Blantyre.
4.2 Institutional arrangements :
Execution
MOREA will be the executing institution for the SDNP project. The
office of the SDNP Coordination unit will be at Chancellor College,
with an office at MOREA and at CURE. MOREA will meet the financial
reporting requirements of the project.
Steering Committee
Representatives of key sectors have been identified during the
feasibility study. These groups are listed above.
The role of the SDNP Steering Committee is to provide advice,
direction and support to the SDNP Coordinator and the Coordination
Unit staff, and to review plans, activities and achievements with
the SDNP Coordinator. This will be done on an ongoing basis.
The Steering Committee represents stakeholder groups and networks
with these stakeholders on issues related to sustainable
development in Malawi. It is suggested that the Steering Committee
be established in the early stages of the project to help launch
the SDNP. An interim Steering Committee may need to be established
first.
The Steering Committee will play a major role in guiding and
orienting the SDNP and insuring proper function of the activities
undertaken by it. The Steering Committee will also have a role to
play in long term planning and the achievement of cost recovery.
The Steering Committee does not have direct responsibility for
financial management, although it should have knowledge of the
financial status of the project. The Steering Committee is the
vehicle for reflecting stakeholder participation in the management
and operation of the SDNP.
SDNP Coordination Unit
The SDNP Coordinator is accountable to the Steering Committee, and
to the executing agency MOREA, and reports to both on an ongoing
basis. The SDNP Coordination Unit has expertise in the following
areas: an understanding of the national priorities for sustainable
development; an understanding of sound management practices, and
especially marketing and communications; and expertise in
information technology, and especially computer mediated
communications.
The job descriptions for the SDNP Coordinator and for the SDNP
Information Specialist are as follows:
SDNP Coordinator
Under the direction of the Steering Committee, the SDNP Coordinator
will be responsible for all aspects of establishing and managing
the SDNP project.
The SDNP Coordinator will be expected to have a very good
understanding of the issues related to and main players involved in
promoting sustainable development in Malawi and otherwise, a
demonstrated understanding of the use of information technology for
computer mediated communications, demonstrated and strong
managerial skills, have good writing skills, and have good
interpersonal and communication skills along with initiative and
drive.
The SDNP Coordinator will be responsible for helping to develop,
adapt and implement the program of work and a detailed budget based
on the approved project document. He or she will be responsible for
managing the small SDNP secretariat, for undertaking and/or
supervising the ongoing tasks of research and analysis, for making
recommendations regarding priorities and the expenditure of funds,
and for doing this in consultation with members of the SDNP
Steering Committee.
The Coordinator will also be responsible for developing a marketing
and business plan and/or other plans for the ongoing operation of
the SDNP.
The SDNP Coordinator will be an entrepreneur for the SDNP.
The SDNP Coordinator will work closely with the SDNP Steering
Committee, MOREA and Chancellor College, the Director of the UNDP
SDNP in New York and with UNDP staff in Lilongwe. Ongoing
communications will be maintained.
The Information Specialist will be responsible for submitting
timely reports to MOREA and others as required, including the
Steering Committee and the Director of the UNDP SDN in New York.
In consultation with other SDNP staff, the SDNP Steering Committee
and others as appropriate, the SDNP Coordinator will help develop
the main programme areas for the SDNP to focus on. This will
include identifying local and other sources of information and
expertise on issues related to sustainable development in Malawi,
and developing a variety of information products and services to
disseminate and communicate this information.
A key component of this will be marketing information products and
services. The SDNP Coordinator, with the help of the Steering
Committee will develop and implement a marketing plan and
eventually, the business plan for the SDNP.
The SDNP Coordinator, in consultation with the Information
Specialist, MOREA, Chancellor College, CURE and the Steering
Committee, will help identify and develop training activities to
support the national SDNP. He will work closely with MOREA,
Chancellor College and CURE to prepare and deliver national
workshops for SDNP members throughout Malawi.
Information Specialist
Under the supervision of the SDNP Coordinator and/or his or her
designated representative, the Information Specialist will be
responsible for developing and managing the information technology
aspects of an operational SDNP node and this will be based on the
use of computer mediated communications. He or she will establish
the necessary hook ups, acquire and install the hardware and
software. He will help train SDNP staff and of SDNP users or
members as required.
He/she will be responsible for establishing the SDNP information
server. This will be done by searching for and acquiring relevant
information, by encouraging SDNP network users and stakeholders to
contribute information in ASCII format for example, by establishing
electronic conferences through which this information can be
shared, and by loading and maintaining this information on the SDNP
server. He or she will use various software applications for this
purpose, including, where and when appropriate, Internet
applications.
The Information Specialist will also be responsible for responding
to the needs of SDNP users for information and will search sources
in country or elsewhere. When appropriate, searches will be
conducted using the Internet.
He or she will have a good understanding of and demonstrated
experience using computer mediated communications, especially
computer networking. The ideal candidate will also have a good
understanding of sustainable development and of the information
needs of the user community.
He or she will have the usual communication skills and the ability
to express himself or herself in writing and orally in English.
Good presentation skills will be very useful. Flexibility and
willingness to undertake other tasks as necessary will also be
required.
Role of Chancellor College of the University of Malawi
Chancellor College, with others such as MOREA and CURE will provide
counterpart support to the project. This includes offices for the
SDNP Coordinator and his staff, subsidized housing for SDNP staff,
as well as facilities for receiving the SDNP host computer.
Chancellor College will also provide at least two telephone lines
for the normal operation of the Coordination Unit: a direct line
for the Unit itself and one line for fax. It will be up to other
organizations to lease lines to the main node in Zomba or to other
nodes, assuming the MP&TC can provide leased line services. For the
purposes of the project at this time, at least one other dialin
line will be needed for a dial up Internet connection. In this way,
users in Malawi can obtain dial up access to the Internet. The SDNP
server will be connected to a foreign internet service provider
(ISP) via a VSAT connection.
An option to be resolved is for MOREA to consider seconding a staff
person on a full time basis to the SDNP. This person would acquire
the capacity to operate and maintain the SDNP node at MOREA. This
person would be trained under the terms of this project and with
the help of Chancellor College.
Chancellor College will also help provide technical expertise and
training as part of the local contribution. This will also include
the establishment of SDNP nodes, including testing and installing
the required equipment.
Implementation arrangements
Phasing
This is a two year project. Most of the activities will be ongoing
ones. Phasing is as follows: the ad hoc advisory group that has
already been meeting during the feasibility study, continues to
provide input.
Once the project has been approved, MOREA takes the initiative to
convene the ad hoc advisory group to a meeting where the SDNP
Steering Committee would be formally constituted. The project would
be a UNDP project executed by MOREA. The legal standing of the SDNP
may have to be reviewed as circumstances change, for example, once
UNDP support ceases.
This meeting will take steps to approve the position description
(see the description included here) for the SDNP Coordinator and
the Information Specialist. The positions are to be advertised in
the press and also circulated through electronic and other
appropriate channels to encourage expatriated Malawians to apply.
All SDNP positions are advertised at the same time to permit the
best choice of candidates possible. This will also serve to
advertise the SDNP.
The Steering Committee constitutes a panel for the selection
process. The SDNP Coordinator, along with the SDNP staff, establish
offices at Chancellor College and MOREA. The SDNP Coordinator's
main task initially is to establish the Coordination Unit.
With the help of MOREA, Chancellor College, UNDP and the Steering
Committee, the SDNP Coordinator and his/her team develop a
programme of work that includes cost recovery.
Programme of work
Once the programme of work is in place and has been approved by the
Steering Committee, the SDNP Coordinator implements the plan.
He/she will become very much acquainted with the needs of the
community of potential users of SDNP services. He/she will
communicate with them on an ongoing basis. He/she will demonstrate,
with the support of the SDNP team, what the SDNP has to offer. Work
on the marketing and communications plan that will make up the
business plan begins, including a plan for cost recovery. Once this
information has been assembled, the cost recovery plan will be
proposed to the Steering Committee.
Hardware and equipment purchases
These are to be acquired free of duty with the advice of UNDP. The
budget reflects USD street prices in New York city, for computer
hardware and software.
The coordination unit in collaboration with Chancellor College,
MOREA and UNDP acquires all the equipment for the coordination unit
including the VSAT terminal. Chancellor College installs all
hardware. The Spark station is installed and linked to the VSAT
terminal at Chancellor College and networked with the other
servers. The PC server for MOREA is installed and linked to the
Spark station at Chancellor College by leased line. Equipment for
the other nodes are acquired and installed as soon as possible.
Chancellor College expands the number of dial in telephone lines to
permit greater access to the SDNP resources through the Chancellor
College network. The SDNP Coordinator and Chancellor College staff
responsible for implementing the network establish the BBS
functionality of the SDNP server as a first step. This service will
expand the email network and could be a way of promoting file
sharing and the use of electronic conferencing. SDNP obtains or
encourages the production of locally relevant information for
loading on the SDNP server at Chancellor College.
The server is set up and linked to the Chancellor College LAN.
The other servers are set up after a host organization has been
identified and operators have been trained.
There are three implementing organizations under the SDNP project:
MOREA, the University of Malawi and UNDP. MOREA is the location of
the Lilongwe node and UNDP DAIS establishes a server for its own
use. Chancellor College is the location of the SDNP Coordination
Unit.
Training plans and activities
A training plan will be developed for node operators and to meet
the needs of users. From the feasibility study, it is clear that
there is a need to reach many users, including staff of MOREA at
headquarters and in the field, Malawi NGOs, other government
departments, the private sector, and others as well.
The University of Malawi, as one of the three implementing
organizations, has agreed to provide the facilities for short
courses on computer mediated communications in collaboration with
the Malawi Institute of Management (MIM).
The University of Malawi has five campuses in Lilongwe, Blantyre
and Zomba. MIM is located in Lilongwe. The University of Malawi
facilities could also be used for computer training. SDNP personnel
could also travel to outlying areas for training.
Travel
This element of the budget is for travel within Malawi. The SDNP
will involve four regional centres and at least 6 districts. Travel
will be required to each of the 9 installations planned for. Road
travel will be preferred and will take place using local transport,
and other means where appropriate and where administrative
mechanisms permit this to happen. Administrative issues could
include obtaining an official vehicle from MOREA. MOREA will work
out a transport solution.
The SDNP server
The SDNP staff and collaborators in organizations hosting a SDNP
node search for and obtain information that will interest their
users and that can be loaded as digital (ASCII) files on the
server. Then the host organization, along with the SDNP, market
these resources and the potential that computer mediated
communications represents.
SDNP Coordination unit
The Coordination unit will need another computer for operations and
this will be used by the secretary / research assistant and by the
SDNP Coordinator.
Modems
To encourage greater use of the SDNP server, modems will be
distributed from and by the coordination unit either on a loan
basis or sold outright to users. Loans of modems will be provided
as part of the project to encourage users to connect. Modem loans
should be for a period not exceeding six months after which the
user would be expected to either buy the loaned modem or purchase
a different one from elsewhere. Availability of modems will be
linked to participation in SDNP training.
Business plan
The business plan will be developed from the beginning of the
project. To achieve self sustainability or self sufficiency, the
SDNP will first need to understand user needs. How to secure
support is a consideration that the SDNP Coordinator and the Unit
staff will have to be aware of from the start. Ongoing
consultations with the donor community to seek their support and
feedback will also be essential. This must be undertaken at the
same time as efforts to enlarge the user base.
5. Reasons for UNDP assistance
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) resulted in Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action for
sustainable development which Malawi adheres to in principle,
having participated in UNCED.
UNCED identified UNDP as the lead agency in the United Nations
system to help developing countries acquire the capacity to
implement the recommendations of UNCED contained in Agenda 21, the
global plan of action for sustainable development. UNDP responded
with the Capacity 21 Programme and with the Sustainable Development
Networking Programme (SDNP).
The SDNP is a Capacity 21 support programme to help developing
countries implement Agenda 21 by facilitating access to information
to support decision making. SDNP also encourages stakeholder
participation from all levels in the steps leading to sustainable
development.
Making information available for decision making is key to this
process, and to securing stakeholder participation. Providing
access to Internet services and applications is a response to a
strong felt need identified during the feasibility study.
6. Coordination arrangements
MOREA is responsible for executing the Capacity 21 programme in
Malawi over a period of 18 months. MOREA will execute the SDNP and
will work closely with the Steering Committee and with the SDNP
Coordinator and Chancellor College in so doing.
The University of Malawi, Chancellor College will be the
implementing organization, and will coordinate closely with other
stakeholders through MOREA and the Steering Committee. Coordination
with the Coordination Unit for the Rehabilitation of the
Environment (CURE) and the Council of NGOs of Malawi (CONGOMA) and
the Malawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Blantyre will be
essential.
UNDP will review the project as per its own procedures.
7. Counterpart support capacity
MOREA has the capacity to execute this project. Chancellor College
has the capacity to implement the project by providing operational
and technical assistance and training as well as facilities
support.
Chancellor College has agreed to make Dr. Paulos Nyirenda, Head of
the Physics Dept., available during the period of his holidays from
August to November 1995, to work full time on setting up the UNDP
SDNP VSAT and the unix server at the college if this can be
approved and funded by this time.
Chancellor College will provide support facilities for the SDNP
Coordination unit, including secure space for the computers and an
office for the Coordinator and staff.
This will include utilities, the provision of at least two direct
dial-in telephone lines. SDNP staff will be accorded the same
privileges as visiting scholars, including subsidized housing.
C. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE
This project seeks to contribute to the achievement of sustainable
development by enhancing capacity for informed and participatory
decision making by stakeholders for sustainable development at all
levels of the economy and society and across Malawi.
This will be done by creating a sustainable mechanism for
facilitating access to information and for encouraging increased
collaboration, participation and communications and networking
between stakeholders locally, nationally, regionally and otherwise.
The project will enhance capacity for using computer mediated
communications, and especially the Internet, as a tool for sharing
information, experiences and thus knowledge, and for enhancing
collaboration in this process.
D. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES
1 Immediate objective No 1
Establish an organizational mechanism for networking stakeholders
for sustainable development in Malawi
1.1 Output 1.1 An active and operational SDNP Steering
Committee
Activities
1.1.0.1 Establish interim Steering Committee to advise the
SDNP Coordinator. Include the national Capacity 21
Coordinator in the committee, select remaining
Steering Committee members;
1.1.0.2 Agree on terms of reference and chairmanship;
1.1.0.3 Formalize the Steering Committee
1.1.0.4 Regular (bi-monthly and eventually monthly) meetings
of the Steering Committee to rapidly establish a
modus-operandi.
1.2 Output 1.2 An active and operational SDNP Coordination Unit
Activities
1.2.0.1 Hire the SDNP Coordinator and staff of the SDNP
Coordination Unit: an Information Specialist and
Secretary / Administration;
1.2.0.2 Identify and negotiate with an organization to host
and support the SDNP Coordination Unit;
1.2.0.3 Set up the SDNP Coordination Unit;
1.2.0.4 Use outputs from the feasibility study (see the
terms of reference for the SDNP feasibility in
Appendix ###) and from Immediate Objective 2 to
develop a detailed programme of work.
2 Immediate objective No 2
To develop and/or enhance communications and connectivity between
the users and providers of information related to sustainable
development in Malawi
2.1 Output 2.1 An SDNP Malawi Internet compatible computer
network with full international Internet
connectivity and linking at least 45 stakeholder
groups in different sectors throughout the
country.
Activities
2.1.0.1 A campaign to raise awareness and to demonstrate the
advantages of computer mediated communications;
2.1.0.2 Support and enhance existing computer networks,
especially the University of Malawi FidoNet network
'UNIMA' run by Dr. Paulos Nyirenda of the Department
of Physics at Chancellor College in Zomba;
2.1.0.3 Develop a high bandwidth (64 kilobytes per second)
dedicated telecommunications connection to the
Internet using very small aperture terminals (VSAT)
satellite technology;
2.1.0.4 Work in close association with the United Nations
system in Malawi, especially UNDP Malawi, and with
others, including WUSC, and other end users, to
increase connectivity;
2.1.0.5 Identify and establish SDNP linked hosts in 9 sites
throughout the country (Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Blantyre
and 6 district level nodes in locations identified
in the Capacity 21 document) and connect them to the
SDNP/UNIMA host in Zomba to develop a Malawi wide
Internet compatible network;
2.1.0.6 Establish and test dial-in, serial line Internet
protocol (SLIP) or point-to-point protocol (PPP) and
leased line connections to the Zomba SDNP/UNIMA
Internet server;
2.1.0.7 Develop the capacity to use Internet applications on
the SDNP/UNIMA server, including email, electronic
conferencing (newsgroups), Listserv (electronic
mailing lists), logging in to remote CPUs (telnet),
file transfer (FTP), Gopher, various information
retrieval applications (Veronica, Archie, and
others), and the World Wide Web (WWW);
2.1.0.8 Train operators and users;
2.1.0.9 Expand the SDNP by increasing the number of users
and by developing the SDNP server;
2.1.0.10 Link users and providers of information and
knowledge resources on sustainable development in
Malawi through the SDNP network;
2.1.0.11 Provide or loan modems to help users establish a
connection;
2.1.0.12 Develop and support local user groups;
2.1.0.13 Establish operational rules and procedures.
2.2 Output 2.2 An SDNP information server on sustainable
development in Malawi
Activities
2.2.0.1 Encourage the creation and/or acquisition and/or
linking of Malawi information resources, especially
electronic sources of information relevant to
sustainable development;
2.2.0.2 Encourage users and subscribers to load information
on the SDNP computer server and to use Internet
applications to share this information as
appropriate;
2.2.0.3 Acquire the resources to permit access to this
server throughout Malawi by negotiating better terms
and conditions of access and by encouraging
participants to make best use of their own resources
to connect to the SDNP server.
3 Immediate objective 3
Capacity established to use and apply technologies for computer
mediated communications for informed decision making
3.1 Output 3.1 A training programme for SDNP hosts and users
that will provide introductory and ongoing
support;
Activities
3.1.0.1 Identify potential trainees and their needs;
3.1.0.2 Identify existing training activities and
organizations with which to collaborate in providing
training;
3.1.0.3 Develop training modules;
3.1.0.4 Encourage Malawi institutions of higher learning to
develop educational and/or training programmes on
computer mediated communications and computer
networking;
3.1.0.5 Seek more support for training.
3.2 Output 3.2 9 Operators of SDNP/UNIMA nodes trained and 150
end users trained in computer mediated
communications, including Internet compatible
applications.
Activities
3.2.0.1 Run five workshops for users and node operators;
3.2.0.2 Provide on-the-job training in collaboration with
others (University of Malawi, World University
Service of Canada - WUSC and others).
4 Immediate objective 4
To get user and other forms of support, financial and otherwise, to
sustain the SDNP
4.1 Output 4.1 A business plan, including a marketing and
communications plan, laying out a strategy for
making the SDNP operation self sustainable.
Activities
4.1.0.1 Characterize the market for information and
knowledge resources for sustainable development in
Malawi. This is an ongoing activity;
4.1.0.2 Characterize the market for greater connectivity to
the Internet and other wide are computer networks in
Malawi;
4.1.0.3 Identify key users and providers of information on
sustainable development in Malawi;
4.1.0.4 Identify and characterize key information and
knowledge resources in Malawi;
4.1.0.5 Develop an understanding of the information needs
and circumstances affecting key stakeholders for
sustainable development in Malawi;
4.1.0.6 Prepare a plan and strategy to meet these needs in a
self sufficient manner, building cost recovery into
the operation.
4.2 Output 4.2 A self sufficient SDNP operation in Malawi
Activities
4.2.0.1 Implement the business plan.
5 Immediate objective 5
Develop information products and services, including a full
Internet link and SDNP server, that meet the needs and
circumstances of stakeholders for sustainable development in Malawi
5.1 Output 5.1 A 'Sourcebook' of information and other
resources, including people and their expertise,
on sustainable development in Malawi prepared
and disseminated.
Activities
5.1.0.1 Develop and/or provide SDNP/UNIMA network access to
a directory describing key information and knowledge
resources that could interest SDNP users;
5.1.0.2 Include information about the key stakeholder
groups, their nature, objectives, activities,
contacts and other relevant information;
5.1.0.3 Publish and distribute the Sourcebook on Sustainable
Development in Malawi by the end of year one and
share the output electronically on (an) appropriate
SDNP information server(s) or platform(s);
5.1.0.4 Update the electronic version of the Sourcebook on
Sustainable Development on an ongoing basis so that
by end of year two, it can be published again in
hard copy.
5.2 Output 5.2 Products and services to meet the needs of key
stakeholders for sustainable development
Activities
5.2.0.1 Identify and develop products and services to meet
the needs of users and of key stakeholders for
sustainable development using computer mediated
communications;
5.2.0.2 Develop appropriate applications for the Malawian
SDNP server;
5.2.0.3 Encourage users of the SDNP/UNIMA network to make
available key information in ASCII or machine
readable form for access through the SDNP/UNIMA
network;
5.2.0.4 Make available and/or market the products and
services agreed to.
E. INPUTS
LOCAL CONTRIBUTION TO SDNP IMPLEMENTATION
______________________________________________________________
COORDINATION UNIT OFFICES at Chancellor College, University of
Malawi, Zomba and at MOREA, Lilongwe
______________________________________________________________
USD
Office space at MOREA (1 room @ MK 2,000/month) 3,500
Office Space at Chancellor College 7,000
(2 rooms @ MK 2,000/room/month)
Conference facilities 400
Electricity @ MK 300/mo 500
Water @ MK 100/mo 200
Telephones (2 lines) 6,000
HOUSING (Chancellor College)
2 houses @ MK 4,000/mo 13,000
1 house @ MK 2,500/mo 4,000
TRANSPORT (MOREA) 10,000
HUMAN CONTRIBUTION
(3 months @ $150/day: from Chancellor College) 14,000
1 person seconded for 24 months duration of
project and beyond from MOREA 6,000
______________________________________________________________
TOTAL 64,500
The principal Malawi government contribution will be the provision
of office space, subsidized housing and facilities within
Chancellor College in Zomba. Chancellor College will provide at
least two direct telephone lines, one for the SDNP Coordinator, the
other for the SDNP server at MOREA, and it will lease a line to
Chancellor College which will house the main SDNP server. MOREA
will also cover the salaries and other costs of their designated
counterparts. MOREA will hire a person that the SDNP will endeavour
to train so that he/she can take over the operation of the SDNP
node at MOREA. WUSC will second a volunteer for two years to help
operate the node and to train users and operators.
UNDP SDNP inputs
Personnel and contracts
The project will require the equivalent of three full time
personnel: the SDNP Coordinator, an Information Specialist and a
Secretary - Research Assistant.
Equipment
These are assumed under the SDNP project as per the budget.
F. RISKS
The main risk factors here reside with the staff. What is the
likelihood of finding competent and capable SDNP staff, and
especially the coordinator? What are the possibilities of finding
a unix systems engineer to make this work? However, given the
fairly high level of usage of computer mediated communications, it
is likely that the SDNP, in collaboration with its partners, will
encounter few problems in implementation. One risk is that the SDNP
will be subsumed under other operations of MOREA or of the
Chancellor College.
G. PROJECT REVIEW, REPORTING, AND EVALUATION
The usual UNDP reporting procedures would apply here.
H. Budget
The successful implementation of SDNP in Malawi requires
installation of a full Internet connection with public access. This
implementation requires more funding than the SDNP alone provides.
Other sources of funding have been identified in the budget.
Appendix ### identifies these sources as follows:
- SDNP
- UNDP indicative planning figures (IPF) funding
- Capacity 21
- Expected cost recovery from network usage
- Counterpart (Government of Malawi)
Other sources of funding not listed above need to be identified.
MIPA and others in the donor or user community need to be
approached.
More support, for example for technical assistance, business
planning and other inputs, may be required, particularly in the
early stages of implementation. Cost recovery is essential for the
success of the SDNP. Help may be needed for the marketing study and
the cost recovery plan. The output of such a study may be
invaluable to the development of successful business plan.
Budget (2 years)
Sustainable Development Networking Programme
Malawi
Project personnel
Personnel, SDNP Coordination Unit
- Full time Coordinator (USD 2,500/mo) USD 60,000
- Training/Information Officer (USD 2,000/mo) USD 48,000
- Secretary/Operator/Clerical (USD 400/mo) USD 9,600
___________
Total USD 117,600
Travel
- Official travel in Malawi USD 5,000
___________
Total USD 5,000
___________
Total Project Personnel USD 122,600
Training
- In-country workshops, training USD 37,500
__________
Total Training USD 37,500
Equipment
VSAT connection (Zomba)
- VSAT terminal (2.4m) USD 26,000
- Hub management: USD 1,600/mo X 2 years USD 38,400
- Space segment: USD 2,800/mo X 2 years USD 67,200
- Backhaul to Cape Town: USD 660/mo X 24 USD 15,840
- Maintenance charge (by local operator:
USD 1650/mo X 24 USD 39,600
- Site survey and installation (2 persons,
USD 750/day, plus travel, per diems) USD 15,000
___________
Total VSAT USD 202,040
Hardware and software
SDNP main node, Zomba
- Sun Spark 20 workstation + software (2 Gbytes) USD 15,000
- Backup Sun Spark 20 workstation
+ software (2 Gbytes) USD 15,000
- CD-ROM players (external SCSI interface)
1: @ USD 750/unit USD 750
- High speed modems: 1 Telebit Worldblazers
or equivalent: @ USD 750/unit USD 750
- Tape backup + 7 tapes USD 650
- 1 Ciscoe router USD 6,000
- UPS: 1 units @ USD 700/unit USD 700
- One Secretarial/Management Desktop
DOS computer, 1Gb SCSI, 586
16 Mb RAM, Windows, MSOffice, WordPerfect 6.0, USD 4,000
- Laser printer USD 2,000
- Air Conditioner for Sun Spark Workstations USD 750
__________
Total USD 45,600
9 in country nodes/servers
3 regional nodes (Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu)
- Three Desktop DOS computer: 2 Gb SCSI, 586 - 90 MHz,
16 Mb RAM, Windows, OS/2 (2) USD 12,000
- CD-ROM players (external SCSI interface)
3: @ USD 750/unit USD 2,250
- High speed modems: 3 Telebit Worldblazers
or equivalent: @ USD 750/unit USD 2,250
- UPS: 3 units @ USD 500/unit USD 1,500
__________
Total USD 18,000
6 district level nodes (Nkhata Bay, Mchinji, Dedza, Mangochi,
Nsanje, Thyolo)
- Six Desktop DOS computer: 1 Gb, 586 - 90 MHz,
16 Mb RAM, Windows, OS/2 (2) @ USD 3000 each USD 18,000
- CD-ROM players (external SCSI interface)
6: @ USD 750/unit USD 4,500
- High speed modems: 6 14.4 US Robotics
or GVC modems
or equivalent: @ USD 150/unit USD 900
- UPS: 6 units @ USD 500/unit USD 3,000
__________
Total USD 26,400
MOREA SDNP office
- One desktop DOS computer: 586, 1 Gb; 16 Mb,
Windows, OS/2 USD 3,000
__________
Total USD 3,000
SDNP users
- Modem pool for members with local phone access to hosts:
(14,400 baud, V.32 bis, V.42 bis modems)
@ USD 150/unit X 50 USD 7,500
__________
Total USD 7,500
Software
- Software for all sites USD 1,000
__________
Total USD 1,000
Office Equipment
- Office furniture (3 desks, chairs, filing cabinet, etc.)
-
- Photocopier, printing and spare parts
(or access to copier) USD 3,000
__________
Total USD 3,000
Operations / Maintenance/ Miscellaneous
- Office space -
- Maintenance -
- Utilities -
- Secretariat telephone and fax USD 2,500
- Office Supplies: laser printer cartridges,
paper, diskettes, cabling, etc. USD 2,000
- Operating Costs: photocopying, etc. USD 10,000
___________
Total USD 14,500
___________
Total operations USD 14,500
_______________________________________________________________
GRAND TOTAL
Grand total USD 481,140
===========
Appendix ###
Sources of financing
SDNP funding will cover the following
Personnel, SDNP Coordination Unit
- Full time Coordinator (USD 2,500/mo) USD 60,000
- Training/Information Officer (USD 2,000/mo) USD 48,000
- Secretary/Operator/Clerical (USD 400/mo) USD 9,600
___________
Total USD 117,600
Travel
- Official travel in Malawi USD 5,000
___________
Total USD 5,000
___________
Total Project Personnel USD 122,600
Training
- In-country workshops, training USD 37,500
__________
Total Training USD 37,500
Hardware (1 Spark station) and software
SDNP main node, Zomba
- Sun Spark 20 workstation + software (2 Gbytes) USD 15,000
- CD-ROM players (external SCSI interface)
1: @ USD 750/unit USD 750
- High speed modems: 1 Telebit Worldblazers
or equivalent: @ USD 750/unit USD 750
- Tape backup + 7 tapes USD 650
- 1 Ciscoe router USD 6,000
- UPS: 1 units @ USD 700/unit USD 700
- One Secretarial/Management Desktop DOS computer,
1Gb SCSI, 586 16 Mb RAM, Windows, MSOffice,
WordPerfect 6.0, USD 4,000
- Laser printer USD 2,000
- Air Conditioner for Sun Spark Workstations USD 750
__________
Total USD 30,600
3 regional nodes (Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu)
- Three Desktop DOS computer: 2 Gb SCSI, 586 - 90 MHz,
16 Mb RAM, Windows, OS/2 (2) USD 12,000
- CD-ROM players (external SCSI interface)
3: @ USD 750/unit USD 2,250
- High speed modems: 3 Telebit Worldblazers
or equivalent: @ USD 750/unit USD 2,250
- UPS: 3 units @ USD 500/unit USD 1,500
__________
Total USD 18,000
MOREA SDNP office
- One desktop DOS computer: 586, 1 Gb; 16 Mb,
Windows, OS/2 USD 3,000
__________
Total USD 3,000
SDNP users
- Modem pool for members with local phone access to hosts:
(14,400 baud, V.32 bis, V.42 bis modems)
@ USD 150/unit X 50 USD 7,500
__________
Total USD 7,500
Software
- Software for all sites USD 1,000
__________
Total USD 1,000
Office Equipment
- Office furniture (3 desks, chairs, filing cabinet, etc.)
-
- Photocopier, printing and spare parts
(or access to copier) USD 3,000
__________
Total USD 3,000
Operations / Maintenance/ Miscellaneous
- Office space -
- Maintenance -
- Utilities -
- Secretariat telephone and fax USD 2,500
- Office Supplies: laser printer cartridges,
paper, diskettes, cabling, etc. USD 2,000
- Operating Costs: photocopying, etc. USD 10,000
___________
Total USD 14,500
__________
Total operations USD 14,500
Funding sources
Total expected from SDNP: USD 231,350
UNDP SDNP New York contribution: USD 150,000
UNDP IPF (Malawi) : USD 81,350
VSAT connection (Zomba)
- VSAT terminal (2.4m) USD 26,000
- Site survey and VSAT installation USD 15,000
- 6 months of operating
costs @ USD 6,710/mo. USD 40,260
- Backup Sun Spark 20 workstation
+ software (2 Gbytes) USD 15,000
___________
Total USD 96,260
Funding sources
Total expected from SDNP: Nil
UNDP IPF (Malawi): USD 96,260
District nodes and servers
6 district level nodes (Nkhata Bay, Mchinji, Dedza, Mangochi,
Nsanje, Thyolo)
- Six Desktop DOS computer: 1 Gb, 586 - 90 MHz,
16 Mb RAM, Windows, OS/2 (2) @ USD 3000 each USD 18,000
- CD-ROM players (external SCSI interface)
6: @ USD 750/unit USD 4,500
- High speed modems: 6 14.4 US Robotics or GVC modems
or equivalent: @ USD 150/unit USD 900
- UPS: 6 units @ USD 500/unit USD 3,000
__________
Total USD 26,400
Funding sources
Total expected from SDNP: Nil
UNDP IPF (Malawi): Nil
UNDP Capacity 21: USD 26,400
Expected from cost recovery
USD 5,000/month based on perceived interest among NGOs
(international and local), Government of Malawi, parastatals,
academic and research organizations, research and development
projects, the donor community, individuals, the private sector and
others.
Total expected from cost recovery:
USD 5,000 x 24 months USD 120,000
Counterpart support
Expected from Counterpart Support
(in kind) USD 55,100
References
DREA. 1994. National Environmental Action Plan. Volume 1: The
action plan. Lilongwe:Dept. of Research and
Environmental Affairs. 104 pp + appendices.
Government of Malawi. 1995.
Malawidraft national environmental policy. Resulting
from the National Environmental Policy Workshop. May
10-12, 1995. Lilongwe. Lilongwe:MOREA. 34 pp.
CURE. 1995. An assessment of the capacity of the NGO commnity in
Malawi to utilise the Global Environment Facility small
grants programme. 24 pp.
UNDP. Government of Malawi. 1994.
Institutional support for environmental management.
Component document. MLW/93/005/A/01/99. 22 pp. +
annexes.
UNDP. Government of Malawi. 1994.
Capacity building for environmental support programme.
Programme support document. MLW/95/001. 39 pp. +
annexes.
CURE. CONGOMA. 1994.
Directory of non-governmental organizations involved in
natural resources management activities.
BMI TechKnowledge. 1994.
Communication Technologies Handbook 1994.
| Project Summary Status |
Africa |
Arab States |
Asia |
Europe/CIS |
LA/Caribbean |
