Mozambique Project Document
UNDP Project Document (PRODOC)
Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP)
in Mozambique
Report prepared by:
Venancio Massingue, Consultant, IT & MIS
Americo Muchanga, Consultant, IT
Richard Labelle, Consultant, UNDP SDNP
Maputo, 21 July 1995
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. CONTEXT
Introduction
1. Description of sub-sector
2. Prior or ongoing assistance
3. 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 implementation arrangements
5. Reasons for assistance from UNDP/executing agency
7. Coordination arrangements
8. Counterpart support capacity
C. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE
D. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE(S), OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES
E. INPUTS
F. RISKS
G. PRIOR OBLIGATIONS AND PRE-REQUISITES
H. PROJECT REVIEW, REPORTING, AND EVALUATION
I. BUDGETS
J. ANNEXES
DRAFT
UNDP Project Document (PRODOC)
Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP)
in Mozambique
Brief project description
The SDNP assists 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 assist Mozambique 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
for this purpose. It will do this through training and the
provision of some equipment to encourage users to connect. SDNP
will also develop an information server on sustainable development
by encouraging participants to use the SDNP and to contribute and
share information as well through the server.
The project will also assist in enhancing the capacity for open and
participatory decision making processes, and could 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.
Mozambique is undergoing a process of rapid socio-political,
economic, and institutional transformation. After 16 years of a
tearing civil war, the country has in the last three years
successfully implemented the peace agreement, held general
elections, inaugurated a new administration and begun the process
of reconstruction.
The process of change is characterised by a number of overriding
features: transition from war, reconstruction and resettlement;
transition from a one-party system to pluralism, transition from a
centralized economy to a market economy; transition from a
centralized state to a decentralize and participatory system of
government.
Mozambique possesses rich land, marine and mineral resources.
Almost 70% of the territory is covered by dense savannah and
secondary forests. Approximately 45% of the territory has potential
for agriculture. Nine major river systems cross the country.
Mozambique's coastline which stretches for 2700 km, is ranked as
the third longest coastline in Africa. There are extensive wetland
systems along the coast and coral reefs offshore in the north and
south. Important reserves of sub-surface resources include
minerals, coal and natural gas.
The current population in Mozambique is estimated at more than 16.5
million, and is expected to grow at a rate of 3% until at least the
end of the century. Approximately two-thirds of the population now
live in the coastal strip. Nampula and Zambezia provinces, which
constitute about a quarter of the territory, are home to more than
40% of the country's population. About one-quarter of the
population live in urban areas, and no substantial reversal of the
migratory movement to the coastal and urban areas is expected.
The majority of Mozambique's natural resources are currently in a
good state of preservation. However, there are some acute problems
in urban areas, parts of the coastal zone, and in the wildlife
sector, due mostly to the war.
Mozambique is a member of the southern African Development
Community (SADC) and is a member of the Preferential Trade Area
for East and Southern Africa (PTA).
Mozambique has a progressive telecommunications policy and is
considering liberalizing 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
The Economic and Social Rehabilitation Programme (PRES) provides
the overall framework for national development strategies. The
National Reconstruction Plan (PRN) exercise began in 1992 and
represents the first effort at decentralized planning in the
country. Each province formulated its own reconstruction plan
which constituted a list of needs. The PRN attempted to bring
together the provincial plans into a framework of national
priorities and sectoral strategies. The PRN is an iterative
process. The Capacity 21 project is intended in part to support
this process to improve the use of the human and natural resource
base of the country. The SDNP will also have a role to play by
encouraging greater communications between the actors in the PRN.
The PRN has the following priorities:
i) to reestablish agriculture and livestock.
ii) to rehabilitate local trade.
iii) to reopen and rehabilitate the roads
iv) water supply.
V) basic health services.
vi) education
vii) strengthen local administration.
viii) promote local initiatives and jobs.
The SDNP supports the Capacity 21 programme in Mozambique.
Capacity 21 focuses, in particular on environmental issues and in
a broader sense on sustainable development.
Sustainable Development 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 Mozambique are addressed in the relevant national plans,
including those mentioned here: the PRN, the PRES and others as
well.
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.
1.2 National Environment Management Programme (NEMP)
Mozambique participated actively at UNCED and endorses Agenda 21.
A National environment Management Programme started to be prepared
in 1993 and a nationwide process of consultation was initiated. In
June 1994 a draft NEMP document was produced. The draft NEMP
document explicitly states that, "Capacity building should be the
first priority in environmental activities, for both MICOA and the
key sectors, and should also include the opportunity for staff to
gain practical experience".
A series of recommendations were included in the first draft NEMP.
As support to the Capacity 21 initiative, the following are
particularly relevant to the SDNP:
- To support the development of environmental units within the line
ministries and help these to facilitate the NEMP
- To strengthen environmental management capacity at the level of
the provinces, districts and communities through the relevant
organs of civil society and the state;
- To improve donor coordination.
- To recognize and facilitate the participation of local
communities in natural resource management, giving particular
attention to the role of women.
- To collect and collate the necessary data base for improved
environmental management and ensure that this remains updated;
- To develop public awareness campaigns;
- Through the Ministry of Education, to strengthen the
environmental components in the formal education system.
1.3 Information culture
ln 1990, after wide ranging debate, Mozambique adopted a new
constitution. The constitution enshrines the principles of
political pluralism, elections by secret ballot for a government
based on majority rule.
These developments promote openness, debate and the free flow of
information. They could help justify more information sharing,
among the various stakeholders for sustainable development and
elements of civil society in general, and especially the
government.
These developments have not yet translated themselves into wide use
of computer mediated communications at the local and community
level. At present, there are a few hundred users in Maputo and
some of the provincial centres and districts where there is
telephone access. The vast majority of the population have no
concept of informatics and telematics. For them, freedom of the
press may not be immediately significant.
Still, the rate at and level to which use of computer mediated
communications has developed in Mozambique is significant. This is
largely due to the Centro de Informatica da Universidade Eduardo
Mondlane (CIUEM). With over USD 600,000 in past and ongoing
support from the government of the Netherlands, CIUEM has
established one of two full lnternet nodes in Africa South of the
Sahara (not counting the Republic of South Africa). It has also
acquired some human resource capacity in this area.
CIUEM has several Sparc work stations running UNIX and has
developed and maintains a TCP/IP compliant network linked to the
Internet via a leased line to South Africa. This is a significant
undertaking.
1.4 Information for decision making: needs
A significant information gap exists in Mozambique on issues
related to sustainable development and environmental management
in general. The war essentially sealed off large parts of the
country and research and development came to a virtual
standstill. Much of the infrastructure was destroyed during the
war. Communications between the capital, provincial and district
authorities have been very difficult.
Environmental monitoring has been non existent, except for the
use of remote sensing. There is no state of the environment
report (SOER) in Mozambique. Remote sensing technologies have
been and continue to be used for natural resource inventories,
including a recent forest inventory. Ground truthing has not
always been possible and this may limit the use of these
inventories.
Decision making on environmental issues has not been based on up
to date data because this has not been collected regularly over
the war years. 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
provincial, district and local authorities.
Access to 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 Mozambique in
particular, is a challenge. Obtaining and being able to share
information in Portuguese is important. Local information is
essential. Given the advent of computer mediated communications
though, there is an opportunity for Mozambique to develop and/or
access these resources for national development and sustainable
development.
There is a lack of awareness of the nature and structure of this
information. It is especially due to a lack of data on the
information and knowledge resources available in country,
including traditional knowledge resources. Knowledge resources
include people, their expertise, experiences and other tools that
help translate information to understanding. Traditional
knowledge resources include 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 telecommunications and networking
infrastructure in Mozambique, it is possible to share news,
views, data, information and knowledge with users and providers
of information around the country and around the world. ( see
Annex I Telecommunications and Networking Information)
2. Institutional framework of sub-sector
The Ministry for Coordination of environmental Affairs (MICOA) is
the Government institution responsible for the development of a
national strategy for sustainable development. MICOA was created
in December 1994 as an entirely new Ministry out of the former
National Environment Commission (CNA). The mandate of MICOA is to
coordinate, supervise and monitor environmental management in
Mozambique.
Sustainable development issues in Mozambique are the
responsibility of several Ministries or their affiliated bodies.
Most, if not all, of these institutions suffer from bureaucracy,
lack of qualified personnel, serious under staffing and
antiquated and depleted technical resources.
This has resulted in a severe lack of coordination between the
different institutions, limited activities and the absence of
implementation of long-term management policies.
The Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique (TDM) is responsible for
telecommunications.
3. Prior or ongoing assistance
Capacity 21 Initiative
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.
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 the Ministry of Planning and Finance, the Ministry
for Coordenation of Environmental Affairs and Ministry for State
Administration and by supporting joint intersectoral collaboration
with the technical planning units in key ministries.
Similarly at the provincial level, Capacity 21 will emphasize
strengthening links between provincial economic planning, physical
planning, and other relevant state structures and NGOS. At all
levels, the aim is to improve intersectoral coordination
mechanisms. SDNP could also support the Capacity 21 programme to
disseminate information about good practice.
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 lnternet
applications and shares similar objectives with the SDNP. UNDP and
UNEP have agreed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that means
they will collaborate as much as possible. The Infoterra national
focal point is located at MICOA. This will mean that the SDNP will
have the opportunity of working closely with the Infoterra. SDNP
could have a role to play enhancing Infoterra connectivity.
Other Assistance
The government of the Netherlands, SIDA and the World Bank are
supporting the CIUEM with hardware, technical assistance and has
been instrumental in helping to establish the CIUEM TCP/IP and
Novell networks used by over 400 remote users and about 200 local
users. continued support is forthcoming.
Networking activities
African Internet Forum
Several regional and Africa wide initiatives need to be mentioned.
The African lnternet Forum (AIF) has recently been established.
UNDP, the World Bank, the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and possibly others have agreed that lnternet
access for Africa is important. It is considered a tool that can
enhance development. The SDNP needs to continue to remain aware of
AIF developments. Already, thanks to close cooperation with the
World Bank in Maputo, there is much interest in ensuring that
collaboration and information exchange on this endeavour takes
place.
CABECA
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 including Mozambique. 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. CABECA hopes to accelerate national network
development to help share the cost of acquiring interactive
access to the Internet.
Africa One
This is a networking initiative of the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company, AT&T. The objective is to girdle the African
continent with a fibre optic cable.
NGOs
Several NGOs operate in the country. Many have developed human
networks. LINK, an umbrella NGO has developed strong networking
plans. It will be imperative for the SDNP to work with LINK and
with others to enhance connections between national NGOS, other
NGOs and other elements of civil society in Mozambique, including
other stakeholders for sustainable development.
B. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION
1 .Problem to be addressed
The lack of access to relevant information in Portuguese 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 Mozambique 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.
What little information is available in Mozambique, may not be
well known and accessible. The SDNP feasibility study identified
and the project itself will continue to identify some of the key
resources, although they may not be readily available. Resources
in Portuguese available elsewhere, including in Portugal, Brazil
and in other lusophone countries, need to be assessed.
The lack of expertise is a major problem in this and in other
areas.
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 yet clear. This means that policies and legislation may
not reflect needs of all stakeholder groups, especially at 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
Mozambique. 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 using the SDNP to become better
informed on sustainable development issues in Mozambique.
There is little 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.
The telecommunications infrastructure has not penetrated all
districts in the country. Access to the telecommunications
network may be limited in some districts and for some users
without access to telephone or without the means to take
advantage of the telecommunications infrastructure.
2. Expected end of project situation
- Establishment of:
a) Relay node - CIUEM
b) Main SDNP node - MICOA
c) Two in country SDNP nodes ( Beira and Nampula )linked to
the SDNP main node through the CIUEM Relay
node.
- At least 50 users connected through the modems to the SDNP main
node or the in country SDNP nodes. Users will be selected
among different stakeholder groups: ministries,
provincial governments, trade unions, professional associations,
universities, research centres and possibly others
as well, including individuals.
- Several representatives of stakeholder groups, including
members of the Steering Committee,
trained in the use of computer mediated communications
- A self sustaining mechanism or commitments for ongoing support
in place to support the continued operation of the SDNP.
- The media better informed about sustainable development in
Mozambique.
- 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.
3. Target beneficiaries
3.1 Various stakeholders in development will benefit from this
project in particular the following:
Government:
Ministry for Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA), the
ministry responsible for executing the Capacity 21 programme in
Mozambique and the national Infoterra node; the Ministry for
Planning and Finance; the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,
with responsibility for forestry and wildlife as well as
agriculture; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry responsible for
Education; the authority responsible for the prevention of
natural disasters, including food security; Institute for
Quality Control; Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique (TDM), the
national telecommunications authority run as a public company and
other Ministries and institutions.
NGOs
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:
M‚decins Sans FrontiŠres (MSF/CIS) which has a very extensive
network throughout the country and regularly disseminates
information and status reports on food security at a district
level; LINK, a recently created umbrella NGO dealing with
coordination and information sharing among the NGO community
around the country; the Forum Mulher, an NGO dealing with women's
issues; the Mozambican Red Cross. There are likely others as
well.
The private sector
Several organizations of business professionals have been
identified as possible participants in the Steering Committee, or
as users. These include the Chamber of Commerce and Fundo
Empresarial para o Meio Ambiente (FEMA).
3.2. SDNP-Mozambique an Inter-disciplinary Facility
Preliminary observations and results of the feasibility study
indicate that the SDNP-Mozambique should be an inter-disciplinary
facility, disseminating information at three levels as follows :
Decision-making level : demand at this level is mainly found in
governmental institutions at central, provincial, district and
municipal level. 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 resources management and experiences from
elsewhere, for example from Zimbabwe regarding the management of
national parks, could be very important to Mozambique.
Information on the state of the environment continue to be needed
and there is a large gap here affecting the ability to properly
manage natural resources. Basic telecommunications infrastructure
to permit central, regional, provincial and district level officers
to communicate.
Information on 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 be directly relevant to a
country such as Mozambique which has such potential for
transportation.
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 NGO'S, including
NGOs working in environment, development and health, local and
community groups, grassroots organizations and religious groups.
Information on news, views, and opinions and calenders of events
could be very important at this level. Information on activities
undertaken by NGO's are also important at this level. There is a
need for NGOS, especially Mozambican NGOS, to work more closely
together.
4. Project Strategy and implementation arrangements
4.1 Strategy :
The strategy of the SDNP is to create an open structure for
managing the SDNP that will foster consensus decision making
processes and develop the SDNP node in Mozambique.
The project will also seek to raise awareness among decision
makers of the need for sustainable development, and will focus on
national networking.
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. 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.
A priority for the SDNP operation will be to market the SDNP idea
and to help establish the national network.
The SDNP will not participate directly in the creation of large
databases. Instead, the role of the SDNP is to enhance
connectivity between database developers and users.
4.2 Implementation arrangements :
MICOA will be the executing agency. MICOA has a central mandate
for environment issues and is also the executing agency for the
Capacity 21 project.
The organizational plan calls for a national SDNP coordinator
assisted by an administrative assistant who will form the SDNP
Coordination Unit.
The SDNP Coordination unit will be at MICOA. ( TOR in ANNEX II)
CIUEM will be a strong collaborator and a team member in the SDNP
Coordinating Unit. CIUEM will be sub-contracted.(Details of
services are provided in ANNEX III)
A Steering Committee representing the different stakeholder
participation in the management and operation of the SDNP will
play a major role in guiding and orienting the SDNP and insuring
proper functioning of the activities undertaken by it.
Representatives of the following groups have indicated their
interest in participating in the Steering Committee: MICOA,
CIUEM, UNDP, the World Bank, Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique
(TDM), LINK - an umbrella NGO, MediaCoop - a journalist's
cooperative, and UNCHR.
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. ( See ANNEX IV)
Other details on implementation arrangements are detailed in
ANNEX V.
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 Mozambique adheres to, 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.
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 Mozambique.
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 as a tool for sharing information, experiences and
thus knowledge, and for enhancing collaboration in this process.
D. IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES
Immediate objective No 1
Establish an organizational mechanism for networking stakeholders
for sustainable development in Mozambique
Output 1.1 Establishing and operationalizing the Steering Committee
Activities
1.1.1 Establish the Steering Committee to advise the SDNP
coordinator. Include the National
Capacity 21 Coordinator in the committee, select remaining
Steering committee members;
1.1.2 Agree on terms of reference and chairmanship;
1.1.3 Regular meetings of the Steering Committee
Output 1.2 Establishing the SDNP Coordination Unit
Activities
1.2.1 Hire the SDNP Coordinator and administrative assistant;
1.2.2 develop a detailed programme of work ( Use TOR of SDNP ).
Immediate objective No 2
To develop and/or enhance communications and connectivity between
the users and providers of information related to sustainable
development in Mozambique
Output 2.1 An SDNP Mozambican computer network linking at least 45
stakeholder
groups in different sectors that operate
throughout the country.
Activities
2.1.1 Install the Relay Node ( CIUEM)
2.1.2 Establish main SDNP node ( MICOA)
2.1.3 Establish in country nodes ( Beira and Nampula)
2.1.4 Identify and establish SDNP linked nodes throughout
Mozambique and connect
them to the main node through the relay node.
2.1.5 Develop the capacity to establish, maintain and operate
bulletin board system
(BBS) permitting local conferencing as well as
electronic mail and other lnternet
compatible applications as and when appropriate;
2.1.6 Link users and providers of information and knowledge
resources
sustainable development in Mozambique through the SDNP
network;
2.1.7 Provide or loan modems to help users establish a connection;
2.1.8 Develop and support local user groups;
2.1.9 Establish operational rules and procedures
Output 2.2 Establish an SDNP information server ( MICOA) on
sustainable
development in Mozambique.
Activities
2.2.1 Encourage the creation and/or acquisition and/or linking of
electronic sources of information relevant to sustainable
development by placing these on the SDNP computer server;
2.2.2 Develop newsgroups, electronic conferences, and other
applications facilitating access to worldwide and Mozambican
resources on the Internet and related networks such as the
Association for Progressive Communications (APC);
2.2.3 Make beneficial use of the hardware, software and human
resources to establish and maintain this server in Mozambique;
2.2.4 Acquire the resources to permit access to this server
throughout Mozambique 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;
2.2.5 To facilitate Internet access to this server throughout
Mozambique, Southern Africa and the world.
Immediate Objective No 3
Output 3.1 Capacity established to use and apply technologies for
computer mediated communications for information decision making.
Activities
3.1.1 A training programme for SDNP nodes and users that will
provide
introductory and ongoing support;
3.1.2 Operators trained in using computer mediated communications,
including
Internet compatible applications.
Immediate objective No 4
Sustainability of the SDNP operation
Output 4.1 A business plan, including a marketing and
communications plan, laying out a strategy
for making the SDNP operation self sustainable.
Activities
4.1.1 Characterize the market for information and knowledge
resources for sustainable development in Mozambique. This is an
ongoing activity;
4.1.2 Characterize the needs for greater connectivity between key
stakeholder groups in Mozambique;
4.1.3 Identify key users and providers of information on
sustainable development in Mozambique;
4.1.4 Identify and document key stakeholder groups and their
representatives in Mozambique;
4.1.5 Identify and characterize key information and knowledge
resources in Mozambique, especially those of key information
providers and sources of expertise in or about Mozambique;
4.1.6 Develop an understanding of the information needs and
circumstances affecting key stakeholders for sustainable
development in Mozambique.
4.1.7 Prepare a plan and strategy to meet these needs in a self
sufficient manner, building cost recovery into the operation;
Output 4.2 A self sufficient SDNP operation in Mozambique
Activities
4.2.1 Implement the plan
Immediate Objective No 5
Develop information services, including an Internet server on
sustainable development, in Mozambique.
Output 5.1 First ' Sourcebook' of information and other resources,
including people and their expertise, on sustainable
development in Mozambique prepared and
disseminated.
Activities
5.1.1 Develop a directory describing key information and knowledge
resources that
could interest
5.1.2 Include information about the key stakeholder groups, their
nature, objectives,
activities, contacts and other relevant information;
5.1.3 Publish and distribute the Sourcebook on Sustainable
Development in Mozambique by the end of year one and share the
output electronically on (an) appropriate SDNP information
server(s) or platform(s);
5.1.4 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.
Output 5.2 Products and services to meet the needs of key
stakeholders for sustainable
development
Activities
5.2.1 Identify and develop products and services to meet the needs
of key stakeholders for sustainable development using computer
mediated communications;
5.2.2 Develop Internet applications, including an lnternet
compatible bulletin board system (BBS), for a Mozambican
sustainable development server;
5.2.3 Make available and/or market the products and services agreed
to.
E. INPUTS
1. Government contribution
The principal Government contribution to the project will be the
provision of office space, furniture and at least one telephone
line.
Estimated cost of this in-kind contribution is USD .......
2. UNDP inputs
Personnel
The project will require one full time coordinator who will be
responsible for the project (job description attached in Annex II)
The project will have local administrative support staff.
Sub-contracts
Sub-contract will be made with the Centro de Informatica da
Universidade Eduardo Mondlane for the establishment of the SDNP
nodes and maintenance ; for technical advise as required during the
duration of the contract; the preparation and realization of the
training programme and the market study and business plan.
Equipment
An amount is included to purchase hardware and software for the
SDNP Relay node, the SDNP main node ,the in-country nodes and
modems.
Legal transfer of equipment to Government should start six months
prior to completion of project.
F. RISKS
The main risk factors here reside with the staff. It may be
difficult to find a competent and capable SDNP staff, and
especially the coordinator. Given the fairly high level of usage
of computer mediated communications, it is not likely that the
SDNP, in collaboration with its partners, will encounter major
problems in implementation.
G. PRIOR OBLIGATIONS AND PRE-REQUISITES
Details of complementarity with other programmes must be clearly
spelled out.
The project will utilize well established technical facilities at
the Centro de Informatica da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (CIUEM).
MICOA is the focal point for INFOTERRA and has experience with GIS.
MICOA must take all the necessary actions to ensure that the
project is registered with the ministry of Planning and Finance and
that appropriate funds will be made available.
H. PROJECT REVIEW, REPORTING, AND EVALUATION
The project will be subject to joint review by representatives of
the Government and UNDP, at least once every 12 months, the first
of such meeting to be held within the first 12 months of the start
of full implementation. The national project coordinator shall
prepare and submit to each joint review meeting a Project
Performance Evaluation Report (PPER). Additional PPERs may be
requested, if necessary, during the project.
A project terminal report will be prepared for consideration at the
terminal tripartite review meeting. It shall be prepared in draft
sufficiently in advance to allow review and technical clearance at
least four months prior to the terminal joint review.
I. BUDGET
Budget (2 year)
Sustainable Development Networking Programme
Mozambique
Budget
Project personnel
Personnel, SDNP Coordination Unit
- Full time Coordinator (USD 2,000 /mo) ..........USD 48,000
- Secretary/operator/Clerical (USD 500/mo) .........USD 12,000
- Mission .................USD 10,000
Total Personnel .....................
USD 70,000
Subcontract
- CIUEM Subcontract ................ USD 45,000
Total Subcontract .....................
USD 45,000
Travel
- Official travel in Mozambique USD 5,000
Total Travel ...................
USD 5,000
Training
- In-country workshops, training................ USD 32,500
Total Training .............................................
USD 32,500
Equipment
Hardware and software
- Sun Sparc 20 workstation + software (2Gbytes.............. USD
15,000
- Four CD-ROM players (extnl SCSI interface) 1: @ USD 750/unit USD
3,000
- High speed modems: 4 Telebit Worldblazers or equivalent:
@ USD 750/unit ... USD
3,000
- UPS: 4 unit @ USD 700/unit ......... USD
2,800
- Three Desktop DOS computer: 2 GB SCSI, 586 - 90 MHz, 16 Mb RAM,
Windows, OS/2 (2)
USD 12,000
- Two desktop DOS computers: 586, l Gb; 16 Mb, Windows, OS/2 USD
8,000
- Laser printer ..... ....................................... USD
2,000
-Modems 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
- Cabling ..................USD
10.000
- Software for all sites ...................... USD
1,000
Total Equipment ............................................ USD
63,500
Operations / Maintenance / Miscellaneous
- Office space
-
- Maintenance
-
- Utilities
-
- Communications expenses ................................ USD
2,500
- Office Supplies: laser printer cartridges,paper,diskettes,etc USD
2,000
- Miscellaneous .................... USD
7,000
Total Operations ............................................
USD11,500
GRAND TOTAL USD
227,500
J. ANNEXES
ANNEX I
MOZAMBIQUE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING INFRASTRUCTURE
Telecommunications
Present situation : Voice grade telephone services are available at
most institutions. International telephone communications are
available from the main urban centresin the country. These are
very expensive, with rates varying from USD 4.00 to USD 6.50 /
minute to the USA for example. Several satellite earth stations
exist in the country and three main nodes link Maputo, Beira and
Nampula/Nacala by satellite. A radio based rural telecommunications
system exists. The possibility of liberalized telecommunications,
should this include the telephone system, could open the way to
lower costs and improved performance and spread of the telephone
system.
Future plans : Reconstruction, restructuring and modernization of
the telecommunication and power infrastructures are among the
highest priorities of the present government. At the technical
level, the availability of telecommunication facilities and level
of computerization of main potential SDNP users in Mozambique
indicates a high potential for the success of the project.
Telecommunications policy development in Mozambique appears to be
ahead of most of its neighbours for the simple reason that it has
established a written policy, has issued laws and decrees on the
role and responsibility of the national operator, and has
recognized the need for private sector participation in this
sector. The policy framework for this sector has been evolving
over a ten year period, and is developing at a faster rate than
possibly in any other country in Africa, and certainly in the
region (BMI TechKnowledge. 1994. Communication Technologies
Handbook 1994. p71-78).
Telephony and telecommunications
Projections for 1995 are the following: the total exchange capacity
will rise to 93,900, including 33,000 business exchanges. Annual
growth in the number of telephone lines is expected to reach 18% in
1995. Extension of existing telecommunications infrastructure will
be done by digitizing many satellite and microwave links in and out
of the country.
In rural areas, radio assisted telephone communications exist. TDM
is also being courted by and/or considering several regional and
international projects to increase connectivity with the world and
in the region. The Africa One project of AT&T to link African
countries via an optical fibre link around the continent, and other
projects were mentioned. These projects could generate revenue
because of the regional and international traffic they carry.
The existing leased line connection used by CIUEM to gain access to
an Internet Services Provider in South Africa operates at 9.6 Kbps.
Improvements to the telecommunications system, including
digitization, could well increase the bandwidth possible. This
will happen within the coming few months. Cost will be a factor
however.
Existing Networks in the country
In Mozambique the computer industry is still young. Most of the
big names ( IBM, DEC, ICL, etc.) are present in Maputo. 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 CIUEM even through it is Internet compatible.
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 Mozambique: private
networks, either LANs or
WANs and publicly accessible networks that subscribers have access.
Most of the private
networks are based on the Novell network operating system, with a
Novell server and
workstations.
Of particular interest to the SDNP are the publicly accessible
computer networks. (see the glossary and introduction on
computer mediated communications for more information)
There are 3 Fidonet nodes; at MICOA, COCAMO and USAID; 2
private BBS for public access ( Tropical and Afroline); 1 X.25
based system operated by Teledata; and 1 Internet service
provider, the Center for Informatica of Eduardo Mondlane
University.
FidoNet
The FidoNet based systems are stations that individually "call"
hosts outside of the country. All identified users of these
stations have access to the Internet via the University.
BBS
The BBS systems are locally based and may also have international
connection through store and forward technologies. Some of these
BBS and the store and forward systems may also be Internet
compatible through, that is they may be reachable by Internet
email. Only one of these can be reached through CIUEM: Afroline.
X.25
The X.25 based national Public Data Network (PDN) is commercially
operated by Teledata, a consortium between TDM and outside
investors. The X.25 network links Maputo and Beira. The system
allows users (subscribers) to "call" an International based host
and get access to databases and email facilities. ln principle, it
is possible to access various internationally based Internet
Services Providers (ISP) using the X.25 system.
The X.25 based system require users to 'login' to a remote computer
using the Teledata X.25 packet switching network. At present, and
due to very high connect and volume charges, only 12 subscribers
use this system. The reason is that the cost of connecting is very
high: approximately USD 4 per minute to the United Kingdom,
approximately USD 10 per minute to the Netherlands, and
approximately USD 7 per minute to the USA. The client pays the
equivalent of a direct distance dial telephone call for these
destinations.
lnternet
The CIUEM operates a fully lnternet compliant system based on the
TCP/IP protocol used on the Internet. This system is based on a
leased line connection to a large Internet host that is based in
Republic of South Africa. Users from around Mozambique log in by
direct distance dialling the CIUEM Internet computer network using
a programme known as 'SNUUPM' (see glossary). UUCP allows the user
to access Internet compatible email, and in principle, to over 35
million Internet users around the world.
For use of the many other Internet applications, such as those that
permit remote logging to computers around the world (telnet), use
of the file transfer protocol (FTP), and other Internet information
management programmes, users must either be at the CIUEM or come to
CIUEM to use the public accessible workstation provided by CIUEM.
CIUEM uses the existing TDM telecommunications for Internet access
to infrastructure to provide a connection to users and allows them
to exchange email within the country and abroad. There is an
installation fee ( approx. 10 USD) and a monthly contribution that
can go up to 50 USD. The actual system does not look to the number
of Kbytes transferred but deals with the need to sustain the leased
line to South-Africa and other services.
Government institutions, NGOS, private and other organizations,
many of the international organizations and others use the CIUEM
network. UNDP does not use it directly, but the World Bank does.
Details of the CIUEM network
CIUEM has a TCP/IP network that is linked to the Internet via a 9.6
Kbps (kilobytes per second) leased line to South Africa. The
Mozambican segment of the leased line is rented from TDM for USD
27,000 per year and USD 13,000 for the Republic of South Africa
segment for a total of USD 40,000.
Available applications at present include: electronic mail, file
transfer (FTP: file transfer protocol), remote login (telnet),
Gopher clients, WWW clients ( NETSCAPE) and Archie. Response times
for telnet access to resources in Eastern North America range from
500-800 msecs (milli-seconds) during low periods of use (Saturday
or Sunday mornings), to about 1,400 - 2,400 msecs during weekday
mornings when South African users are online. ln the later pm
during the week, telnet is so slow as to be unusable. Email
transfer rates can be nearly instantaneous to destinations in North
America.
Users of the CIUEM network
There are at present over 400 remote users of this system. Access
is open to all categories of users and several government
departments, including some key decision makers, have accounts.
The management of CIUEM has made a point of providing personal
access to ministers in order to further demonstrate the role of
computer mediated communications and in support of their efforts.
NGOS, the media and individuals also can use the system for email.
Only one dial-in telephone line meets the needs of these users.
Many more lines are being made available to the Universidade
Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) by TDM. Over 150 lines will come in and the
CIUEM will increase the number of lines available for organizations
or individuals to do remote login as well as dial up. As
mentioned, CIUEM also provides a terminal on site for some
interactive applications such as FTP and telnet. These services
will also be available for remote sites once more telephone lines
are available.
Experimentation with the World Wide Web (WWW has been successful.
The Netscape World Wide Web browser has been installed and tested.
Response is slow but acceptable during times of low usage.
CIUEM is in the process of upgrading their facilities and are
installing a high speed network in their offices and in the process
of installing leased lines to other users on campus. The SDNP may
wish to extend access using leased lines to Ministry for
Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA) and possibly other
users as well (for example, the umbrella NGO, LINK, as well as
users in Beira and Nampula.
UNINET, the South African Internet Services Provider for the
research and academic community based in Pretoria, South Africa,
provides the Internet link. The Mozambican telecommunications
authority, Telecomunicacoes de Mocambique (TDM), plans to upgrade
to a digital link with South Africa. Speeds greater than 9.6 Kbps
will then be available. Until Mozambique can acquire a direct
connection to the Internet backbone in Europe, North America or
elsewhere, then it will have to connect through South Africa.
The possibility of using a direct satellite connection should
continue to be explored. ln principle, this could provide the
answer to increased bandwidth necessary to meet the increasing
demands of the user community in Mozambique. Some options exist,
and these are being explored.
The Dutch government is helping CIUEM acquire capacity, as well as
hardware and software, through technical assistance (provided by
Delft Technical University, training, and equipment purchases. At
present, CIUEM has acquired 5 Sparc workstations (2 Sparc 20, 1
Sparc 5 and 2 Sparc Classic machines). CIUEM has expertise in UNIX
system management. They have implemented the Solaris commercial
UNIX operating system on the Sparc stations and have implemented
Linux, the public domain UNIX operating system, on the PCs.
Computerization
The feasibility study sample and the level of use of the CIUEM
suggest that many users are computerized.
ANNEX II
SDNP Coordination Unit
The SDNP Coordinator is accountable to the executing agency MICOA,
and to the Steering Committee 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.
Job description for the SDNP Coordinator
The SDNP Coordinator will be responsible for all aspects of
establishing and managing the SDNP project. 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.
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
Mozambique, 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, MICOA, CIUEM and the
Steering Committee, will help identify and develop training
activities to support the national SDNP. He will work closely
with MICOA and CIUEM to prepare and deliver national workshops
(2-3) for SDNP members throughout Mozambique.
The SDNP Coordinator will work closely with the SDNP Steering
Committee, MICOA and CIUEM, the Director of the UNDP SDN in New
York and with UNDP staff in Maputo. Ongoing communications will
be maintained.
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 Mozambique 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 candidate selected should be fluent in Portuguese and
English.
ANNEX III
Role of the Centro de Informatica da Universidade Eduardo
Mondlane (CIUEM)
The CIUEM will provide technical expertise and training.
This will include the establishment of SDNP nodes, including
testing and installing the equipment required.
In close collaboration with the SDNP Coordinator CIUEM will be
responsible for developing and managing the information technology
aspects of an operational SDNP node based on computer mediated
communications. CIUEM will establish the necessary hook up and
install the hardware and software. CIUEM will help train SDNP
staff and of SDNP users or members as required.
CIUEM will be responsible for establishing the SDNP main node to be
connected to CIUEM by MICOA. 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 main node.
CIUEM will in close collaboration with the SDNP Coordinator
respond 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.
ANNEX IV
The Steering Committee represents stakeholder groups and networks
with these stakeholders n issues related to sustainable development
in Mozambique. It is suggested that the Steering Committee be
established in the early stages of the project to help launch the
SDNP.
The Steering Committee will play a major role in guiding and
orienting the SDNP and insuring proper functioning 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 a The Steering Committee is the
vehicle for reflecting stakeholder participation in the
management and operation of the SDNP.
ANNEX V
Implementation arrangements
Phasing
This is a two year project of which most of the activities are
ongoing. Phasing is as follows: the interim Steering committee or
working group that has already been meeting during the feasibility
study in July 1995, continues to provide input and to direct the
SDNP project. Once the project has been approved, the Steering
Committee should be reconvened by MICOA and UNDP to approve the
position description (see the description included here) for the
SDNP Coordinator. An advert is placed in the national press and
circulated through electronic channels.
An SDNP Coordinator is hired by the MICOA. The Steering Committee
constitutes a panel for reviewing the candidates and for selection
of the chosen one. The SDNP Coordinator starts as soon as possible
by meeting with the Steering Committee and MICOA. The SDNP
Coordinator establishes the office at MICOA and works closely with
other team members, including CIUEM, UNDP and other members of the
Steering Committee. The SDNP Coordinator's main tasks initially
are to work out the details of the agreement between the project
and thus between MICOA and CIUEM which is to provide technical
support and training.
With the help of MICOA, CIUEM and the Steering Committee, the
SDNP Coordinator and his/her team enter into discussions with the
Steering Committee to develop a short programme of work.
Programme of work
Once the programme of work in place and approved by the Steering
Committee, the SDNP Coordinator starts implementation of 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, the applications
that users can take advantage.
Training plans and activities
A training plan will be developed to meet the needs of users. The
SDNP Coordinator will establish a priority for participants on the
SDNP course. The training plan will be based on the perceived
needs of the target group of users the SDNP wishes to reach on a
priority basis. From the feasibility study, it is clear that there
is a need to reach many users, including staff of MICOA at HQ and
in the field, Mozambican NGOS, other government departments, and
others as well.
CIUEM, as a contractor to MICOA for the implementation of this
project has agreed to provide the facilities for short courses on
computer mediated communications that are relevant to the needs and
circumstances of Mozambican users in Maputo. For users outside of
the capital, other arrangements may be necessary. These could
include trainers travelling to outlying areas for this purpose.
Hardware and equipment purchases
The budget reflects US street prices, with cole allocation for
transportation costs. The Sparcstation is acquired first. The
MICOA server is acquired at about the same time. CIUEM installs
all hardware. The Sparc station is installed at CIUEM and
networked with the Existing TCP/IP (Internet) network there. The
PC server for MICOA is installed and linked to the Sparc station at
CIUEM. The Beira and Nampula nodes are acquired and installed as
soon as possible.
CIUEM expands the number of dial in telephone lines to permit
greater access to the SDNP resources through the CIUEM network.
The SDNP Coordinator and CIUEM 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 very welcome way of promoting file sharing and the use of
electronic conferencing. SDNP obtains locally relevant and local
information for loading on the SDNP server at CIUEM.
The server at MICOA is set up and linked to the CIUEM LAN. CIUEM
staff are trained and use the MICOA SDNP server to use the CIUEM
system. The MICOA server and/or the CIUEM SDNP server is the
repository of information from CIUEM that is available to outside
users.
CIUEM will be the government organization to make information
available through the SDNP server.
The other servers for Beira and Nampula will be setup after a
host organization has been identified and operators have been
trained or qualified operators have been identified. The other
servers are established after 6 months and 9 months respectively.
Training to support these nodes will be available in both cities
within 6 months of the project launch date.
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.
Travel
The travel budget is for local travel. This incudes travel
within Mozambique.
SDNP Coordination unit
The Coordination unit will need another computer for its
operations.
Modems
To encourage greater use of the SDNP server, modems will be
distributed either on a loan basis or sold outright to users.
Loans will be provided to encourage users to obtain their own
equipment and to be able to be made available to the greatest
number of users possible. Availability of modems will be linked
with participation in SDNP training.
Business plan
The business plan will have to start to be developed once the
project is launched. To achieve self sustainability or self
sufficiency, the SDNP will first need to understand user needs. Ho
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 efforts to enlarge the base of users is happening.
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