America, May 28, 2008
Directing Inveneo's ICIP Program
Empowering social change with technology
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Back when I was Director of Geekcorps, we focused on developing appropriate technology to increase economic development. In the hot, dusty, off-grid environment of Mali, that meant developing solutions like the Desert PC.
While we only built a few for radio stations, another group, Inveneo, took the appropriate computing idea to the next level. They developed an entire product line of information and communication tools for rural and remote communities in the developing world. But tools themselves are not enough. Technology is only truly sustainable when they are affordable and can be serviced and supported locally and the lack of qualified in-country ICT professionals is a great hindrance to technology diffusion. At Geekcorps we tried to solve this human capacity by linking international technology volunteers with local professionals for one-on-one training. Again, Inveneo responded to the challenge with a scaled solution. Their Certified In-Country ICT Partner Program (or ICIP for short) is supporting a new generation of technology practitioners by training them on both the technical solutions and the business processes needed to deploy rural and remote computing infrastructure. Today, I've accepted my own Inveneo challenge. I am the new Senior Director of the ICIP Program, with the goal to expand the program's impact by more than doubling the number of partners and adding as many as six more countries by the end of 2008. From there, we hope to grow this budding community of practice's capacity over the next two years by recruiting and supporting up to 100 in-country partners to empower social change in more than a thousand underserved communities across the developing world. So if you know of ICT practitioners with significant experience wireless networking, open source software development, IT networking, or VoIP, who have already established a technology business, please send them my way. |
14 Comments
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Nice work wayan. all sounds very impressive. Good luck with your new gigs. let me know if it brings you to Uganda.
congratulations on both jobs. Glad to hear you're doing well and still jet setting.
Wow - sounds great! Congrats, Wayan.
Good luck. Always interesting to hear what you are up to. Keep up the good work.
Hey Wayan,
Big congrats! Those both sound like perfect positions for you. You really lucked out. How much travel will it be back and forth between DC and SF? Any plans to come back through NBO anytime soon?
Congratulations Wayan...
Seems like things are going quite well for you..
congratulations!!
I sadly am in Los Angles as I plan to sell my soul and get a job in so cal rather than gain a billion pounds and become the paranoid prude I became living up north.
Madagascar was amazing, and you are still one of my favorite people on this planet and as usual you're inspiring all of us who want to do more than sit on our butts. Hopefully I will have a job soon, but this time with a non-conservative spot where they have happy hour!
many hugs on the new jobs and finding love!
Wow! Good for you.
Someday I'd like to score an IT job in San Fran. That's such a nice area.
Mazeltov Wayan. I hope they don't let you down.
well done....glad it has worked for you... let me know when you are in my corner of the world!
Congratulations for the new assignments! I am more than sure about your success.
Congratulations on getting married and starting a new job. Your job sounds fascinating and I am sure it will lead you to interesting countries to explore. I look forward to reading about your adventures.
Wayan: Congrads on the Inveneo gig of your InfoDev engagement. Sorry I won't be able to make either celebration, but do appreciate the invite.
Looking forward to staying in closer touch as you spend more time in SF!
Go well!
Congrats to you - sounds like both jobs are right up your alley.