Sengerema Telecentre
STRATEGIC PLAN 2012-2016
CONTENTS
Executive Summary………………………4
Introduction………………………………5
Establishment……………………………5
Obejectives……………………………….5
Management……………………………….5
Vision, Mission,……………………………5
Main Goal………………………………….5
Pillars……………………………………….5
Situational Analysis……………...... 7
-Strength…………………………7
-Weakneses………………………7
-Opprotumities…………………...8
-Challenges………………………8
SMCT Performamnce Review……………9
Strategic Objectives 2012-2016…………...13
Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation…16
Annex I: Implementation Matrix…………………17
Annex II:SMCT Organizational Structure ……21
ACRONYMS
COSTECH….Commission for Science and Technology
DIT…………..Dar es salaam Institute of Technology
FDC…………...Folk Development College
ICT ………………Information and Communication
Technologies
IDRC…………… International Develoment Research Centre
ITU...... International Telecommunication Union
KNACT ...... Knoweldge Networks of Africa Community
Telecentres
Ltd...... Limited
PESTEL...... Political, Economic, Social, Technological,
Environmental and Legal
PMO...... Prime Minister’s Office
SUA...... Sokoine University of Agriculture
SWOC...... Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and
Challanges
SMCT...... Sengerema Multipurpose Community
Telecentre
TCRA...... Tanzania Communications Regulatory
Authority
TTCL...... Tanzania Telephone Company Ltd.
UCAF ...... Universal Communication Access Fund
UDSM ...... University of Dar-es-salaam
UN ...... United Nations
UNECA ...... United Nations Economic Commission for
Africa
UNESCO...... United Nations Education, Science and
Cultural Organization
Executive Summary
Sengerema Multipurpose Community Telecentre-SMCThas prepared the 2012-2016 Strategic Plan to put in place a blue print For the implementation of its activities to achieve objectives of establishment of the centre. This strategic plan describes the aim of establishing the centre and the main goal. It further describes the vision, mission, strategic objectives, activitiesplanning, implementation and coordinationof the strategic plan.
This strategic plan shall be used as a foundation to strengthen SMCT service delivery capacities. Also serves as a tool to enhance cooperation among local and international telecentre stakeholders.
In order to enable the Sengerema District community to enjoy ICT benefits, SMCT aims at mobilizing the community and share experiences and knowledge with all stakeholders to use improved services in every sector.
With a view of improving its service delivery and contribute in the community socio-economic transformation, past experienceshave been reflected in a five-year strategic direction for the future, which is based on the defined strategic goal namely; “To contribute to the national initiatives focused on building a prosperous and peaceful society through the impartation of the knowledge on the secrets of success”.”.
The Strategic Plan 2012-2016 was formulated through extensive environmental analysis of both the internal and external issues, considered issues included; attracting more users and partners of ICT services including; government, private sector, and local and international institutions.
This strategic plan has taken into consideration of the policies, laws and regulations and procedures related to telecentres development such as; National development vision 2025, the national ICT Policy, TCRA Acts and regulations as well as programmes on Telecentre development in the country.
This strategic plan is composed of 6 strategic objectives namely; to enhancement SMCT capacity in management and staff competencies and community mobilization, to improve radio coverage to all villages in Sengerema District, to connect wards, Agricultural Resource Centres, Secondary Schools and Health Centres to Internet, to install television services in villages, to increase community participation in the implementation of SMCT activities and to enlighten the community with the Last-Mile knoweldge
In order to achieve the 5 strategic obejectives, SMCT has identified main activities as detailed in the implementation matrix on Annex I which identifies strategies, indicators, results and responsible parties. These activities will form the bases for annual plans and detailed budgets.
1.0 INTRODUCTION:
1.1 Establishment:
Sengerema Multipurpose Community Telecentre (SMCT) became operational in 2001with the aim of providing affordable ICTs to the Sengerema District community. SMCT is registeredunder the Business Names (Registration) Act (Cap.213) of the United Republic of Tanzania.
1.2 Main Objectives:
- To create awareness and enable the community to use and enjoy advantages of ICTs for improved standards of living.
- To be a model where the government of Tanzania and International ICT practitioners learn experiences for replication to other rural and marginalized communities.
1.3 Management:
SMCT is owned by The Sengerema Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited managed under three administrative layers, namely; The General Meeting comprised of members and stakeholders, The Board of Directors which supervises and make major decisions and The Management Team presided by the Centre Manager who is assisted by the three Heads of departments namely; Head of Information Technologies, Head of Radio and Adminstration, and Head of Finance and Assets, which supervises implementation of daily activities (ANNEX: I1 Organizational Structure).
1.4 Vision, Mission, Goaland Pillars
1.4.1 Vision;
“To be the best ICT Centre for knowledge that enables sustainable happy and successful life.
1.4.2 Mission:
“To acess ICT facilities and skills to build foundations for community success by enabling them to make right decisions (avoiding corruption, drug abuse, human killings and other social violences) in the implementation of social and economic activities. Also, enable the community to enjoy advantages and benefits of ICTson their own right”.
1.4.3 Goal:
“To contribute to the national initiatives focused on building a prosperous and peaceful society through the impartation of the knowledge on the secrets of success”.
1.4.4 Pillars:
1.To integrate human endowment and powers that enabled existence of human beings and other creatures.
2. National ICT Policy- Good governance, Eduaction, Health, Agriculture, Commerce e.t.c.
3.More than 80% of the community is agro-based
4.Priorities– Children holding the future of our communities and the Nation, education curriculums and content from communication facilities.
5.To identify and develop local talents
6.Participation of the community in building the foundations for good morals, proper utilization of resources, opportunities and successes available.
7.To build a generation that will be able to make right decisions.
2.0 SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS:
2.1 The SMCT Strategic Plan Process
Analysis of both the internal and external environment was used in developing this Strategic Plan. SWOC and PESTEL were the main tools used in the process.
Internal environmental assessment was carried out to assess about human, physical and financial resources as well as systems and procedures for effective implementation of the mission and realise its vision.
Analysis of the external environmemnt aimed to establish its impact or influence in the implementation of the functions of SMCT with the view of integrating expectations of the external environment into the Strategic Plan. The analysis was done through reviewing relevant literature and views of stakeholders.
2.2Assessment of the internal environment:
Assessment of the internal environmemnt focused on determing how effeciently the organizational resources (physical, human and financial) are deployed to implement SMCT mission and realize its vision. The SWOC analysis tool was applied to determine the position.
2.2.1Sterngth:
SMCT finds its strength in;-
(a)SMCT operates from its own plot of land and building capable of diversified ICT activities.
(b)SMCT has quality radio, computer and Internet equipment and materials
(c)SMCT has competent and committed staff and leadership.
(d)SMCT activities revenues cover 85% of the operational costs without donor funding.
2.2.2Weakness:
(a) Insufficient skilled staff
(b) Insufiient quality equipment
2.3Assessment of the external environment:
The tool used to assess the external environment was PESTEL. It focused on determining the effects of political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors in realizing of SMCT mission.
Political issues considered were;
(a)The Tanzania government initiatives to establish telecentres in the country to facilitate social and economic development.
(b)Availability of telecentre development policy in the country.
(c)Government and ICT practioners recognition of the potential of telecentres and The Tanzania Telecentre Network in achieving local and international development goals
Economic issues considered were;
(a)Potential of several financial sources.
(b)To mobilize the central and local governments to use telecentres services on the cost-share basis.
(c)To improve entrepreneurial activities in the community.
Social issues considered included;
(a)Community wililingness to use telecentre service to improve livelihoods
(b)Community information needs for essentials such as; Market information, education information, health information, payments and documents transfers.
(c)Building of good morals to the community.
Technological issues considered included;
(a)To increase ICT usage in the community.
(b)Develoment of local talents in the community.
(c)To improve local maintenance and service skills in the community.
(d)UN Declaration on connecting schools-connecting community.
(e)The National2025 Vision
(f)The National ICT Policy
(g)The TCRA Telecentre development initiative.
2.3.1Opportunities:
SMCT has the following opportunities;
(a)The community appreciation and use SMCT services.
(b)SMCT is used as a model where the governments of Tanzania and International ICT development practioners learn experiences for replication to other rural and marginalized communities.
(c)Tanzania Telecentre Network using the SMCT to pilot the Rural Internet Connectivity Project.
(d)SMCT is implementing the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa-UNECA KNACT Project aimed at establishing knowledge Hubs in Tanzania
(e)SMCT is reputable to government, local and international ICT practititoners.
(f)ICT service providers’ realization that Telecentres are potential in community awareness creation for their products.
(g) Learning and research institutions realization of the potential of telecentres in accessing results of their activities to communities.
(h) Governmemnt to establish telecentres in rural and marginalized communities.
(i)Global telecentre networks efforts to strengthen knowledge sharing and advocacy platforms
2.3.2 Challanges:
SMCT faces challenges which need to be mitigated to ensure the vision is realized. Challenges include;
(a)Indequate content
(b)Lack of reliable ICT infrastructure
(c) Insufficient funds
3.0 SMCT PERFROMAMCE REVIEW:
Many countries particularly African countries, under the United Nations initiatives to enable rural and marginalized
communities to enjoy advantages of ICTs, in the 1980s have witnessed increased efforts in putting up plans and strategies to meet this demand.
The focus has been to access affordable ICTs within community localities. Records reveal that Telecentres have been identified as the best means.
3.1The situation of telecentres in Tanzania:
In Tanzania telecentre initiatives started in 1996 when the government strated discussions with UNESCO, ITU and IDRC-CANADA. The process involved,National ICT stakeholders such as; COSTECH, TCRA, TTCL, OUT, Tanzania Library Services and The Prime Minister’s Office-PMO.
SMCT was a result of these efforts and implemented as a model where the government of Tanzania and International ICT practititoners could learn experiences for replication to other similar areas. Since 2001 when SMCT became operational, reasonable developments have been realized; so far 43 telecentres have been established.
Also, developments have been achieved in the creation of awareness of the potential of ICTs and telecentres to communities. Records show that right now depending on geographical, economical and envoronmenta situations, communities need to use telecentres in e-learning, e-agriculture, e-health and other e-pay services such as; examinations writing and reports, birth and death certificates, Land registration, pass ports, air-tickets, identity cards, money transfers e.tc. in order to compliment traditional telecentre activities.
Further more, the government of Tanzania and related institutions are working out strategies to contribute in the telecentre initiative. The government has already established afund through UCAF, which aims to support telecentre activities in line with other ICTs activities in the country. Also in order to improve infrastructure the government is working out a National Telecentre Framwork and connect telecentres to the Nation ICT Back-born, using the Fibre-Optic system.
3.2 Challanges:
Sutainability is still a biggest challenge to Telecentre activities in Tanzania. Main causes are; insufficient budgets, lack of appropriate content and low usage of activities by communities and institutions due to lack of awareness.
3.3 Review on the implementation of SMCT activities
2001-2011:
During the last 10 years period, SMCT had a positive achievement in realizing the desired objectives. Among the factors that contributed to the achievements is; good leadership under the National Project Management Committee presidesd by COSTECH including representatives from UNESCO, ITU and IDRC-CANADA in close
collaboration with the Local Steering Committee comprised of Sengerema District community groups and Sengerema District as well committed staff.
Success testimonies include; growth of SMCT activities such as; computer training with more than 90% increase each month compared to 2001, distribution of Internet services to individuals and institutions in the district, Radio programmes covering more than 80% of the population compared to below 40% in 2001. Increased use of ICTs in the district, to date there are more than 500 personal computers compared to 2 in 2001, more 5 secretarial services and Internet cafes compared to none in 2001. Many people are making right decisionson life issues and activities such as; agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry, and other socio-economic activities by communities due to increased informed society level. It has improved efficiency of the Sengerema District Council (Local government) after being connected to Internet by the centre.
Futher more SMCT has its own plot of land and a building. Also, it is implementing a wirelss Mesh Net Work Internet
Project aimed at connecting ward offices and Ward Agricultural Resources Centres, Secondary Schools and Health Centres to Internet as a milestone for its declaration to make Sengerema District a model in ICTs usage and applications compared to other such areas in Tanzania in ten years time (2008-2017).
SMCT main focus is two fold, firstly is to realize the 10 years declaration (Sengerema District a model in ICTs), secondly, to
impart knowledge to the community that will enable them to make right decisions and that this is possible only if the community will embrace the fact that sustainable success is achieved when one integrates the human endowment ( resources, intelligence, power, skills, technology, experience…) and the forces of the power that enabled human beings and other creatures existence.
SMCT has witnessed 7 important milestones in the 2001-2011 period namely, community awarenss creation, introduction of ICTs services at the Folk Development College in 2001, Introduction of Internet services in 2001, introduction of community radio services, to own its plot of land, constructing a quality building, discerning that lack of knowledge which hinders making right decisions to most of the community is the root of poverty and other social problems in the communityand to cover its operational expenses by 85% from revenues of its activities.
Table ‘A’ below shows milestones in each year;
TABLE ’A’ Milestones 1997-2011
S/N / Year / Actvity / Action / Results1. / 1997-2000 / Baseline Survey for a model Multipurpose Community Telecentre in Tanzania establishment / Tanzania government through; COSTECH, TCRA, TTCL in collaboration with UNESCO, ITU na IDRC-CANADA carriedout the survey. / Sengerema District was selected.
2. / 2001 / SMCT started operations at Sengerema FDC / Community mobilization and sensitization, computer training and secretarial services took place / The community was mobilised
3 / 2002 / 1. Internet services installed
2.Construction of its own building at its plot of land started / SMCT started electronic communications / The community started to access information on the web.
4 / 2003 / 1.Community radio services started
2. SMCT moved to its own premises. / 1.The community started to get information from their own localities and neighbourhoods
2.Computer training, Internet and secretarial services increased by more than 80% / growthof informed society.
5 / 2005 / 1. SMCT Started opersting its activities using revenue from its activities 2.SMCT management was under the the Board composed of members of the community instead of the National Project Committee. / The Sengerema Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd. Was established / SMCT ownership by the community started.
6 / 2008 / 1. Discerning of lack of knowledge being the root of poverty and poor performances in implementiion of activities in Sengerema District.
2Declaration of the vision to make Sengerema District ICTs model
3. Implementation of the project to connect wards, Agricultural Resouce Centres, Secondary Schools and Healt Centres started. / Preparation of a strategic Plan started / It has attracted government, local and Inaternational institutions
7 / 2011 / Strategic Plan 2012-2016 developed / Involeved staff leadership and other stakeholders / To have a blue print foundamental for implementation of activities to achieve mission and Vision.
4.0 Strategic Objectives 2012-2016
The critical analysis of the internal and external environments particularly on; status of SMCT 2001-2011 experiences, utilization of services by the community, government and local and international stakeholders, global technological advancement and SMCT pillars, The 2012-2016 Strategic Plan has been developed.
The Strategic Plan 2012-2016 will be composed of 6 strategic Objectives, namely, to enhancement SMCT capacity in management and staff competencies and community mobilization, to improve radio coverage to all villages in Sengerema District, to connect wards, Agricultural Resource Centres, Secondary Schools and Health Centres to Internet, to install television services in villages, to increase community participation in the implementation of SMCT activities and to enlighten the community on the Last-Mile knowledge.
4.1 To enhance SMCT capacity in management and staff
Competencies and community mobilization
This strategic objective focuses on enhancing effectiveness and efficiency of SMCT by improving fund raising activities, diversification of services, to mobilize community and government to use services in a cost sharing basis, also, hiring and training staff.
This strategic objective also, focuses on attracting the government and institutions to develop relationships on special agreements. Also, retirees to participate in the activities at agreed terms and identify and develop local talents to improve skills in community localities.
It will also, improve the centre’s management and staff performances particularlyin; service delivery equipment and materials, management information systems, activating the website, enhancing customer care services, introduction of Internet service management systems. Particular attention will be paid to quality and effectiveness of Internet and radio equipment and materials to be installed.