AYIN Reflection on the situation, outcomes and actions and developing indicators
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Background Information on the Focus Network
Interview conducted with Leopold Armah and 'Gbenga Sesan by Riff Fullan at Harambee Consoldation and Planning Workshop, Kampala 15 Jan 2007.
Interview conducted with: Leopold (L) and ‘Gbenga (G)
What does the network work to do?
To create an opportunity for young Africans interested in ICT4D to network, share experience, collaborate on projects, and eventually be able to influence policies and development in their respective countries.
AYIN does not have a secretariat, so we wanted to establish and maintain a secretariat.
"In one sentence, describe your pilot activity"
To streamline activities of youth-led initiatives in ICT4D and serve as a platform for young Africans with an interest in the use of ICTs for development.
Question 1 - Situation
1a. What do I think are the salient features of the situation that I face?
G: One of the things that was so important was establishing the secretariat. There were resource issues in general, but the secretariat itself was important. Also looking at using other tools to collaborate than the online ones we were aready using.
L: Also to highlight some of the best practices on the continent in ICT4D
1b. Why do I think those are the salient features?
L: even though AYIN had been around since 2005 (after WSIS Africa), the focus was to put strategies in place to stand the test of time.
G: at the beginning, the network was informal and driven by a lot of enthusiasm because the needs were evident. As the network started to mature, the need grew to strengthen engagement of volunteers and to provide funding for some of the collaboration around project development.
Question 2 - Outcomes
2a. What outcomes do I think are desirable in this situation?
L: Setting up of a legally registered secretarat, to take care of some of the administrative issues, and to build data on five selected countries in the area of ICT for Youth in Development.
G: Sustainability of the network was a strong desire. Everyone is a volunteer, so there is an issue of having that commitment sustained when people have other ways they need to survive. We wanted to avoid going the way of most youth-led activities, starting with enthusiasm, but not keeping it up due to resource challenges.
2b. Why do I think those outcomes are desirable in this situation?
L: See above for the 'why?'.
G: By more solid establishment of AYIN, it can be more ‘real’ over time. Youth can move from being activists and lobbyists to where they are taking action and having visible results.
Question 3 - Actions
3a. What actions do I expect to lead to those outcomes in that situation?
G: 1) establishment of a fully equipped secretariat: staff, resources, securing more funding, physical space. 2) increased efficiency of the network: members, constituent countries, coordinators.
L: Yes, within the framework of the AYIN constitution adopted by youth at the African WSIS meeting in Ghana 2005.
3b. Why do I think those actions will lead to those outcomes in that situation?
L: They would lead us to the next stage of development, moving beyond advocacy to real work, implementing projects at country level. Also going beyond volunteerism as well as creating employment. Also forging partnerships with other stakeholders (eg. government, private sector, etc.).
G: Coordinators within youth advocacy efforts had been around long enough to know these three things were responsible for the ultimate failure of the things they had been involved in.
