> Solomon Islands People First Network (PFnet)
> Project Id: 4512
> Project name: Solomon Islands People First Network (PFnet)
> Describe the project in one sentence: PFnet is a UNDP-established ICT project comprising a rural email network aimed at promoting and facilitating equitable and sustainable rural development and peace building by enabling better information sharing and knowledge building among and across communities forming the Solomon Islands.
> City: HONIARA
> Country: SolomonIslands
> Other country involved: Possibility for expansion in South Pacific region.
> Continent: Oceania,
> Summary: The People First Network, or PFnet, is an email system based on a robust, proven and sustainable technology that permits remote locations on islands across thousands of square kilometres to have access to Internet emails using a simple computer, short-wave radio, and solar power. The project's objectives are to: ·Facilitate point-to-point communications to and from the remote provinces of the Solomon Islands using affordable, sustainable and appropriate technology, and to use this network with other ICTs to: ·Facilitate rural development and peace-related information flows among all social groups; and ·Facilitate the exchange of information between communities and development programmes, NGOs, government offices, the media, businesses and other stakeholders. PFnet also comprises a web site and the country's first Internet Cafe (also functioning as ICT training centre). The rural email network uses a model where stations are managed by a village committee with training, awareness raising and other
community consultations. The community email stations are operator-assisted and thus accessible to all people. 25 rural stations are planned, with a major information management and capacity building programme involving all sectors and other development agencies. As of April 2002, two stations are operational with four more funded and awaiting deployment by June.
> Category: e-Government
> Project objectives in relation to problems: Following a 3-year ethnic conflict, which has collapsed the economy and eroded national unity, the Solomon Islands Government and UNDP accepted that the PFnet rural email network be considered as a priority to promote and facilitate equitable and sustainable rural development and peace building by enabling better information sharing and knowledge building among and across communities forming the Solomon Islands. A root cause of the troubles is that successive governments have failed to implement policies of equitable development, while rural communities are powerless to drive the process forward if their voice cannot be heard. It is precisely in remote rural areas that basic telecommunication has the most value and impact. For such locations, telecommunication is the only and vital link with the outside world, either to ensure health security, public services such as education, or essential contacts with family and professional peers. The PFnet system, offering b
asic email services, seeks to improve connectivity while making it affordable for low-income users and sustainable over time. This affordable telecommunication and information network is already assisting the country in taking in charge their own development through improved logistics, information and knowledge. A particular attention is given to gender equity and to democratic governance.
> Web site's URL: www.peoplefirst.net.sb/general/pfnet.htm <http://www.peoplefirst.net.sb/general/pfnet.htm >
> Name of organisation: Rural Development Volunteers Association
> Type of organisation(s):> Public authority (local, regional, national) Non-profit organisation (NGO/voluntary/special aims group)
> Target group: Age: Children, Youth, Adults, Seniors Educational level: No formal education, Primary school, Secondary school, High-school, University and college, Inhabitant in: Rural, Gender: Female, Male,
> Specific target group: A particular attention is paid to women and low-income groups. The project is primarily aimed at rural development.
> How many users are directly involved in the project? > 10000
> In what way is the target group related to the project? Citizen, Consumer, Professional, Student,
> IT and innovation: PFnet is based on a model where community-managed, operator-assisted email facilities provide all groups (even illiterates) the means to send messages and Internet emails. The ICT focuses on affordability, appropriateness and sustainability. Owing to the formidable logistical barriers in this scattered island nation, the mainstay of the network uses HF/Wavemail; a well proven system short-wave radios in Pactor 2 mode. Chosen for flexibility (various radios are compatible including those commonly found in villages, and several modem types allowed), and robustness (Pactor-2 has very good s/n performance) and mid-range affordability. VHF Packet and non-profit LEO satellite options also considered (each rural station can serve as a local hub) especially for future upgrading. Solar power supplies are use, also designed with robustness and maintenance-free characteristics. Initially, PFnet plans to deploy over 25 remote email stations across the nine provinces of the country. At this time, sta
tions are being added on a modular basis. For example, an NGO providing farmer> '> s advice, a development bank implementing a micro-credit scheme, or an environmental group running an eco-tourist site, may include a communication component to their projects. PFnet will also prove crucial to small business entrepreneurs who need to maintain contacts with clients, suppliers and shippers. In the longer term, the rural stations will grow into centres, with more workstations and pay-as-you-go Internet access in addition to the basic community email service. They will also offer computer and ICT training.
> How do the users interact with the project? Web site - interactive , E-mail, Other
> User need: Where other forms of communications do not exist or are prohibitively expensive, the PFnet community email stations are the only link with the outside world, either to ensure health security, public services, education, or essential contacts with family and professional peers. They give rural people a voice in matters concerning their affairs and development, for instance to contact decision makers and the media directly, to receive news and information and to contribute to important public and official debates. The service helps with the delivery of priority services and gives islanders opportunities to benefit from the global economy by allowing them to communicate with not only relatives but business contacts, investors and tourists all around the world at very low cost. All groups can use the service as it is operator-assisted and can be used a simple message service as well as for Internet email. A benefit to the nation as a whole is the information sharing which can take place, the cross-f
ertilisation of ideas and sharing of rural news. To stimulate this aspect, PFnet works with local media and community schools. The implementation of government policies towards rural development can be made more effective by connecting provincial offices and training staff.
> Transferability:> PFnet can expand to include other regional areas or be replicated in several South Pacific countries where the same basic economic and logistical limitations affect the availability of mainstream telecommunications. In this context, two groups have approached PFnet with a view to starting similar initiatives. These include the OK Tedi Development Foundation, Papua New Guinea, and a community group in Bourgainvil> le, a province also of Papua New Guniea which has suffered a similar conflict situation to the Solomon Islands.
> Number of: Employees: 5 - 15 volunteers:
> Future: As described above, the project's main effects, already being felt, can be summarised as: - improved communications to/from rural areas; - more efficient and effective delivery of priority services; - rebuilt national unity; - more equitable rural development through empowerment of rural communities; - more investment and business development in rural areas including tourism; - strengthened capacity in government agencies and NGOs to use ICTs; - improved governance as a result of the above; - improved readiness, awareness and capacity to use email and Internet amongst general public The natural growth of the rural email stations is to become digital community centres, with extra workstations and pay-as-you-go Internet access using satellite connection as well as the basic email service over HF. As readiness and awreness is built in rural areas, more information management and training activity will be devolved to the rural stations. The government will have established an ICT strategy and partnersh
ips and investment will be encouraged from global ICT industries especially those involving labour intensive information processing and youth-led employment generation.
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> http://www.challenge.stockholm.se/search_view.asp?IdNr=4512
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