Analysis of IICDs Telecentres pilot project in Mali

In August and September 2004 the project has been analysed by an external consultant. This article gives the highlights of this analysis. IICD also published an article on the analysis in French. 

A brief outline of the project
The idea to connect rural zones in Mali to the Internet started in 1999 by the UNDP. The Resident Representative of the UNDP - Mali, Mr Toré Rose, presented his ideas to the Malian Government.  The President of the Malian Republic of that time, Mr. Alpha Oumar Konaré, linked the internet ideas of M. Toré Rose to the hobbyhorse of his political programme, being the decentralisation process. Three Ministries were associated to the project.

In February 2000 an international meeting "Bamako 2000, Internet, the link to Development", was held in order to attract international partners to the project.  At the opening of this meeting Mr Konaré launched his slogan ' Internet in all 703 communes in Mali'.  One of the outcomes of "Bamako 2000" was the initiative to establish a lucid and pragmatic strategy. The Ministry of the Home Department (MATCL) was responsible for the carrying out of this initiative.

A Dutch consultant and two Malian consultants were engaged by the Ministry. In July 2000 the consultants presented the first version of their strategy during a meeting with partner organisations.  Unfortunately, after this meeting, the project got stuck. One of the main reasons for this was the lack of initiative from the Malian government, to create the necessary legal framework.  Despite the existence of this framework, several international organisations, among which IICD, started the first pilot projects in 2002. 

External analysis of the IICD pilot project
1. The implantation strategy of local telecentres in all Malian communes written by the three consultants.
The main elements of this strategy are:
a. The technical and financial feasibility as the main basis for the project. They are the two main success indicators for the telecentres. According to the consultants:
• The technical feasibility of the project will pose no problem, since it will use local expertise and existing local technologies.
• The financial feasibility is less sure and will demand a more advanced analysis. For this, the consultants developed, on a CD-Rom, a model to make a local social and financial analysis, which takes all key variables into account.
b. The pragmatic approach of the strategy proposed. The objective of the strategy is to establish profitable telecentres based on a commercial concept. The strategy wants to avoid the telecentres concept to be turned into a development project depending on (heavy) external finance. 
c. The creation of a favourable legal setting, in order to make profitable telecentres possible.
d. The simplicity of the strategy. The simple strategy will make it comparatively easy to establish cost-effective telecentres, thanks to:
• The modest investments made.
• The simple techniques used.
• The supplementary services offered in the telecentres.

Based on the results of the three existing telecentres one can say that the implantation strategy was too optimistic with regard to the following aspects:
• The demand for services from the public.
• The feasibility of reliable and affordable connections.
• The use of comparatively simple multimedia techniques (notably the technique of 'Store and Foreward' and the use of CD-Roms).
• The willingness of the Malian government to create a favourable administrative and legal setting for private enterprises. 

2. The relation with the Malian government
The support of the Malian government has remained far behind what had been expected. This was mainly due to:
• The lack of collaboration of the National Telephone Company, Sotelma.  
• The lack of coordination between the three Ministries associated. 

3. The relation with other international organisations 
The collaboration between IICD and other international organisations operating in the same sphere of activities like, USAID and UNDP/UNESCO, has been very fruitful. For instance, IICDs approach had an influence on the approach of other donors with regard to telecentres. Also IICDs open attitude is well appreciated by the other international partners. The complementarily between the multilateral, bilateral and non governmental organizations is recognized by all international partners.

Internal analysis of the IICD pilot project
During the analysis, achievements, as well as some points of particular interest of the project became visible.

The main achievements of the pilot project are:
• Its pragmatic approach that was aimed to the palpable results.
• Its market centred approach.
• The responsibilities given to the local partner.
• The use of comparatively modest funds.

The telecentres in Koulikoro, Fana and Kita, although not yet fully self supporting, had also achieved some results, like:
• The establishment of working relations with local authorities.
• Functioning without external financial support.
• The training programmes on WORD / EXCELL for pupils of the local (grammer) schools.
• The cont(r)acts with other organisations, like Military Camp and national horse betting company.
• The small yet very active group of local computer 'fanatics'.
• The dynamism of the persons responsible for the telecentres. 

In order to make the project more effective and profitable, some advice was given, like:
• Emphasize more on the communication aspect of the telecentres.
• Make a more thorough and objective market analysis.
• Elaborate a more detailed monitoring and evaluation system.
• Reinforce the marketing aspect.

Also with regard to a better functioning of the telecentres, some advice was given:
• Offer interesting and profitable remunerative services (profitable for the customers!).
• Produce interesting information for your customers (lists of interesting websites).
• Make Internet available via CD-Rom. (the 100 most interesting sites).
• Create a telecentres magazine.
• Reinforce the technical expertise of the persons responsible for the telecentres.
• Make the telecentres more welcoming.

Click below to read the whole report. Please note that the report is written in French.