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IICD supported project: East African Centre for Open Source Software
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Sectors: education
Summary
In Uganda there is an increasing need for knowledge about Open Source because of the growing demand for Open Source Software (OSS). EACOSS aims to meet this need for knowledge about Open Source by offering certified courses and establishing a knowledge centre for OSS. This project is the result of a very fruitful cooperation between a university (Martrys University in rural Uganda) and a commercial company specialised in offering back support services in OSS in Kampala. It is likely that within two years the project will be financially self reliable.
Update
Updated: 2005-08-01
The EACOSS centre was set up in April 2004. Within the last year it organised more than twenty OSS courses, brought out an OSS training course on a CD-ROM, and launched ‘mirror sites’ of the five main OSS providers to enable local computer engineers to download Open Source Software. On 23 May 2005, EACOSS entered into a formal public-private partnership with Ordina, one of the largest ICT companies in the Netherlands, and IICD. The East Africa Open Source Software project – an ambitious 3-year project to kick-start the widespread use of OSS in East Africa - is the first joint initiative of this public-private partnership.
Objectives
The general development objectives of the project are:
- To create an improved understanding of the role of OSS for the development of civil society;
- Contribution to national development by empowering people with appropriate skills in OSS for job creation and potential entrepreneurs;
- Developing a local ICT industry;
- Reducing the barriers to ICT access.
Planned outputs
| OUTPUTS | PERFORMANCE INDICATORS |
| A certified training centre offering basic and advanced courses on OSS applications | EACOSS is the main centre for on-demand and localized OSS |
| EACOSS provides easy access and low cost OSS | EACOSS is the main centre for on-demand and localized OSS |
| A recognized exchange point for OSS knowledge, professionals and developers involved in the local market | Fully operational website, knowledge and developers portal |
| EACOSS is part of the ICT policy development process | Representatives of the EACOSS main centre are invited for the ICT policy planning meetings in the East African region |
| Impact analysis of EACOSS in Uganda and feasibility study for replication | Publications on the EACOSS initiative |
Management and organisation
EACOSS Uganda is an independent organization under the umbrella of Uganda Martyrs University. As for now, EACOSS will be registered as a Company Limited by guarantee. As soon as possible, EACOSS will be transformed into a non-governmental organisation. At least one member of the senior staff of the university will be part of the board of the EACOSS. The following initiating members will start the initial phase of the project:
- Professor Dr. Victor van Reijswoud - Chairman of the advisory board
- Mr. James Wire Lunghabo - Managing director Marketing and public relations
- Mr. George Lule - Managing Director Operations
Market and finance
The target groups can be divided in target groups for the capacity building services and for the information and exchange point.
For the capacity building services the following target groups can be identified:
- Interested persons in the certification courses. Usually these are young people who are interested in ICTs. Courses are designed at the beginners, advanced and expert level.
- Organisations who are in the need for knowledge about Open Source.
The market and therefore the target groups for the information and exchange point is broader and is also open to everybody who is interested and is in the need of knowledge and back support of OS.
Project Owner : EACOSS; P.O. Box 5498, Kampala, Uganda; victor@umu.ac.ug or georgie@umu.ac.ug or lughabo@linuxsolutions.co.ug
Project Partners : IICD and DFID
Project Contact : IICD
