IICD supported programme: Opensource Zambia Initiative - Zambia

The Open-source Zambia Initaitive (OSZi)is a group of people, enthusiastic about free/libre/open-source software (FLOSS). FLOSS is software that is sometimes available at no charge and most importantly it is software that gives freedom to view and modify the source code. It is often high quality software that (most importantly) is developed by a community rather than one company

They are a registered organisation, supported by IICD. OSZi had developed a database for the Organic Producers and Processors Association Zambia (OPPAZ), an Integrated ICT for Quality Assurance and Marketing system.

with an integrated patient information system.

OSZi has been recognized by the Zambian Government and was requested to participate in the implementation of the ICT policy, and precisely affect benefits of Free Opensource Software (FOSS) in government.

OSZi does not work solely for IICD projects. To sustain the organisation they will also take up other assignements

• Development Integrated ICT for Quality Assurance and Marketing system for OPPAZ
• Participation in ICT Policy Implementation team
• Establish a secretariat
  

Information and Communication Technologies are used in quite diverse ways in Zambia. In many ways, however, the applications of computers and the Internet are either not used, or in the stage of introduction. Access to ICTs exists in the urban areas with increasing coverage and quality, but in remote areas it is either impossible or very expensive to use the full spectrum of ICT services. There is also a lack of qualified staff in all areas of ICT, which has led to high salaries and a culture of job-hopping. The lack of skilled ICT personnel has discouraged small business from investing in computers and its applications. Those businesses/organisations that do have computers use them mainly for accounting.

Until recently, Open Source was only used by few Zambian businesses, but now more increasingly educational and not-for-profit organizations are starting to use Open Source. The new developments within education sector presents a special opportunity for rapid spread of OS mainly because education institution ordinarily forms the centre for orderly and continuous development and spread of knowledge and skills in the country. In additional to all these, the recently enacted national ICT policy which emphasizes access to ICT and promotion of alternative ICTs, has raised Open Source higher up on both national and institutional ICT agenda.

• To assist the formation of organized and dedicated sub-communities within OSZ that focus on creating and adapting appropriate software solutions for Zambianorganizations;
• To build the capacity of existing and new community members based on practicalexperience;
• To develop an affordable local (Lusaka-based) connectivity model, which does notrequire the use of expensive internet services for developers to collaborate onsoftware projects;
• To create a physical space where OSZ developers and members can come to find out more information, work on collaborative development/adaptation projects, and to act as the physical/personal link between client organizations and the developers subgroups and community;
• To document and showcase experiences and examples of the use of appropriate open source software systems in Zambia;

It is too early to tell.

Read more about IICD's approach towards Education.

The OSZ community is open to any individual or organization and as such is not a legal entity. However, for purposes of this project, a small project team will be constituted and recognized as the project owner. The formal structure and authority by and within which various parties will associate and relate with the OSZ project team will be through a Memorandum of Understanding. A separate code of conduct and principles of association for the OSZ will be developed by the OSZ team to guide the conduct of members but also to specify the rewarding scheme for work performed under this project.