Asia-Pacific Telecentre Network
Encyclopedia
The Asia-Pacific Telecentre Network (abbreviated as APTN) is a collaborative initiative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UN-ESCAP) and telecentre.org and the APTN Secretariat is presently hosted at ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA). APTN is dedicated to promote innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst Telecentre
s in the Asia-Pacific
region where Telecentres are growing exponentially each year. APTN is working towards creating a platform of networks of telecentres, to share experiences on issues of their interest (content, sustainability, connectivity, etc.) and to cooperate on the development of solutions for common problems of the telecentres themselves in order to empower poor and disadvantaged communities with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Asia Pacific Region. In other words, APTN will serve as the focal network or the knowledge hub
for communication and information technology in the Asia Pacific region.
(2003 and 2005) and the World Summit for Sustainable Development
(2002) recognized the importance of the ICT in narrowing the digital divide
and attaining sustainable development , respectively. In view of the above, many countries established community access points with the intention of providing common access to ICT related services to rural communities. However, it has now been realized that community access points established to narrow the digital divide has not been able to capture the fragmented and underutilized knowledge of the poor and the disadvantaged communities. While many reasons could be attributed to this situation some of the significant causes are; inadequate exchange of experience related to ICT, weak linkages with stakeholders and low capacity of disadvantage communities in accessing and utilization of knowledge.
The project entitled "Knowledge networks through ICT access points for disadvantage communities" , which is being implemented by UNESCAP , attempts to empower poor and the disadvantaged communities through transformation of selected ICT access points into knowledge hubs of global knowledge networks by providing, developing, organizing, sharing and disseminating knowledge demanded by these communities. In the process, the project anticipated achieving; establishment of global/ regional knowledge network(s) for community development, enriched value proposition of ICT access points through their transformation into knowledge hubs and increase engagement of poor and the disadvantaged in the transformation process.
Since the inception of the project in 2006, number of activities has been accomplished to achieve the primary objective of the project. While the two regional meetings shared experience on telecentre operations and consulted telecentre operators on possible establishment of networks , subsequently APTN was established.
The Asia-Pacific Telecentre Network (APTN) was officially launched at the United Nations
Conference Center in Bangkok
on 19 November 2008, during an event attended by high level officials from 16 countries of the Asia-Pacific region, representatives from several United Nations bodies and other organisations . It was a collaborative initiative of UNESCAP together with 18 founding members from 10 countries in the region and support of partners such as the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and telecentre.org.
. Therefore, on 7 February 2009, APTN Secretariat was set up by Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka
and Chairman of UN-ESCAP's Committee on Information and Communication Technology, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga
. While setting up the APTN Secretariat in Sri Lanka, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga gave an insight into the benefits of the Secretariat being hosted by Sri Lanka,
Further, the Network aims at synergizing the various initiatives being carried out by various institutions. There are several modalities which APTN would develop in its future endeavors such as,
, China
on 8–10 September 2009, it discussed the benefits that APTN can provide to information and knowledge sharing, sustainability, best practices and resource mobilization for effective knowledge hubs/ networks. Also during the workshop for "Regional Workshop for Knowledge hubs and Networks in Asia Pacific Region - Next Step" held in Bangkok, Thailand on 10–11 December 2009, it further upgraded the role allocated to APTN as follows:
a-ptnetwork.ning.com ) for the purpose of knowledge sharing among its member networks.
Further, APTN has co-organized a workshop on resource mobilization for telecentre organizations in Asia-Pacific in 1 December 2009 in Colombo
, Sri Lanka. "The Resource Mobilization Workshop for Telecentre Networks in Asia" was jointly organized by the International Development Research Centre
(IDRC) and the APTN. The workshop was successfully conducted, which was participated in by network leaders, telecentre knowledge workers and stakeholders from all over Asia. The whole day program was consisted with 3 innovative segments which were organized and titled as 'Telecentre Idol Competition', 'Telecentre Open Clinic', and 'Telecentre Talk Show' .
on 10–11 December 2009, APTN is in the process of developing its initial work plan for the first half of 2010.
APTN intends to play a vital role among the existing ICT access points/ telecentres and networks as knowledge hubs to empower the poor and disadvantaged as these access points and networks provide knowledge or services to the needs of communities they serve. During the meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, it was reiterated that these access points or centres and networks were the direct means to reach marginalized and poor communities due to their proximity to the people and the areas that they serve. The Participants were of the view that easy access to these access points/ centres and affordable services, programmes specifically tailored to the poor and marginalized groups make them more effective and sustainable. Therefore, APTN is expecting to come up with special projects where it can address and empower the poor and marginalized societies with the benefits of ICT.
Further APTN hopes to work with ICT access points/ networks which it can reach and bring opportunities for women to become entrepreneurs as well as catalysts for development and also the leadership role in the local community. In many countries in the Asia pacific region, women's associations had been using ICT access points/ networks as meeting places, training centres and tools to reach other women towards raising awareness in large spectrum of issues, such as, health, education, social issues, disaster preparedness
, economic activities, among others.
As recommended from of Bangkok, Thailand workshop, APTN will take steps to undertake the below mentioned activities with the intention of providing a better ICT services through the knowledge hubs and networks to empower the diverse communities in Asia Pacific region:
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific , located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat for the Asian and Pacific region. It was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states...
(UN-ESCAP) and telecentre.org and the APTN Secretariat is presently hosted at ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA). APTN is dedicated to promote innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst Telecentre
Telecentre
A telecentre is a public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while they develop essential digital skills...
s in the Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
region where Telecentres are growing exponentially each year. APTN is working towards creating a platform of networks of telecentres, to share experiences on issues of their interest (content, sustainability, connectivity, etc.) and to cooperate on the development of solutions for common problems of the telecentres themselves in order to empower poor and disadvantaged communities with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Asia Pacific Region. In other words, APTN will serve as the focal network or the knowledge hub
for communication and information technology in the Asia Pacific region.
History
The World Summit on Information SocietyWorld Summit on the Information Society
The World Summit on the Information Society was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis...
(2003 and 2005) and the World Summit for Sustainable Development
Earth Summit 2002
The World Summit on Sustainable Development, WSSD or Earth Summit 2002 took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002. It was convened to discuss sustainable development by the United Nations. WSSD gathered a number of leaders from business and non-governmental...
(2002) recognized the importance of the ICT in narrowing the digital divide
Digital divide
The Digital Divide refers to inequalities between individuals, households, business, and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels in access to information and communication technologies and Internet connectivity and in the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use the information...
and attaining sustainable development , respectively. In view of the above, many countries established community access points with the intention of providing common access to ICT related services to rural communities. However, it has now been realized that community access points established to narrow the digital divide has not been able to capture the fragmented and underutilized knowledge of the poor and the disadvantaged communities. While many reasons could be attributed to this situation some of the significant causes are; inadequate exchange of experience related to ICT, weak linkages with stakeholders and low capacity of disadvantage communities in accessing and utilization of knowledge.
The project entitled "Knowledge networks through ICT access points for disadvantage communities" , which is being implemented by UNESCAP , attempts to empower poor and the disadvantaged communities through transformation of selected ICT access points into knowledge hubs of global knowledge networks by providing, developing, organizing, sharing and disseminating knowledge demanded by these communities. In the process, the project anticipated achieving; establishment of global/ regional knowledge network(s) for community development, enriched value proposition of ICT access points through their transformation into knowledge hubs and increase engagement of poor and the disadvantaged in the transformation process.
Since the inception of the project in 2006, number of activities has been accomplished to achieve the primary objective of the project. While the two regional meetings shared experience on telecentre operations and consulted telecentre operators on possible establishment of networks , subsequently APTN was established.
The Asia-Pacific Telecentre Network (APTN) was officially launched at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Conference Center in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
on 19 November 2008, during an event attended by high level officials from 16 countries of the Asia-Pacific region, representatives from several United Nations bodies and other organisations . It was a collaborative initiative of UNESCAP together with 18 founding members from 10 countries in the region and support of partners such as the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and telecentre.org.
APTN Secretariat
Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) had the privilege of hosting APTN Secretariat in Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Therefore, on 7 February 2009, APTN Secretariat was set up by Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
and Chairman of UN-ESCAP's Committee on Information and Communication Technology, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga
Lalith Weeratunga
Lalith Weeratunga, SLAS, is the current Permanent Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka . As the President's Secretary he is the top civil servant in the country and de facto head of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service...
. While setting up the APTN Secretariat in Sri Lanka, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga gave an insight into the benefits of the Secretariat being hosted by Sri Lanka,
- "I... being delighted that Sri Lanka has been selected to host the Secretariat of the Asia Pacific Telecentre Network and being aware that by hosting the Secretariat Sri Lanka can benefit as well as perform a pivotal role in making world community benefit from innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst telecentre organisations in the Asia-Pacific region..."
Objectives of the network
The APTN was set up with two main objectives. First it is intended to empower the poor and disadvantaged communities through the transformation of existing ICT access points in selected counties around the worlds into knowledge hubs of regional/ global knowledge networks. The second expected accomplishment is specifically concerned with transforming ICT access centres from conventional access centres into smart knowledge hubs. Transforming an ICT access point into a knowledge hub, involves revitalization of ICT access points, developing new functions, connecting them with the global networks, and activating partnerships. By becoming knowledge hubs, it is expected that the access centres will further have a positive impact on the development of local communities. Therefore, the APTN, which is established as a voluntary mechanism of networks of telecentres operating in countries in the Asia-Pacific region, has the objective to promote the interest of the telecentre movement throughout the region, and to strengthen the capacity of telecentres to provide, develop, organize, share and disseminate knowledge for the sustainable development of marginalized communities.Further, the Network aims at synergizing the various initiatives being carried out by various institutions. There are several modalities which APTN would develop in its future endeavors such as,
- Advocacy - providing a forumInternet forumAn Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
for identifying common issues and views, and promoting sustainable telecentres. - Training - sharing experiences, skills and expertise, identifying new or re-usable solutions for common problems, sharing researches on telecentre implementation - lessons learnt and best practices, and sharing knowledge on methodologies and tools used for telecentre assessment and evaluation.
- Collective action - producing products collaboratively and pooling resources and creating synergies.
Role of the APTN
The main intention of setting up APTN is to promote innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst telecentre organizations in the Asia-Pacific region where telecentres are growing each year. In achieving its target, the role of the APTN was modified and developed through several activities which were followed by its initiative taken place in November, 2008. During the regional workshop on Knowledge hubs in Asia Pacific Region, held in NanjingNanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
on 8–10 September 2009, it discussed the benefits that APTN can provide to information and knowledge sharing, sustainability, best practices and resource mobilization for effective knowledge hubs/ networks. Also during the workshop for "Regional Workshop for Knowledge hubs and Networks in Asia Pacific Region - Next Step" held in Bangkok, Thailand on 10–11 December 2009, it further upgraded the role allocated to APTN as follows:
- Prioritized activities of the below list will be allocated for action in the year 2010.
- Develop APTN website/ portal - Act as a repository of knowledge derived from the Asia-Pacific and other regions including accurate and updated database, tools and directories of resources for the benefit of national networks.
- Work towards knowledge sharing and knowledge fusion of best practices and unsuccessful practices with a pro-active approach.
- Play a crucial role in facilitating knowledge sharing, transfer and analysis.
- Facilitate periodic online chats and discussion lists with the help of anchors from national networks and experts
- Manage a website based on participatory designParticipatory designParticipatory design is an approach to design attempting to actively involve all stakeholders in the design process in order to help ensure the product designed meets their needs and is usable. The term is used in a variety of fields e.g...
to help develop collaborative learning and content development with coordination with telecenter.org and other regional networks. - Knowledge synthesis becomes key vis-à-vis simple knowledge sharing with strong linkages with the Telecentre Magazine.
- Consultancy assistance - Facilitating consultancy work in Asia Pacific, or creating a database/ pool of experts in various areas that will be useful for national networks/operators and knowledge hubs.
- Funding assistance - Work with national networks to identify specific projects for donor funding in multi-country partnership. Accessing potential donors jointly with member networks for greater credibility.
- Event coordination - coordinating events in partnership with eAsia or other larger events.
- Resource mobilization - working together towards a common goal.
- Enabling policy - assisting governments to implement the telecentre component in eGovernment programmes, and including telecentres in providing government services to citizens in the rural areas.
- Taking a proactive approach to telecentre development.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange between national telecentre networks.
- Facilitate study tours among networks.
- Organize awareness raising campaigns including promotion of telecentres and knowledge hubs
- Analyze business plans of the member of the network - Business plans to include revenue generation models, assessing strengths and weaknesses of the particular network. It was agreed that national stakeholders would drive the process while the regional networks would add value through bringing best practices from different regions
- Play a catalytic role in developing partnerships with countries which do not have national networks of telecentres
- Develop criteria for membership of regional networks and also develop modalities for working relationships with national focal points.
Activities Done by APTN Secretariat
Taking its first step to the APTN activities, APTN Secretariat has created a web portal (Further, APTN has co-organized a workshop on resource mobilization for telecentre organizations in Asia-Pacific in 1 December 2009 in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Sri Lanka. "The Resource Mobilization Workshop for Telecentre Networks in Asia" was jointly organized by the International Development Research Centre
International Development Research Centre
The International Development Research Centre is a Canadian Crown Corporation created by the Parliament of Canada that supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development...
(IDRC) and the APTN. The workshop was successfully conducted, which was participated in by network leaders, telecentre knowledge workers and stakeholders from all over Asia. The whole day program was consisted with 3 innovative segments which were organized and titled as 'Telecentre Idol Competition', 'Telecentre Open Clinic', and 'Telecentre Talk Show' .
APTN Web Portal
Initially APTN web portal was hosted on Ning. But as Ning announced that they remove all free networks, APTN Secretariat moved the APTN web portal to another platform, Grou.ps http://grou.ps. APTN web portal is now available at www.aptn.asia.Future Plans of APTN: Strengthening National Telecentre Networks
With the recommendations and agreements made during the "Regional Workshop for Knowledge hubs and Networks in Asia Pacific Region - Next Step" held in Bangkok, ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
on 10–11 December 2009, APTN is in the process of developing its initial work plan for the first half of 2010.
APTN intends to play a vital role among the existing ICT access points/ telecentres and networks as knowledge hubs to empower the poor and disadvantaged as these access points and networks provide knowledge or services to the needs of communities they serve. During the meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, it was reiterated that these access points or centres and networks were the direct means to reach marginalized and poor communities due to their proximity to the people and the areas that they serve. The Participants were of the view that easy access to these access points/ centres and affordable services, programmes specifically tailored to the poor and marginalized groups make them more effective and sustainable. Therefore, APTN is expecting to come up with special projects where it can address and empower the poor and marginalized societies with the benefits of ICT.
Further APTN hopes to work with ICT access points/ networks which it can reach and bring opportunities for women to become entrepreneurs as well as catalysts for development and also the leadership role in the local community. In many countries in the Asia pacific region, women's associations had been using ICT access points/ networks as meeting places, training centres and tools to reach other women towards raising awareness in large spectrum of issues, such as, health, education, social issues, disaster preparedness
Emergency management
Emergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause events like disasters or catastrophes and to ensure the continuance of the...
, economic activities, among others.
As recommended from of Bangkok, Thailand workshop, APTN will take steps to undertake the below mentioned activities with the intention of providing a better ICT services through the knowledge hubs and networks to empower the diverse communities in Asia Pacific region:
- Establishing a telecentrepedia
- To collaborate with the "telecenter.org" foundation and others to define its telecentre contents
- Contribute ideas for the book of '100 ideas for sustainable telecentres' and proposed creation of "telecentre magazine" to be released by March 2010 in ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. - To work on 'Asia Pacific Telecentre Review' (APTR)
- Publishing a 'telecentre best practices book'.
- Using the available resources like, the telecentre academy, and material developed in countries like the Philippines for capacity building of telecentre operators and users
- Working on on-line and off-line training and the need to localize training materials to suit country specific conditions and environment
See also
- TelecentreTelecentreA telecentre is a public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while they develop essential digital skills...
- Telecentre.org Academy of Sri LankaTelecentre.org Academy of Sri LankaTelecentre.org Academy is a movement in Sri Lanka, whose sole purpose is to uplift the standards, and professsionlism of the Telecentre workers. And hence make Telecentres in Sri Lanka much more sustainable....
- Asia-PacificAsia-PacificAsia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the PacificUnited Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the PacificThe Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific , located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat for the Asian and Pacific region. It was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states...
External links
- Asia-Pacific Telecentre Network
- Network Locations Map
- telecenter.org
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
- ESCAP - Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division, Final Report - Regional Workshop for Knowledge hubs and Networks - Next Step, Bangkok (10-11 Dec 2009)
- Telecentre Magazine
- World Summit on the Information Society
- World Summit on Sustainable Development
- The Asia-Pacific Telecentre Network: a result of telecentre.org and UN Economic Commissions working together