Background of the Kubere Information Centre (KIC).

Kubere Information Centre (KIC) is a multi-dimensional information centre offering Agricultural information. The main objective of this centre is to enhance and improve access to agricultural information to and from rural women farmers using a variety of information and communication technologies (ICTs).

The KIC was established in 2005 under the Rural Access Program of Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET). Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) is a non-governmental organisation initiated in May 2000 by several women's organisations in Uganda to develop the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among women as tools to share information and address issues collectively. WOUGNET’s vision is a society in which women are empowered through the use of ICTs for sustainable development. WOUGNET’s Rural Access program aimed at improving rural women’s access to ICTs, strengthening organisation members and building capacity in their ICT use and application increasing women access in ICTs.

In 2005, the project on “Enhancing Access to Agricultural Information using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Apac District” was initiated to develop and improve information and communication systems so as to enable easy access to agricultural information for rural women farmers via a variety of ICTs including mobile phones, radio cassettes, and community radio.

Located in Apac town, the Kubere Information Centre (KIC) was established to act both as an Information Resource point as well as to support project implementation and two-way linkages with the women farmers. This project was initiated with support from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA). Another key project under the Rural Access area was the Dimitra Project/FAO that involved collection and updating of information on NGOs, Research Institutes and Information Centers working with rural women in five countries, namely, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This information is maintained in an electronic database as well as on the Dimitra website.

As a result of WOUGNET’s new strategic direction for 2008 - 2010, the project on “Enhancing Access to Agricultural Information using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Apac District (EAAI)” has been integrated into WOUGNET’s Information Sharing and Networking Program. The primary objective of this program is to improve access to information by women and women organisations in both rural and urban areas.

  Objectives of the Project.

The overall objective of the “Enhancing Access to Agricultural Information using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)” is to develop and/or improve information and communication systems so as to enable easy access to agricultural information for rural women farmers in Apac District.

Specific objectives of the project include:-

1. To empower women farmers in Apac district with best practices in agriculture and lessons from various farming practices.

2. To build on the capacities of the women farmers to access and use ICTs for sustainable development through a tailor made training that will be offered at the centre.

3. To identify and prioritise agricultural information needs of the rural farmers and package this information into suitable formats.

Establishment of the KIC is expected to support and strengthen delivery on the project objectives. The centre will also act as the training venue, resource centre and coordination office with all our development partners.

Funding.

The project “Enhancing Access to Agricultural Information using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)” has a one year funding by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) that is based in Wageningen, Netherlands.

The objective of this funding support is to develop and/or improve information and communication systems so as to enable easy access to agricultural information for women farmers in Apac District. Given that radio is the most commonly available ICT among the target group, the KIC project also has a strategic partnership with Radio Apac in the production and dissemination of information using radio

Activities.

The project targets women farmers that are a marginalized group of people in remote areas where ICTs barely exist. Second, the project employs a collaborative initiative of different development partners contributing to project implementation, hence minimizing resources. Third, an element of feedback is and development institutions and their responses relayed back to the farmers. Fourth, the project uses a mixed approach to access and to deliver information including weekly radio programs, face-to-face meetings with the women farmers, WorldSpace satellite radio programs, SMS and the internet. The project is also mindful to make information available in the local language, Luo.

Specific activities by the project include but are not limited to:-

* Field visits to information sources.
* Searches on websites of organizations identified as information sources.
* Initiation of collaborations through e-mail.
* Translation of the information collected.
* Package into user friendly formats information collected.
* Conducting weekly radio programs in collaboration with Radio Apac.
* Hold regular parish meetings (listening clubs and dissemination meetings) for farmers.
* Participate in partner activities such as agricultural shows, NGO activities in the district.

Areas of operation.

The project operates in two counties of Kole and Maruzi. The choice of counties in which to operate was agreed upon during a consultative meeting held on December 10, 2004, in Apac Town that included WOUGNET members and partners within the Lango sub-region, Radio Apac staff as well as local leaders within the community.

Furthermore, within each of these counties, the project has focused on the following sub-counties: Apac, Akokoro, Akalo, and Bala. Again, the selection of the sub-counties was made in consultation with the KIC Community Advisory Board that was nominated during the December 2004 consultative meeting.

Collaborating partners.

The KIC is working in collaboration with partners who are experts in the agricultural field to provide the technical information. Project partners include: -

• Radio Apac Women's Forum (RAWF)
• District Agricultural Office, Apac
• National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)
• National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS)
• Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns (VEDCO)
• Agency for Sustainable Development Initiatives (ASDI)
• FOODNET
• Agricultural Research and Rural Information Network (ARRIN)
• The Radio and Internet Program (RANET) - Department of Meteorology, Ministry of Water, Lands, Environment