Filed under Community news by Kerryn on 4 April, 2012 at 4:31 pm
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This workshop is part of the Business Building Workshop Series 2012 which are based on the SAFIPA ICT and Mobile Business Building Programme originally compiled by RIIS for ICT and mobile entrepreneurs, small business owners/managers and IT departments across all sectors. The ‘Business Building Workshop Series 2012′′ is designed for all, and is open to other sectors beyond the ICT and Mobile Industries.
The two-day workshop will be held on Wednesday, 11 April to Thursday, 12 April 2012 from 8:00 to 16:30. The cost is R 1,950.00 per person (incl. VAT). SAINe members and groups of 5 and more are able to receive a 10% discount. There is also the opportunity to Refer-a-friend and get a R500.00 discount! The workshop venue has been sponsored by the Bandwidth Barn and will be held at the following address: 5th Floor, 125 Buitengracht Centre, Buitengracht Street, Cape Town.
Click here to register now!
Is this workshop for you? The answer is ‘yes’ if you are an entrepreneur, small business owner, the CEO or employee of an ICT and mobile SMME, a new product developer, IT developer or project manager. In fact, anyone who would like to start their own ICT and mobile business is encouraged to attend. And if you or your company is not in the ICT and mobile industries, yet would like to learn more about the benefits of using new technologies in your business, the Business Building Workshop Series is also for you.
The programme includes topics ranging from concept stage, the nuts and bolts of the ICT and mobile business, through to the big-picture considerations and context.
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Filed under Community news by Kerryn on 31 January, 2012 at 12:03 pm
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With the first month of 2012 already under our collective belt, we caught up with SAFIPA-supported projects to find out what 2012 has in store for them. In this article we share developments within FBSA, Reed House Systems, CampusNet, JamiiX, WhereisMyTransport and LiftclubSA.
FBSA brings out the bubbly at Bloekombos!
Fireworks image from Flickr by Bayasaa CC-BY
First Business South Africa (FBSA) has already had some extremely heartening developments within their initiative. Tim White, the founder of FBSA says, “2012 might just be the year that we have all been waiting for! Finally our facility has its power and so we are able to take the next important steps.”
Tim refers to the Bloekombos Uluntu Plaza, which is FBSA’s living lab business incubator, and which also happens to be an African first! The project involves the establishment of a business training centre, or incubator, at which previously unemployed learner-workers are placed in retail based micro-enterprises, backed by a fully integrated supply chain and business services platform, whilst engaging in skills programmes and learnerships to embed the required knowledge. The Plaza is an initiative of City of Cape Town Local Areas human and Economic Development department (LAED). The business incubator provides an unprecedented opportunity for suppliers and manufacturers to participate actively in the local economic development of South Africa.
During the latter part of 2011, implementation of the project was hampered by delays in the electrification of the plaza. Whilst having to endure a number of frustrating months until power was finally delivered to the plaza, Tim can now enthusiastically report that, “Our immediate aim is to attract suppliers and manufacturers to participate in the supply chain processes.”
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Filed under Community news by Kerryn on 24 November, 2011 at 10:26 am
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Thiru Naidoo-Swettenham hard at work at the successful SAFIPA 2011 Conference
The most recent ICT capacity building partnership between South Africa and Finland – the South African Finland Partnership (SAFIPA) – which was the successor to the COFISA project, comes to an end in November 2011. The project has run over a three-year period managed by a core trio of locally-based personnel, overseen by a Steering Committee which included stakeholders from within the South African and Finnish governments, and with supportive roles undertaken by the CSIR Meraka Institute.
SAFIPA has began winding down active operations with the final programme analysis and reporting process beginning in late October. Perhaps setting the tone for these final reports has been the SAFIPA Conference 2011 which was held on the 19th and 20th October at the CSIR International Convention Centre. At this time the programme was hailed as a success by project donor- and implementing-partners alike.
“We have played with the best.”
Representing the CSIR Meraka Institute at the conference was Executive Director, Lourens Cloete, who also took on the function of Conference Programme Director and Master of Ceremonies. Lourens described this bilateral programme as significant in terms of broadening the information society in South Africa; meeting this challenge through partnerships to develop networks and enable cross-sector cooperation, whilst leveraging ICTs to make this goal possible.
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Filed under Community news by Kerryn on 24 November, 2011 at 9:21 am
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As the SAFIPA programme comes to an end, the dialogue between southern Africa and Finland, does not end with it. Newly established initiatives, in particular, the TANZICT and SAIS programmes are set to continue the legacy of dialogue – of which SAFIPA is a part – that began a decade ago.
The MFA has also conducted an external evaluation of the SAFIPA programme and the external reviewers were complimentary in noting that SAFIPA overall had contributed to and fulfilled its mandate of supporting and promoting the information society within SA. Feedback regarding project implementation and grant management was given to the PMO and certain issues dealing with selection of projects, reporting requirements and monitoring and evaluation will be incorporated into the design of future initiatives. In particular the mechanism of support by the provision of in-country technical assistance and guidance and the capacity development and networking programmes coordinated by the PMO were highlighted as key factors contributing to the success of the programme. It is important to note that sustainability of SAFIPA funded initiatives was critical and the PMO is pleased to report that of the 25 initiatives supported by the programme, at least 22 will be continued after the SAFIPA partnership has ended.
On reflection of SAFIPA outputs
Former counsellor of STI and Information Society, Embassy of Finland and member of the SAFIPA Supervisory Board and Steering committee from 2008 to November 2010, Ms Helena Tapper also commented that “one of the strongest impacts of SAFIPA is the creation of networks of people who work in the same area in ICT. These networks will remain after the programme. Further, the universities, public and private sector have today joint projects to develop ICT services in South Africa.”
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This is the final edition of the SAFIPA newsletter. The month of November 2011, marks the conclusion of this dynamic initiative.
