The Southern Africa Telecentre Network (SATNET) and Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the two organisations partnering in an initiative to use new information communication technologies (ICTs) to promote sustainable development in the region.
The MoU was signed by SATNET Regional Director, Dean Mulozi and Acting PSAf Executive Director, Lilian Chigona at PSAf 8 July.
SATNET is an autonomous regional ICT non-governmental organization whose work-focus is to facilitate capacity development to information sharing & Networking, telecentre network development, ICT capacity building and information and Communication Technology advocacy. This blends well with PSAf’s work as an independent, regional information and communication organization cultivating an informed and inclusive environment for public policy debate in the region, working with the media and other communicators to enable marginalized populations to play an active role in the decision-making process that drives development.
The MoU seeks to foster collaboration and strengthen working relationship between the two organisations as a step towards accelerating Southern Africa’s quest to alleviate poverty, hunger and malnutrition and improve the general well-being of its people by aiding effective utilization of useful ICT-based information and communication platforms and access points such as telecentres and multimedia centres.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will embark on joint initiatives to support the use of ICTs to foster development. These will include the execution of ICT policy research and analysis to support the development of a conducive policy environment for ICT growth and performance, to actively build ICT capacities/skills of regional policy analysts and networks and promote multi-stakeholder policy dialogues at national and regional levels as a link between the public and governors or relevant authorities in various spheres of ICTs for sustainable development. The partnership will also enable the organisations to utilise each other’s communication material where necessary.
