Session
Organizer 1: Ugne Lipeikaite, EIFL
Organizer 2: Ramune Petuchovaite, Electronic Information for Libraries, EIFL
Organizer 3: Teresa Hackett, EIFL
Organizer 4: Asia Kamukama, Maendeleo Foundation
Organizer 5: Raymond Amanyabyoona, National Library of Uganda
Speaker 1: Asia Kamukama, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Raymond Amanyabyoona, Government, African Group
Speaker 3: Ugne Lipeikaite, Civil Society, Eastern European Group
Speaker 4: Emmanuel Muyomba, Government, African Group
Ugne Lipeikaite, Civil Society, Eastern European Group
Teresa Hackett, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Ramune Petuchovaite, Civil Society, Eastern European Group
Round Table - Circle - 90 Min
How does public access connectivity in libraries enable equitable access to the internet for all, especially in developing / least developed countries?
In what ways does digital capacity building empower people, especially youth and women, and other vulnerable groups?
How to encourage spread and replication of good practices of building digital skills for empowerment and development?
Connection with previous Messages: The session builds on and continues the dialog along the following messages of IGF 2021:
- Ensuring that all people everywhere have meaningful and sustainable access to the Internet must be a priority. Access to the open Internet is key for bridging the digital divide, as well as fostering democracy and human rights.
- Public access through institutions such as libraries can help deliver on all of the components of access that help drive development – equitable and inclusive connectivity, content and competences. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that countries had to prioritise the massive development of connectivity infrastructure to connect the unconnected to an increasingly digital world.
Our session contributes to further development of the dialogue by sharing good practice from Uganda, where public and community libraries are being equipped with public access computers and connectivity by Uganda Communication Commission through Universal Service Funds, and how local library networks work for connecting unconnected and developing digital capacities.
4.4
Targets: Our proposal is closely related to SDG 4 “quality education”, especially with the Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship”, which includes information and communications technology (ICT) skills. We will share experience of the Project, which uses local libraries as agents of digital inclusion and provides a multiple solution of access (ICT infrastructure in libraries), skills (digital and mobile literacy training, led by trained librarians) and content (peer-to-peer learning model, built on online resources and facilitated by librarians). The workshop is also connected to the SDG 5 on Gender Equality, because one of our main targets is women and girls and we deploy specific strategies to make sure they can participate and benefit from the training.
Description:
Equitable and sustainable development is only possible if the majority of society, including vulnerable groups, have access, tools and skills to benefit from the digital world. In Uganda, an important shift is on-going which seeks to equip underprivileged populations, especially women and youth, with the skills and confidence that they need to build better futures. The project, started in 2021, works with a country-wide network of public and community libraries, which have been equipped with public access technology by Uganda Communication Commission through Rural Communication and Development Fund. New public access ICT infrastructure combined with varied training techniques and tailored content, enables libraries to reach vulnerable community groups, and bridge the digital divide.
The session brings together a group of speakers from public and civil society sectors to share experience of the collaborative project “Digital skills @ your local library” implemented in Uganda. The National Library of Uganda and Maendeleo Foundation – an NGO based in Mukono, Uganda – will showcase their work of empowering local libraries to improve or start new digital skills training for their communities. The Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL) – an internationally working NGO – will present the results of impact assessment of the project. The session will be concluded by interactive discussion with participants on the key question: Can (and how) this model be replicated in other least developed countries?
We are expecting to share good practice of bridging the digital divide in Uganda - one of least developed countries - by engaging the network of local libraries and discussing applicability of this experience in other countries and areas.
Hybrid Format: First of all we will have a combination of on site and online speakers.
Secondly, we will use a format that is suitable for hybrid format and based on short and concise presentations with a lot of visual content, including videos and images.
Thirdly, we will try to give equal attention to the contributors on site and online to ask questions and provide comments. We have extensive experience of moderating hybrid sessions both at IGF and numerous other international events.
Lastly, we will use tools such as ice-breaker and Mentimeter, both suitable for online and face-to.face interaction, to boost interactivity of the session.
Usage of IGF Official Tool.