Preface

As commonplace as the internet is today, it continues to rapidly evolve to meet the ever changing demands of its users. The current increase in online collaboration and social networking tools has given new meaning to the word interactivity and is widely known as “Web 2.0”. One of the most powerful tools of Web 2.0 is the wiki - a website that allows visitors to add, remove, and edit content.

In order to keep the Time To Get Online training materials up-to-date and pertinent to the current ICT needs of African civil society organizations, Kabissa has brought the entire course online in a wiki format. This will not only provide for convenient online access, but give readers of the materials a chance to update the content so the course can evolve at the same rapid pace as the internet.

In today’s networked world, civil society organizations are recognizing the power of the Internet for their advocacy work. While many organizations around the world have already embraced this technology, many organizations in Africa have not yet been able to access the wealth of resources available through the Internet. One of the key barriers has been a lack of necessary Internet skills.

You are reading a set of learning materials created by Kabissa to help African civil society organizations to get online and to integrate the Internet into their organizations.

The first half of this course is geared towards creating Internet-savvy activists. The second half of the course will help to empower African civil society organizations to be effective Internet champions, capable of leading their organizations through the challenging process of integrating the Internet into their organizations.

This course describes the four main phases involved in taking full advantage of the Internet. Organizations must move through four major steps of Internet usage – at a pace appropriate to their own organizational development.

The first step involves physically connecting people in the organization to the Internet and building awareness of how the Internet can be used.

Once a physical connection has been established, and one understands the importance of the Internet, the next step is to begin accessing information resources. Especially in Africa, where traditional information sources are often government controlled, inaccurate, or out-of-date, the Internet offers an inexpensive alternative to access timely and unbiased information from around the globe.

The interactive features of the Internet are especially helpful in places where telecommunications costs are high and postal services are unreliable. These barriers tend to prevent organizations from reaching out to people outside of their immediate area, potentially limiting the effectiveness of their work. While many organizations have taken the first step by obtaining e-mail accounts, they must continue to exploit the potential of the communication tools available by finding and contacting other like-minded organizations online, receiving and utilizing informative weekly newsletters by e-mail, and participating in online discussions and networks.

As the Internet becomes a primary source of information for donor agencies, governments, and like-minded organizations, it becomes increasingly important for organizations to establish their identity on the Web. By carefully planning, creating, and maintaining a high-quality Web site, organizations can increase their visibility to a global audience, make their operations more transparent, and further establish their credibility.

The most advanced organizations are able to take the ambitious fifth step of using the Internet as a tool to actively advocate for their communities. At this point, organizations have established their identity on the Web and successfully integrated the Internet into their activities. Through their improved ability to inform the public, organize people and organizations around their cause, and the potential to mobilize international resources, organizations can more effectively reach their goals and improve people’s lives.

These materials have been designed to be used as either a self-taught curriculum or as a reference guide. Depending on your level of comfort and expertise with the Internet, you may choose to begin at the chapter most appropriate for you.

Important Internet-related terms are highlighted in the text (i.e. Internet) and are defined in the Glossary Of Internet Terms.

Throughout the text, we have used the following icons and formatting which will serve as a road map to help you quickly identify the purpose of the text you are reading:

Step-by-step instructions on how to do something on the Internet

Co-Executive Director, Kabissa

Co-Executive Director, Kabissa

Program Assistant, Kabissa

Special Projects Intern, Kabissa

The original development of the Time to Get Online materials was made possible through the generous support of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation1) (Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit – GTZ). Continued versions of the materials were funded in part by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa2) (OSIWA). The conversion to a wiki format was made possible through a research grant by the Marc Lindenberg Center for Humanitarian Action, International Development and Global Citizenship at the University of Washington.