Introduction: Why Get Online?

The Internet is a global network of people and organizations connected through computers and phone lines. It works through several very clever tools (software programs) that enable you to access valuable information resources and communicate with others around the world.

According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), only 1 in 100 people in sub-Saharan Africa use the Internet compared to 1 in 25 people in Latin America and 1 in 2 in the United States 1). Despite these low numbers, evidence has shown that many African civil society practitioners are using the Internet – and the numbers continue to grow.

• The ITU predicts that by the year 2005 nearly 20,000 Africans will be using the Internet, double the amount of users in 2003 2).
• Pambazuka News, a social justice newsletter for Africa distributed exclusively via the Internet, has over 10,000 subscribers.
• Kabissa’s own community of civil society organizations has more than doubled every year.

More and more organizations are realizing that the Internet is an ideal medium for educating and informing others around the world about the work of African civil society, and are gaining support for their issues on a much larger scale than ever before.

With the help of the Internet, your organization can be more efficient, saving both time and money. In addition, the internet can enable your organization to be more successful in achieving its mission.

1. Communicate faster, cheaper, easier
   • Compared to traditional postal service, or even faxes, the Internet is a better way to communicate with people. Using e-mail, you can reach people on the other side of the world instantly and inexpensively. Compare it to the cost of an international phone call or fax!
2. Increase the safety, security, and reliability of information
   • Using the Internet, you can store information safely in a centralized place while still having access to it from anywhere – from a cyber café, a colleague’s office, or even another country. This protects your information from many risks, including damage to your office or interference from other people.
3. Build and maintain relationships
   • Much of civil society work is made up of relationships – with the communities you serve, your partners, and your supporters. Thanks to the speed and global nature of Internet communications, building and maintaining these relationships is considerably easier with the Internet.
4. Access information quickly and easily
   • The Internet is packed with useful information for every type of organization – ranging from lists of donors to health training manuals. Using the Internet effectively will allow you to find simple information more easily, and give you access to a wealth of resources that would have otherwise been unavailable. This is particularly true for organizations in Africa that typically face difficulties with traditional print communication or other mediums, such as fax, phone, and courier.
5. Disseminate information
   • If your organization already produces action alerts, reports, and other materials, you will embrace the Internet as a powerful tool for distributing your materials even more widely – in your country, throughout Africa, and around the world. All your readers need to do to access your materials is to access the Internet.
6. Raise your profile globally
   • A well-maintained Web site will greatly improve the credibility and visibility of your organization to local and global audiences. People will take notice if you have your Web site and e-mail address printed on your business cards and brochures. Your online profile will also be raised if you offer a regular service on the Internet that people find useful, such as disseminating an informative e-mail newsletter or providing updates of human rights violations in your country.