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Rwenzori Information centres Network
(RIC-NET)
RIC-NET Activities
- Sourcing relevant agriculture information, repackaging and timely disseminating information to the farmers’ groups or individual farmer.
- Carrying out data collection on the framers’ production quantity and carrying out market research to facilitate farmers’ marketing association information on commodity prices and possible buyers.
- Mobilizing and mentoring farmers and CSO to initiate information centers and points through which information will be channeled.
- Gathering and analysing data about service delivery by government, and provide this information in different formats (i.a. data visualisation) for permanent campaigning, which aims at bringing about change in the behaviour of civil servants and service delivery.
- Supporting CSO and local governments with ICT tools, equipments and skills that enable them collaborate and share knowledge and information, and timely give feedback to the community.
- Developing Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material for utilization by farmers groups during sensitising exercises on agricultural / health issues, and for other CSO to use in their work.
- Promoting and Providing ICT solutions to rural community, providing technical advice and backstopping to bridge the digital divide.
- Conduct research and document local technologies that promote environmental conservation.
- Conducting an information needs assessment of the communities in reference to agriculture, health and use of ICT.
- Jointly monitoring and follow up on the performance of information Centres, use of information equipments provided and intervention impact to the community.
Strategies used:
- We have established information centres that are hub for ICT use and community access to information through ICT equipments and solutions e.g. internet, video centres and computer literacy centres.
- Established farmers leaders (exemplarity farmers) who take lead in information sourcing and utilization, as their mentor and coach other farmers.
- Working with farmers marketing association to ascertain production quantity prospects and market for the produce.
- Working with other organisation that have comparative advantage on specific aspects such other SATNET, CABS, MMU, UIRI and local government staff.
- We have Community process facilitator and information volunteer that disseminate information to the rural areas where ICT are not applicable.
The established centres are community owned and run on self sustainability principles. Citizens contribute through user fees, subscription and divided from produce income.
Challenges:
- Inadequate skills to repackage information by using tools like geo-mapping, GIS etc.
- Skills in marketing strategy for both RIC-NET products and community members’ product.
- Developing systems both for organisation governance and for effective information sharing e.g. interface of SMS with website, dynamic portal development for e-commerce and government-community feedback process.
In adequate skills multi media content development, online and off line public expenditure tracking tools and other monitoring tools.
Strength
- RIC-NET has graduates staff in computer science, information Technology, Community Development Studies, Agriculture (Agro-Business), and Business Administration that are energetic, young, dedicated and trainable.
- The information centres are community owned and have been fully integrated in community programmes. They are defacto meeting venues for peasants in the rural areas.
- Good Collaboration with local government authorities and other government department (UDMET), Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Institution of higher leaning (Mountain of he moon University and Radboud University Nijmegen, Faculty Of Science) other NGOs (FIT Uganda, DENIVA) evidenced by several MOU that RIC-NET has signed and specific jointly implemented activities.
RIC-NET has a track record to attract and properly utilised funds from European Union, COMESA, HIVOS, and other donors are slowly recognising its work in the region.
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Funders
 
Resourceful Links
Kasese District Local Government
The New Vision
Civil Society Organizations Portal
Kasese District Blog
Market Places Commodity Prices
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