SU and ICAN to Pilot Digital Villages Project

David Penney, founder of ICAN (left) and Carole French, Executive Director of ICAN (right) during the signing of an agreement between ICAN and Strathmore in the Vice-Chancellor's office.

Strathmore University (SU) and the International Charity Association Network (ICAN) www.icanhelps.com/home.htm have entered into a partnership to set up five pilot digital villages that will train and incubate businesses. The initiative will also leverage on ICT technologies to promote food security and accessibility among other ways of contributing to the social economic welfare of Kenyans.

The villages will build and upgrade digital skills and thus capacity of local communities in using information technology. In addition, the community will be trained on how to use the Virtual Resource Management System (VRMS). This system will help the communities profile and identify sources of food supplies, match these sources with demand, and position Kenyan products on the global market using e-commerce. The system will also maintain a virtual food bank.

The digital villages will also provide training in business and related services in the bid to promote and nurture entrepreneurship. The ultimate goal of the pilot phase is to develop a sustainable model of the digital villages.

Strathmore as the local partner will provide recruitment services of the project personnel, identify digital center locations and provide local project management. It will also provide tailored curriculum content, training and localization of the VRMS.