The programme ict@innovation invites applications for participating in the first regional Training of Trainers on "Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Business Models” in Western Africa. This Training of Trainers is designed to enable interested people, institutions and businesses to act as trainers on the subject of building a business with FOSS.

Participants will receive intensive training on FOSS Business Models in Africa, learn how ICT enterprises can use FOSS as a business, obtain necessary business skills to establish and operate a FOSS business in Africa, and acquire knowledge and skills to adopt FOSS training as a business. The main goal of the Training of Trainers is to share skills and qualifications to equip African ICT companies with the knowledge needed to successfully integrate FOSS into their business.

Those who take part in the Training of Trainers will be expected to give trainings on FOSS Business Models a part of their regular business and/or teaching activities. Successful applicants will have convincingly demonstrated how they plan to carry out at least two trainings on the subject in their own country in 2012 or earlier, and how they make trainings on FOSS Business Models a permanent part of their business and/or teaching activities in the future.

Topics covered in the Training of Trainers:

The Training of Trainers will primarily cover the following topics:

Module 1: Introduction to Emerging FOSS Business Models

Module 2: African Business Models: Case Studies

Module 3: Communicating FOSS

Module 4: FOSS Specific Business Knowledge and Skills

Module 5: Introduction to General Business Skills

Module 6: FOSS Training

For more information on content of the training materials please visit http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net/call/topics

Date and Location of the first regional Training of Trainers in Western Africa

This Training of Trainers will consist of

§  a full-time attendance phase of two weeks and

§  a part-time e-learning phase of four weeks (minimum 1 hour a day between October 9 and 23

The working language will be English. For updates on dates and locations, please visit http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net.

Profile of Participants/Participating Institutions

Please note that all participants and participating institutions must

§  have a permanent residence in one of the above listed countries and

§  be proficient in English.

Successful applicants will have the following background:

§  ICT trainer or professional with an training institution (public or private), or

§  ICT/ business lecturer at a higher education institution, or

§  at least two years of experience in professional business development, or

§  a lead person in focus group(s) targeting ICT companies / ICT professionals.

We encourage applications by candidates who are associated with:

§  a ICT training institution with IT/business programmes (public or private),

§  a university/ higher education institution with IT/business programmes,

§  a FOSS association or group / ICT and business association, or

§  an ICT SMEs with significant potential to further disseminate the knowledge provided in the

trainings on a sustainable basis.

Women are especially encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities of Participants and Participating Institutions

Participants and participating institutions are expected to:

§  organise on their own at least two trainings on "FOSS Business Models in Africa” in their country in 2012 or earlier;

§  integrate the training "FOSS Business Models in Africa” into their training portfolio or curriculum;

§  assist in the localization/enhancement of training materials, by updating those materials and adapting them to specific local conditions and requirements;

§  contribute to the training costs with a fee of US$ 50.00 and cover their own travel expenses. Travel grants may be available to successful applicants on request and sufficient justification. ict@innovation will cover the following costs: Meals, accommodation for non-local residents, training course. Please note that no daily allowance will be paid.

Application procedure (Deadline: September 18, 2011)

§  Option 1: Apply by completing an online application form

For individuals, please see: http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net/call/individuals

For institutions, please see: http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net/call/institutions

§  Option 2: Apply by emailing the completed application form

Please download the application form at http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net/call-nigeria (or use forms below/attached) and email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

§  Option 3:  Apply by faxing the completed application form

Please download the application form at http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net (or use forms below/attached), complete and fax it to +27(0)86 624 9181.

Background of ict@innovation – Creating Business and Learning Opportunities with Free and Open Source Software in Africa

The programme ict@innovation focuses on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) as a key technology to drive innovation, add local value and create sustainable and affordable ICT-solutions. The programme aims at enhancing regional networking and strengthening consulting capacities of regional and national ICT associations, training institutions, and other change agents. Funding partners are the German Ministry Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). Please find more information at http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net and in the programme brochure at http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net/files/Brochure_ict-innovation_WestAfrica.pdf

The programme ict@innovation is a partnership between

§  FOSSFA – Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa [ http://www.fossfa.net ] and

§  GIZ – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit [ http://www.giz.de ].

Background – Call for Participation in ict@innovation's Advanced Training Programme

The ict@innovation programme aims at building capacities for African small and medium ICT enterprises to build a business with Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). The project encourages the growth of African ICT industries through three main action lines: spreading FOSS business models for enterprises in Africa, fostering FOSS certification, and supporting innovative local FOSS applications for social and economic development. After successfull implemention in Eastern and Southern Africa since 2008, the programme is now to be expanded to Western Africa.

Join ict@innovation and become a community member!

You are invited to become a member of the ict@innovation community. Just register on the ict@innovation website http://www.ict-innovation.fossfa.net/, create a profile and indicate your interests and skills in FOSS. You may then contribute to the website's fora and wikis as well as exchange with other people who are interested in FOSS and/or involved in the ict@innovation  programme.