New Generation of Internet Technologies Aids Relief Organizations in Developing Countries
NetHope Pilot Project brings Internet data and phone to leading relief organizations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and the Philippines
MENLO PARK, Calif., June 30, 2003 - CGNET Services International, the global network for organizations serving human needs, announced today that it has completed the pilot project implementation for the NetHope Consortium, an alliance of relief and development organizations. The pilot project brought email and Internet access to the organizations' field offices in four developing countries and Internet telephony to many more.
The relief and development groups participating in NetHope's pilot project included CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Children International, Mercy Corps, Plan, Save the Children USA, Winrock International and World Vision. Since the pilot program began, Oxfam International has joined NetHope.
The project involved providing Internet-based data and voice communications to NetHope members' field offices in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Pakistan and the Philippines. Since the pilot, additional locations have been added in Tanzania and Uganda. Internet Telephony, based on equipment donated by Cisco Systems and services donated by CGNET, was also tested at members' offices in Bosnia, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Liberia, Macedonia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, the UK and the USA.
The pilot project represented a new effort by relief and development organizations to take advantage of significant recent price drops in telecommunications, hardware and software and to explore the efficiencies of buying these and related services through a consortium.
"By successful execution of the pilot, the NetHope consortium has demonstrated that the Internet can benefit development and relief efforts in the most remote parts of the world," said Dipak Basu of Cisco Systems, Program Director for NetHope. "As NetHope completes its own nonprofit structuring, it is ideally positioned to move into new areas of common interest to its members, such as Iraq relief operations, and to attract corporate and institutional donors through a 'fund once, benefit many' capability."
Management consulting and technology services company, Accenture, conducted a formal evaluation of the pilot project. According to Accenture's evaluation, NetHope members who were surveyed reported receiving value from their participation in the pilot. Among major success factors were:
- Collaboration among organizations
- Experience of IP telephony
- Satellite connectivity in regions of poor telecom infrastructure
Among initiatives yet to be proven are:
- The IP phone usage over low-bandwidth VSAT connections
- Satellite connectivity in regions with prohibitive government restrictions or available terrestrial options
Georg Lindsey, president of CGNET, is proud of the company's involvement with the consortium. "Projects like this fit perfectly with our mission of providing the best communications to foundations, non-profits and NGOs worldwide, particularly in developing countries."
About CGNET Services International
CGNET Services International designs, implements, maintains and evaluates email services and communications networks for foundations, nonprofit organizations and NGOs.
CGNET is a privately held company with its headquarters in Menlo Park, California, and implementation capabilities on four continents. Since its founding in 1983, CGNET has interconnected international organizations at more than 300 locations in over 100 different countries, including some of the most difficult-to-network locations in the world.
Some of CGNET's customers include the World Bank, Stanford University, the African Development Bank, CARE, Save the Children, World Vision, Conservation International and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. More information about CGNET is available at http://www.cgnet.com.