1. iLab Liberia – Challenges in building a technology
community in a post-conflict state.

2. Nutshell
iLab Liberia is a non-profit computer NGO, a collaborative
training center and technology hub.
iLab provides access to cutting-edge technology, expert IT
assistance and an enthusiast community – leveraging
technology for the good of Liberia.
Operating in Liberia – one decade after a 14-year civil war
(“Liberia remains a peaceful, but fragile country” – Ban Ki-Moon)

3. If you’ve read the stats…
Human development index
Corruption rankings
Failed states index
Freedom in the world
World Bank ICT
…none of these are impressive

4. Background: Ushahidi for 2011
elections…was not enough

5. Facts about iLab

Launched in May 2011

30 laptops

2 Mbit satellite internet connection

2 separate labs and 2 conference rooms

Lending library for
audio/video equipment and books

7 persons (6 Liberians) in
Monrovia

6. iLab services

Trainings

TECH: Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), Mastering the
Internet, Social media; Website creation (WordPress) & web
development (HTML5, CSS3), Programming and databases
(Python, SQL)

BUSINESS: IT for Small Businesses (Intro & Intermediate)

GIRLS: ICTs for girls programs

Learning events

TED talks, Movie nights, Google Mapping parties, guest lectures

Open office hours (co-working hours)

Customized projects to partners (INGOs, Government, businesses)

7. iLab key themes 2013
Entrepreneurship & ICT
Open government & transparency
Programming & technology
ICT 4 Girls
Experiments: e.g. Physical computing
Sustainabilty: 25% funding from paid services

8. Impact?
Well over 1000 different people have used iLab in 2 years
Over 1300 visits to iLab in the first six months 2013
On a typical day, currently about 40-60 visits per day in

9. iLab challenges 1/2
• Funding:
relatively short-term funding (project funding)
• Staff:
scattered attention - capacity building - finding
temporary staff to suit changing scope and load of
work
• Strategy:
defining lab’s role in the long run,
impact of ACE & improving infra
working with universities, etc.

10. iLab challenges 2/2
• Local skills
• Access to technology
• Literacy rate 60%
• Lack of formal degrees
in IT
• Cost and state of Infra
• West Africa: Highest cost of
electricity in the world
• Internet: thousands of dollars per month
• Weakened institutions
• Universities & collaboration
• Working with government

11. “ICT will transform our country…”
- Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Dr. Norkeh, in May 2013
http://photos.myjoyonline.com/photos/news/201203/605896760_78
0588.jpg

12. ICT skills needed more than ever!

13. We’re here to serve the
community!

14. Questions & comments?
Facebook: iLab_Liberia
Twitter: @ilabliberia, @troppone
Email: info@ilabliberia.org
teemu@ilabliberia.org

15. iLab Liberia – Backup

17. Google RISE program – why?
For students everywhere to have an opportunity to become
creators - and not just consumers - of tomorrow’s innovations, it
is vital to expand access to Computer Science education
through programs that inspire, engage, and retain top talent.

18. Collaborating in Liberia’s first IT
business plan competition

19. Liberia’s early warning, early response actors

20. Physical computing experiments