This document outlines a project to develop approaches and tools to promote sustainable community telecenters (TCs). It aims to draw on expertise from different sectors to provide training, methodologies and infrastructure support for funders, facilitators and implementers of TCs. Key objectives are promoting financial and social self-sustainability of TCs and ensuring community needs are considered. Deliverables include training materials, access to an online support platform, and opportunities for TCs and small businesses to connect. The project considers issues affecting TC sustainability and typical modules for pre-implementation planning and post-implementation business development support. Benefits are described for implementers, facilitators, funders and small businesses.

1. Telecenter Sustainability

2. What is the project about?
• develop an approach to TC sustainability which:
– draws on the different perspectives and strengths of
the social, private and government sectors to:
• provide funders, facilitators and implementers of
community based Telecenters with:
– the methodologies, tools and support infrastructure
necessary for implementing and growing sustainable
community based Telecenters.

3. Target Audience
• Those responsible for funding, facilitating
or implementing TC’s
• Those delivering training through and to
Telecenters
• Those responsible for promoting and
developing Telecenters
• Those responsible for promoting and
developing SME development programs

4. Objectives
• promote financial and social self-
sustainability
• ensure community needs and demands
are an integral part of both the planning
and implementation process
• improve process of product and service
identification and development
• enable community access to new markets,
tools and support structures

5. Deliverables
• training and tools to facilitators and implementers of
Telecenters to support them in the planning and
implementation phases of their TC projects.
• support for ongoing TC activities and development in
the post implementation phase by providing trainers,
facilitators and implementers with tools and training
materials targeted directly at the immediate and ongoing
needs of the SME’s (and Micro Enterprises) that use
those TC’s.
• access to support platform for trainers, facilitators and
implementers
• access to the platform for TC’s and SME’s, to allow them
to identify and access revenue generating opportunities

6. Key aspects
• One of the key aspects of this project is
the combination of expertise and
experience of the various partners, which
spans the private sector (business
development and training), the
government sector and extensive
experience in the social sector.

7. Typical modules
• While there is some overlap they fall into
two categories
• Pre implementation
• Post implementation
– The following are examples of typical modules
or topic areas

8. Pre implementation (implementing
Sustainable Telecenters)
• implementing for sustainability
– (telecenter pack, identifying business model, business model
segmentation, community development plan etc.)
• integration into the TC network
• integration into the local community (understanding and
analyzing the environment)
• financial and governance issues
• project management
– larger role for facilitator/implementor?
• individual TC vs TC network
• implementing metrics and assesment
• Implementation planning
• Satisfying funders

9. Post implementation (growing and
developing sustainable Telecenters )
• focus on growing and developing the TC
• cash flow and operational issues
• SME development
• TC development (identifying opportunities and
leveraging the network)
• Revisiting the business plan
• Metrics and assessment – the role in driving
change
• “For profit” or “social” organization is there really
a difference?
• Identifying new markets – expanding old

10. The TC environment – issues and
problems
• Focus on hardware and internet connectivity
• Lack of replicable business models
• Lack of demand side activities
• Lack of skills of TC operators
• Lack of community ownership and involvement
• No clearly defined exit strategy
• Limited understanding of environment in which TC
operates
• Assumption that ICT/TC lead to development
automatically
• Lack of understanding of concept of sustainability

11. The TC environment – issues and
problems
• Segmentation/classification of TC not clear enough or not
understood its relevance for services offered and governance
mechanisms  no adequate business models
• No clear process of how to set up/get to a sustainable TC (business
plan, community development plan
• If there is a business plan, it usually relies on the community paying
for the services (ie is extractive)
• Failure to leverage existing infrastructure or development projects
• Lack of SME support on a national level, including support in case
of business failure
• Lack of business understanding and competitive understanding
(impact of a cybercafe entering the market, or impact of subsidy on
cybercafe competitor)
• Missing market focus and conscious positioning (business strategy)
• No explicit linkage between TC and SME development

12. Key Benefits to:
• Implementers and TC’s
• Facilitators
• Funders
• SME

13. Benefits to Implementers and TC’s
• TC implements sustainable business model,
targeting the community, SMEs and their
development.
• Systematic and comprehensive analysis and
strategy development
• Understanding of community needs
• Exchangeof experience and information
• Better use of ICT
• Better understanding of market dynamics
• Targetted service offerings

14. Benefits to Facilitators
• Would be able to advise and support the
development and implementation of sustainable
business models for TCs.
• Tools and methodologies that enable facilitators
to implement TC with reasonable level of work
• Increased level of confidence because it is a
proven concept
• Improved efficiency and increased chances of
success

15. Benefits to Funders
• Increased level of confidence
• Have an integral concept on how and
where to focus their support through
– Clear understanding of costs of
implementation
– … of leverage points
– … of methodology

16. Benefits to SME
• More business through strategic use of TC
– Understand strategic use of ICT
• Competitive advantage
• Improved operational efficiency
• Increased reach of products and services
– Improve reach of their communication/promotions
• Increased access to capital
• Personal development
• Becoming part of a network  expand social capital
– Exchanging best practice
• Enable better understanding of market dynamics