Arid Lands Information Network
Encyclopedia
Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) is a Kenya
n-based non-governmental organisation that seeks to exchange ideas and experiences among "grassroots change agents". It sees its goal as enabling such grassroot change agents to learn from one another, through capacity-building and what it terms the "innovative use of information and communication technologies
(ICTs)."
To promote local level networking, ALIN has clustered members in the same geographical regions into grassroots networking nodes known as focal groups. These groups form the entry points of ALIN into the community. The network works through 15 focal groups across the eastern African region spread out in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
, Ford Foundation
, Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK), the Royal Danish Embassy and the Embassy of Finland among others. The centres are manned by Communication Information Volunteers (CIVs) who are hired on a one-year basis as young and fresh graduates from reputable institutions of higher learning and are then posted to the various Maarifa centres.
ALIN also produces the LEISA (Low External Input in Sustainable Agriculture) magazine for Eastern Africa which is named Kilimo Endelevu Afrika (Sustainable Agriculture in Africa). This magazine aims to identify promising technologies for small-scale farmers.
Joto Afrika (loosely translated as "Africa is feeling the heat") is the third major publication and is produced in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies
(IDS). It is a new series of printed briefings and online resources. The publication focuses on issues around climate change adaptation and developments in sub-Saharan Africa and is published in both English and French.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n-based non-governmental organisation that seeks to exchange ideas and experiences among "grassroots change agents". It sees its goal as enabling such grassroot change agents to learn from one another, through capacity-building and what it terms the "innovative use of information and communication technologies
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
(ICTs)."
ALIN
Known as the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), this organisation describes itself as "a non-profit, non-political NGO". Its focus of work is the arid and semi-arid lands (also referred to as the ASALs) of Eastern Africa.Membership
ALIN is a network of over 2,000 grassroots Community Development Workers (CDWs) drawn from non-governmental organisations and community- based organisations as well as government departments. The members of the network offer a form of extension service in their fields of expertise.To promote local level networking, ALIN has clustered members in the same geographical regions into grassroots networking nodes known as focal groups. These groups form the entry points of ALIN into the community. The network works through 15 focal groups across the eastern African region spread out in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Maarifa Centres
In collaboration with other partners, ALIN has established and equipped Maarifa Centres (MCs) with ICT equipment. The centres act as access and dissemination points for information, content creation and skills development among the rural communities. There are MCs in all three East African countries. Partners of the MCs include Oxfam NovibOxfam Novib
Oxfam Novib is the Dutch affiliate of the international Oxfam organization. It is an association dedicated to establishing a fair world with no poverty in it. The organization is based in The Hague.Oxfam Novib was founded under the name Novib in 1956...
, Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
, Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK), the Royal Danish Embassy and the Embassy of Finland among others. The centres are manned by Communication Information Volunteers (CIVs) who are hired on a one-year basis as young and fresh graduates from reputable institutions of higher learning and are then posted to the various Maarifa centres.
History
It was earlier known as the Reseau d'Information des Terres Arides - Arid Lands Information Network (RITA-ALIN).Publications
ALIN is involved in the production of several publications. The Baobab Journal is ALIN's flagship journal. It has been in circulation since 1998. Baobab acts a platform for CDWs to share information and experiences on sustainable livelihoods.ALIN also produces the LEISA (Low External Input in Sustainable Agriculture) magazine for Eastern Africa which is named Kilimo Endelevu Afrika (Sustainable Agriculture in Africa). This magazine aims to identify promising technologies for small-scale farmers.
Joto Afrika (loosely translated as "Africa is feeling the heat") is the third major publication and is produced in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies
Institute of Development Studies
The Institute of Development Studies based at the University of Sussex is a global organisation for research, teaching and communications on international development....
(IDS). It is a new series of printed briefings and online resources. The publication focuses on issues around climate change adaptation and developments in sub-Saharan Africa and is published in both English and French.