Another year down, and as we hurtle into 2012, it’s great to see 2011 end with the fruition of the CHAMP Chaisa Community Centre. As partners with CHAMP in ICT provision, we facilitated the supply and installation of an Intel eLearning Solution with the generous support of Classmate Manufacturers JP sa Couto in Portugal and iSchools in Zambia.

Through these kinds of partnerships we are ever strengthening and expanding our interaction to extend better services for rural communities and vulnerable communities within Lusaka. The launch of CHAMP’s Chaisa Community Centre is a perfect example of how the benefits of internet connectivity and ICT services can cut across all sectors to bring new opportunities in health provision, education and empowerment. At Connect Africa, we aim to provide this missing ICT link to every community. Here is a brief overview of our activities this year.

Ever keen to stay ahead of the game, we’re also exploring alternative energy sources to speed up and ensure rapid deployment of our ICT solutions. We’re working with the Alternative Energy Development Corporation, AEDC, which has developed a reliable, low cost zinc air fuel cell to meet energy challenges in rural areas. The cells have no carbon footprint, provide low cost light and energy, and are easily portable – ideal for our expansion model.

In other news, we are working closely in partnership with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD, through their Africa owned and led initiative, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, CAADP, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity. Join us as we follow the story of hundreds of Malawian farmers trying out the first of a series of receipt-certified warehouses later to be rolled out as part of a region-wide initiative.

Connect Africa is working with the Lilongwe-based Agricultural Commodity Exchange for Africa (ACE) to ensure that these farmers have instant access to commodity market information, to sell their produce in a transparent manner and have access to a demand driven commercial market.

So, 2012 promises to be a busy year! As always we welcome input and interaction with a wide range of organizations. Please do get in touch or check out our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for updates.