[open-development] Where next for the Open Development working group?

Sun Feb 3 11:26:14 UTC 2013

Claudia's suggestion is interesting. I have been involved in running a series of on-line conferences across the network of 75 African tech hubs that she mentionshttp://www.africahubs.webgathering.net/
It would be possible to run a similar series of online conferences around the specific open development issues prioritised by that communityin the run up to the OKFN event in Europe to enable these voices to shape the wider discussion.
It would also be possible to run a live-link of the Africa network with the OKFN Europe event as we did in Finland.
Tony

Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2013 11:55:08 +0100
From: claudia.schwegmann at openaid.de
To: msmith at idrc.ca; open-development at lists.okfn.org; tim at practicalparticipation.co.uk
Subject: Re: [open-development] Where next for the Open Development working	group?

Hi Matt and all.
That is really good news! I am not sure who is on this list, but I think that people and organisations from Africa, LatAm and Asia should be involved in this discussion. 

Off the top of my head I would think it would be really worthwhile if funding would be used for "open communities" in the "South" to be better connected among themselves and exchange ideas (the ihubs in different African countries, IT communities in WestAfrica, etc. So funding may be used for networking events e.g. in Africa - e.g. in parallel to the next OKFN event in Europe to shape discussions there. 

Does that sound reasonable at all?
Cheers
Claudia

2013/2/2 Matthew Smith <msmith at idrc.ca>

Hi all,

I’m excited to see what this emerging Open Development group gets up to this upcoming year. Given our interest in Open Development at the IDRC (Canada’s International Development
 Research Centre), I’m trying to see if I might be able to drum up some funds to potentially support a group activity that would advance the field and grow the community. So, I wanted to throw this out to the group for brainstorming – how could some funds be
 put to productive use over the next year or so to advance open development? 

There are a few constraints, of course. First, the funds would have to flow through an institution, so there would have to be someone willing to host and manage it. Second,
 the activity would have to have a focus on/include – and preferably be based out of – the ‘global south’. Third, is the amount of funds -- we aren’t talking a large amount here, but it also isn’t fixed – it would of course depend upon the nature of the activity.
 I’m imagining that it could go as high as 25k, with which I’m sure we could accomplish a lot. Of course, if the group came up with an amazing idea, I could try to argue for more. ;-)

Perhaps when Tim comes back from the OKFN meeting of working groups – he can give us an update and then we could do a little brainstorming. There is certainly no obligation,
 of course, I just thought it might be a good opportunity given the group is currently pondering what to do for the upcoming year. If a good idea emerges, great. If not, perhaps next year!

I’d love any feedback.