[open-development] OKFest opendev proposal: Crisis / Post-Conflict Open ICT4D

Fri Mar 28 16:07:47 UTC 2014

Dear friends, 

the deadline for the proposal submissions to the OKFest is fast approaching (Mar 30th). As I've discussed with some of you and on the hackpad, I've drafted a proposal for an opendev stream about 'crisis and post-conflict Open ICT4D' ... basically to involve a broader OK community discussion in the 'open systems strategy' initiatives we've been working on in South Sudan, but also beginning to discuss with regard to initiatives in Mali and other regions. The session isn't meant to concentrate specifically on these locations (unless there is a strong desire and sense in doing so), but rather to look at the issues that aggravate development in such civil crisis contexts and looking at how to respond with open solutions. 

I'd like to get your feedback and input on this, and ask you also if you would like to actively participate (i.e. as a session co-facilitator or presenter)? How can this idea be linked to other opendev proposals in the 'society' stream - to perhaps, interestingly to 'tools'? 

If all goes well, we will have the participation of Dr. Leben Nelson Moro from the University of Juba. Johannes Lehne from the German Foreign Office will also participate. 

The proposal is up the opendev hackpad: 
https://hackpad.com/OKFest14-Crisispost-Conflict-OpenDev-proposal-bU0OLOyBumM

Besides this session, which would be my 'key' session, I am also submitting proposals for:

- Documenting Open Hardware development (with the Open Source Ecology Germany - Berlin people)
https://oshwlive-documention.hackpad.com/Live-Documenting-OSHW-K7nvWFXhGU5 (submitted)

- Humanitarian Open Media Repository (#OSIDP)
https://hackpad.com/OKFest14-Humanitarian-Open-Media-Repository-OpenDev-proposal-76Xw3c7TMX1 (under construction)

Greetings, 

Stephen

Session Title *
Open Systems Strategies for Crisis and post-Conflict Development (Open ICT4D)

Session description *

Open knowledge employing the tenets of FOSS and (Open) ICT4D practices that focus on a wide range of networked, collaborative and sustainable forms of development can be applied to help mitigate violence, empower citizens, and create effective governance. 

The highly diverse realms of 'open' enterprise ranging from FOSS, creative commons licensing, crisis and witness mapping, open hardware and appropriate technologies, to the vast resources of open educational resources (OER),  collaborative design and citizen journalism create 'families' of open enterprise. Often these exist as individual solutions to specific challenges or contexts. In addressing complex civil crisis and post-conflict reconciliation and development challenges - strategically linking these into comprehensive open systems solutions must be considered. 

These  are also not entirely questions of technology or access to the Internet but of the creation of secure spaces and places that in themselves are free, open and conducive to an open exchange of ideas and experience. Where trust and conflict are endemic, how can the power of open knowledge be applied to support peace, stability and prosperity? 

Session motivation *
The mechanisms of open knowledge, FOSS and the vast related resources they emcompass are global development game changers that are still largely overlooked by governments and the major development agencies. In states such as South Sudan (the UN's newest member state), Mali (re-connecting its Northern and Southern communties) or Libya (struggling to 'open' after four decades of virtual isolation) find themselves with the tasks of creating fundamentally new civil society frameworks. With violent lapses back into political and inter-communal conflict adding to already extremely complex development challenges, the powerful realms of open knowledge have an historic opportunity to help mitigate these barriers to peace and stability. More than a motivation, this is a mission the OKFN, for example through initiatives such as OpenMENA can address as a skilled, influential global community. 

Session outcomes *
The session intends to move beyond open data into the realm of effective application of various forms of open knowledge, that also includes FOSS, citizen journalism/mapping, technical literacy and access to knowledge, open hardware etc.. That in order to tackle complex challenges these must be connected with one another to establish comprehensive strategies for mitigating conflict and enabling sustainable development solutions. The notion that 'open knowledge' is not a 'bubble' but operates on a broad platform of societal enterprise that . The outcome should include creating an understanding of how the various forms of open knowledge 'collude' to address complex development challenges.

How would the session be structured? *
The session is intended to have a workshop character, i.e. 90 - 120 minutes, in three key parts, in which: 
	1.	key challenges of crisis and post-conflict scenarios, based on the inputs of the participants are introduced
	2.	three or four selected forms of 'open solution' presented as case contexts (addressing, i.e. reconciliation, reconstruction, refugee protection, civic empowerment)
	3.	facilitated discussion, perhaps in small groups according to 'conflict scenario', that brings together 'open knowledge' multi-sectoral examples, methodologies and agents
If technically feasible the session would be held in conjunction with FOSSFA (Free and Open Source Software Foundation for Africa) via a live moderated tweet-up

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