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Subject: Re: [LUG] Fwd: [Idlelo2] FOSSFA & MICROFINANCE SOFTWARE Date: Monday 16 January 2006 12.19 From: Bill Kagai <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Gideon Hayford Chonia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: JohnD <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [email protected], Guido Sohne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [I have been forwarded this by Gideon Chonia..Find my short response below.] Hi Guido et al... Sorry for not being able to send the email to idlelo list. We have checked the problem. You sent the email with [EMAIL PROTECTED] when the email subscribed is [EMAIL PROTECTED] That is why your email did not go through. Sorry for the inconvenience..but your insinuation of being held incommunicado is more technical than dictatorial. With regard to the microfinance software... 1. We first raised this issue at Idlelo1 in Cape Town and FOSSFA was asked to lead its effort. 2. Secondly I raised the issue of a foss microfinance software in Zambia during a OneWorld/Hivos meeting in 2004. We discussed this over dinner with Loe Schout and Marjan Besuijen. FOSSFA developed specs and agreed we need to do more for the grassroot organisations before doing the actual software development. We are discussing this issue again during idlelo2. 3. Nicholas also informs me that this was brought up again during Africa Source1. Again FOSSFA had started communication with MOAP project to build synergies in developing the solution. Due to time constraints and lack of resources, though the analysis part was complete we never managed to move as fast as we would have liked which is understandable bearing in mind that we have a bigger battle to fight in building capacity and acquiring the necessary resources to participate in projects of this magnitude. The specs were not funded by anyone though we managed to that in-house. So far nothing much has happened after that. I dont feel the need to explain myself further. -- With Kind Regards, Bildad Kagai Outgoing Coordinator - Free Software & Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) Suite B2, Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue P. O. Box 20311 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel. 254 20 2728332 Fax. 254 20 2726965 Cell. 254 722 379409 E. [EMAIL PROTECTED] URL. www.fossfa.net On 1/16/06, Gideon Hayford Chonia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- > > Subject: [LUG] Fwd: [Idlelo2] FOSSFA & MICROFINANCE SOFTWARE > Date: Monday 16 January 2006 11.43 > From: Guido Sohne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: JohnD <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Joris Komen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > [EMAIL PROTECTED], Makane Faye <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Nhlanhla > Mabaso <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Nnenna <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Lawase Akpolou > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Simbo Ntiro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: LUG Linux <[email protected]> > > It appears that Bill Kagai is not permitting this message to be > posted to the IDLELO2 list. > > Please forward it to people involved in FOSS in Africa if you think > the issues are worth discussing. > > The point is that the FOSSFA Secretariat must be accountable for its > (lack of) stewardship of FOSS in Africa. > > It's role was to coordinate FOSS, not to redirect monies and projects > to itself. > > I expect better results when FOSSFA moves to South Africa. I think > that should have been where it should have rather started. > > -- G. > > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Guido Sohne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Date: January 16, 2006 10:35:49 AM GMT+00:00 > > To: Bill Kagai <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: Re: [Idlelo2] FOSSFA & MICROFINANCE SOFTWARE > > > > On Jan 16, 2006, at 5:28 AM, Bill Kagai wrote: > >> With regard to developing software for Microfinance Institutions, > >> FOSSFA did develop the software specs which are available on the > >> fossfa.net portal. As for the actual development, the FOSSFA Council > > > > And let the specs fall into disuse and gather dust? So what's the > > point? > > > > Was that the only lucrative part of it? > > > >> in its meeting during Idlelo1 decided that actual project > >> implementation should be left to its member organisations whilst the > >> Secretariat concentrates on advocacy and policy related activities. > > > > I don't recall the Council making any such decision. I seem to > > recall that *you* make decisions and then claim that it is the > > Council decision. Even when on the mailing list, the nays outnumber > > the yeas, you can still come out and say the Council decided yea. > > So who makes decisions? The Council? I think not. > > > > And I thought the Secretariat's role was to coordinate activity? So > > what have you been coordinated? Trips to various conferences? Press > > releases and statements on paper? Any real work? Or unless your > > organization is the one that does the work, right? > > > > What about all the money spent by FOSSFA? How much of it is in > > areas that are one time only such as conferences, and how much is > > in projects that will actually live on? How would you account for > > your stewardship? Oh, I forgot that Circuits and Packets has done > > much work on some things! Created Ngoma Linux amongst other things. > > Where is that now? > > > > Isn't it just easier to take someone's Linux distro and rebrand it > > as Ngoma than to do real work to make some original software that > > is ACTUALLY NEEDED? > > > >> Idlelo2 will thus create an excellent opportunity for networking and > >> forming a consortium to take the microfinance software project to the > >> next level. > > > > I am looking forward to the new Secretariat. I am confident that > > they will have energy, vision and will draw upon the vibrant OSS > > community and expertise in South Africa. > > > > I hope that FOSS in Africa can make up for the time lost. So you've > > blown two years worth of time wrt Microfinance Software ... > > > > Great job! > > > > -- G. > > ------------------------------------------------------- > > -- > ---- > Gideon Hayford Chonia Tel. +41 1 635-4543 > University Zurich, Fax +41 1 635-4505 > Winterthurerstrasse 190 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > CH-8057 Zurich [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Bushmail: ....!Earth!Africa!Ghana!Pokoase!Yaovi > > ---------- Ich darf ge-Du-zt werden ---------- > > > _______________________________________________ > LUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any > way. --------------------------------------- -- -- With Kind Regards, Bildad Kagai CEO - Circuits & Packets Communications Ltd Coordinator - Free Software & Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) Suite B2, Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue P. O. Box 20311 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel. 254 20 2728332 Fax. 254 20 2726965 Cell. 254 722 379409 E. [EMAIL PROTECTED] URL. www.fossfa.net ------------------------------------------------------- -- ---- Gideon Hayford Chonia Tel. +41 1 635-4543 University Zurich, Fax +41 1 635-4505 Winterthurerstrasse 190 [EMAIL PROTECTED] CH-8057 Zurich [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bushmail: ....!Earth!Africa!Ghana!Pokoase!Yaovi ---------- Ich darf ge-Du-zt werden ---------- _______________________________________________ LUG mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. ---------------------------------------
