A Guidebook for Managing Telecentre Networks

A collaborative project of the telecentre.org community

Edited by Meddie Mayanja, Manuel Acevedo, Silvia Caicedo and Claire Buré

(Wikified by Bangladesh Open Source Network with support from Partha Sarker)

Telecentre (noun): A Telecentre is a public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while they develop essential digital skills. While each Telecentre is different, their common focus is on the use of digital technologies to support community, economic, educational, and social development—reducing isolation, bridging the digital divide, promoting health issues, creating economic opportunities, and reaching out to youth for example.

A Guidebook for Managing Telecentre Networks Front Cover

A Guidebook for Managing Telecentre Networks Back Cover

Telecentres exist in almost every country, although they sometimes go by a different name: public Internet access center (PIAP), village knowledge center, Infocenter, community technology center (CTC), community multimedia center (CMC), multipurpose community Telecentre (MCT), Common/Citizen Service Centre (CSC), school-based Telecentre, etc.

Table of contents

Acronyms

Figures, Boxes and Tables

Foreword

1. Introduction: A new publication about Telecentre networks
2. Telecentre network governance – setting the playing field for a network culture
3. Participatory Telecentre Networks – A Collective Enterprise
4. Communication Strategies and Practices for a Telecentre Network
5. Financial Sustainability for Telecentre Networks
6. Content and services
7. International Telecentre Networks Collaboration
8. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for Telecentre networks
9. Bringing it all together: Integrated network Management
10. Looking to the future: Networks that empower