UNDP Syria

Description / Overview:

This project aims to foster human and socio-economic development through the expanded use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Syria.

Objectives:

• This project aims to foster human and socio-economic development through the expanded use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Syria.
• Create an environment for the use of ICT in Syria (Telecenters / Community Centres).
• Accelerate the development of ICT facilities and infrastructures, as well as improving the capacity to benefit from ICT (Web Portals).
• Establish Interactive schools in the region of Deir Ezzor and eventually in Damascus. It aims to connect schools with their communities, providing interactive services for teachers, pupils and parents.
• Establish a Computer training Center in big towns with special arrangements for disabled.
• Support needed strategic advisory for the ministry of Communication and Technology

• Ministry of Communication and Technology
• Decision makers dealing with ICT issues
• Citizens in suburban and rural areas
• Schools in Deir Ezzor and Damascus 

 
Implementation Strategy:

• Assess the current situation and possible future developments of the ICT sector in Syria
• Design a plan to develop a financial mechanism to create sustainable Community Centers in several regions of Syria
• Implement a web-based development portal to allow information sharing on human development challenges at both the national and local levels
• Provide policy advice towards a national ICT strategy that reflects human development needs
• Build people’s skills in areas of Internet Service Provider (ISP) management

Brief on Project main activities:

The Reefnet Project

Reefnet is one of the ICT4Dev projects. It is a twofold project; the first relates to the establishment of    community telecenters while the second concerns the implementation of a community portal. Reefnet   focuses primarily on underprivileged areas and has the following objectives:

• Expand and support the uses of ICT in social and economic development.
• Build an environment that can use those technologies, especially in isolated areas.
• Contribute to closing the digital gap between cities and rural areas.
• Contribute to the creation of job opportunities which depend on ICT.
• Assist small sized communities to use those technologies and empower women in rural areas to benefit from them.
• Motivate Syrian citizens to use ICT in acquiring new skills.
• Participate actively in communities’ social and economic activities.
 

The Community telecenters:

Telecenters, offer services ranging from courses in basic computer skills and ICDL to Internet usage,   printing and other office Equipment such as national and international phone and fax and photocopying. In addition to this, different services are offered in these telecenters such as assisting community members in finding information on the Internet, along with the provision of a digital library, foreign language (English and French) courses and summer clubs for children.

All community telecenters were established in partnership with local organizations, which provided the premises and pay the electricity and water bills. The Reefnet project provided equipment and furniture, as well as the capacity building of the local telecenter staff. It will also keep providing financial and managerial support until the center achieves self-sufficiency. The telecenters are finically and managerially sustainable as a community.
In addition to this, six community telecenters are equipped with a screen reader to be used by visually impaired people. One of these telecenters is dedicated for disabled people (motor handicapped, mute and deaf, blind people and first degree mental disabilities)
 

Community Portal

The second part of Reefnet is the implementation of community portals where suburban and rural areas can develop a website and harness the benefits that this can bring.

The website is intended to reflect community activities and serve as a mirror for its daily problems. It contains all common information and daily news about the community, as well as a free forum where the local population can debate its issues. This forum has experienced tremendous success; it has gained popularity at a citizens’ level and it represents a free space where each citizen can share his opinion.

This portal offers useful information and services related to many topics such as health, legal, educational and the rural memory heritage forums. In addition to audio school courses and a library with free downloadable books. This portal is the 9th most visited Syrian website.

The Interactive schools project

The objective of this project is to: i) improve school management procedures; ii) enable both teachers and students to have access to information; iii) enhance the IT skills of students through introducing computer classes and allowing students to conduct research on the internet; iii) enhance the school-parents link; and iv) improve the relationship between the school and the community.

This can be achieved by equipping the school with the following:

        - ICT facilities in the service of school management, teachers and students;
        - School Management System; and
        - School website allowing schools to be published on the Internet.

The school's website will in turn allow students, parents and the community at large to be educated on general information about the school, including school events and activities. In addition, students as well as their parents will find all information online about the daily life of their school such as the date of tests, homework, test results, and discussion with teachers, etc. Parents can additionally be informed privately about the status of their children through being able to communicate directly with teachers and school management.
 

Achievements / Current Status:

• The ReefNet Syrian Community portal was created on the Internet covering 70 villages and small towns; its main page contains a very valuable Arabic content on topics needed by small town, villages and isolated areas.
• A total of 35 Community Centers, including 11 in North-Eastern Syria, have been established, plus 5 e-bags in order to respond to needed training in very small ares.
• A Computer Training Centers for disabled is located in Damascus.
• More than 80 skilled trainers have completed the Advanced Internet Service Provider Training Programme.
• Two Syria E-Readiness reports were issued.
• Advisory services have been provided to the Ministry of Communications and Technology and the Syrian Telecommunications Establishment.
• 15 Interactive School are implemented in Deir Ezzor addition to five Interactive schools currently implemented in Damascus.. 

 
Issues and Difficulties:
 

• Sustainability of all outputs on the financial as well as the managerial levels.
• Pressure on UNDP budget due to commitment of USD 300,000 for 2008-2009.

Targets for 2009-2010:

• new community portals will be established to reach 100 community portals by the end of 2010: www.reefnet.gov.sy.
• Hand over of all community centers and Computer training centers to the Syrian Computer Society and TRUST.
• Provide assistance and support to the ministry of communication and technology in term of Strategic Advisory and Advanced Training.
• Continue to enrich the content of the community portal.
• Starting the implementation of 5 Interactive schools in Damascus and the countryside.
• At least 3 training courses (specialized masters) on the IT policies and strategies will be conducted to the respected parties at the Ministry of Communication and Technology. 

Partnerships:

TOTALl E&P Syria
UNESCO
 
 
Project Documents Link:

• Strategic ICT Programme for Social and Economic Development PD