The Lausanne movement will  be seeking technologies for world church organizations to reach the critical mass, in engaging and transforming lives, and ultimately providing God’s grace through church networks. With my colleagues and mentors, we seek to see where we can assist.

The Lord gave me a vision to share with the world, in which I now promote within my consulting business (CyberAfrica), that was given to me in prayer, called “Energizing Africa”. It is a vision and an initiative dedicated to transformation and development using enabling technologies in Africa or the developing world. The technologies all need to contribute to human devlopment, and assisting in erradicating poverty and providing technology tools for entrepeneur enhancement.

Something that changed my life was when I was personally involved as a CEO with a Nigerian and South African partnership, where we implemented ITC projects in Nigeria in 2003 till 2005 where we breached the “Digital Divide”, and the impact can be measured.successfully rolled out over 4000 school computer centres from scratch. Further, we project managed the development and installation two of the largest Nigerian universities (Makurdi & Port Harcourt). The budget was in excess USD 4 Million, and the company was responsible for roll out in excess of 1000 computer laboratories in other African countries.

I now research, channel and implement local enabling technologies, where required, throughout Africa, as Africa has the fastest developing consumer market in the world. (Ref: “How Africa is Becoming the New Asia” – By Jerry Guo | NEWSWEEK Published Feb 19, 2010.http://www.newsweek.com/id/233b Due to this very reason, technology is “the shape of things to come in Africa”, and one has the opportunity to reach this flourishing new economy, and provide God’s grace.

The vision is two-fold:
1. To use and provide Africa technology partners, for fulfilment of human needs in Africa, where technology has left them behind, and ultimately provide reach and accessibility to practical and enabling technologies.
2. To research and implement technologies which would “soften” the rigid structures and workflows that 1st world technologies have created. For e.g. where micro loan access through social networks, credit card and debit orders are the norm in our banking structures, and a “softer” system approach, could help breach and allow to reach the critical mass.

How?
1. Connect technology business strategic partners
2. Through a network who have a common and Christian purpose
3. To enhance and transform the lives of Africa and it’s people, to unleash it’s full potential

The heart of the business is fulfilment of basic human needs using technologies, to stimulate economies by equipping entrepreneurs with much needed useful and practical technologies, and ultimately providing a platform for society to develop in Africa.

The aim to leverage local African Information technology knowledge and inputs, with the expertise and experience of global partners, to foster local solutions to African problems, while delivering real value and producing commensurate returns for the risks involved. This in turn will assist in stimulating our local technology industry and assist in developing the rest of Africa and developing world.

It seeks and introduces technologies which would enhance a large proportion of the developing world’s population (the BoP or “Base of the Pyramid”)

By providing simple platforms and products with collaboration, adding third-party services, will potentially unleash enormous wealth in the developing world, specifically as a first phase and strategy; in Africa.

Embracing the true needs of the people is the key, thereby enabling entrepreneurship, empowering its people and communities. All technologies must have a direct & positive influence on people, and do not necessarily need to be cutting edge. We seek simple, practical and effective solutions.

To continually develop strategic and synergistic partners with the best of breed ethical personalities and products, seeking common grounds with all parties involved, to minimise barriers of entry into markets and communities.

All the above will be a catalyst in enabling Africa to provide a platform to realise and unleash its full potential.

At present, CyberAfrica is committed to Technology Development in Africa within the following sectors:
Telecommunications
Technology (Including Machine 2 Machine, IP, Internet, Mobile Solutions)
Health & Welfare
Education
Transformation and Development in Africa

We have some ideas of how to reach critical mass via simple sms platforms, and would like to engage with anyone or organisation who is seeking answers on this.

Thanks for reading this article, and look forward to your input and comments.

Ian Anderson (Founder of the Energizing Africa Initiative)