This is the second of a three part series about Cloud computing as it relates to civil society organisations (CSOs).  This was originally posted on the GuideStar International blog. You can also read the first post here TechSoup Global: Teaching CSOs About the Cloud.

There has been a lot of talk lately about the benefits of Cloud computing to the nonprofit sector, but many CSOs in the developing world are unaware of how important this technology is quickly becoming.  This is in part because developing countries face additional constraints which limit its adoption, though the benefits that can be derived from its use are somewhat unparalleled.  CSOs in developing countries may arguably not be as worried about security and privacy, (though this too is by no means of little importance!) because infrastructure problems like lack of a reliable electricity supply, limited internet access and slow broadband are issues they must still overcome if they want to adopt many ICT services and truly take advantage of services like the Cloud.

i-Vission International, the same organization managing the Douala Net Tuesday, is organizing an international colloquium in Douala, Cameroon, for February 19-21, 2009, and is currently calling for papers.  The topic is:  The Impact of Cyber Criminality on the Economy of a Developing Nation.

The deadline to submit an essay is January 19, 2009.  More details below.

3-Day Colloquium

The Impact of Cyber Criminality on the Economy of a Developing Nation

Here you can read about the submission for a project to help small businesses in developing countries.

It involves the Biz-o-mat, a successor to the internationally recognised CyberInstitute.

If you like it, you can support is by giving it stars (click on the vertical line) by COB today.

Please, help fight global poverty!!!

Thank you.

The digital divide that affects developing countries is more than just the lack of access to the internet. It also has to do with lack of, or minimal, content development as well as limited use of appropiate tools to get the best of the net. Taking these issues into account, how can most non profit organizations located in developing countries attempt to create content with local relevance while using appropiate tools if their technological skills are limited, usually they don't have the required hardware and sometimes not even speak english?
With our help!

Yankana is a project designed to help non profit organizations located in developing countries to utilize, adopt and benefit from social web tools in their fields of work, without requiring technological skills or financial resources for infrastructure, and with support in their native language. Yankana is a project created and promoted by Fundapi, a non profit organization based in Ecuador, South America, that has experience with ICT initiatives for development since 2001.

Find out more here.

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