2016 ICT4D Conference

The Connectivity, Electricity, and Education for Entrepreneurship (CE3) program in South Africa seeks to overcome two technology building blocks in the agricultural and livelihoods sectors: power and connectivity. Solar micro-grid power is provided to ICT labs as well as for productive uses such as irrigation and agricultural packaging. Internet connectivity is provided for market analysis and research to improve yields and profitability. Computer-based entrepreneurship and ICT training is provided to help smallholder and cooperative farmers make the best use of the ICT resources at their disposal.

CE3 began in Uganda in 2012 and was replicated in South Africa starting in 2015. CE3 arose from the need of micro-businesses and smallholder farmers to have reliable, affordable power to increase their profitability. Coupled with training on basic business planning skills and access to global networks of information, CE3 creates an ecosystem for livelihood promotion based on ICT4D principles. The program is a joint enterprise by global corporations such as Accenture, Lenovo, and SunEdison, the University of Notre Dame, and local stakeholders such as the Rural Development Company, agricultural cooperatives, and business and government institutions.

The presentation will discuss the challenges in start up and early implementation of the CE3 program and innovative solutions to those challenges; the topics found to be of most interest to rural ICT and entrepreneurship students; the ways students have employed their new skills; and the importance of remote connections established with national training centers and business outsourcing groups.