• Connectivity to ICT in the developing world is too costly There is a need for more efficient tools, in multiple delivery systems.
• ICT access needs to extend to the bulk of the population, but without submerging it in normative homogeneity.
• Support for information literacy is essential.
• Access to knowledge and better information flows (e.g., resource good public libraries, archives, cultural repositories).
• Advocate more political support for better telecommunications
• Unmanaged commercialisation of information and communication technologies limits access to important information.
• Health, education and agriculture are greater challenges in many developing areas than ICT.
• Government policy for ICT exists, but it needs better resourcing.
• Bottom-up participation in ICT is essential.
• Development Informatics research must be encouraged further, in order to keep up with rapid changes in technology.
• More research into the impact of DI / ICT4D is required, such as research into the assessment of ICT4D, different models and approaches for deep rural and remote communities, different technological systems, and alternative economic models.

The role of Development Informatics (DI) is supportive facilitation. In summary, DI seeks out easy to use, appropriate, accessible, affordable, etc. solutions for total global connectivity and access to information. ICT experts need to create systems that will enable communities to empower themselves. Experts alone cannot empower communities, and neither should the experts impose on communities -- communities themselves should help to determine their own needs.

2. Call for Papers

The 3rd International IDIA Conference will be held in Africa. The conference is aimed at researchers, policy-makers and reflective practitioners. It will be managed by the School of Information Technology, Monash South Africa (Johannesburg). Monash University is seeking to accelerate its engagement internationally, and this conference reflects this commitment.

The Conference Committee calls for papers on the following themes. Papers will be peer-reviewed. Selected papers will be published in ITID (Information Technologies and International Development). Conference Proceedings will be distributed at the conference, under the ddetails

ISBN 978-0-620-45037-9
Proceedings of the 3rd International IDIA Development Informatics Conference, 28‑30 October 2009

Paper requirements

• The paper should include
  • title
  • abstract
  • references
• Format
  • OpenOffice
  • RTF
  • MS Word
• Please remove all references to author names and institutions.
• Length: 4000-8000 words

Themes

1. Communities and empowerment

• What are developing communities?
• Does every community need to ‘develop’?
• What does ‘empowerment’ mean in a DI context?
• Why should communities be empowered with ICT?
• What are the objectives of empowering communities?
• What are the methods and instruments to empower communities?
• Implications of the full range of ‘digital divides’.

2. Development Informatics and ICT4D

• Satisfying basic development needs with ICT.
• What ICT cannot achieve; its limitations in development practice.
• The range of changing economic models for empowering communities with ICT.
• What are the special ICT issues for deep rural communities?
• Giving voices to the poor via ICT; the necessity of advocacy.
• The relevance of ICT planning and policies.
• Does development automatically empower; the role of vested ICT interests?
• Ethical and moral issues, eg. the barefoot economist debate, top-down/bottom-up/dual system approaches, and technological determinism.
• Global versus regional implementation

3. DI in practice

• What are the technical issues, networking problems, and relevant ICT devices?
• System design for the bottom of the pyramid of the digital divide
• Do small communities benefit from ICT, or is it only applicable on a large (regional, national) scale?
• How do the micro social groups (eg. households and families) use ICT for their business?
• Evaluating separate and integrated business, government and civil society ICT solutions.
• Issues of free access and sustainable access.
• Business filling the gap in the absence of government co-ordination of ICT practice.
• When business practice and community expectation collide in ICT, who suffers?
• Differences between individual access (such as OLPC, mobile phones) and public access (telecentres, MPCCs).
• Open source vs proprietary systems.

4. Opportunities

• The future of skills and literacy training, and professional development, as part of ICT.
• Opportunities for professional communities to contribute to ICT.
• Eliciting expressions of local concern and building them into ICT programs.
• Ensuring that external ICT solutions meet local needs.
• Balancing short-term and long-term ICT solutions.
• Universal access as a dream or reality?
• What is the appropriate role of developed countries in assisting with ICT empowerment?
• Adapting developed values and practices to suit ICT contexts.
• Which community networking principles best assist with ICT?
• Is it meaningful to consider the role of the ‘international community’ in ICT?
• Ongoing, universally-applicable measures of the effectiveness of ICT for empowerment.
• Comparative studies of ICT for empowerment.

3. Submission of Abstracts and Proposals

Submission of Abstracts and Proposals can only be submitted via the electronic registration system at http://www.conftool.net/idia2009/.

For requirements, see 2. Call for Papers.

4. Deadlines

5. Registration

Use the online registration system at http://www.conftool.net/idia2009/.

6. Venue

IDIA 2009 will be held at a fully equipped conference venue inside the Berg-en-Dal camp in the Kruger National Park's southwest corner, near the town Malelane, about 400Km from Johannesburg, South Africa. The camp is situated on the bank of Matjulu Spruit and is surrounded by rocky hills. Accommodation in the camp is in Bungalows or Cottages (see below).

Details about Berg-en-dal:
www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/berg-en-dal/
www.routes.co.za/nationalparks/kruger/berg-en-dal/

7. Conference Registration Fee

Conference Registration Fee:

Early Bird offer ends: 1 July 2009

South African payments
South African participants may pay in ZAR. See the attached document for details.

Location: The conference venue is in a difficult to access, remote location. There is no public transport to the venue. The conference venue is about 400Km from the OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg. We have arranged a Special Citybug Schedule for IDIA2009 Conference for you.

Accommodation: Accommodation is within the Kruger National Park, with limited choices. If you wish to stay for a shorter or longer period, you will have to arrange your own transport. See Accommodation details below.

Included in Conference Fee

The Conference Fee includes:

[See the detailed Schedule below]

• Conference Organisation Fee
• The following meals
  • Conference lunches x3:
    Wednesday 28 October 2009
    Thursday 29 October 2009
    Friday 30 October 2009
  • Conference teas (mid-morning and mid-afternoon) x3:
    Wednesday 28 October 2009
    Thursday 29 October 2009
    Friday 30 October 2009
  • Note that breakfast is not included

Excluded from Conference Registration Fee

The following are excluded from the Conference Registration Fee:

• Accommodation for 5 nights - which is included in the Accommodation Fee
• Breakfast
• Transport from your origination point to Johannesburg, and to Berg-en-Dal
• Shuttle transport from International Airports to Berg-en-Dal
• Drinks during meals (except water, coffee, tea or sponsored refreshments)
• Conference dinners x2 (included in Accommodation Fee):
  Wednesday 28 October 2009
  Thursday 29 October 2009
• If you have taken the Accommodation Fee option, you will have to arrange for your own meals. Lunches and some dinners are included in the Conference Registration Fee.
• Own Meals. All units have kitchens for preparing your own meals outside of the conference catered times.
• Activities - such as early morning bush walks, game drives, golf
• See the Terms and Conditions

8. Accommodation Fee

8.1 Accommodation in Berg-en-Dal

Due to the limited accommodation available, we can only offer the following options. The cost below is for 5 nights (Tuesday 27 October 2009 - Saturday 31 October 2009). As this is a special deal, we can unfortunately not refund you if you stay for fewer nights. The amounts below include the Kruger Park Gate Entrance Fee.

• Bungalow
  • A1 Private bungalow - whole bungalow to yourself: €440
  • A3 Shared bungalow - share with two others: €240
• Cottage
  • A2 Private room in Cottage, but cottage shared with two others: €340
  • A3 Shared room in cottage €240
• Included in this:
  Conference dinners x2:
  Wednesday 28 October 2009
  Thursday 29 October 2009
• Includes Kruger Park Entrance fee
• See the Terms and Conditions

Accommodation will be asigned on a first-paid, first served basis.

All lodging and accommodation units in Berg-en-Dal have a bar-size fridge. Units with cooking facilities have basic kitchen equipment such as: electric kettle, crockery and cutlery (set of 4: plates, side plates, pudding bowls, glasses, cups and saucers, knives and forks, spoons and teaspoons), pots and frying pan, salad bowl, bread knife, egg lifter, tin opener and water jug.

If you are planning on bringing a non-conference attending partner, no additional accommodation fees need to be paid for the partner. However, they will need to pay for all their own meals and you MUST book a Bungalow - Single Room, not a Cottage - Single Room or Bungalow/Cottage - Sharing Room.

8.1.1 Bungalows

Options

• A1 Private bungalow - whole bungalow to yourself: €440 for 5 nights
• A3 Shared bungalow - share with two others: €240 for 5 nights

5 nights: Tuesday 27 October 2009 - Saturday 31 October 2009
Includes Kruger Park Gate Entrance Fee

Each Bungalow can sleep 3 people, and have en-suite bathrooms (showers, no baths) and air-conditioning. Kitchenettes have hotplates and sinks. There is a clothes cupboard and a table with chairs in the room. The bathroom consists of a shower, hand basin and w/c. Towels and toilet paper are provided. Some of the units have their own kitchenettes on the veranda, while others share communal kitchen facilities.

8.1.2 Cottages

Options

• A2 Private room in Cottage, but cottage shared with two others: €340 for 5 nights
• A3 Shared room in cottage €240 for 5 nights

5 nights: Tuesday 27 October 2009 - Saturday 31 October 2009
Includes Kruger Park Gate Entrance Fee

Each Cottage has 2 bedrooms, one with 1 double bed, one with 2 single beds and 2 bunk beds in lounge. Each chalet has its own separate shower, toilet and bath. Units equipped with open plan kitchen/dining room/lounge and bedrooms are air-conditioned.

Accommodation Summary

8.2 Accommodation in Nelspruit

Nelspruit is the capital city of Mpumalanga Province, and there is ample accommodation in the area. On recommendation, you may wish to consider one of the Bed and Breakfasts, as they are not too expensive. Guest Houses (B&B's) recommended are:

La Roca Guest House
http://www.laroca.co.za/
+27-(0)-13-752-6628
+27-(0)-13-752-5681
+27-(0)-82-458-2394

Palm Guest House
http://www.sa-venues.com/visit/thepalmsnelspruit/
+27-(0)-13-755-4374

Costs are between R420 and R550 a night.

9. Schedule

This schedule indicates which items are included in the Conference Fee.

If you have taken the Accommodation Fee option, you will have to arrange for your own meals. Lunches and some dinners are included in the Conference Registration Fee.

Tuesday 27 October 2009	Shuttle - depart from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport to Berg-en-Dal	Excluded
	Shuttle - depart from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Berg-en-Dal	Excluded
	Dinner	Excluded
Wednesday 28 October 2009	Bush walk, Game drive	Excluded
	Breakfast	Excluded
	Mid-morning break refreshments	Included
	Lunch, water, coffee, tea or sponsored refreshments included	Included
	Drinks during lunch	Excluded
	Mid-afternoon break refreshments	Included
	Bush walk, Game drive	Excluded
	Dinner, water, coffee, tea or sponsored refreshments included	Included
	Drinks during dinner	Excluded
Thursday 29 October 2009	Bush walk, Game drive	Excluded
	Breakfast	Excluded
	Mid-morning break refreshments	Included
	Lunch, water, coffee, tea or sponsored refreshments included	Included
	Other drinks during lunch	Excluded
	Mid-afternoon break refreshments	Included
	Bush walk, Game drive	Excluded
	Dinner, water, coffee, tea or sponsored refreshments included	Included
	Other drinks during dinner	Excluded
Friday 30 October 2009	Bush walk, Game drive	Excluded
	Breakfast	Excluded
	Mid-morning break refreshments	Included
	Lunch, water, coffee, tea or sponsored refreshments included	Included
	Other drinks during lunch	Excluded
	Mid-afternoon break refreshments	Included
	Bush walk, Game drive	Excluded
	Dinner, water, coffee, tea or sponsored refreshments included	Excluded
	Other drinks during dinner	Excluded
Saturday 31 October 2009	Bush walk, Game drive	Excluded
	Breakfast	Excluded
	All other meals	Excluded
	Shuttle - depart from Berg-en-Dal to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport. Expected time of arrival at airport: 16:45	Excluded
	Shuttle - depart from Berg-en-Dal to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Expected time of arrival at airport: 13:00	Excluded
Sunday 1 November 2009	Shuttle - depart from Berg-en-Dal to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport. Expected time of arrival at airport: 16:45	Excluded
	Shuttle - depart from Berg-en-Dal to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Expected time of arrival at airport: 13:00	Excluded
	All other meals	Excluded

10. Meals and food

The conference fee includes the following meals:

• Conference lunches x3:
  Wednesday 28 October 2009
  Thursday 29 October 2009
  Friday 30 October 2009
• Conference teas (mid-morning and mid-afternoon) x3:
  Wednesday 28 October 2009
  Thursday 29 October 2009
  Friday 30 October 2009

The Accommodaiton fee includes the following meals:

• Conference dinners x2:
  Wednesday 28 October 2009
  Thursday 29 October 2009
• If you have taken the Accommodation Fee option, you will have to arrange for your own meals.

You should plan for your own meals for all other occassions. There is a restaurant in the Berg-en-Dal Camp, or you could cater for yourself, as all accommodation is equipped with the necessary self-catering utensils. There is a shop in the camp to buy food.

Requests for special meals (vegetarian, kosher, halaal, others) should be indicated in the online Conference Registration website.

11. Transport

11.1 Airports

International airports

O.R. Tambo International Airport (at Johannesburg)

Airport code: JNB
22km (14 miles) east of Johannesburg city centre, approximately 400Km from Berg-en-Dal.

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport

Airport code: MQP
About 22km northeast of Nelspruit
About 60Km west of Berg-en-Dal

Cost of one-way ticket between the Johannesburg airport and the Kruger airport is R800-R1000. You will need to arrange for transport from Kruger airport to the Berg-en-Dal camp, keeping in mind that the gates close at 18:00.

11.2 Shuttle services

We have arranged a special shuttle service from nearby international airports (OR Tambo in Johannesburg and Kruger-Mpumalanga (KMIA) near Nelspruit) to transport guests to and from Berg-en-Dal. Print this Special Citybug Schedule for IDIA2009 Conference and show it to the shuttle service at departure. Details are available in a separate Special Citybug Schedule for IDIA2009 Conference document (updated 22 September 2009).

Participants not able to make the conference shuttles will be able to make use of other standard shuttle services, such as by CityBug, but unfortunately not at the special conference shuttle rate.

Standard shuttle services do not go to the Kruger Park.

Please note
We cannot accept responsibility if your flight is delayed and you miss the shuttle serivice we arranged. You will have to take such a matter of inconvenience up with your airline.

In such cases participants will need to either arrive a day early, and be accommodated either at airport hotels, or after taking a standard shuttle, sleep over in Nelspruit. In this case, please do your own transport bookings with CityBug, and with accommodation services.

11.2.1 Booking a shuttle

Please email the conference organisers (Email: idia2009 . AT . developmentinformatics.org, Subject: IDIA09 transport booking) to make a transport booking, using the transport options listed in the table below. Do not book your shuttle with Citybug directly as you will not receive the special times/ rates.

11.2.2 Paying for shuttle

The transport fee will need to be paid on arrival at the conference venue.

11.2.3 Shuttle departure options and fees

Monday 26th Oct arrivals

Option 1

Catch the shuttle from OR Tambo International Airport to Nelspruit on Monday and stay overnight in Nelspruit, then catch the shuttle from Nelspruit to Berg-en-Dal on Tues 27th Oct (see Code T1-O and T2-N). The shuttle will arrange to drop you off and pick you up from your hotel/ B&B in Nelspruit.

Option2

Stay overnight in Johannesburg near OR Tambo Airport and catch the shuttle departing for Berg-en-Dal at 10h45 on Tues 27th Oct from the airport arrivals (see Code T2-O).

Tuesday 27th Oct arrivals

Option 1

Delegates with flights arriving at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg before 09h30 on Tues 27th Oct may catch the 10h45 shuttle to Berg-en-Dal from the Airport (see Code T2-O).

Option 2

Delegates with flights arriving at OR Tambo International Airport after 09h30 will need to catch one of the shuttles leaving between 12h45 and 18h30 (see Code T3-O) and stay overnight in Nelspruit, then catch the morning shuttle from Nelspruit to Berg-en-Dal at 07h30 (see Code T4-N). Note that other options are possible but will need to be arranged with Citybug directly at different rates.

The following transport options are available.

To the conference venue

Departing from the conference venue

* If you have booked accommodation through the conference organisers you will have received an accommodation reference which you will need to produce at the gate to enter the park. You do not need to pay an entrance fee for the park as this is included in the accommodation booking. If you have not booked accommodation through the conference organisers you will need to pay a Kruger National Park entrance fee. See below.

**You will need to make your own booking for accommodation in Nelspruit. see the recommended Bed and Breakfast accommodation.

11.2.4 Emergency contact information for Citybug

You should not book directly with Citybug. Please contact the conference organisers if you would like to make a booking.

In case of emergency with transport on the day you may contact Citybug via:

Tel.: +27 (0)13 753 3392
Email: info@citybug.co.za
Web: http://www.citybug.co.za/

11.3 Car rental

Public transport in South Africa is poor. If you miss our Special Citybug Schedule for IDIA2009 Conference service, the only option you really have to travel locally is to either make use of the services of a tour operator, or rent a car.

• Avis
  http://www.avis.co.za
• EuropCar South Africa
  http://www.europcar.co.za
• Hertz
  http://www.hertz.co.za
• Tempest Car Hire
  http://www.tempestcarhire.co.za

11.4 Park entrance fees

We have included the Kruger Park Entrance Fee in the the Accommodation Fee, which is valid only for the duration of the conference. Should you wish to extend your stay, or if you make your own accommdoation reservations, the following applies.

The Kruger National Park Entrance Fee is a daily fee. Please refer to the Kruger National Park website for updated tariffs before you depart (http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/tourism/tariffs.php). Make sure you have available the amount and necessary documentation.

Multiply the Daily Fee by each day you will spend in the Park.
For example, if you hold a foreign passport, and stay for 6 nights: R160 x 6 = R960

12. Travel arrangements

12.1 Visas

All visa and travel and insurance arrangements are your own responsibility. If you require a letter of confirmation to obtain a visa this will only be made after you have registered and paid. The IDIA2009 Conference is not responsible for decisions made by the South African consulate in your country or for any delays or other events affecting the issuance of a visa.

12.2 Health and Insurance

All health and insurance arrangements are your own responsibility. No liability is accepted during your travels or conference attendance.

Malaria

The Kruger National Park is in a malaria area. Consult with your private doctor for advise on the necessary steps.

Details about malaria can be found at http://www.malaria.org.za/Malaria_Risk/Risk_Maps/risk_maps.htm

13. Activities

The following activities are available at your own cost. For details, see www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/camps/berg-en-dal/

• Early morning bush walks - booked on a first come, first served basis: 5:00 - 9:00, R270 (approximately €25). A group of eight is lead by two armed game wardens
• Daily Game drives - booked on a first come, first served basis.
  • Sunrise game drives: 5:00 - 8:30 R140 (approximately €15) per person, per drive
  • Sunset game drives: 17:00 - 20:30 R140 (approximately €15) per person, per drive
• Golf at Leopard Creek on the Kruger National Park border. 31 October (6am – 12pm) at R2600 (approximately €200) per person. This includes transport to the golf course, green fees, and gate fees. You will need to bring your own golf equipment and adhere to the Leopard Creek dress code.
  Bookings: CitiBug - http://www.citybug.co.za/

14. Sponsorship

There are opportunities for sponsorship and information displays. Sponsorships are available to bring down the cost of the conference expenses, as well as sponsoring some delegates, such as participants from developing regions.

Please contact us directly.

15. Terms and Conditions

Payments

• Final payment of conference fees: 7 days upon submission of the registration (but not later than 7 days before the starting day of the event).
• Participation is not guaranteed until full payment of the registration fee is received
• Accommodation can not be reserved until full payment is received.
• The conference program may be subject to change
• Payments will be refunded if the conference is cancelled by the organizer, after which case the organizer will have no further liability to the participant.
• Registrations remain valid if the conference has to be postponed
• Fees for registering for extras including delegate sponsorship and activities such as game drive, bush walk and golf is not included on the final invoice. These will need to be paid for on arrival at Berg-en-Dal to the SA National Parks. The organisers cannot guarantee refunds for cancellations on these extras.
• All travel, insurance, and accommodation decisions and actions by delegates are the delegate's responsibility and the conference organisers take no responsibility for them or any events which occur during the conference.
• All visa requirements are delegate's responsibility and the conference organisers take no responsibility for them.

Cancellation policy

In case you need to cancel your conference registration and payment, please note the following:

• You remain responsible for the conference fee
• Refunds will only be made until 40 days before the conference
• Your refund will be made minus bank charges
• All refunds will be made according to the exchange rate on date of original payment

16. Prato CIRN 2009

In the week after IDIA2009, the 6th Prato CIRN 2009 Conference will be held at the Monash Centre in Prato, Italy, with emphasis on Community Informatics, which focuses on the same issues in developed countries.

Digitally empowering communities:
Learning from Community Informatics practice
4-6 November 2009
Monash Prato Centre, Prato, Italy
Details at www.ccnr.net

17. About IDIA

Development Informatics specialises in communities in constraint contexts, such as rural, distant, poor, or disadvantaged communities in developing countries and regions. Community Informatics focuses on communities in developed countries.

IDIA was founded in 2006 and has held national workshops on Development Informatics, as well as two international conferences. IDIA2009 is the 3rd International IDIA Conference, which will be held on 28-30 October 2009 at the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

IDIA was established as a platform for intellectual discussion on ICT4D issues. Recently Richard Heeks came to the same conlusion:

"We can conclude then, that each one of these three intellectual domains - computer science, IS and development studies - offers something to the ICT4D field. Conceptually, this means we need spaces that bring these three domains together. This has yet to be achieved and remains the key intellectual challenge during ICT4D 2.0"
Richard Heeks 2008 ICT4D 2.0: The next phase of applying ICT for international development.
IEEE Computer June 2008: 26-33

IDIA should be one of these spaces...

18. About The Meraka Institute

The Meraka Institute is the South African Government's ICT R&D institute. It forms part of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and its major objective is to facilitate national economic and social development through human capital development and needs-based research and innovation in ICT. It is part of a strategic intervention by government to position South Africa as a global player in the ICT research, development and innovation space.

19. Organising committee