1. Development is also the business of the private sector
In addition to the many projects of international aid to the public sector, Computers For Africa International wishes to promote the development of the private sector in sub-Saharan Africa, by providing computer material (and/or advice) to independent entrepreneurs eager to create new companies. The main objective of the association is to use the concrete results of international assistance in the public sector (education) as well as the under-used resource of African creativity (companies of the continent).
There is a plethora of spheres of activity, such as accounting, (Web) design, correspondence, and research, which only requires computer hardware and software. But computers still remain financially inaccessible for the majority of Africans: responding to theses needs would allow the private sector to develop and would allow companies to create jobs.
Computers For Africa International is particularly looking to send computer equipement on the continent. Upon presentation and acceptance of an application (project), the company will have the possibility to receive a computer and/or components and peripherals (printer, scanner, etc).
Inovative approach
The personal responsibility of the person receiving the computer and the moral ethics binding the donor are the core of the Computers For Africa International project, as is the standard in all modern international aid associations.
But the dynamism and the image which the project is carrying are an innovation in itself: although data processing is no longer a new technology as such, it remains the most important branch of industry in the world. The donors can not only promote development in Africa, but they can also do it while investing in a growing and modern activity. Furthermore, this type of action supports the recycling of a material which, without that, would be destroyed; the approach, although tending to be practical, is as global as possible.
The project allows donors as well as recipients of the aid to tackle contemporary problems and challenges in a voluntary and dynamic way.
2. Africa - diversity and opportunity
One tends to underestimate the dynamism of the African continent. However, recently, investors estimated that a sub-Saharan potential existed: with investments in billion, Chinese labour follows the capital flowing of the Empire of the Medium. We should ask ourselves if the Western world is right to be so shy. Ghana’s GDP increased by 5% in 2003 and 2004. It imports so much from China that the latter became in a few years its second supplier, after the all the countries of the EU. China is also the third source of South Africa’s imports, a country which maintained an important growth (more than 3%) over the last years.
In addition, the overwhelming majority of the countries of continental sub-Saharan Africa (more than 35) are members of OMC: the search for development by trade is real on this continent, with active lobbies militant for the opening of new markets.
3. How to contribute?
To conclude this project, Computers For Africa International seeks material which is often used under our latitudes, because a lot of companies are renewing their data-processing material all the time. And to prevent this material to be destroyed, Computers For Africa International collects it, and repairs it if necessary. All the gifts in kind are thus welcome.
Moreover, Computers For Africa International stores, dispatches and allocates this material on request until it arrives in Africa; it is vital for the association to be able to finance its actions. The financial aid is the second part of this initiative, which is as essential as the first one.
