TRIP REPORT
AfricaLink/ICRAF Ethiopia
6-11 March 1997

Michael Hailu and Charles Musisi

Purpose

• To organize a user sensitization/training workshop for partners of the AfricaLink/ICRAF project in Ethiopia

• To visit local service providers - Padis and the Ethiopian Telecommunications Authority - and discuss possibilities of improving service for AfricaLink/ICRAF partners

A 2-day user training workshop was organized to familiarize the participants (researchers, information staff) with electronic communications in general, train them on the use of various FidoNet software and address specific technical problems they encountered in using email. There were a total of 16 participants (Annex 1) drawn from IAR Headquarters and 13 stations where AfricaLink/ICRAF provided email connectivity throughout Ethiopia. Although most of the stations belonged to the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), there were representatives from the Alemaya University of Agriculture, Ambo College of Agriculture and Wondogenet College of Forestry.

Michael gave an overview of the AfricaLink /ICRAF project and Charles Musisi (AfricaLink Help Desk, Makerere University) gave a technical overview of different communication/e-mail/Internet options. There was a question-and-answer session followed by a quick survey of the problems encountered by participants. They identified the following as major problems they encountered since they started using email in their institutions:

• Lack of trained staff to operate system (7)
• Telephone line problem (6)
• System never worked (2)
• Low level of user training (2)
• Location of computer where email is loaded not easily accessible (2)
• Interference of radio station with telephone line/modem
• Interference with radio messages
• Computer virus
• Lack of a printer
• Problem of accessibility for all staff
• Back-up copy of FD not available
• Problem in receiving messages
• Lack of email addresses that can be contacted

The second day was devoted to hands-on training session using e- mail tools based on Fidonet's FrontDoor program. Instruction on installation, setup and modem techniques were given. Most of the participants had a chance to install their own setup while the instructors helped where problems arose.

Demonstrations and practical exercises were given on message encoding, decoding and encryption, file attachments, fax to e-mail, and Internet addressing. Since most of the participants had only the DOS version of FrontDoor, a Windows-version was demonstrated and distributed for their use. A list of useful email addresses was also compiled and distributed to the participants.

At the end of the course, participants were confident that they could go back to their institutions and install the new FrontDoor software provided and use their email effectively.

Visit to Padis

We visited the Pan-African Development Information System (Padis) based at the Economic Commission for Africa. Padis has been the sole email service provider until recently when the Ethiopian Telecoms Authority started providing Internet services. We met with Lishan Adam, the Program Officer in charge of the e-mail service and discussed support for AfricaLink partners as well as the future of the service provided by Padis for local users in Ethiopia. Lishan Adam concurred that due to the service offered by the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation, it is apparent that the service by Padis would slowly die out. Otherwise, for now the node would continue giving service alongside the ETC. The support Padis is providing to sustain the network is rather lukewarm. We were told that the half-time person who provides technical support has moved to another position and a replacement has not been identified yet.

The addresses of a number of AfricaLink users were not registered in the Padis database which meant that several messages were not reaching their destinations. Charles was allowed to personally make user ID updates for all AfricaLink partners into the Padis node database, and it was agreed that the local AfricaLink consultant technician (Adebabay Birru) should notify Padis every time a new user is connected.

Ethiopian Telecommunications Authority (ETA)

We met with the Sales & Marketing Manger of ETA Internet services. The service launched by ETA is considered as a pilot project running for 6 months with technical support from US Sprint. The Internet service currently provided is a dial-up access and rates vary for different categories of users. Once the pilot is completed, other services such as dedicated access may be introduced. Charges include connection fees, monthly subscriptions and per-hour charges. For a typical scientist working in a government institution, the rate would be $75 for registration, $25/month and $5 per hour beyond 5 hours of free time allowed with the monthly fee. The fee for international organizations and NGOs is almost twice as expensive. The package includes Netscape Navigator for Web browsing and Eudora Light for email. At present, service was only allowed to a single site per account basis, i.e one cannot extend service to multiple users (such as on a LAN) with a single account. This will probably change at the end of the trial period since several people have complained about the restriction. ETA also offers a 2- day training course to users at a fee of ETB 220 ($35) per person.

ETA have a long list of applicants whom they have not been able to connect yet. We discussed the possibility of moving some of the AfricaLink partners over to the ETA, e.g. IAR headquarters, Nazreth and Holetta stations. The Marketing Manager promised to give us a priority should we decide to do so.

Visits to IAR Stations in Holetta and Nazreth

Charles visited Holetta and Nazreth (the two largest IAR stations) to fix the problem with the email set-up and provide additional on-site training. Further on site training was given by installing FDAPXwin and the FDM version of FrontDoor for DOS, and system was tested and ascertained to be working. In Holetta, there was a persistent problem with the phone where whenever the modem dials it seemed to add 1 to the last digit dialed. Remedy to this was to decrease the last dialed digit by 1 and this seemed to work fine. Hands-on training was given to one of research scientists and the station director's secretary.

In Nazret, both FDM and FDAPXdos were installed, tested and left in a good working condition. Training was given to Dr. Habtu, a senior researcher at this station. PC was installed with 10 user accounts.

Annex 1

AfricaLink Sensitization/User Training Workshop, IAR
Headquarters, 6-7 March 1997

List of Participants

1. Tamrat Woldegabriel
   Ambo College of Agriculture
   Email: ACA@padis.gn.apc.org
2. Eshete Dejen
   Debre Zeit Research Centre
3. Daniel Dauro
   Awassa Research Centre
   Email: ARC@padis.gn.apc.org
4. Mohammed Hassena
   Kulumsa Research Centre
   Email: IAR-Kulumsa@padis.gn.apc.org
5. Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes
   Bako Reseach Station
   Email: BRC@padis.gn.apc.org
6. Abdella Gure
   Wondo Genet College of Forestry
   Email: WGCF@padis.gn.apc.org
7. Sendros Demeke
   Holetta Research Centre
   Email: IAR-Holetta@padis.gn.apc.org
8. Elsa Naser
   Alemaya University of Agriculture
   Email: AUA18@ncic.gn.apc.org
             AUA19@ncic.gn.apc.org
9. Frehiwot Kiros
   Forestry Research Centre
   Email: FRC@padis.gn.apc.org
10. Azeb Abadi
    Mekele Research Centre
    IAR-Mekele@padis.gn.apc.org
11. Wubit Gebreamlak
    IAR HQ
    Email: Getinet.G@padis.gn.apc.org
12. Zebene Mikru
    Jima Agricultural Research Centre
    Email: IAR-Melko@padis.gn.apc.org
13. Solomon Nida
    Ambo Research Centre
    Email: IAR-Ambo@padis.gn.apc.org
14. Getenesh Alemayehu
    IAR HQ
    Email: Tadesse.G@padis.gn.apc.org
15. Mintelu Tekle
    IAR HQ
    Email: IAR@padis.gn.apc.org

Resource Persons

1. Michael Hailu
   ICRAF
   Email: m.hailu@cgnet.com
2. Charles Musisi
   AfricaLink/ICRAF Help Desk
   MUKLA, Makerere University, Uganda
   Email: cmusisi@starcom.co.ug
3. Abebe Kirub
   IAR HQ
   Email: Abebe.G@padis.gn.apc.org