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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 Tamrat Woldegabriel Ambo College of Agriculture Email: ACA@padis.gn.apc.org Eshete Dejen Debre Zeit Research Centre Daniel Dauro Awassa Research Centre Email: ARC@padis.gn.apc.org Mohammed Hassena Kulumsa Research Centre Email: IAR-Kulumsa@padis.gn.apc.org Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes Bako Reseach Station Email: BRC@padis.gn.apc.org Abdella Gure Wondo Genet College of Forestry Email: WGCF@padis.gn.apc.org Sendros Demeke Holetta Research Centre Email: IAR-Holetta@padis.gn.apc.org Elsa Naser Alemaya University of Agriculture Email: AUA18@ncic.gn.apc.org           AUA19@ncic.gn.apc.org Frehiwot Kiros Forestry Research Centre Email: FRC@padis.gn.apc.org Azeb Abadi Mekele Research Centre IAR-Mekele@padis.gn.apc.org Wubit Gebreamlak IAR HQ Email: Getinet.G@padis.gn.apc.org Zebene Mikru Jima Agricultural Research Centre Email: IAR-Melko@padis.gn.apc.org Solomon Nida Ambo Research Centre Email: IAR-Ambo@padis.gn.apc.org Getenesh Alemayehu IAR HQ Email: Tadesse.G@padis.gn.apc.org Mintelu Tekle IAR HQ Email: IAR@padis.gn.apc.org Resource Persons Michael Hailu ICRAF Email: m.hailu@cgnet.com Charles Musisi AfricaLink/ICRAF Help Desk MUKLA, Makerere University, Uganda Email: cmusisi@starcom.co.ug Abebe Kirub IAR HQ Email: Abebe.G@padis.gn.apc.org

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