Community Mobilization through Radio Technology (CMRT) program and Radio for Peace Building in the North Program (RPNP) in Mali
IESC/Geekcorps installed five community radio stations in the three regions of Northern Mali under the Community Mobilization through Radio Technology program, under a cooperative agreement from USAID. Following the end of the Community Mobilization through Radio Technology program, IESC/Geekcorps began working on a new community radio station installation project, the Radio for Peace Building in the North Program – a more ambitious USAID program that included the installation of 11 radio stations and modernizing another located in Goundam. The Radio for Peace Building in the North Program, designed to promote media freedom by producing radio programs that serve as a tool for combating terrorist ideology in conflict-prone areas, came to a close in November 2010. Under these programs, IESC/Geekcorps developed local capacity in building and maintaining these radio stations. IESC provided workshops and trainings for the radio managers, journalists, management committees, control committees and technicians on how to make the radio stations profitable, engaging, and useful for their communities. The sustainability of the stations was based in part on additional services that include Cybertigi technology centers and a new technology configuration called La Source, where customers can download music and movies.
Access to International Markets through Information Technology (AIM-IT) in Lebanon
The USAID funded and IESC-led $3.3 million AIM-IT program had three primary components: Preparing ICT firms for Export; Creating Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) in Rural Areas; and Using ICT to Increase Competitiveness in the Tourism Sector. IESC developed the local market for information and communications technology (ICT) and developed the tourism sector through the services of long term staff (including an all Lebanese staff with the exception of the Moroccan Project Director) and short term volunteer experts and consultants. Key project activities included providing trade show technical assistance; conducting a reverse trade mission for Lebanese ICT firms; launching a GPS-based ecotourism program; leading Microsoft-sponsored training of software project management and software development methodologies and best practices; creating a marketing plan for information management systems; improving market linkage opportunities for ICT companies in Lebanon; providing export training for Lebanese ICT companies; and providing local technical assistance to PICTA centers and the GPS-based program.