Tanzania
Creative Commons Tanzania In Tanzania Creative Commons (CC) is hosted at the [Open University of Tanzania] (OUT); the only Open & Distance Learning (ODL) University in East and Central Africa. This came into being in 2006 when CC Headquarters (CC HQ) and OUT signed a Memorandum of Understanding. CC Tanzania has implemented a number of activities that were both funded by the university and CC HQ. CC Tanzania affiliate team is comprised of volunteers who work are both staff and students of different universities and colleges in the country.
To date there are more than 100 volunteers who participate in different CC activities. Our key goals are as stipulated in our CC Tanzania Road map; “To promote access to knowledge and free sharing of resources, educational content and free culture” which we have engaged a number of stakeholders to achieve this. Planned activities were implemented through CC Tanzania School of Open Programme launched in 2014. Through this programme, CC Tanzania introduced the idea of knowledge sharing to a number of stakeholders to smoothening the understanding of Creative Common Licensing in the country; [Copyright Society of Tanzania] (COSOTA) being the key target, [Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology] (COSTECH), Open Access Tanzania Initiatives, [University of Dar es Salaam] (UDSM), [Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA)], [Mzumbe University] (MU) [Consortium of Tanzania University & Research Libraries] (COTUL) , [Tanzania Library Association] (TLA) and among others. Funding remains to be the major challenge in implementing the planned activities, staff’s time to carryout regular activities, and educating the community on the benefits of creative commons licensing. Support is still required to sensitize CC licensing to educators, artists, librarians, IT experts, innovators, researchers, students, kids, and many others to understand the benefits accrued for their creativity and sharing.
The team is led by Aristarik Hubert Maro - Information and Communication Specialist on Public Policy & Governance Working with the [Law School of Tanzania] as a Librarian/Lecture & the Head of Library Services of the school. The following volunteers form an Executive Committee: 1. Aristarik Maro - Public Lead 2. Ummy Ahmed (Lawyer) - Coordinator, 3. Janeth Ngwimile – OUT Staff – Deputy Coordinator 4. Emmanuel Thomas (Technologist) - Education, Training and Technology, 5. Abdulraziz Mnyengema (Technologist) - Strategic Planning and Development, 6. Naima Julius (Lawyer) - Communication and Membership, 7. Erasmus Rukantabula (Technologist) - Links and Networking Our Patrons 1. Prof. Tolly S. Mbwete – The Pan- African University President 2. Prof. Tozo Bisanda – The Vice Chancellor Open University of Tanzania 3. Prof. Deus Ngaruroro – The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic (OUT) 4. His Justice Dr. Paul Kihwelo – Principal Institute of Justice Administration - Lushoto
Affiliate team members: To date the current and active members are as follows: 1. Ms. Ellapendo Albin - OUT 2. Mr. Dioscor Majaliwa - Iringa 3. Mr. Mpeli Mwankusye - iringa 4. Mr. Lugis Benjamin John - UDSM 5. Ms. Alice Moshi 6. Ms. Judy Kadege – Ministry of Education 7. Dr. Celia Muyinga - OUT 8. Ms. Safina Mohamed - OUT 9. Ms. Mareth Mushi - OUT 10. Mr. Ubena John – Mzumbe University 11. Ms. Hadija Sadiki Kajia 12. Ms. Sarah Hudson 13. Mr. Azizi Hassan - OUT 14. Mr. Herman Komba - Primary School Teacher 15. Ms. Saphy Bulu – Law School of Tanzania 16. Ms. Rose Funja – Bagamoyo University 17. Ms. Anganile Sanga - OUT 18. Ms. Doreen Richard Mushi 19. Mr. Rwendo Isaac Muyinga - OUT 20. Ms. Consolata mwendabantu - OUT 21. Mr. Revocatus Biro - OUT 22. Ms. Boshe Patricia – OUT
Initiative since inceptions The following achievements have been documented: o Partners with Open Access Tanzania Initiative activities o Advocacy Training at Lugalo Secondary School under the auspicious of the Open University Iringa Regional Center support from the University Management - 2016 o Based on our Focus-area: Community Building, CC Tanzania has increased its visibility to all universities, colleagues, research institutes, technical colleges, part of the private and public primary & secondary schools in the country especially where trainings were conducted (Donated ICT Facilities to Kumbukumbu Primary School & Training Teachers and pupils on Web two Technologies and information sharing); o In 2014 Focus-area, School of Open in Tanzania was established and operationalized by conducting ICT and information sharing trainings to primary school teachers and pupils, donating ICT facilities to public primary schools in the country. o Open University of Tanzania to use CC licenses to its Open Educational Resources; to enhance access to educational materials and unleash the power of sharing in the global. This is in the process, awaiting for the university approval, and clear procedures from CC HQ on issuing of licenses o Sokoine university of Agriculture through its iAGRI Innovation Portfolio to apply CC Licenses and many other research programmes has shown interest to do the same, when procedures for licensing with COSOTA are clear. o Publicity of CC activities to the universities, institutes, seminars, conferences, workshops and exhibitions to the public about CC licenses. o Based on our focus-area on Government engagement on Open Policy issues, CC Tanzania is now working closely with Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA) and Commission for Science & Technology (COSTECH) on the modalities of adopting Open Access Policies; the negotiations are still on progress. It is believed that, through CC Tanzania, COSOTA will be able to educate all stakeholders on CC licensing benefits in order to strengthen the Open Access Coalition in the country o Partners with KOPITAN and Commission for Science & Technology in Tanzania o Partners with regional initiatives for academic and non-fiction writers unions (Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, SA, Malawi, Zambia)
2016/17 plan of activities Advocacy training in the country Partnering with key stakeholders on creative, innovation and copyright issues the country Our current Partners Our most current partners among others include: 1. Policy Makers Political leaders 2. Education experts from Universities 3. Commission for Science & Technology 4. Copyright Society of Tanzania 5. Legal scholars 6. Research Institutes 7. Information Systems, Technologists 8. Designers & Artists 9. Musicians 10. Investors, 11. entrepreneurs and philanthropists
Collaborations Creative Commons Tanzania to date has implemented a number of projects of which, the team collaborated with different stakeholders, among these rare:
The School of Open project; the team collaborated with other Schools of Open in East Africa, Africa and beyond in order to share experiences on issues of Creative Licensing and Open Access Policies (Kenya, and Uganda) that created channels to include Rwanda and Burundi on board. The School of Open in Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria had immense assistance to CC Tanzania in implementation of the project.
The project opened new avenues that has enabled the team to work on Open Governance and Open Education Resources (OER) office at the university; aiming at sharing experience on CC Licensing. the team through different forum managed to deliver public advocacy lectures to students of the university as well as lawyers at the Law School of Tanzania, librarians, copyright staff, and other players in the country.
Translation The team is also working on modalities and procedures for translations of our CC policies, in Kiswahili Language which is widely spoken and media for instruction in the country. Currently we are in connection with The Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA) in executing copyright licenses in the country. We have initiated our idea with COSOTA for the easy acceptance and execution. For the translation part the team in in communication with [Baraza la Kiswahili ta Taifa] (BASATA) on how best we can work together to translate the CC policies for ease understanding by the citizens.
Education, Training and Publicity The affiliate team has all the potentials in ICT training, and have conducted computer training to public and private primary and secondary schools in the country. The training involved both primary and secondary teachers and students. The main theme of our training is to sensitize participants the Power of SharingLink title Creativity and Innovative Knowledge through CC Licensing, making them understand the key issues on CC Licensing.
The team is always on the move & on check to applying for financial support from public & private institutions in order to train and impart knowledge to kids/ pupils/students who are the innovators of the future, and that is the reason we do participate in different schools/college/university exhibitions, as well as in different fora in the country. Our activities is always based on availability of funds.
On publicity, our plans are always centered on Making CC Tanzania on the forefront of any public, private, universities’ & institutions’ publicity activities in the country. We are also planning to work closely with COSOTA on the same, and do argue COSOTA to forge mutual collaboration with CC SA, and CC HQ in the issuing of licensing to innovative research in the country and later in the region.
our future goals are centered at bringing together all key players on copyright matters into one room and discuss issues of concern to accommodate Creative Commons Licenses into policy change and practice and its adoption in the country, and educate the public on the benefit of adopting creative commons licenses on their creative and innovative works.
The future growth for CC in Africa: 1. Enhance Policy change for African countries towards knowledge sharing 2. Education and training on the use of CC licenses in Africa 3. More funding for African projects 4. CC African teams be employed for CC activities
--CCID-ArisMaro (talk) 08:39, 11 November 2016 (UTC)Aristarik Maro
