Do you want to know practical FOSS applications for SMEs?
Do you want to become a trainer for FOSS applications for SMEs?

Then apply for the training of trainers for the FOSS Toolkit for SME!


Important dates:
Sept 20: Applications accepted
Sept 30: End of Application period
October 5: Start of pre-event online discussion
November 3-7: Training of Trainers for the FOSS Toolkit for SME in the Philippines


Background
In 2006, IOSN and InWent jointly organized the Regional Conference on Free and/or Open Source Software for Small-to-Medium Enterprises in IT (FOSS@Work). Over fifty participants from Southeast Asia congregated in Manila to listen to FOSS experts and to network with similar organizations from other countries. An output of that conference was the need for more exposure to FOSS as it is used in business and to make it easier for participants to grasp FOSS concepts and disseminate to their local communities.

At the Asia Source 2 camp in Sukabumi, Indonesia (January 2007), a CD called SME-in-a-Box (draft) was distributed by IOSN. The concept was similar to one already developed by Tactical Tech but directed towards the small-to-medium enterprises. After Sukabumi, IOSN proceeded to formalize the SME-in-a-Box. This liveCD is downloadable at http://sme-in-a-box.org/SME-in-a-Box/DemoLiveCD. Due to space limitations, the list of applications on the liveCD was prescribed and users could not easily modify the content with other FOSS business applications.
With input from these activities, IOSN and InWEnt engaged domain experts to facilitate the evolution of the SME-in-a-Box into a liveCD that will allow SMEs to choose their applications and use that for their specific business needs. This liveCD will be called the FOSS Toolkit for SMEs.

This call is for organizations/institutions who share IOSN-InWEnt's mission of promoting FOSS among SMEs. Each organization will nominate a representative to the Training of Trainers (ToT) and will commit to their re-entry plan which details how they will share their newly acquired knowledge with SMEs and their communities. A total of twenty organization's representatives will be accepted into the ToT.

At the end of the TOT, the successful participants will have the knowledge and skills to train others on the FOSS Toolkit for SMEs.

INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH
For this Training of Trainers, the call for participation will be sent to institutions with a requirement to clearly signify their commitment to designate their representative/participant to train SMEs, other staff members and communities upon their return within three months (re-entry plan). This institutional approach assures that there is an echo seminar that is offered to local staff members / communities and the knowledge gained is shared to others.

During the selection process, a high score will be given to institutions which will be able to embed a training course on the FOSS Toolkit into their regular plantilla of activities and services offered. These will be expected from the re-entry plan they will be submitting as a requirement for application.

Though applications of institutions and associations will be prioritized, individual FOSS trainers and experts are also eligible to apply.

RE-ENTRY PLAN
The programme provides monitoring after the ToT (through their institution) for a sustainable implementation of follow-up activities. The monitoring will be done through a special website to be created for that purpose.

APPLICATION CRITERIA
IOSN-InWEnt can sponsor 20 participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Vthe Philippines and Vietnam.

Applying institutions are invited to designate one representative/trainer. The Institution is also ask to clearly signify their commitment to designate their representative/participant to train SMEs, other staff members/communities upon their return within three months. Organizations are ENCOURAGED to nominate and give preference (where appropriate) to FEMALE participants.

COSTS
IOSN and InWEnt will cover the costs for the workshop, hotel and accomodation. The participants are expected to shoulder their travel costs, but subsidies for travel can be granted upon request.

HOW TO APPLY?
Interested institutions are invited to apply for participation until September 30, 2008 by filling up the online form below:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pVJdhWBPoeQTbR3pWWwVUYQ&cfg=true

If you have any further questions, please contact: Dr. Francis Sarmiento III (IOSN ASEAN+3), asean3[at]iosn.net

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FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

INTERNATIONAL OPEN SOURCE NETWORK
IOSN is a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Centre of Excellence in Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) for the Asia-Pacific region. It was established by UNDP Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) in 2002 through the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada. Through a virtual secretariat - and now a network of sub-regional centres, IOSN South Asia (based in India), IOSN Pacific Islands Countries (Fiji), and IOSN ASEAN+3 (Philippines), it shapes its activities around FOSS technologies and applications; awareness and advocacy; and capacity building initiatives.

IOSN ASEAN+3 sub-regional centre for the Southeast Asian countries is based at the University of Philippines Manila. The geographical mandate of IOSN ASEAN+3 encompasses Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan and Korea. IOSN ASEAN+3 is tasked specifically to facilitate and network FOSS advocates, experts, and developers in these 13 countries to foster the adoption of FOSS. The vision is to have developing countries in these countries achieve rapid and sustained economic and social development with the utilization of affordable yet effective FOSS ICT solutions to bridge the digital divide.

URL: http://www.iosn.net


INWENT - CAPACITY BUILDING INTERNATIONAL, GERMANY
Through its it@inwent programmes, InWEnt helps multiplying partners in Africa, and Asia to provide advanced knowledge in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The key objectives of the programmes are to strengthen IT sectors in various regions of the world, foster key innovations in ICTs for development and use ICTs as enabling tools for poverty reduction.

Within its it@foss project (http://www.it-foss.org), InWEnt supports the development and application of local innovative software solutions and business models based on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in the ASEAN region.

URL: http://www.inwent.org; http://www.it-inwent.org