Academic Track of the Second Annual SANGONET “ICTs for Civil Society” Conference and Exhibition

Call for Research Papers

Title of Track: The Information Society as a Response to Poverty and Inequality in Southern Africa

Thematic Focus of Track: Globally, relevant information has become an indispensable resource in the interaction among civil society, individuals, governments and businesses. It holds the key to growth, development and competitiveness, and to uplifting standards of living. Information can be used in a significant way to improve the quality of life in poor local communities, and in so doing narrow the glaring gap between the “two worlds” in Southern Africa. The use of information and information communications technologies to transform local communities is therefore a major area of interest for the Information Society in Southern Africa. However, research is crucial to innovation and development of suitable technologybased solutions. Consequently, research about the Information society is necessary to advance the growth of local communities in Southern Africa.

CALL FOR PAPERS:

SANGONeT, in conjunction with The Information Society Institute (Tisi) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, invites academic/scientific and actionresearch papers dealing with this theme for presentation at the Second Annual SANGONET “ICTs for Civil Society” Conference and Exhibition, to be held from 79 March 2005 at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways, Johannesburg.

The areas of interest include, but are not limited to, research on information and community informatics in the new and emerging information societies of Southern Africa. Specific topics of interest include the following:

• Technologybased interventions by NGOs and other civil society stakeholders in communities: Lessons on successes, failures, and difficulties in Southern Africa;
• The localization of information: local content, local language, local issues;
• ICT for development research;
• Innovative and emerging technologies to promote community empowerment and intercommunity cooperation;
• ICT legislation, regulation and policy for Southern African information societies;
• eGovernment and mGovernment ;
• ICT for communities of practice;
• ecommunication for local communities;
• Issues of esecurity and eprivacy in Southern African information societies;
• Suitable framework for ecommunication services in Southern African communities;
• einclusion;
• eparticipation;
• Community informatics for poverty alleviation;
• Community informatics and ICT in emergencies and disaster relief operations in Southern Africa.

We are interested in the following types of papers, panel discussions and presentations:

1. Full research papers
2. Workinprogress
3. Surveys and reports
4. Policy and strategy papers
5. Case studies

We also welcome workshops relevant to the theme of the track.

IMPORTANT DATES:

1. 30/01/2006: Papers and presentations due.
2. 15/02/2006: Acceptance/rejection notice after blind review.
3. 28/02/2006: Final version of accepted papers and presentations due.

PROCESSES:

Paper must be in the following format:

1. Name(s) of Author(s) (In the case of multiple authors, kindly indicate the contact author)
2. Affiliation/contact details (organisation, address and email of author(s))
3. Title of Abstract
4. 250 word abstract in English
5. Body of paper (UP TO 5000 WORDS)

Papers will be blindreviewed by at least two referees and only accepted upon the recommendation of referees and the review committee. Practitioners are particularly encouraged to submit research reports. A style guide will be announced later. Papers will be published in the conference proceedings.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS:

Please refer to www.tisi.za.org/sangonet2006/papers for the procedures and guidelines on the submission of research papers.

For any enquiries, please contact Vesper Owei at Tisi on (021) 4691000 or OweiV@cput.ac.za