CHANNEL MANAGERS’ TRAININGThe CIVIC web 2.0 platform

Juan Dolio, DR, 11-14 November 2008

Stéphane Bruno, sbruno@websystems.ht

FACTS Since 2002, CIVIC has relied mainly on a

mailing list and a basic resource repository based on Dgroups

The platform is supported by IDRC, and provides limited functionality

In survey conducted in 2006, members expressed desire to use more advanced, web 2.0 platform to enrich user esperience and participation

Working groups in dec. 2006 and oct. 2008 produced terms of reference and specifications for new CIVIC web 2.0 platform

The new CIVIC web is based on a Content Management System (CMS), drupal

OBJECTIVES Provide an improved environment and more advanced

tools to allow CIVIC members to better interact, share resources, work collaboratively on projects and documents;

Provide an online “home” for the CIVIC community which provides an identity to the network and allows others to learn about its purpose and activities;

Provide tools to better manage activities conducted by CIVIC members: internal (as governance mechanisms, working groups,

sub-networks, knowledge sharing and creation, collaborative project development)

external (advocacy actions, promotion, outreach activities, fundraising and brokering, etc.)

Provide a knowledge base and resource repository for practitioners, academics, donors, research, businesses, development workers, agencies and multilateral organizations, policymakers in ICT for Development (ICT4D): a one-stop destination for information and data on ICT4D in the Caribbean

USER ROLES

Anonymous User CIVIC member Content Manager Channel Manager Administrator Moderator

THE CONCEPT OF CHANNELS A CIVIC channel is a sub-section within CIVIC

2.0 web platform and a sub-group of members who have a specific area of interest

A channel can be: Thematic: as ICT and education in the Caribbean,

ICT for disaster management in the Caribbean, ICT business networking in the Caribbean,

Transversal/process oriented: as ICT4D advocacy, ICT4D monitoring and evaluation, ICT4D project management, ICT4D planning, ICT4D policy in the Caribbean, etc.;

Geographic: as ICT4D in the OECS, ICT4D in Dominican Rep, ICT4D in St Kitts, ICT4D in leeward islands, etc.

FEATURES OF THE WEB PLATFORM

Multilingual Extended user profiles Clearinghouse Mailing list and forum integration Event calendar and management Resource section Annoucements section Poll and voting mechanism Search