Research

. Abunzi System

. Participation

. Expected benefits

. Further research

. References

Implementation

 
 

Benefits to Rwandan communities

The Oral Wiki would benefit Abunzi communities because it would allow people to more quickly transition to normal life. Getting back to normal life would move people more quickly out of poverty. This project would empower communities' capacity because it is a tool that will enable people at a local level to help themselves.

Benefits to the Abunzi System

With the Abunzi Technology, the Abunzi could become more knowledgeable about ways to solve cases they face. The Abunzi would provide a better level of service to their communities. The oral nature of the database addresses potential barriers to entry caused by a lack of literacy.

Several Abunzi we spoke with felt that this technology would increase accountability in the Abunzi system because Abunzi would be more inclined to follow rules if they knew their decisions would be available to other Abunzi and the government. There would be increased transparency as the recordings would be heard throughout the country by Abunzi and by the government.

Benefits to the Government

The Oral Wiki could serve as the first nationwide archive of Abunzi decisions. It would increase the sharing of and access to information between local and central government. A written archive could be transcribed and developed from the database. The formal justice system could make laws with the full knowledge of the cases the Abunzi face. It would contribute to a long-term establishment of an information society.

Benefits to Rwanda

The Oral Wiki would move the country towards it's Vision 2020 goals of building human and institutional capacity through ICT and a more skilled labor force. In Rwanda's Vision 2020, one goal is described,
"Rwanda should also aim to find a niche market in the region, for example, becoming a telecommunications hub. It is envisaged that with these reforms, Rwanda will transform from a subsistence agricultural economy to a knowledge-based society, with a vibrant class of entrepreneurs" [6].
The Oral Wiki will help Rwanda move towards it's intended telecommunications and socio-economic goals.

Another Vision 2020 goal is to boost professional training,
"Rwanda lags behind in professional training, with the most acute deficiency being apparent in the fields of applied and natural sciences and ICT. Although the country will continue to rely on imported technology from advanced countries, well-trained, specialized nationals will be essential to run as well as maintain technological systems ranging from medicine and agriculture to industry and telecommunications" [6].
The Oral Wiki would provide the 32,400 Abunzi with training in a new technology that would build capacity in their profession, as well as in their communities.

The Oral Wiki would contribute to Rwanda's National Decentralization Policy by facilitating communication between local and central government and by moving some of the responsibility of determining best practice out to the Abunzi. This theme of decentralization is also embedded in the Oral Wiki system of participation whereby Abunzi contribute to content and moderate it, "a new form of horizontal organization is emerging that rivals the hierarchical firm in its capacity to create information-based products and services, and in some cases, physical things" [7].