Comments on: Digesting TED Global – I’m still chewing http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/ EthanZ's musings on Africa, media and international development Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:45:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Deconstructing Vanity Fair’s “Africa” issue - Dig The World http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-814091 Deconstructing Vanity Fair’s “Africa” issue - Dig The World Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:47:39 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-814091 [...] Ethan Zuckerman was among the attendees at the recent TED Global conference in Tanzania — he did some great blogging from there. Here’s his overview/summary/reaction of the conference: Link. [...] [...] Ethan Zuckerman was among the attendees at the recent TED Global conference in Tanzania — he did some great blogging from there. Here’s his overview/summary/reaction of the conference: Link. [...]

]]> By: Chikwe http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-367613 Chikwe Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:05:28 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-367613 Dear Fellow Ethan! Its is 2 weeks already…and we are still digesting stuff from TED. Out of the big ideas in our heads, we have started with a small one. For a few years Ike Anya and I (Chikwe Ihekweazu) commented on health affairs in Nigeria whenever we felt there was a need. We have done this through traditional media with its limitations. Both not being real early adopters of new technology we did not really appreciate the power and impact on blogging until Arusha. Now we have educated ourselves the best we can, learnt about tags and rss feeds etc. A whole new world! It was had enough to get off the PC before our life with blogs…and now? Finally we have our Blog up and running (http://nigeriahealthwatch.blogspot.com/) . It discusses health affairs as it affects the 140 million odd Africans that call themselves Nigerians. We might eventually spread out further, but decided that we start with what we know best. We are both Nigerians, public health physicians, passionate that we all have a right to long productive lives irrespective of the geographical circumstances of our birth! In the TED spirit, we will seek progress, will challenge the status quo and seek means of improving the lot of our people. While talking the talk, we will walk the walk. Support us in adding this to your rss feeds. Send the links to your communities, send in your comments, criticise us, advice us, and grow with us! You are an inspiration! Chikwe Ihekweazu/ Ike Anya TED Fellows to TEDGlobal2007 Dear Fellow Ethan!

Its is 2 weeks already…and we are still digesting stuff from TED. Out of the big ideas in our heads, we have started with a small one.

For a few years Ike Anya and I (Chikwe Ihekweazu) commented on health affairs in Nigeria whenever we felt there was a need. We have done this through traditional media with its limitations. Both not being real early adopters of new technology we did not really appreciate the power and impact on blogging until Arusha.

Now we have educated ourselves the best we can, learnt about tags and rss feeds etc. A whole new world! It was had enough to get off the PC before our life with blogs…and now?

Finally we have our Blog up and running (http://nigeriahealthwatch.blogspot.com/) . It discusses health affairs as it affects the 140 million odd Africans that call themselves Nigerians. We might eventually spread out further, but decided that we start with what we know best.

We are both Nigerians, public health physicians, passionate that we all have a right to long productive lives irrespective of the geographical circumstances of our birth!

In the TED spirit, we will seek progress, will challenge the status quo and seek means of improving the lot of our people. While talking the talk, we will walk the walk.

Support us in adding this to your rss feeds. Send the links to your communities, send in your comments, criticise us, advice us, and grow with us!

You are an inspiration!

Chikwe Ihekweazu/ Ike Anya

TED Fellows to TEDGlobal2007

]]> By: peter http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-349052 peter Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:31:44 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-349052 Firstly, this is a very thought provoking post, for which thanks. I'm glad that sijui raised the issue of the state and politics. From the coverage I saw of TED, it was overly private sector focused. There are a number of issues here. Firstly, patterns of aid and conditionality have seen the steady roll back of the state in aid recipient countries and attempts to be capital friendly. What has this brought to Tanzania? Dar has changed immensely in the last ten years. High rises, new ring roads, shopping centres, cinemas, beach hotels, celebrity magazines, mobiles everywhere (and using them to get price data is a minority sport).... and an emerging and isolated young Tanzanian elite. Oh dear, it's getting like Nairobi! Yet the life of the average citizen has little changed. Still, 75 percent of the population live in slums without proper sanitation power or access and poor security. Cack handed attempts at privatisation and sub contracting have got nowhere with water supply. Corrupt deals (IPTL and Richmond) have undermined power supply potential. The city has almost no street lights. The latest whizz is to copy the Nairobi scheme of 'adopt a light' - public lighting as billboard stands. So public lighting becomes dependent on how 'adopt a light' may or may not continue to be a key mix in companies' PR strategies (usually the first budget to be cut in a downturn)...... Exclusive focus on the private sector is risky and leaves huge gaps. More widely, FDI while reaping huge profits in mining and tourism, has very limited backward linkages that may promote domestic business. So most still depend on the hand hoe. Anyway, what TED really seems to have missed was any analysis of power, politics and the state in weak states (beyond the aid debate)where individual power and related networks are more important than institutions. Cheetahs grow old too. And here their networks and connections are just as important as those of the hippos. Incentives don't change when power relations remain unchanged. I hope I'm wrong and sometimes see signs that I might be. You correctly highlight infrastructure as crucial. Interestingly, the only donor really interested in supporting this is China (with a quid pro quo on trade and resource extraction). A final point on aid distortion. I am pretty convinced after nearly ten years in east africa that savvy ambitious and educated individuals will nine times out of ten take their place in the aid business rather than use their entrepreneurial characteristics in business. And why not? Why spend time developing a business plan, raising funds privately, from savings and a loan at over 20 percent when you can set up your own NGO and get 100 percent financing with no repayments and very little auditing? Or just get an overpaid job in an international NGO or donor office? I've seen a lot of talent wasted in donor offices and NGOs. I know, I work in one. I hope this doesn't seem too pessimistic. But there is a strong element of cheerleading at TED type events, while on the field it is dirty, tiring and sore! but we need the cheerleading. Firstly, this is a very thought provoking post, for which thanks.

I’m glad that sijui raised the issue of the state and politics. From the coverage I saw of TED, it was overly private sector focused. There are a number of issues here. Firstly, patterns of aid and conditionality have seen the steady roll back of the state in aid recipient countries and attempts to be capital friendly.

What has this brought to Tanzania? Dar has changed immensely in the last ten years. High rises, new ring roads, shopping centres, cinemas, beach hotels, celebrity magazines, mobiles everywhere (and using them to get price data is a minority sport)…. and an emerging and isolated young Tanzanian elite. Oh dear, it’s getting like Nairobi! Yet the life of the average citizen has little changed. Still, 75 percent of the population live in slums without proper sanitation power or access and poor security. Cack handed attempts at privatisation and sub contracting have got nowhere with water supply. Corrupt deals (IPTL and Richmond) have undermined power supply potential. The city has almost no street lights. The latest whizz is to copy the Nairobi scheme of ‘adopt a light’ – public lighting as billboard stands. So public lighting becomes dependent on how ‘adopt a light’ may or may not continue to be a key mix in companies’ PR strategies (usually the first budget to be cut in a downturn)……

Exclusive focus on the private sector is risky and leaves huge gaps. More widely, FDI while reaping huge profits in mining and tourism, has very limited backward linkages that may promote domestic business. So most still depend on the hand hoe.

Anyway, what TED really seems to have missed was any analysis of power, politics and the state in weak states (beyond the aid debate)where individual power and related networks are more important than institutions. Cheetahs grow old too. And here their networks and connections are just as important as those of the hippos. Incentives don’t change when power relations remain unchanged. I hope I’m wrong and sometimes see signs that I might be.

You correctly highlight infrastructure as crucial. Interestingly, the only donor really interested in supporting this is China (with a quid pro quo on trade and resource extraction).

A final point on aid distortion. I am pretty convinced after nearly ten years in east africa that savvy ambitious and educated individuals will nine times out of ten take their place in the aid business rather than use their entrepreneurial characteristics in business. And why not? Why spend time developing a business plan, raising funds privately, from savings and a loan at over 20 percent when you can set up your own NGO and get 100 percent financing with no repayments and very little auditing? Or just get an overpaid job in an international NGO or donor office? I’ve seen a lot of talent wasted in donor offices and NGOs. I know, I work in one.

I hope this doesn’t seem too pessimistic. But there is a strong element of cheerleading at TED type events, while on the field it is dirty, tiring and sore!

but we need the cheerleading.

]]> By: Mary http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-346593 Mary Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:34:45 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-346593 Thanks for the great wrap-up post Thanks for the great wrap-up post

]]> By: Wrapping up TEDGlobal http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-345833 Wrapping up TEDGlobal Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:22:18 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-345833 [...] And so ends TEDGlobal and Ethan Zuckerman offers up his take on the enthusiasm, hope and excitement that percolated throughout. So now the question remains, where do we go from here? The ideas proffered, while inspiring, are often easier to articulate than implement. What was most eye opening to many attendees was the contention over aid to Africa. Ethan offers his synopsis of many of the talks and the TED Blog tracks the blogosphere’s ongoing discussion. [...] [...] And so ends TEDGlobal and Ethan Zuckerman offers up his take on the enthusiasm, hope and excitement that percolated throughout. So now the question remains, where do we go from here? The ideas proffered, while inspiring, are often easier to articulate than implement. What was most eye opening to many attendees was the contention over aid to Africa. Ethan offers his synopsis of many of the talks and the TED Blog tracks the blogosphere’s ongoing discussion. [...]

]]> By: Tunji Lardner http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-344136 Tunji Lardner Mon, 11 Jun 2007 22:09:49 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-344136 Dear Ethan, Great to have bumped into you at TED. Thanks for your passionate and yet balanced reporting of some of the key points articulated at TED. As I sit back in Lagos, trying to fully digest the vistas opened and the possibilites that Africa represents, I am at once humbled by the enormity of the challenge as well as enbolden to fully engage... as best as I can. Africans of all stripes will ultimately be responsible for Africa "great leap forward" (in the best sense of conveying motion). TED was the starting blocks of sorts for those of us already in the race, it provided that extra inspirational and intellectual traction for us to run that extra mile. And run we will, indeed run we must. Dear Ethan,
Great to have bumped into you at TED. Thanks for your passionate and yet balanced reporting of some of the key points articulated at TED. As I sit back in Lagos, trying to fully digest the vistas opened and the possibilites that Africa represents, I am at once humbled by the enormity of the challenge as well as enbolden to fully engage… as best as I can. Africans of all stripes will ultimately be responsible for Africa “great leap forward” (in the best sense of conveying motion). TED was the starting blocks of sorts for those of us already in the race, it provided that extra inspirational and intellectual traction for us to run that extra mile. And run we will, indeed run we must.

]]> By: Sijui http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-343288 Sijui Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:53:28 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-343288 Thanks Ethan for the fantastic blog and even more, blow by blow account of TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha! As far as I am concerned, TEDGlobal 2007 has already achieved what it set out to do, here are amy impressions: 1) As an African in the Diaspora starting a business back home and relocating to run it, TEDGlobal affirmed my hopes, aspirations and fears.....yes fears too. It also reiterated my choices because one, I am not alone, many are doing the same thing I am doing, two, there is a genuine groundswell of proactive, determined and courageous Africans defying the odds. Personally, I'd rather say I TRIED WITH THE BEST OF THEM and failed, rather than I SAT PASSIVELY ON THE SIDELINES while it happened. 2) My only criticism of TEDGlobal 2007 is that it did not include political 'entrepreneurs' on the continent. What I mean is commendable examples of state actors who are ACTUALLY pulling with the private sector to bring about changes rather than pushing against it. Yes, I know we have become accustomed to government BEING the problem not part of the solution, and that is a valid assessment but again we shoot ourselves in the foot when we do not acknowledge and support those state actors who are competent, good faith partners. If the conference had done so, the emerging nexus between what TEDGLobal is all about and the shifting political thinking would have crystallized to everyone's amazement: -Infrastructure: Millennium Challenge Account 'grants' are the perfect prototype of strategic aid that focuses on infrastructure and private sector expansion. Ghana received the largest compact to date $547 million, Paa Kweisi Nduom could have articulated well the ambitious plan that Ghana has in store. Also Donald Kaberuka and Trevor Manuel could have talked about the deployment of the $ 1 billion Africa infrastructure fund financed through private equity and government securities on the continent. -Trade; for the first time a serious, concerted effort at regional trade intergration is afoot. Again, a reputable figure from the AU or the like could have provided further insights. -Entrepreneurship; I know Ghana, Botswana, Mauritius and I'm sure South Africa have good examples of the state providing seed money to establish efficient credit schemes and VC funds targeted at the micro/SME sector. -Public health; I believe the most sterling example on the continent is Botswana including their proactive HIV/AIDS programs Good examples of coherent and aggressive education policy are also sure to be found on the continent; AfDB is providing excellent advice on how to harness potential of African Diaspora. Thanks Ethan for the fantastic blog and even more, blow by blow account of TEDGlobal 2007 in Arusha! As far as I am concerned, TEDGlobal 2007 has already achieved what it set out to do, here are amy impressions:
1) As an African in the Diaspora starting a business back home and relocating to run it, TEDGlobal affirmed my hopes, aspirations and fears…..yes fears too. It also reiterated my choices because one, I am not alone, many are doing the same thing I am doing, two, there is a genuine groundswell of proactive, determined and courageous Africans defying the odds. Personally, I’d rather say I TRIED WITH THE BEST OF THEM and failed, rather than I SAT PASSIVELY ON THE SIDELINES while it happened.
2) My only criticism of TEDGlobal 2007 is that it did not include political ‘entrepreneurs’ on the continent. What I mean is commendable examples of state actors who are ACTUALLY pulling with the private sector to bring about changes rather than pushing against it. Yes, I know we have become accustomed to government BEING the problem not part of the solution, and that is a valid assessment but again we shoot ourselves in the foot when we do not acknowledge and support those state actors who are competent, good faith partners. If the conference had done so, the emerging nexus between what TEDGLobal is all about and the shifting political thinking would have crystallized to everyone’s amazement:
-Infrastructure: Millennium Challenge Account ‘grants’ are the perfect prototype of strategic aid that focuses on infrastructure and private sector expansion. Ghana received the largest compact to date $547 million, Paa Kweisi Nduom could have articulated well the ambitious plan that Ghana has in store. Also Donald Kaberuka and Trevor Manuel could have talked about the deployment of the $ 1 billion Africa infrastructure fund financed through private equity and government securities on the continent.
-Trade; for the first time a serious, concerted effort at regional trade intergration is afoot. Again, a reputable figure from the AU or the like could have provided further insights.
-Entrepreneurship; I know Ghana, Botswana, Mauritius and I’m sure South Africa have good examples of the state providing seed money to establish efficient credit schemes and VC funds targeted at the micro/SME sector.
-Public health; I believe the most sterling example on the continent is Botswana including their proactive HIV/AIDS programs
Good examples of coherent and aggressive education policy are also sure to be found on the continent; AfDB is providing excellent advice on how to harness potential of African Diaspora.

]]> By: kwasi http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-342694 kwasi Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:01:48 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-342694 Thanks for the reporting Ethan. You gave me a lot to digest there. I might add some thoughts on those talks later once I feel I'm in a position to actually start stringing my thoughts together coherently. Thanks for the reporting Ethan. You gave me a lot to digest there. I might add some thoughts on those talks later once I feel I’m in a position to actually start stringing my thoughts together coherently.

]]> By: Henok http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-341802 Henok Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:41:56 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-341802 EZ Thank you very much for sharing this education and challenging notes for Africa. Red Sox supporter cab in Tanzania it is really amazing. EZ
Thank you very much for sharing this education and challenging notes for Africa.

Red Sox supporter cab in Tanzania it is really amazing.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2007/06/10/digesting-ted-global-im-still-chewing/comment-page-1/#comment-341446 Rachel Sun, 10 Jun 2007 23:21:12 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=1502#comment-341446 <i>right now they’re the work of incredibly passionate individuals who’ve sacrificed their lives and fortunes to take on challenges in their nations - there’s a level of personal sustainability that needs to be thought through in these efforts as well.</i> A really good point, and something I don't often hear mentioned. right now they’re the work of incredibly passionate individuals who’ve sacrificed their lives and fortunes to take on challenges in their nations – there’s a level of personal sustainability that needs to be thought through in these efforts as well.

A really good point, and something I don’t often hear mentioned.

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