Rwanda Telecentre Network

About Us:

Rwanda Telecentre Network (RTN) is a national network of community-based centres that are united in their commitment to strengthen the social, economic, educational, and cultural life of their communities through technology. These are based mainly in small rural towns and urban areas throughout Rwanda. They are also commonly called Telecentres or community Information centers (CIC). Even though some Telecentre are serving the unique needs of their communities, but have many similar objectives and capabilities, including community development, information provision, technology-based training, distance education, email and Internet access, secretarial services, and desktop publishing services.

RTN works with its member organizations and Telecentres to develop Rwandan community using ICTs to turn digital divide into digital opportunities.

RTN direct contribution to individual Telecentre include networking between telecentres, capacity-building of telecentre operators, program development, and partnership opportunities. Moreover, RTN provides technical support and advocacy to improve the quality and sustainability of community information centers and programs (TELECENTRES).

RTN SUPPORT TO NATIONAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE (NICI-II) PLAN AND POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

Rural and Community Access is one of the ten pillars, or action area that the government of Rwanda has adopted in National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI-II) plan and policy.

As a result, the idea of setting up telecenters in Rwanda was a major recommendation by participants of the two national workshops on information and communications technologies policy and strategy that took place at Windsor Umubano Hotel , Kigali, Rwanda in1998 and March 2006 mainly due to their potential, they have to contribute greatly to the effective realization of e-Government, e-Governance and economic development.

With the above however, the government of Rwanda through RITA (Rwanda Information Technology Authority), other government institutions, and private organizations have committed to the idea of establishing Telecentres across the county.
Making this happens will require not just a good telecentre model but also an ongoing process of coordination at national level and provide support to individual Telecentres. This is where RTN becomes vital toward successful implentation of the above initiatives.