Grant Program
Connecting the Unconnected (CtU)
Grantee Name
Africa Higher Education Research Institute (AHERI)
Grant Start Date
18 September 2023
Grant End Date
17 September 2024
Amount Funded
$34,297.00
City
KISUMU
Country
Kenya
Region
Africa
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
This project aims to build a community network in Mutua Village in order to provide meaningful and affordable connectivity to community members. In addition, the project is also intended to act as a proof of concept for best practices in designing and deploying a community network.
WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT?
Internet connection options in Mutua Village are limited to mobile network operators whose costs are beyond the reach of most community members. The majority of the farmers survive on less than 1 USD per day, yet the cost of connectivity is approximately 100 shillings (1 USD = 130 Kes) for 500 Mb.
The community network is a viable social enterprise that provides technical support, network services and other Internet value chain products to the communities providing affordable connectivity. The project insights are important not only for the community but also as a case study for decisionmakers and other stakeholders who are keen to understand the concept of community networks.