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AfricaLink Reports

TRIP REPORT
SACCAR/AfricaLink Southern Africa Program
Gaborone, February 1-7, 1997

Jeffrey A. Cochrane
February 7, 1997

Executive Summary

SACCAR has made substantial progress in its Internet connectivity program, and must now turn to the arguably more difficult task of information management. An email address is not the goal, but rather a means. The sharing of knowledge for more effective programs is the goal. General Recommendations:

  • To manage information effectively, SACCAR must consider carefully the structure of its information management department. The SACCAR information manager must be free to organize the information resources of SACCAR for effective presentation to stakeholders. This may require a redefinition of responsibilities.

  • SANGONeT and SACCAR: A working relationship was established, detailing how tasks would be defined and funded. SANGONeT's Southern Africa Help Desk staff, Mr. Na'eem Jeenah, was introduced to staff of the RCSA.

  • SACCAR LAN and Internet: The SACCAR CC:Mail LAN is now operational. A UUCP link was established with an account through Info-Botswana, after technical difficulties were encountered with the SADC system. The <saccar.sadc.int> subdomain name will be requested from SADC, but the <saccar.info.bw> name is available now.

  • SACCAR Information Management: A program of services to be offered by SACCAR using Internet technologies was proposed, including a Web site, online publications, and Web-based database information retrieval.

  • SACCAR Training Program: Four general types of trainings were proposed-- service provider practicums, online tutorials (distance learning), local workshops in partnership with the private sector, and regional workshop add-ons.

  • SACCAR Connectivity Program: Among the 76 individuals targeted under the program, 54 are connected with electronic mail addresses, while 22 remain unconnected. The status of each country is reviewed. An email directory is attached.

SACCAR/AfricaLink Southern Africa Program
Gaborone, February 1-7, 1997

The AfricaLink Advisor visited Gaborone, Botswana, for consultations with the AfricaLink liaison, Mr. Christopher Lungu, at the Southern African Centre for Cooperation in Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Training (SACCAR). SACCAR receives substantial financial support from the USAID Regional Center for Southern Africa (RCSA), including funds for communications and information dissemination. SACCAR is allocating some of these funds to foster electronic networking in the region.

Persons Visited

SACCAR:
  • Christopher Lungu, Information Program
  • Christopher Nkwanyana, Acting Director
SANGONeT:
  • Na'eem Jeenah
INFO-BOTSWANA:
  • Steve Jump
USAID RCSA:
  • Robert McColaugh
  • Donna Stauffer
  • Paul Bartel
  • Wade Warren
  • Anthony Vodraska

General Recommendations

SACCAR has made substantial progress in its Internet connectivity program, and must now turn to the arguably more difficult task of information management. An email address is not the goal, but rather a means. The sharing of knowledge for more effective programs is the goal.

To manage information effectively, SACCAR must reconsider carefully the structure of its information management department. As presently organized, it does not appear as if SACCAR is prepared to undertake many of the tasks proposed in this report.

One suggestion for staff reorganization is as follows:

  • Chief of Information Management: Primary design of information presentations to stakeholders and the public, consultant to primary producers of information for complex problems with database software, direction of staff for information dissemination; reports to senior management.

  • Assistant for Information Management: Document layout and typesetting, final proofreading, distribution, routine assistance to senior and clerical staff with word processing problems; reports to Chief of Information Management.

  • Clerical staff: Routine typing, initial proofreading; reports primarily to Assistant for Information Management.

This proposed reorganization will require cooperation from senior staff. Senior staff should not, for example, expect the information manager to be available for routine proofreading of documents. If junior staff cannot handle this task, the skills of junior staff should be upgraded or new staff should be engaged for this purpose.

The information manager of SACCAR should take care to document and inform senior management when his attentions are being diverted from the central mission of the information department. For this purpose, it is proposed that a time-task study of daily activities be taken periodically and presented to senior management. This can be done internally, and should not require an outside study to be commissioned. AfricaLink/Washington can assist with the formulation of such a study if requested, or information staff of USAID/RCSA might assist with an assessment.

SANGONeT and SACCAR

Mr. Na'eem Jeenah was introduced to staff of SACCAR and the RCSA. Mr. Jeenah will serve as the AfricaLink principal point of contact at SANGONeT, staffing the SANGONeT Southern Africa Help Desk. This Help Desk will serve SANGONeT partners in the region. USAID is supporting this Help Desk with special funding for the support of organizations and institutions in the region involved in agriculture, the environment, and natural resource management.

USAID funding for the Help Desk originates with the RCSA, and is managed by AfricaLink through the USAID division of Information Resources Management (IRM). The RCSA intends that this support be directed primarily to agricultural and natural resource management research networks associated with SACCAR, as well as to the environmental program members of the World Conservation Union's Regional Office for Southern Africa (IUCN-ROSA).

Budget line-items are flexible, but as initially formulated, the following is available:

    $38,000   Startup Assistance Packages (Modems, Installation, etc.)
    $7,000     Regional Workshops (Materials Development, Presentation)
    $20,000   Technical Support Desk (SANGONeT, possibly one other)
    $14,000   Problem Site Visits (Regional Travel)
    $9,000     AfricaLink Advisor Travel (Planning, Oversight, Evaluation)

This program is new. Should it show merit, the RCSA has indicated an interest in providing further funds.

SANGONeT will be the implementing agency for some of these funds under a task-order contract. Initial task orders call for one labor-hour per day of technical support from the Southern Africa Help Desk, and for development of a workshop proposal. Additional task orders will be written based on consultations among SACCAR, IUCN-ROSA, SANGONeT, and AfricaLink/Washington.

A procedure by which task orders will be generated was discussed. All parties will consult regularly and develop tasks collaboratively. However, it is expected that SACCAR will take the lead in identifying particular needs among its member networks that require AfricaLink support. For its part, AfricaLink/Washington will assure that funds are sufficient for any tasks proposed, and will coordinate SACCAR proposals with those of IUCN-ROSA. AfricaLink/Washington will also seek ways the limited funds available from the RCSA can be combined with those of others to achieve common ends, e.g. with the Association for Progressive Communications, and with other USAID-funded organizations. The RCSA will provide clearance for specific task orders. Provided SANGONeT agrees to undertake a proposed task, the task order will be signed between SANGONeT and SETA Corporation. SETA holds the AfricaLink contract for USAID/IRM.

SACCAR Headquarters LAN and Internet Link

Mr. Christopher Lungu is responsible for computer networking at SACCAR headquarters. The SACCAR headquarters LAN runs under Windows for Workgroups, and has recently been upgraded with an office-wide CC:Mail system installed by a local consultant, Mr. Steve Jump. A UUCP gateway package has also been installed. It remains to identify an appropriate UUCP host service to which to link SACCAR's LAN for electronic mail access to every workstation.

Difficulties have been encountered with the UUCP host operated by SADC. Mr. Lungu has therefore decided to utilize the services of Info-Botswana, a local commercial Internet service provider. In the months since installing the CC:Mail system at SACCAR, Mr. Jump has become one of the owners of Info-Botswana, and so a business relationship already exists. Info- Botswana presently charges about $80 per month for an enterprise-level post office account accessed via UUCP. An additional dial-up PPP account is to be provided at no additional charge. These prices are quite reasonable, if not somewhat low, by African standards.

It was suggested by the AfricaLink Advisor that SACCAR obtain and register its own Internet subdomain, <saccar.sadc.int>. There are numerous reasons for this, requiring digression into technical details, which are therefore explained in the appendix. In short, having its own subdomain creates an Internet identity for SACCAR, and also will permit SACCAR to change its service provider without changing its address on business cards and stationary.

The <sadc.int> domain is already registered through UUNet in South Africa, and so the addition of the <saccar> subdomain should be a relatively simple matter, requiring the agreement of the responsible party at SADC. While more complicated and expensive, SACCAR may also choose to register its own domain <saccar.int> with the international registry in the United States. Mr.

Jump of Info-Botswana will handle the particulars, presumably for a small or no fee.

The initial SACCAR address will be <any.user@saccar.info.bw>, a standard Info-Botswana address with a SACCAR subdomain. Upon registration through SADC, users at SACCAR will also be accessible through <any.user@saccar.sadc.int>, e.g. b.ndunguru@saccar.sadc.int. Organizational usernames for various purposes can also be freely created, such as secretariat@saccar.sadc.int, reference@saccar.sadc.int, and info@saccar.sadc.int.

SACCAR Information Management Program

Mr. Christopher Lungu is the Programs Officer for SACCAR's Information Sciences unit, and is assisted by Mr. Jacobs Moelenyane.In addition, SACCAR funds the editor of an academic journal. This unit presently manages the information dissemination and exchange activities of SACCAR, in addition to performing other support tasks for SACCAR staff. Existing activities include:

  1. Publication of a quarterly full-color glossy print newsletter distributed to some 1000 free subscribers, roughly half of whom are from the region.

  2. Publication of a formal, peer-reviewed, research journal, the Zimbabwe Journal of Agricultural Research.

  3. Distribution to libraries and affiliated researchers of free copies of books on subjects of regional interest purchased in bulk from publishers.

  4. Maintenance of a database containing some 1000 records of agricultural and natural resource management consultants in the region.

  5. Maintenance of a database containing some 500 records of SACCAR publications.

  6. Operation of a database query service, providing access to CD-ROM databases from the FAO, Agricola, and others, for the region's affiliated scientists.

  7. Free dissemination of SACCAR publications and reports to interested scientists and libraries.

With improvements in its headquarters information technology infrastructure now largely completed, SACCAR can easily make its information resources more readily and broadly accessible. The following activities are proposed:

  1. Publication of the quarterly newsletter on the World Wide Web. In place of the print distribution for subscribers without Web access, an electronic mail or diskette Web version can be distributed to be viewed locally with a Web browser and printed to paper.A cost savings in printing and mailing of some $6000 per year might be realized.

  2. Publication of the academic journal on the World Wide Web. The print run might be reduced for a cost savings, though would likely continue into the near future to stock library shelves. Complete elimination of the print run would result in substantial savings, however, and could be distributed to subscribers on disk or via electronic mail, either in whole or via an abstracts service (see below).

  3. Development of a Web reference and abstracts service providing Web links of particular regional interest. Each week a dozen or so new links would be added on a "Hot List" page with a hypertext link to the original. SACCAR staff scientists would review the articles or information resources on the Web, either identifying them for themselves or receiving them from Mr. Lungu's office. SACCAR staff scientists would then compose a brief abstract. These would then be filed on topically organized summary pages. Printouts of the summary pages can be distributed periodically to those without Web access, and requested articles can be sent by electronic mail or ordinary post. A special Internet address, <reference@saccar.org>, can be created for this purpose.

  4. Placement of its agriculture and natural resource management consultant database on the World Wide Web for easier access. It is proposed that a system comparable to that used by USAID for its "Yellow Book" and for the online AfricaLink Registry be used. The data are maintained in a Microsoft Access database on a Windows NT Workstation. A suitable HTTPD compliant Web server, such as O'Reilly's WebSite, is installed to provide access to Web pages for the public. Also installed is software called Cold Fusion, which accepts Web page forms from the public, uses them to query the database, and then creates a Web page with the desired information to be returned via the Internet to the requesting party. Info- Botswana does not have this facility. The database can therefore be placed on a SANGONet server that is already operational, or as a last resort on the USAID server in Washington.

  5. Placement of its publication list on the World Wide Web. The procedure is the same as that described in the preceding paragraph for the consultant database.

  6. Introduction of a World Wide Web query service. For the many network members of SACCAR who do not have or cannot afford access to the Web, SACCAR can receive queries and conduct Web searches, returning the retrieved information to the requesting party by electronic mail, on disk, or in printed form. As SACCAR's information department develops sophisticated skills in Web searching, it can further assist even those with their own Web access who may not know how to find the information they require.

  7. Placement of the full text of important reports and documents on the World Wide Web. This is self-explanatory and is simple to accomplish. A document already prepared on disk may require perhaps 10 minutes per page to convert to a format suitable for Web publication. The process is thus somewhat labor intensive. If SACCAR wishes to mass produce documents on the Web on a regular basis, software can be obtained to ease the labor requirement. Publication of documents on the Web eliminates in many cases the need to post documents by ordinary mail or DHL, since documents can be freely downloaded from the Web by anyone wishing a printed copy. Those without Web access can be sent a disk copy for local Web browsing or for printing.

These proposed activities require disk space on a World Wide Web Server. Except for the database functions, Info-Botswana is prepared to offer such space at a rate below that charged to its commercial customers. The standard commercial rate is about $100 per month for 1 megabyte or storage. A rate with SANGONeT for use of its database server is to be negotiated.

SACCAR Training Program

It is generally recognized that some form of training is required to assure that SACCAR and its affiliated network members are capable of fully utilizing the information technologies being made available to them. Discussions with SACCAR and SANGONeT centered around the specific needs to be addressed, and the content of workshops or tutorials to meet those needs. Given limited funds, cost-effective solutions were explored.

The standard format of a training experience seems to be a major workshop held within the region for a specific purpose. Costs include airfare, lodging and per diem for all participants, facilities rental, and salaries for all trainers and consultants. Costs can be quite high. For a one- week event it is reasonable to budget $2000 for each participant plus $8000 for each international trainer and consultant. A one-week workshop for 30 participants and four trainers would therefore cost perhaps as much as $100,000.

AfricaLink has requested and the RCSA has made available about $7,000 for training activities. Cost-effective solutions are available to make effective use of these funds. Four types of training events were discussed: practicums contracted through local service providers, online tutorials (sometimes called "distance learning"), workshops for participants within a single country in partnership with the local private sector, and regional workshop "add-ons" held in conjunction with regional meetings already scheduled for some other purpose.

Service Provider Practicums

A key strategy of AfricaLink is to work through local service providers to effect the connection of individual scientists and research stations to the Internet. This strategy initially involves complicated and tedious arrangements with dozens of individual service providers scattered around the continent, each with their own pricing schemes and technology offerings. The reward for this initial difficulty is the establishment of a strong relationship between an individual scientist and a local service provider to whom the scientist may now turn for technical support and training.

Many service providers offer regular seminars to help their clients understand how to use their technology more effectively. It is in their interest to do so, since a knowledgeable customer base calls for technical support less frequently. Service providers are also often willing to offer specialized trainings for groups of their clients at reduced rates.

The Southern Africa Help Desk at SANGONeT will be asked to explore with particular service providers the kinds of local training experiences that can be made available to USAID partners in each country. If necessary, SANGONeT can under its contract with USAID develop materials that can be duplicated and distributed to service providers in the region to help strengthen their customer service capabilities.

Online Tutorials

As most SACCAR network members now have electronic mail access (see report below), it is feasible to conduct certain kinds of trainings electronically. These can be conducted by anyone anywhere on the Internet, for anyone anywhere on the Internet. Hence a professor at a land-grant college in the United States could hold a seminar on rice production or the latest techniques in fish farming. An Internet service provider in Nairobi can offer a tutorial on effective Web page design. A USAID administrator can conduct an online workshop on the mechanics of preparing unsolicited proposals.

For SACCAR affiliated network members, an appropriate initial topic for online tutorials is effective communications techniques using electronic mail. Specifically, it is proposed that SANGONeT lead a tutorial on the effective use of electronic conference tools. Topics to be covered will include:

  1. Introduction to ListServ/ListProc technology, how it works, where the messages go, etc.
  2. Appropriate message styles for conferences
  3. Conference etiquette
  4. Conference "proceedings" (archives, document retrieval using email commands)
  5. Practice in sending and receiving conference messages

For future online tutorials and electronic workshops, it is the responsibility of USAID and SACCAR staff to propose appropriate topics. AfricaLink and the SANGONeT Southern Africa Help Desk can assist by helping staff understand the capabilities of the technology and by assisting in adapting content to fit the technology. Specific content in most cases remains the responsibility of staff.

Locally Based Workshops in Partnership with the Private Sector

Local service providers are often willing to host seminars and workshops to help their clients improve their electronic networking technical skills. Adapting these seminars and workshops to include program content is a natural extension.

The service provider has the opportunity to address an audience that will include many existing clients but potentially many new ones, and can discuss with all of them the advantages of new services and merchandise of use to them in their work. At the same time, SACCAR affiliated network leadership can offer tutorials using the service provider's equipment and electronic network access to demonstrate how the technology can be used for specific program purposes.

How these seminars and workshops are organized will depend in each country on the interests of the private-sector service provider, the nature of the technology available there, and the presence of particular groups of SACCAR and other USAID partners. If there is in country, say, 15 scientists all working on natural resource management issues, a seminar might there be organized specifically to introduce natural resource management Internet offerings. If on the other hand there is no single programmatic area having a large number of local scientists, a more general curriculum might be developed.

The SANGONeT Southern Africa Help Desk will maintain a database of USAID partners in each country, and can use this database to determine what kinds of local workshops will be most appropriate in each country. AfricaLink funds from the RCSA can be used to develop appropriate course materials. The private sector can be approached to provide meeting facilities and network access.

An initial pilot workshop is proposed to be held in Botswana, tentatively from May 15 to 16. Info-Botswana will be approached to determine if there is interest on their part. SACCAR itself has 12 computers in boxes that might be unpacked and used for the event. The proposed topics for about 30 participants are:

  1. Info-Botswana electronic mail and Internet tools (half day)

  2. Using Netscape to learn about commodity export rules in South Africa (quarter day)

  3. Case Study: Using email to find out about commodity export rules in South Africa (quarter day)

  4. Practicum with unstructured but supervised access to networking facilities; with participants choosing from suggested tasks to undertake, or providing tasks of their own (half day)

  5. Presentations and discussions from existing users on the ways the Internet is used in their work (half day)

Key advantages of having a workshop such as this in a country for scientists and others from that country are:

  1. Practicums on a technology platform that is actually available to the participants

  2. Establishment of a local "users group" for mutual support

  3. Availability of follow-up technical support from the host service provider

Regional Workshop Add-Ons

The various SACCAR affiliated networks have already scheduled periodic meetings that bring together network members from around the region. Airfare, lodging, per diem, and facilities charges are already allocated for this purpose. A half day or additional day of information technology workshops can easily be attached to these meetings at a modest additional cost.

Proposed for a generic half-day session suitable for a meeting of programmatic scientists are the following topics:

  1. Technical information about the Internet tailored to the group's needs and interests, e.g. how the Internet works, what is the World Wide Web, or how electronic mail messages reach their destinations (one hour).

  2. Case studies on how the Internet is applied in their specific program area (two hours)

  3. A bibliography of reference materials available online in their specific program area (one hour).

Depending on available funding and facilities, perhaps in partnership with a local Internet service provider in the private sector or at a university, evening practicums can be scheduled. A computer facility would be rented with workstations at which participants can themselves implement the searches and other techniques discussed in the day's sessions.

An initial pilot workshop of this nature is proposed for the July meetings of the Southern African Roots Research Network (SARRNeT) to be held in Maputo from May 19 to 24. This would immediately follow the previous week's workshop held in Botswana. The conjunction of the two pilot workshops would enable the AfricaLink Advisor to participate as backstop technical consultant, though actual implementation in each case would be carried out by SACCAR with the assistance of SANGONeT and the local service providers.

In Maputo, Internet access is available through Eduardo Mondlane University. Preliminary discussions are being initiated by SACCAR with staff there to determine feasibility and costs. A proposal will then be prepared for the leadership of SARRNeT.

SACCAR Connectivity Program

SACCAR has made significant and substantial progress in facilitating the initial connectivity of its affiliated network members to the Internet. Funds from USAID previously awarded to SACCAR were made available to support the connectivity of the following networks:

  1. Southern African Roots Research Network (SARRNeT)

  2. Sorghum/Millet Improvement Programme (SMIP)

  3. Plant Genetics Research Network (Genetics)

  4. Deans of Agricultural Education Institutions (SACCAR Deans)

  5. SACCAR Board of Directors (SACCAR Board)

In addition, the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has made available funds to support the Southern African Agricultural Information Network (SAAINeT).

AfricaLink assistance through SACCAR may be provided for Internet service charges in some cases to complement IDRC funding for equipment.

SACCAR maintains records of its network members and Internet connectivity assistance in a database. In the future, this database will be maintained by SANGONeT in behalf of SACCAR. Each record in the database was reviewed during this visit. Presented here is a summary of results by country:

  1. Angola, 3 connected, 0 unconnected. One check was sent to fund one email connection serving the three individual scientists.

  2. Botswana, 12 connected, 1 unconnected. Five of those connected are staff scientists at SACCAR. One check was sent to the local agricultural institution, intended to create two separate Internet sites. The institution wishes to pool funds for several scientists to purchase a computer and one Internet account. That one Internet account is already operational and serves seven people. A single email account will be purchased for the scientist physically based at a different location. That account is not yet operational.

  3. Lesotho, 7 connected, 0 unconnected. Two Internet connection sites were funded by IDRC/SACCAR. Five scientists have access at one site, while two have access at the other.

  4. Malawi, 4 connected, 7 unconnected. All four connected individuals received assistance from other sources. Six unconnected individuals have not responded to SACCAR requests for proposals. One unconnected individual has IDRC/SACCAR funded equipment and is to secure a proforma invoice for AfricaLink funding of an electronic mail connection.

  5. Mauritius, 1 connected, 1 unconnected. One check was sent to connect the one individual. The other individual did not respond to the SACCAR request for proposals.

  6. Mozambique, 1 connected, 4 unconnected. The one connected individual received support from other sources. There was no response from the other four.

  7. Namibia, 1 connected, 5 unconnected. A check was sent for four individuals. One was connected with those funds. Internet accounts have been opened for the other three, who are waiting for telephone installations. Of the remaining two unconnected, one has submitted a request for assistance through IDRC/SACCAR, while the other did not respond to the SACCAR request for proposals.

  8. South Africa, 5 connected, 1 unconnected. All the connected individuals received assistance from other sources. The one unconnected individual did not respond to the request for proposals.

  9. Swaziland, 6 connected, 0 unconnected. Funds were sent for four individuals. These funds were used to establish one Internet account. Six SACCAR affiliated persons are able to use this one account.

  10. Tanzania, 3 connected, 1 unconnected. At least one of the three connected individuals was assisted by AfricaLink/ICRAF (an update of the ICRAF database is pending). No assistance from SACCAR was provided. Of the three unconnected, one has no phone, while the other two did not respond to the SACCAR request for proposals.

  11. Zambia, 5 connected, 2 unconnected. Funds were sent for four separate Internet installations. Unexpected cabling costs meant that only three sites were connected, leaving a balance of $31 for the fourth. SACCAR is satisfied with the accounting, and intends to add funds for the fourth installation. The remaining two connected individuals obtained assistance from other sources. One unconnected individual did not respond to the request for proposals.

  12. Zimbabwe, 6 connected, 0 unconnected. A check was sent to fund four connections. These funds were used for two separate Internet installations. Three individuals have access at one site, while one has access at the other. Two additional connected individuals were funded from other sources.

Mr. Lungu is in the process of reviewing expenditures to date. Not all persons receiving assistance have returned receipts to account for the funds spent. Additional efforts will be made to contact non-respondents.

Appendix: Internet Domains and Subdomains -- Significance for SACCAR

SACCAR has been advised to register an Internet subdomain <saccar.sadc.int>. It might also consider registering its own domain <saccar.int>. Registration generally costs $50 per year for the domain name, but as a subdomain of <sadc.int> it will be up to SADC to determine if any charge should be levied. Normally, no charge is imposed. UUNet in South Africa may charge a small fee to update the SADC registration on their server to include routing to SACCAR. Info- Botswana may also charge a small handling fee. These fees are generally $100 or less.

The selection of an address name for SACCAR is important because it expresses the identity of the organization to the Internet world, and because it defines to some extent the flexibility with which SACCAR can transfer its Internet account to another service provider in the future. The technical reason for this relationship between the Internet address and choice of service provider is as follows.

The actual route by which electronic mail messages pass through the Internet to reach SACCAR is determined by a unique number, called an Internet Protocol (IP) number. IP numbers are four- part numbers, such as 161.105.35.1. Internet service providers obtain "blocks" of these numbers from the Internet Information Center (InterNIC), which is the primary coordination body of the Internet. Internet service providers then allocate their numbers to particular computers. Each number uniquely identifies one computer.

IP numbers are difficult for people to remember, but easy for computers to process. Domain names (i.e. <sadc.int>) were created because they are easy for people to remember. Each domain name is associated with an IP number in a worldwide registry that is also coordinated by the InterNIC, but also by the primary domain name holder in each country (e.g. <.bw> for Botswana held by Botswana Telecommmunications Corporation). When an Internet address (containing a domain name) is typed into an electronic mail message, the computer consults a "domain name server" or DNS to determine the IP number associated with the domain-name address. Computers use the number, not the domain name, to route mail.

It is proposed that SACCAR obtain a subdomain <saccar.sadc.int>. Only the domain name <sadc.int> generally appears in the international domain registry, but all computers will understand that mail for <saccar.sadc.int> must be routed to whichever computer is associated with <sadc.int>. That computer, presently located at UUNet in South Africa, will then know to route mail to Info-Botswana for SACCAR.

As SACCAR does not have its own IP address (which implies a dedicated TCP/IP system with leased telephone lines), it can arrange for its Internet service provider to host its subdomain name. Thus <saccar.sadc.int> will be associated with an IP number "owned" by Info-Botswana. Once registered, all domain-name servers in the world will know that mail addressed to this IP number should be routed via UUNet in South Africa to an Info-Botswana computer. It may also be possible to register the <saccar.sadc.int> subdomain directly in the domain registry, so that mail can be routed directly without first passing by UUNet.

If at some future time SACCAR should find a need to transfer its business to a different Internet service provider, it can arrange for that new provider to host its subdomain name. In other words, SACCAR can "house" its <saccar.sadc.int> address with any service provider in the world, and can move that address to a new service provider without changing the wording of its address. Upon re-registration, the underlying IP number will change in the worldwide domain- name registry, but the <saccar.sadc.int> address will remain constant. There will be no need to change business cards or official letterhead. There will be no need to advise all SACCAR contacts of any change of address.

Appendix: SACCAR Electronic Mail Address Directory

  • Londa, Dr. A.P.
    Angola
    liz_matos@angonet.gn.apc.org
    SACCAR Board
    SACCAR Ag Research

  • Matos, Mrs. Liz
    Angola
    liz_matos@angonet.gn.apc.org
    SACCAR Genetics

  • Muondo, Pascal O.
    Angola
    liz_matos@angonet.gn.apc.org
    SACCAR Roots

  • Chite, Mr. S. M.
    Botswana
    arb@icon.co.za
    SACCAR Genetics

  • Fanikiso, Dr. M.
    Botswana
    SACCAR Board

  • Gakale, Dr. Lucas
    Botswana
    arb@icon.co.za
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR Board
    SACCAR Ag Research

  • Kayumba, Mr. F.
    Botswana
    arb@icon.co.za
    SACCAR Information

  • Madisa, M.E.
    Botswana
    arb@icon.co.za
    SACCAR Roots

  • Mahabile, Mrs. W.
    Botswana
    arb@icon.co.za
    SACCAR Information

  • Manthe, Dr. C.S.
    Botswana
    arb@icon.co.za
    SACCAR SMIP

  • Ndunguru, Prof. Bruno J.
    Botswana
    100075.2511@Compuserve.com,ndung
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR Board

  • Leleka, Mr. B.
    Lesotho
    molapo@elms.ru.ac.za
    SADC ELM
    SACCAR Board

  • Makhata, Klaele
    Lesotho
    agricres@lesoff.co.za
    SACCAR Roots

  • Mohloboi, Ms. Maloea
    Lesotho
    agricres@lesoff.co.za
    SACCAR Genetics

  • Mokheseng, Dr. E.
    Lesotho
    agricres@lesoff.co.za
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR Board
    SACCAR Ag Research

  • Molapo, Mr. J. E.
    Lesotho
    molapo@elms.ru.ac.za
    SADC/ELMS
    SACCAR Board

  • Ralitsoele, Mr. R.L.
    Lesotho
    agricres@lesoff.co.za
    SACCAR Board

  • Ranthamane, Mr. M.M.
    Lesotho
    agrires@lesoff.co.za
    SACCAR SMIP

  • Semantlane, Mrs. Thato
    Lesotho
    agricres@lesoff.co.za
    SACCAR Information

  • Chintu, Mr. E.M.
    Malawi
    SACCAR SMIP

  • Katsonga, Mr. M.
    Malawi
    SACCAR Information

  • Matabwa, Dr. M.W.
    Malawi
    SACCAR Board
    SACCAR Ag Research

  • Mkoko, Mr. B.
    Malawi
    sadcfish@unima.wn.apc.org
    SACCAR Board
    SADC Fisheries

  • Mkumbira, J.
    Malawi
    SACCAR Roots

  • Munthali, Dr. S.M
    Malawi
    wildlife@unima.wn.apc.org

  • Mwale, Dr. V.
    Malawi
    SACCAR Board

  • Sakanda, Mr. G.P
    Malawi
    fstcu@unima.wn.apc.org
    SACCAR Board

  • Sitaubi, Mr. L. A.
    Malawi
    SACCAR Board

  • Teri, Dr. James M.
    Malawi
    sarrnet@eo.wn.apc.org
    EARRNET
    SACCAR Team Leader (Roots and Tube)

  • Bassant, Mr Vishnu
    Mauritius
    SACCAR genetics

  • Naidu, Mr. Sandrasagarren
    Mauritius
    areu@bow.intnet.mu
    SACCAR Board

  • Cabanas, Ms. Fernanda
    Mozambique
    cda@sdisa.uem.mz
    SACCAR Information

  • Figueredo, Mr. E.
    Mozambique
    SACCAR SMIP

  • Munisse, Mr. Paulino
    Mozambique
    SACCAR Genetics

  • Zacharias, Anabela
    Mozambique
    SACCAR Roots

  • Zandamela, Mr. Carlos
    Mozambique
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR Board
    SACCAR Ag Research

  • Hoffman, Miss M.
    Namibia
    SACCAR Information

  • Kolberg, Ms. Herta
    Namibia
    hertak@lianam.lia.net
    SACCAR Genetics

  • Lechner, Mr. W.P.
    Namibia
    SACCAR SMIP

  • Lenhardt, Peter
    Namibia
    SACCAR Roots

  • Tjihuiko, Ms. U.
    Namibia
    SADC Fisheries 
    SACCAR Board

  • Venter, Mr. J.P.
    Namibia
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR Board
    SACCAR Ag Research

  • Allemon, James
    South Africa
    SACCAR Roots

  • Erasmus, Mr. Lou
    South Africa
    wanlove@luri.agric.za
    SACCAR Information

  • Grobbelaar, Dr. Johan
    South Africa
    lnrjg@lnr4.agric.za
    SACCAR Board 
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR Ag. Research

  • Koen, Ms. D.
    South Africa
    e.m.daleen@hoof2.agric.za
    SACCAR Information

  • Loubser, Mr. Walter
    South Africa
    pgb1@hoof2.agric.za
    SACCAR Genetics

  • Prinsloo, Miss Erika
    South Africa
    erika@hoof2.agric.za
    SACCAR Information

  • Lupupa, Mrs. Thandi
    Swaziland
    malkernsresearch@iafrica.sz
    SACCAR genetics

  • Lupupa, Mrs Thandi
    Swaziland
    malkernsresearch@iafrica.sz
    SACCAR genetics

  • Matsebula, Ms S.
    Swaziland
    malkernsresearch@iafrica.sz
    SACCAR Information

  • Mkhatshwa, Mr. Paul Dumisani
    Swaziland
    malkernsresearch@iafrica.sz
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR Board
    SACCAR Ag Research

  • Mkhatshwa, Mr. P. D.
    Swaziland
    malkernsresearch@iafrica.sz
    SACCAR Board

  • Nxumalo, Michael M.
    Swaziland
    malkernsresearch@iafrica.sz
    SACCAR Roots

  • Pali-Shikulu, Mr. J.
    Swaziland
    malkernsresearch@iafrica.sz
    SACCAR SMIP

  • Bangu, Prof. NTA 
    Tanzania
    bangu@sua.ac.tz
    SACCAR Deans 
    SACCAR Board

  • Kapange, Mr. B.W.
    Tanzania
    bkapange@costech.gn.apc.org
    SACCAR Information

  • Kapinga, Regina
    Tanzania
    SACCAR Roots

  • Mahunga, Nzola-Meso
    Tanzania
    SACCAR Roots

  • Saadan, Dr. H.M.
    Tanzania
    SACCAR SMIP

  • Chisi, Dr. M
    Zambia
    smip@zamnet.zm
    SACCAR SMIP

  • Makondo, Mr. Fred
    Zambiamtmak@zamnet.zm
    SACCAR Information

  • Mkamanga, Dr. G.Y.
    Zambia
    spgrc@zamnet.zm
    SACCAR Team Leader (Gene Bank)
    SACCAR Genetics

  • Muimba-Kankolongo, A.
    Zambia
    SACCAR Roots

  • Munyinda, Dr. K.
    Zambia
    mtmak@zamnet.zm
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR Board
    SACCAR Ag Research

  • Mwila, Mr. G. P.
    Zambiavgenetics@zamnet.zm
    SACCAR Genetics

  • Simwambana, Moses S.C.
    Zambia
    SACCAR Roots

  • Gata, Dr. N. R.
    Zimbabwe
    drss@mango.zw
    SACCAR NARS
    SACCAR Board
    SACCAR Ag Research

  • Kangai, Mrs. Josephine
    Zimbabwe
    drss@mango.zw
    SACCAR Information

  • Mharapara, Isiah M.
    Zimbabwe
    address exits, requested
    SACCAR Roots

  • Mughogho, Dr. L.K.
    Zimbabwe
    l.mughongo@cgnet.com
    SACCAR Team Leader (Sorghum and Mi)
    SACCAR SMIP

  • Mugwara, Mr. R.T.
    Zimbabwe
    fsis@harare.iafrica.com/fstau@st
    SACCAR Board

  • Mushonga, Dr. J.N.
    Zimbabwe
    drss@mango.zw
    SACCAR SMIP

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Last Updated on: January 23, 2003