[imc-tech-solidarity] Re: mercycorps questions about shipments to south america

[loulee@inventati.org]

Update from argentina

Hi sheri, hi all..

We didnŽt find the ONG yet. We talked with a lot of them but legal
conditions to ONGs to receive donations are really stricts (since two
weeks ago :-(()We have a meeting tonight with an ONG that works with local popular radios
that seams to be ok. I hope so.IŽm waiting to have this in order to write the letter to mercycorps. I
already start writing about the other points but I think is better to have
all the information together. Am I right?
Anyway IŽll write again as soon as i have any news.

PS: Once we get the ONG we are going to need the list of equipment we are
going to receive to continue. We are stoped now but I hope we could move
on soon. Please let me know when do you think we can get that list.
We are in touch,
Loulee


Lou

> hi imc-tech-solidarity list,
>
> several folks have been in conversation with the mercycorps folks.  i
> just had a long conference call with them this afternoon and then
> debriefed a bit on irc with evan and loulee.  they are still very
> interested in funding shipment(s) but they would like some
> clarifications.  they are primarily interested in the shipment to
> argentina, but i assume they would be interested in other shipments  as
> well.  loulee offered to put together a draft with some help from
> evan.  i am also available for editing.  and others may have good
> suggestions.
>
> they use the kind of language that many of us find kind of rigid and
> possibly annoying (like benchmarks), but i think indymedia has proven
> our success in many ways and we can articulate some of this to them.
>
> peace,
> sheri
>
>
>>
>>
>>Hello Sheri, nice to talk to you today. Thanks for taking the time  to
>>help us learn more about your project. I have some specific
>>questions to follow up our conversation. Some of it we touched on,  but
>>it will help us to have it in writing as well. We ask these
>>questions of our other partners in order to facilitate planning and
>>budgeting for a potential material aid shipment. We understand that
>>you are still in the early stages of some of these decisions, but we
>>would appreciate it if you could provide as much detail as possible.
>>
>>1) What is the goal of the computer distributions, and what
>>measurable benchmarks do you have for success? What are the various
>>key project elements, implementation strategies, and their
>>associated tasks?
>>
>>2) What, ideally, is the timeline for each stage? (perhaps these  might
>>include, but not be limited to: collection, shipment,
>>distribution, and connection.)
>>
>>3) Who are the target groups, where are they located, how many are
>>there, and what (if possible) are their names and contact info?
>>
>>4) Who will determine the recipients of the distribution?
>>
>>5) Who will act as a capable consignee or partner organization in  the
>>country to facilitate the customs process and ensure that the
>>computers are delivered to their final destination? From our
>>conversation I take it this person or organization hasn't yet been
>>located. Do you have any leads? When do you expect accomplish this?
>>What is the relationship of this person to a humanitarian aid
>>organization? What experience does he/she have with understanding  and
>>meeting the legal requirements of duty-free import? What is the
>>mechanism and timing for determining and assuring this project
>>element?
>>
>>6) How do you plan to move the computers from the final
>>destination/customs house to a logistical center and onward to the
>>assemblies and IMCs?
>>
>>7) How will you connect the computers? We discussed wireless
>>ideas...where will the equipment come from, who will install,
>>connect and maintain it? Will you or someone else provide training  in
>>networking and other necessary technical skills to ensure that  the
>>computers will remain usable?
>>
>>8) Can you commit to monitoring and reporting on the distribution  and
>>implementation? Who would do this? We would need a status report  on
>>the movement of the computers, a list of the eventual recipients,  and
>>some background on their work. Pictures and some quotes from
>>beneficiaries would be especially helpful.
>>
>>9) What is the overall budget for the project and funding sources,
>>particularly for implementation once the computers arrive in
>>Argentina? (I don't think we had a chance to talk about this
>>aspect.) Can we see that budget?
>>
>>10) Who is going to run this project, i.e. how will the project be
>>staffed, and who will do what?
>>
>>Thanks again for offering to answer these questions as fully as
>>possible. I realize some of them are large...
>>We are certainly intrigued by your organization and would like to  find
>>a way to build a partnership.
>>
>>Kind regards,
>>Owen Wozniak
>
>
> --
> You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
> To change something, build a NEW model that makes the existing model
> obsolete.
>
> Buckminster Fuller