While liberating the source code is a goal in itself, FOSS encourages, or even obliges, programmers to give other programmers and users those same freedoms and opportunities. The increased use of FOSS is sustainable development, because FOSS is a technology that the local people (in Africa or anywhere) can understand, maintain, and adapt to other needs. Use of non-FOSS software is not true development, because the users are helplessly and permanently dependent on a single developer, who alone can fix or change it. In addition, closed software creates a user only community, preventing users from becoming developers of software.
There are four kinds of freedom that free software ensures its users:
i)The freedom to run the program, for any purpose. ii)The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to other needs. iii)The freedom to redistribute copies to others. iv)The freedom to improve the program, and release the improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits.
The Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) is Africa's leading network organization that promotes the use of FOSS, initiatives, communities, industry and development model.
FOSS+ is a consortium of Free and Open Source Software developers and users in Africa formed to proactively further FOSS solutions that meet specific African needs with the objectives of helping African Countries to use ICT in achieving their development objectives in a more effective and cost efficient manner. FOSS+ is being implemented by the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) with support received from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
The capital role that the media is playing in the formation of Open Societies has taken new and larger importance within the Information Society. The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has proved to be the fundamental distinguishing factor in media strength, production, reach, value and economic power. Media institutions that had earlier invested in ICT have come out prominent in the market share.
The Internet has become the new media platform. Software is the power behind the Internet. It determines how much, how far and well any production can go. With the high costs of licenses, a viable media system is unlikely to develop under the present African local circumstances.
The challenge, therefore, is to seek and implement alternative solutions that will yield results but cost less. The one alternative that responds to this is FOSS. Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) tools bring African media practitioners and companies the possibility to access latest state of the art media tools with no licensing or upgrade cycles. These tools will not only permit present work to be improved upon, they will also permit African media practitioners and institutions to diversify their output and delivery platforms.
African Journalists are accessing computers at home and at work. The fact that they are able to use information technology strategically and effectively is an important source of empowerment and skills development for Media personnel who often feel isolated and disempowered by rapidly advancing technological change. Inter alia:
1. Open source software is royalty and license free, which means that the cost of acquiring the software is lower than that of proprietary software. 2. Because the source code is accessible, open source software can be modified to meet the needs of users in particular contexts and languages. 3. Users are not trapped into ongoing dependency on a particular vendor for upgrades and support. 4. The collaborative open source model of software development offers greater opportunities for local skills and economic development. 5. Most free software is recognized as more stable and more secure than its proprietary counterparts. 6. High operational costs, connection fees, applications charges together with a strict Internet regime make FOSS the ideal tool. 7. Its performance and functionality also come in handy, as well as its interoperability.
Source: Free and Open Source Software for Africa (FOSSFA) Report.
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