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The
concept behind importing
second-hand computers
into Africa from the developed
world is that African
nations cannot currently
afford to buy new computers
at a scale large enough
to provide universal access
through schools. At the
same time, the developed
world is constantly updating
and replacing its existing
ICT infrastructure to
keep up with advances
in technology, with the
result that there is a
large number of redundant
computers in the developed
world that still work,
but are no longer required.
Therefore recycling what
is no longer required
by the developed world
would seem to be a good
strategy to meet Africa’s
large and growing demand
for computers.
However,
now that an increasing
number of second-hand
computers is arriving
in Africa there has been
a realization amongst
Schoolnet practitioners
that the solution is not
as simple as excess supply
in the developed world
meeting excess demand
in the developing world.
Not every second-hand
computer is suitable for
re-use. For example, sometimes
the technology is very
outdated and there are
no spare parts available,
or the machines do not
work at all and the cost
of repair is high. It
is a waste of time and
resources to import second-hand
computers into Africa
if these computers cannot
be used effectively. Several
African Schoolnet practitioners
have suggested that, by
sending un-usable second-hand
PCs to Africa, the developed
world is simply dumping
its environmental problems
(relating to the disposal
of toxic substances in
PCs) on Africa.
The key to successful
re-use of computers is
to carefully match appropriate
technologies at an appropriate
cost to each African situation.
To import large quantities
of second-hand computers
from the developed world
without carefully managing
the process and ensuring
the quality and suitability
of the imported machines
is bound to result in
unsatisfactory outcomes
by creating more problems
than it solves.
In
order to identify sustainable
sources for funding of
refurbishment initiatives
in Africa, it is important
to identify and approach
donors of hardware and
software for financial
support to cover the costs
of installing their donations
in African schools. A
value proposition must
be developed and used
to approach international
donors to persuade them
to help cover costs as
part of their Corporate
Social Investment (CSI)
commitments (or assisting
international NGOs to
do this). The value proposition
could include making donors
aware of the economics
of donating money with
their PCs, including quantifying
their tax benefits from
CSI, their current saving
on disposal costs and
the potential marketing
benefits from doing CSI
properly. If they can
see that they are not
losing anything and are
potentially gaining a
lot of goodwill they might
see this as an attractive
opportunity to do well
by doing good.
Some
definitions
For
the purpose of this course,
a distinction is made
between new, used/second-hand,
and refurbished computers.
We will now define each
of these terms.
A
new computer
is a personal computer
(PC) that has been bought
directly from a PC retailer/vendor
and has not been used
before. The terms computer
and PC have been
used interchangeably in
this study.
The
terms used and
second-hand are
often used interchangeably
when referring to a computer.
They both refer to PCs
that have been previously
used for a period, usually
three to four years (often
on corporate lease agreements,
particularly by corporations
based in OECD countries).
The terms used and
second-hand have been
used interchangeably in
this report.
An
end-of-lease PC is
a used or second-hand
computer that has reached
the end of its lease and
is to be replaced (often
due to new software demands
that cannot be met by
older equipment), but
which is still in a workable
condition. These end-of-lease
PCs should be differentiated
from end-of-life PCs,
which are PCs that are
no longer in working condition
and require disposal.
Re-use
can be defined as use
of a computer by a second
user once the first user
is finished with it.
The
terms refurbished
computers and recycled
computers are often
used interchangeably,
however, there is a distinction
between the two. Refurbishing
refers to the process
of testing, trouble-shooting,
repairing and, where necessary,
upgrading a used PC to
enable productive re-use.
These PCs are commonly
referred to as refurbs.
All refurbished PCs are
also used/second-hand
PCs, however, some imported
second-hand PCs have not
been refurbished. In instances
where some second-hand
PCs have been refurbished
and some have not this
report has used the phrase
second-hand and
refurbished PCs
to differentiate between
the two.
Recycling
refers to the decommissioning
and disassembly of end-of-life
computers into their component
parts and the process
of reclaiming the composite
metals, glass and plastics
for re-use in other products,
thus minimizing landfill
and associated waste and
pollution.
In
view of the experiences
that various Schoolnet
organizations in Africa
have had over the past
few years, the concept
of a dumped computer has
arisen. A dumped computer
can be misinterpreted
as a refurbished computer,
but the difference is
that a dumped computer
is not suitable for re-use.
Dumping is the
process of disposing of
redundant or unusable
technology in rubbish
tips or landfill sites.
Unfortunately some have
construed developing countries
as suitable for this redundant
and unusable technology.
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