Overview of African FOSS Business Models Training Contents

The ict@innovation Advanced African FOSS Business course is modular, hands on, and based on real-life FOSS business problems, issues and scenarios in African IT-SME. You as participants will be able to engage in practical exercises such as designing a business plan for a sample project and designing, revising and localizing training materials. Integral part of the course are also practice based economic know-how, communication skills, social competence, team ability, networked thinking and creativity. The following  objectives and thematic areas will be covered in the training

Learning Objectives:

• How to build a business using FOSS

• How to develop a business plan or business proposal

• How to organise and hold trainings on FOSS Business Models for local SME

• How to market your FOSS Business Model

Topic 1: Introduction to FOSS:

• FOSS General FOSS concepts

• Global outlook to FOSS business

• Evolution of FOSS projects, communities, and markets

• FOSS Business in developing (and BRIC) countries

Topic2 : Case Studies of Africa FOSS Business Models

Introducing working FOSS Business Models for SME, adapted to the African context.

• The Case Studies will include:

• Local market analysis

• How a market for FOSS services is created

• Local, legal and economic contexts for FOSS, Open Standards

• Financial sustainability model

• FOSS licensing models and link to models

Topic 3: Knowledge and Skills for FOSS Entrepreneurs

• FOSS PR and advocacy strategies

• Creating a FOSS market and brand in Africa,Attracting clients

• Specific marketing and client relations

• Organizing business networks

• Community building and networking

• Understanding Open Source Strategies and FOSS based innovation

Topic 4: General Business Skills:

• How to organise financing for ICT/FOSS-SME & Support through incubation services

• Improvement of soft skills of particular relevance to a FOSS business, such as: critical thinking and problem-solving, creativity and initiative

• Writing a business plan, proposals and designing contracts

Topic 5: FOSS Training as a Business:

• How to be a trainer (for FOSS-related trainings)

• FOSS training as a business model

• Organizing trainings

• Working with Open Educational Resources (OER)

• Blended learning Communication skills

For more information, please see the Call for Training of Trainers.