At Telecentre.org Foundation, telecentre networks remains as the core of the telecentre ecosystem. The Network pillar is, probably, one of the more strategically consistent pillars in the lifetime of Telecentre.org since 2005, both in terms of activities and as understood by most stakeholders. In its first phase evaluation, there seems to be a consensus amongst the telecentre community at large – telecentre operators, network administrators, policy makers, all kind of facilitators and telecentre champions, researchers, donors, etc. – that telecentres cannot last long isolated, and that only networks of telecentres can achieve success and be socially and financially sustainable. They appreciate that networking provides opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and support, facilitates access to technical support and expands telecentres' social supply chain function.

If we retrieve the potential benefits of networking as listed in the Guidebook for Managing Telecentre Networks, there is evidence that:

• Networks were able to pool financial and technological resources both at the national and at the international level: there are many examples where networks could lobby and partner with governments or international organizations that were out of reach before;
• There has been a wider distribution channels for content and services, namely increased number of websites and events although some of it are carried out informally;
• Enhanced collaboration has continuously been taking place in the form of joint projects due to networking and/or knowledge sharing activities;
• Many network administrators stated more effective representation stemming from a stronger capacity to interact with higher order entities, like governments, and which quite often ended up in new joint projects or strengthened policies towards telecentres.

The effort that started with Telecentre.org support helped many telecentre networks to emerge and others to grow stronger. Telecentre.org helped to establish networks in over 40 nations, 15 of these are very vibrant and dynamic. These networks were established through core grants offered to implementing organizations. Across the continent, networks working in French, English, Arabic, Spanish, Russian and Thai have established relationships and developed concrete activities that strengthen their respective programs. Networks have engaged with each other to share knowledge, develop new products and services, develop institutional capacities, address operational challenges, mobilize resources and promote telecentres. Networking has created a sense of common purpose that binds networks together and offers higher aspirations for the Global Telecentre movement.

While a few of these networks developed robust sustainable models, a number of them are yet to find funding mechanisms to continue their operation. It is therefore important for Telecentre.org Foundation to strengthen these networks while also help to establish new ones where networks are not present. However, instead of stopping at offering core grant to national telecentre networks, Telecentre.org will strive to help them become channels of services, products and goods aimed at users of community telecentres.

The following strategies will be adopted to establish, strengthen and deepen telecentre networks:

1. Enumerating telecentres and telecentre networks on a global scale that would create a global mapping of telecentres
2. Enabling the existing networks to become channels for pro-poor services and content
3. Developing new regional network collaborations or strengthen ties with partners in Latin America, Francophone and Anglophone Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia, Europe and the Asia-Pacific
4. Developing the Indian Telecentre Network where a third of world's telecentres exist
5. Telecentre.org membership and associate-ship programs to widen stakeholdership
6. Organising and co-organising regional and global events

If you manage a telecentre, or a telecentre network, consider joining the global network of telecentres! We'd love to hear from you. Contact People & Organizational Networking Manager to learn more.

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