Hudson H.E. (2001) The Acacia Programme: Developing Evaluation and Learning Systems for African Telecentres, in Latchem C. and Walker D.(eds) Telecentre: Case Studies and Key Issues, The Commonwealth of Learning

online: http://www.col.org/telecentres/chapter%2015.pdf

In the chapter is described the methodology used by the Acacia Program (the Pact Institute methodology) to assess their telecentres in Africa. The instruments used are community survey, focus groups, MCT management workshop, log sheets. The methodology is a learning system to improve telecentres performace and it is participatory. The author, citing Sharffenberger, claims that the success and sustainability of the MCTs will be determined by the ability of their management to gauge the evolving information/communication needs of the community and to adroitly adapt MCT services in consequence. The article reports of three telecentres where the methodology has been applied: one in Mali, Timbuktu and three in Uganda, Nagasake, Buwama and Nabweru.