Malawi, India embark on e-network project
Malawi’s High Commissioner to India George Mkondiwa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Government for an e-network project that is set to enhance capacity building in the education and health sectors.
The signing ceremony on Monday took place in New Delhi, India where Mkondiwa represented Ministry of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology.
The five-year project, called e-Vidya Bharati and e-AarogyaBharati (e-VBAB) Network project, is seen as a digital bridge of knowledge and health between India and Africa which is also considered a milestone in India’s development partnership with Africa.
A statement issued by the ministry on Monday says Malawi has been included in the project following its successful completion of the initial Pan African e-Network project under which many students were trained and qualified in various disciplines with certificates, bachelors and masters degrees offered by Indian universities.
Reads the statement in part: “Malawi and India have, today 26th August 2019 signed a Memorandum of Understanding on e-VBAB Network Project for Malawi, in New Delhi. Under the project, education services will be provided through a specially developed web-based platform in the participating universities in Malawi.”
The MoU, which is a technological upgrade and extension of Pan-African e-Network Project (Phase 1), was implemented in India’s 48 partner countries across Africa from 2009 to 2017. Telecommunications Consultants India Limited director Kamendra Kumar signed on behalf of India.
Phase 1 of project successfully imparted tele-education and telemedicine by linking educational institutions and hospitals in India with participating countries from Africa.
The project is funded by the Government of India and is open for participation to all India’s partner countries in Africa.
