Kenya-based African Regional Centre for Computing (ARCC) is the newest member of the Association for Progressive Communications.
It is a non-profit ICT training, research and development centre based in Nairobi, and was the first provider of internet connectivity in the East African nation of 32 million.
ARCC was also part of the network facilitated by GreenNet from London since their founding in 1993. They were an early APC partner in Africa.
This group provides traditional ICT services and support. That includes internet service provision, website development and hosting, computer training and maintenance.
Their outreach work includes capacity-building for women entrepreneurs through training, establish and promote ‘computer clubs’ in secondary schools, with schools for girls being particularly encouraged.
It also works with the private sector to twin community payphones with the targeted schools’ computer labs to realise ‘community multi-purpose telecentres’. A project of this network was a finalist in the 2004-5 APC Hafkin Prize. They have worked in ICT policy and research for over a decade.
ARCC currently has 20 full-time staff plus interns and consultants. Current Kenyan member, ALIN-EA, said the group is "fully involved in ICTs".
Recommending its membership, APC’s evaluation team members commented that this group, working since 1993, seemed to come in with a strong track record.