Anecdotal and empirical evidence coming from the research literature, notably surveys, continues to show that Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is impacting all aspects of ICT, ranging from supporting core ICT infrastructure to the development and deployment of e-learning, e-health, e-government, and e-commerce applications. The technology has great potential in empowering individuals and communities, giving technology users ownership rights, and enabling diverse talents and cultures to collaborate with technology partners of their choice at an unprecedented rate. These characteristics provide opportunities for large and small communities and businesses in developing countries to actively participate in the development and shaping of their own technology, stimulating the growth of indigenous software industries, creating local jobs, and lowering technology acquisition costs. The global trend in the adoption and utilization of FOSS means that world-class international research, teaching and capacity building institutions such as ICT@Innovation with an exceptional ‘reaching-out’ policy towards developing countries must be poised to understand the potential impact of FOSS. Developing countries in general, and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular, are experiencing a gradual, yet significant, shift from the use of technologies and services based on proprietary software to open source software.

However, little empirical evidence is at hand to help us understand the FOSS landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa. In order to contribute to the FOSS body of knowledge and increase our understanding of the impacts of FOSS for sustainable development, the FOSSINA project is conducting a series of pertinent studies in the form of surveys and case studies to help us better understand and leverage FOSS business and educational potentials. The case studies will also complement the eight case studies of African FOSS companies and their business models found in ict@innovation: Free your IT-Business in Africa! Advanced Training Material on African Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Business Models for IT-SMEs. Read more about the methodology and profiles of the case studies here...