SchoolNet Africa and its partners, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) have conducted a study on the use of refurbished compures. The rationale for the study is for SchoolNet Africa and its network of schoolnet practitioners to consider the experiences and lessons learned at local level as a contribution to the debate on whether or not, and how, to consider second-hand or refurbished computers in technology solution models for African schools.

Treat Refurbs and Africa with Respect: A Research Report by SchoolNet Africa
Participants at the ICTs in African Schools Workshop for Practitioners and Policymakers, held in Botswana in April 2020 , discussed the potential that refurbished computers have to provide affordable access to ICTs in African schools. They agreed that the solution to Africa’s digital divide is not as simple as excess supply of second-hand PCs in the developed world meeting excess demand in the developing world. This research report marks the first examination into experiences with second-hand and refurbished computers among schoolnet organizations in Africa.
Source: SchoolNet Africa [2020]
Refurbished_computers_ResearchReport.pdf

Appendices
In these documents you will find a list of organizations involved in sourcing, distributing and refurbishing PCs and those that worked with SchoolNet Africa, Graphic flow charts that represents three basic pipelines for the procurement and distribution of second-hand computers to African schools and a model of costs breakdown.
Source: SchoolNet Africa [2020]
Refurbished_computers_Appendices.pdf
Refurbished_computers_AppendicesH_01.pdf
Refurbished_computers_AppendicesI.pdf

Treat Refurbs and Africa with Respect: Executive Summary
Framework on Refurbished Computers in African Schools
This study was commissioned by SchoolNet Africa (SNA) in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD). It marks the first examination into experiences with secondhand and refurbished computers among schoolnet organizations in Africa. Through documentary review, interviews and focus group discussions with both African schoolnet practitioners and others involved in the refurbished computers market, the pipeline of activities in sourcing and distributing second-hand and refurbished personal computers (PCs) to African schools has been ascertained. These different experiences have been drawn upon to develop a framework for schoolnet organisations operating throughout Africa, to follow in the future sourcing and installation of second-hand and refurbished PCs in African schools.
Source: SchoolNet Africa [2020]
Refurbished_computers_ExecSum.pdf