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infoDev commissioned case studies for WSIS. The full text and booklet can be found on their site here. Gamos was asked to also present short interviews by video. Full quality on a CD-Rom or VCD in available on request, Internet quality videos are available here. One of the most sustainable ICTs, mobile phones, is moving into financial services. Find out more at mpayments.org. This web site has been generated as part of a research programme into Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sustainability factors. Funded by the Department of International Development (DFID), the research programme identified activities that sought to benefit the poor and had an ICT component. In particular it considered programmes where ICTs had enhanced ongoing development activities, the ICT activity could be replicated without sizeable investment, and there was a measure of sustainability. Sustainability was taken to be more than financial cost recovery. Drawing from lessons learned in other development sectors, sustainability involves a combination of factors including among others, clear objectives, institutional frameworks, local capacity and development benefits. While perhaps not fulfilling all the features of a strong sustainable activity, the cases were felt to hold points of interest for the wider global development community. Please either - scroll down or use the side links. The website has been made text based to ease access and to ensure easy loading over poor connectivity. However, the website is multi media, and there are video clips of the Indian and South African Case Studies. The Gallery leads to all the pictures and videos.
OverviewThe main overview and analysis can be found in this document:- Overview and analysis of Case Studies A background paper is also available:-
Links to the case studies are below, with the projects objectives and a brief description:- ACISAM: To enable members of a community to acknowledge their human capacity and address common mental health problems in order to improve their social, economic, cultural and ecological environment. The community use audio and video to capture their local problems (on mental health) and feed the outputs back to the community via loudspeakers, radio, cable television. This case makes interesting use of audio and video technology to empower local communities. While it is not using the latest technology it is proving how ICTs can give a voice to a community and bring a community to a common understanding of their problems. CARDIN: To strengthen the capacity within the Caribbean community, for the collection indexing, dissemination and use of disaster related information serving as a sub-regional disaster information centre. This is a network of institutions across the Caribbean using ICTs to archive and retrieve data which is vital to their disaster preparedness planning. The inclusions of IC Technology brought together a number of related institutions who had previously only weak linkages. The ICTs have enhanced the overall planning of this disparate network. DENIVA: To make use of new technologies to facilitate vertical and horizontal integration of members. Areas of focus include information management, gender mainstreaming, environment, decentralised information exchange and others. This case study concerns an NGO network which is using modern media for communication. This case study demonstrates how ICTs can enhance existing networking activities among NGOs. Digital Village is an “original” Telecentre. It was set up to be a resource for the a poor community to enable access to computers for training, information gathering and communication. As one of the oldest Telecentres in Africa, Digital Village offers interesting insights into sustainability. While one centre has survived, several others have had to close. This case study looks at what factors have kept the Chiawelo centre going.FOOD/IndiaShop: To explore whether E-commerce can prove to be a source of income for women cooperatives and non-profits working in rural areas. Through this to also see if they can train educated unemployed youth to function as E-marketers to promote products online and obtain a sustainable source of income for themselves The project has explored using “e-marketers” to set up a mechanism for ecommerce of handicrafts. While the project has made sales through e-channels, it faces many of the challenges of e-commerce faced by the world in general. The case is an interesting study on how new intermediaries can assist the rural poor. Global Voices: 1.Globally: to inform Oxfam in its strategic review process so that it could be more effective in alleviating poverty; 2. Locally: to give people a tool that would give them a voice so they could be heard expressing their concerns and possible solutions on issues that affect them Born from a strategic review process in Oxfam, this is a case of communities using video to increase awareness among government and their fellow community of the community needs. This is a case where ICTs have been used to articulate and analyse community needs. It is an example of ICts being used in advocacy. Gyandoot: To improve the efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and transparency of local government through increasing access to services, information and policy documentation by the public. To enhance the livelihoods of the public by providing better access to agricultural information, commerce, education and training facilities. After a consultation on information needs, this project has set up a network of financially self standing kiosks which offer various services including gateways into local government There is considerable evidence that the availability of the kiosks is enabling villagers to access government services far more effectively than in the recent past. There are clear examples of an increasing transparency. KUMINFO: To make data available and accessible to stakeholders involved in natural resource management. This is an GIS information gathering activity on a province wide scale. The case study offers an insight into the challenges surrounding provision of information from a institution to the local level. MANAGE: to groups increase rural farmers access to information services. Digital Village: to provide training in and access to information and communication technology to previously disadvantaged communities. As an experiment in information extension, Manage has also set up a network of information kiosks. This is another case where the availability of the kiosks is leading to timely and effective local information. There are clear examples of villagers accessing their rights, to loans, grants, subsidies, information. MIGIS: to make a significant contribution to the quality and effectiveness of participatory planning; by introducing the use of GIS and advanced graphic techniques into the PRA process; and, using the images produced in a way that would enhance the presentation and therefore the authority and impact of information collected in and provided by communities in which development intervention was planned. The project uses computer GIS systems and enhanced graphics to validate and present information gathered participatorily from illiterate and semi literate communities. The project strengthens participatory processes and gives a voice to the community to government officials. It is interesting how the use of “computer presentations” can overcome the bias of some officials that the poor are ignorant of their situation. REVISTAZO: To provide an alternative communication media source to inform the public about issues surrounding corruption and social injustice in order to promote Good Governance within Honduras. Using a web site, Revistazo is an online magazine that tackles sensitive political issues. This case demonstrates the potential of ICTs to inform the public and encourage good governance UDS: to help the poorest uplift themselves, in consultation with them, by providing appropriate Information to facilitate development; communication to receive and distribute information; and training people in its practical applications. A small NGO has facilitated the setting up of centres which offers access to ICTs and training services for small business In contrast to the Indian case studies where a network of many kiosks was instigated, this is an example of a small action by a small NGO that has resulted in enhancing the opportunities within a few communities.
Contact InformationWe welcome feedback on this site. The research was a co-operation between Gamos (lead agency) and Big World, and of course all the collaborating partners who are in the cases, and the consultants who help gather data. Our thanks to them all. For more information or feedback please contact either Gamos or Big World
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