ICT for Development (ICT4D) : training guide

ict4d

1. ICTs for Development (ICT4D)ICTs for Development (ICT4D)
Multimedia Training Kit
<www.itrainonline.org>

2. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Aims for this session
Participants will be able to:
Explain the general issues and engage
in debate about the role of ICTs in
development
Describe challenges of implementing
ICTs in developing countries
Be able to access, assess and use
basic ICT indicators

3. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Defining the digital divide
The term digital divide refers to the
increasing access gap between those who
have and those who do not have:
access to information and communication
technologies;
access to content that benefits them
socially and economically;
skills to take advantage of ICT services;
the ability to afford to pay for digital
services.

4. ICT Policy for Civil Society
What is ICT4D?
ICT4D is concerned with using new and
existing technologies to extend the reach of
communication and information resources.
Facilitating access to ICT resources, and
promoting their effective use makes these
information and communication initiatives much
more complex and dynamic.

5. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Drivers of ICT4D
The Missing Link (extending basic
telecom infrastructure to all)
Rise of Civil Society
Communication Rights
Globalization and Information Networks

6. ICT Policy for Civil Society
APC internet rights charter
The Right to Communicate
Freedom of expression and information
exchange
Diversity, ownership and control of content
Free/open source software, technology
development and intellectual property rights
Privacy
Global, regional and national governance of
the Internet
Awareness, protection and realisation of rights

7. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Four pillars of the CRIS campaign
Communication Rights in the Information
Society:
Creating spaces for democratic environments;
Reclaiming the use of knowledge and the public
domain;
Reclaiming civil and political rights in the
information society; and
Securing equitable and affordable access.
<www.crisinfo.org>

8. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Different ICT4D components
access to ICTs
ability to use ICTs
actual use of ICTs

impact of using ICTs.

9. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Bridges.org – Real Access
Affordability
Capacity
Relevant content
Integration
Socio-cultural factors
Trust
Political will
Legal and regulatory framework
Local economic environment
Macro economic environment

10. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Real Access Criteria (1)
Affordability
Is technology access affordable for
people to use?
Capacity
Do people understand how to use
technology and its potential uses?

11. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Real Access Criteria (2)
Relevant content
Is there locally relevant content,
especially in terms of language?
Integration
Does the technology further burden
people's lives or does it integrate into
daily routines?

12. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Real Access Criteria (3)
Socio-cultural factors
Are people limited in their use of technology
based on gender, race, or other socio-
cultural factors?
Trust
Do people have confidence in and
understand the implications of the
technology they use, for instance in terms
of privacy, security, or cybercrime?

13. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Real Access Criteria (4)
Political will
Is there political will in government to do
what is needed to enable the integration of
technology throughout society?
Legal and regulatory framework
How do laws and regulations affect
technology use and what changes are
needed to create an environment that
fosters its use?

14. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Real Access Criteria (5)
Local economic environment
Is there a local economy that can and will
sustain technology use?
Macro economic environment
Is national economic policy conducive to
widespread technology use, for example,
in terms of transparency, deregulation,
investment, and labour issues?

15. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Debate on the priority of ICTs
for development – against
Critics argue:
ICTs are a waste of money
Funding should be directed to more
important areas of impact and real need
There is the risk of disillusionment
ICTs will not necessarily provide benefits
and may infact open people up to new
forms of harm

16. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Debate on the priority of ICTs
for development – pro
Supporters argue:
The digital divide will become perilously
wider if ICTs are not promoted
ICTs can support other social and
economic goals to improve peoples lives
Access to ICTs and participation in the
Information Society will have far reaching
benefits

17. ICT Policy for Civil Society
United Nations
Millennium Development Goals
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

18. ICT Policy for Civil Society
United Nations
Millennium Development Goals
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for
development.
Target 18: In cooperation with the private sector
make available the benefits of new technologies,
specifically information and communications.
Indicator 47: Telephone lines and cellular
subscribers per 100 population.
Indicator 48: Personal computers in use per 100
population and Internet users per 100 population.

19. ICT Policy for Civil Society
ICTs and development goals
(education)
ICTs as a subject: information literacy,
programming and other related skills.
Computer-based training and distance
education
Access to learning communities
Access to increased and up-to-date
information

20. ICT Policy for Civil Society
ICTs and development goals
(health)
Telemedicine: broadband applications –
from health clinic to hospital
Telehealth: phone and computer support for
clinic management and information flows
Information sharing: information and
exchange on health priorities, e.g. HIV /
AIDS, TB, cholera
Epidemiology: statistics and information to
support knowledge and disease
management

21. ICT Policy for Civil Society
ICTs and development goals
(SMMEs)
ICTs can support routine business
operations: accounts, letters, plans
ICTs can be an opportunity themselves:
training, support, sale, program, web
Linking suppliers directly to markets:
reducing role of intermediaries
Info for tenders, linking SMMEs, support
& funding, supply and sales chain
E-Commerce opportunities

22. ICT Policy for Civil Society
ICTs and development goals
(governance)
Access to government information,
services and processes
Transparency of governance
Mitigation of corruption
Access to representatives: constituents
direct link to members of Parliament

23. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Review of the debate on ICT
for development (1)
Although the costs of new information
infrastructure are high, the future costs of
not doing so are much higher
ICT is a priority for development but
requires national level strategies and
support
ICTs should be development focused
A best practice formula is not possible
because of developing countries diversity

24. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Review of the debate on ICT
for development (2)
There is general agreement that ICTs
are a powerful tool for development
and there is commitment from
international institutions.
What are some best practices for ICT
implementation with a development
focus?

25. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Models for ICT4D
implementation
Community driven initiatives
Private Public Partnerships
Pro poor, pro market strategies
Public service models

26. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Regulatory issues
Universal service
Consumer advocacy
Pricing policies
Interconnection agreements
Efficient use of resources
Licencing for internet service providers
Spectrum licencing

27. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Indicators
What are indicators?
What kind of information do
indicators provide?
Where can indicators be obtained?

28. ICT Policy for Civil Society
What do indicators measure?
Infrastructure roll-out
teledensity, computers per household,
waiting lists, etc.
ICT use
number of internet hosts, international
telephone traffic, etc.
Other factors
literacy, school completion rates,
demographics, etc.

29. ICT Policy for Civil Society
What kind of information do
indicators provide?
Quantitative indicators
Qualitative information
Relative terms
Absolute terms

30. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Where can indicators be
obtained?
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/
Measuring the Information Society website
(UNCTAD)
http://measuring-ict.unctad.org/
World Bank Data and Statistics
http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/countrydata.html
National Regulatory Authorities
Regional Regulatory Organisations
Research Organisation

31. ICT Policy for Civil Society
Summary
Access to and opportunities for
productive use of ICTs, engenders
economic and social empowerment and
facilitates participation and democracy.
ICTs are fundamental for achieving
development goals.
It is important to set goals and to chart
progress – at local to international
levels.