Follow Us:
ICTs
The rapid expansion of web-based knowledge management and networking technologies over the past decade has revolutionized access to information and services. Moreover, the explosion of mobile telephony in some of the poorest countries of the world in recent years has opened up opportunities to adapt technology to address the needs of the billions of people previously locked out by the 'digital divide'.
In October 2004, the International Institute for Communication and Development co-published Issue 23 of Capacity.org, focusing on the use of information and communication technologies for development. Since then there has been a quantum leap in the way that the internet is being used to advance development goals. There are numerous examples of how technology innovators and entrepreneurs are adapting ICTs to improve the livelihoods of people in developing countries: from real-time sharing of market information to enable farmers and pastoralists to get the best prices for their produce; satellite links to provide access for medical personnel to the latest care practices; mobile applications - such as the M-Pesa initiative developed in Kenya to facilitate cash transfers; or equipping community information and resource centres to provide access to e-learning opportunities.
This section aims to showcase how ICTs are being adapted to enhance self-organizing, collaboration and advocacy capacities, particularly at the local level.
Recent Articles
Assessing leadership capacity needs for building a knowledge society in Africa
09 September 2011
GESCI, Founded by the UN ICT Task Force, in partnership with the African Union have released four country reports and a synthesis document that assess the environmental, institutional and individual leadership capacity needs for the transition towards a knowledge society in Africa. The study was carried out in Zambia, Tanzania, Mauritius and South Africa as part of the Africa Leadership in ICT (ALICT) programme.
MoreTracking health workers in Botswana
18 August 2011
In June 2011, Botswana's Ministry of Health began partnering with CapacityPlus to implement iHRIS Manage, a free, open source software (OSS) designed to maintain information on health worker deployment and attrition. CapacityPlus is a USAID-funded global project that focuses on strengthening human resources to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The goal of the Botswana programme is to track all health workers in the country, what districts they work in, and what cadre they belong to, in order to ensure that the right provider is at the right place with the right skills.
MoreStrengthening rural livelihoods with ICTs
15 August 2011
Enthusiasm amongst international development agencies about harnessing the potential of
Information and communications technologies (ICTs) for development has waned as observers have
recently questioned the impact and sustainability of such interventions. By presenting the findings
of research specifically designed to measure impact on livelihoods, this publication offers new
evidence for the development benefits of ICTs.
Local governance and ICTs in Africa: Case Studies and guidelines for implementation and evaluation
12 August 2011
E-governance
has the potential to enable local governments to engage citizens in greater participation, leading
to socioeconomic developments at local and national levels. But this potential remains largely
unexploited. This book offers studies from nine African countries that explore how ICTs can
transform service delivery, tax, financial management, land management, education, local economic
development, citizen registration, and political inclusion.
Free e-learning package on knowledge sharing for development
20 May 2011
IMARK [an
e-learning initiative in agricultural information management developed by FAO and partner
organizations] has developed a new module on "Knowledge Sharing for Development". The resource kit
comprises 36 lessons designed to equip organizations and communities with the necessary tools
and methodologies required to develop their knowledge capacities, and enable them to work more
effectively.
The role of ICTs in empowering rural Indian women
05 April 2011
This paper reviews a range of initiatives to bridge the digital gap in India, exploring in
particular the role of ICTs in empowering Indian rural women. The paper concludes that, while most
of the ICT initiatives are disseminating useful new information and knowledge, many women are not
able to
make use of it due to lack of access to complementary sources of support and services.
Other Topics
More Web Resources
-
GESCI: ICT tools and guides
-
ICT Update (ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, CTA)
-
IDRC Canada - ICTs for Development Programme
-
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
-
International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD)
-
Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN)
Featured Community
Kabissa - Space for change in Africa
Kabissa (derived
from the word for "completely" in Kiswahili) is a volunteer-led network that supports African civil
society organizations to make the best use of ICTs for the benefit of their communities. Kabissa
provides an online platform where people and organizations working in Africa can showcase
themselves and connect with each other for peer learning and information sharing. There are
currently more than 1500 organizations in the Kabissa network that are working on a broad
range of development issues around the continent. The Kabissa portal provides access to a
community blog and twitter feed from members, a discussion list and interactive map of member
organizations.
