If the aim of ICTs within development is to provide access and resources for all, this of course should include those with disabilities. I recently covered a story for Grocott’s Mail about the South African Library for the Blind (Blindlib) conference held in Grahamstown earlier this month.
The conference focused on discussion and networking around issues concerning the blind, with the purpose of promoting national and international cooperation in the field. The conference, and the organisation as a whole, encourages research and development, “thus improving the access of information for the blind and other people with print disabilities”.
What really struck me is the issue of access, and the role which better ICTs and bandwidth will play in giving those in developing nations access to technology and programs for the blind. The issue was addressed by a couple of the key delegates such as Hiroshi Kawamura, project leader of DAISY for All (Digital Accessible Information Systems) and the Urakawa Project in Japan.
Organiser of the conference, Wendy Ling, noted while there was no doubting the progressive and high quality nature of the technologies exhibited at the conference, there is a difficulty with regard to access which is a symptom of the “first world, third world divide”. However, she said simply knowing about what technologies exist, even if they are unable to gain access to them immediately, was still positive for developing nations as it “gives them something to work towards”.
This issue of access to computers and the Internet - and also mobile phones - was addressed by Kawamura and others. Kawamura explained that “the expansion of broadband will play a role in increasing access to technologies for the blind” while Richard Tucker from the UK noted the role which mobile phones could potentially play in aiding the blind.
I am thankful for witnessing this conference as it introduced me to an area of ICTs for development I had not previously considered: the role they could potentially play in dramatically increasing the quality of life for those with disabilities. Through having access to a computer and other such important technologies, those who are visually impaired living in poor, often rural areas could be given a greater chance to stand on their own and live independently, enabling them to read, write and learn unaided.
Some investigating showed me there are in fact organisations working to provide ICTs for the blind. In fact, at a glance it seems Ethiopia is the country where the most movement is happening in Africa to help the blind, although Neville Clarence Technologies has recently opened an ICT Skills Development Centre in Pretoria, South Africa. In Ethiopia, the Adaptive Technology Centre for the Blind (ATCB) is doing amazing work to “empower the blind community with technological approaches in attitudes and self-confidence”.
It seems that access to ICTs for the disabled needs to become a priority in developing countries around the world. Ling from the South African Libraries for the Blind, says there is currently a worldwide move to help Africa come up to speed with other developed nations already benefiting from nearly full access to technologies. Lets hope such promises reap actual results and rewards.
Showing posts with label Development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Development. Show all posts
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Finding funding online
I recently gave a fundraising workshop to a group hoping to launch an organisation for young people with an interest in the sciences called Young Royals. In discussing development project fundraising, I drew on the example of a campaign I have been involved with for over a year – Ikhaya Losizo .
This is a fundraising initiative whereby Rhodes University students “either as individuals or as clubs, societies or residences raise funds”. All the money raised is donated to Child & Family Welfare in Grahamstown for the express purpose of building a local safe house for abused and neglected children.
Amazingly, this campus-based campaign reached its proposed target of R200 000 – a hefty amount from youth who supposedly hold no interest for such campaigns.
In advising the eager Young Royals group, my fellow Ikhaya Losizo committee member, Dominique Schafer and I presented a possible recipe for success. This included a discussion of the importance of tight branding and advertising of a new campaign, and among other things – the advantage of having a website.
I then realised that for all my earlier discussion on funding, I had failed to draw on my own very personal example where ICTs have aided development in my own experience. The Ikhaya Losizo website turned out to be a real asset to our campaign: it gave the project a legitimacy which meant our donors felt more comfortable that they were donating to an identifiable, verifiable cause. And most significantly: we attracted an anonymous donor in the U.K. wanting to donate R50 000 to our cause.
Without the website, this would never have happened. The donor says he was simply running an internet search for South African fundraising projects, looking for a worthy cause to which he could donate when he stumbled upon Ikhaya Losizo. I ran a Google search for “fundraising projects South Africa”, and I didn’t come up with Ikhaya Losizo within even the top ten pages.
Apparently this anonymous donor ran a search for “fundraising projects Grahamstown”, because then Ikhaya Losizo appears as the top hit. This means the donor must have been looking specifically in this area of South Africa for one reason or another.
If you consider the vast number of projects needing funding in South Africa, Ikhaya Losizo was extremely lucky to attract this donor. So are there sites in South Africa which act as portals connecting needy causes with prospective donors? Are there ways to leave it up to more than luck?
The Funding Site is one such example which “aims to support the development of an effective social capital market by providing a social broking and information service”. The site helps NGOs in accessing social capital and other resources through its searchable online database of prospective donors and its comprehensive range of information, training, advertising and marketing services to the South African non-profit and development community.
Downes Murray International is a South African company fundraising consultancy company working to help organisations from another angle altogether. They are employed by organisations to:
• assess funding needs
• examine and identify the potential of the constituency to meet those needs
• design and implement a tailored programme to raise the required money
• provide training where necessary
• analyse results
• guide and advise in whatever areas may be necessary for the successful continuation of the programme.
Yet I failed to find any sites acting as a database of South African projects where potential donors such as Mr Anonymous in the UK could look for a worthy project like Ikhaya Losizo. Perhaps this is an important way in which ICTs could help aid development: through working harder to connect donors with those organisations needing their help. A database with a list and description of various projects in South Africa is an excellent idea. Anyone up for the challenge of creating one?
This is a fundraising initiative whereby Rhodes University students “either as individuals or as clubs, societies or residences raise funds”. All the money raised is donated to Child & Family Welfare in Grahamstown for the express purpose of building a local safe house for abused and neglected children.
Amazingly, this campus-based campaign reached its proposed target of R200 000 – a hefty amount from youth who supposedly hold no interest for such campaigns.
In advising the eager Young Royals group, my fellow Ikhaya Losizo committee member, Dominique Schafer and I presented a possible recipe for success. This included a discussion of the importance of tight branding and advertising of a new campaign, and among other things – the advantage of having a website.
I then realised that for all my earlier discussion on funding, I had failed to draw on my own very personal example where ICTs have aided development in my own experience. The Ikhaya Losizo website turned out to be a real asset to our campaign: it gave the project a legitimacy which meant our donors felt more comfortable that they were donating to an identifiable, verifiable cause. And most significantly: we attracted an anonymous donor in the U.K. wanting to donate R50 000 to our cause.
Without the website, this would never have happened. The donor says he was simply running an internet search for South African fundraising projects, looking for a worthy cause to which he could donate when he stumbled upon Ikhaya Losizo. I ran a Google search for “fundraising projects South Africa”, and I didn’t come up with Ikhaya Losizo within even the top ten pages.
Apparently this anonymous donor ran a search for “fundraising projects Grahamstown”, because then Ikhaya Losizo appears as the top hit. This means the donor must have been looking specifically in this area of South Africa for one reason or another.
If you consider the vast number of projects needing funding in South Africa, Ikhaya Losizo was extremely lucky to attract this donor. So are there sites in South Africa which act as portals connecting needy causes with prospective donors? Are there ways to leave it up to more than luck?
The Funding Site is one such example which “aims to support the development of an effective social capital market by providing a social broking and information service”. The site helps NGOs in accessing social capital and other resources through its searchable online database of prospective donors and its comprehensive range of information, training, advertising and marketing services to the South African non-profit and development community.
Downes Murray International is a South African company fundraising consultancy company working to help organisations from another angle altogether. They are employed by organisations to:
• assess funding needs
• examine and identify the potential of the constituency to meet those needs
• design and implement a tailored programme to raise the required money
• provide training where necessary
• analyse results
• guide and advise in whatever areas may be necessary for the successful continuation of the programme.
Yet I failed to find any sites acting as a database of South African projects where potential donors such as Mr Anonymous in the UK could look for a worthy project like Ikhaya Losizo. Perhaps this is an important way in which ICTs could help aid development: through working harder to connect donors with those organisations needing their help. A database with a list and description of various projects in South Africa is an excellent idea. Anyone up for the challenge of creating one?
Thursday, 9 August 2007
In a rich man's world
People say money makes the world go round, and I argue it is no different in development. The myriad of good intentions aside, we have to face the reality that very good, worthwhile projects are left abandoned due to lack of funds, initiatives fail, and people become disheartened all for the simple need of funding. These are the thoughts that have been sparked through the comments posted to my last blog: “A gateway to change”, where people voiced concern over the role of big organisations in comparison to development / empowerment at the local level.
It seems one of the key issues here is that of funding: while grass-root level initiatives are best, they need to get the funds from somewhere. The “inspirational” William Kamkwamba is an example of someone actively seeking funding which will help him and his family in their daily lives and to fund projects such as building windmills to create electricity. The response to Kamkwamba’s blog has been phenomenal, and he has been lucky enough to be one of those voices that does get heard, supported and yes, funded.
One person commented on Kamkwamba’s blog: “it is great to donate money directly to an African family without going through an organisation”. They praised the fact that one can see exactly where the donations have gone, and can have satisfaction in seeing results. I certainly can understand that, but I think we need to realise that Kamkwamba is the exception, not the rule. I say this because not everyone can use the outlet of the Internet due to lack of access and skills, cannot speak the vernacular – English, and for many other reasons which mean millions go unheard and unsupported.
It is so exciting when people like Kamkwamba or those of Nata Village blog about their lives, their needs, their hopes, and most wonderfully, their successes. But most obviously, these blogs are all about getting support – most importantly financial support – for their causes. Money, I say again, makes it all possible.
This is where I think big organisations have the potential to really make a difference: greater established organisations like Development Gateway Foundation have the time and resources and very importantly, the credibility to seek funding for their initiatives. This places organisations in a powerful position – one which many fail to fill properly or in the positive way they should. Yet if larger organisations, with corporate and government funding at hand, are able to filter this money down to the local initiatives that need it, then the process is working for the right reasons and in the most logical, effective manner.
Yes, the idealists out there would like to dream that every individual, community and country in Africa can embrace their own future from the outset. But the reality is they need the funding to do so. Yes, development needs to be from the bottom-up, but people need the tools with which to embrace their future – people like Kamkwamba need the money so they can build their windmills and any other innovative project they may visualise.
So lets not hasten to idealise and ignore the potential which bigger organisations possess to bring funding to the table. The extent to which organisations may succeed or fail to integrate this funding at the necessary grass-roots level may be another discussion entirely.
It seems one of the key issues here is that of funding: while grass-root level initiatives are best, they need to get the funds from somewhere. The “inspirational” William Kamkwamba is an example of someone actively seeking funding which will help him and his family in their daily lives and to fund projects such as building windmills to create electricity. The response to Kamkwamba’s blog has been phenomenal, and he has been lucky enough to be one of those voices that does get heard, supported and yes, funded.
One person commented on Kamkwamba’s blog: “it is great to donate money directly to an African family without going through an organisation”. They praised the fact that one can see exactly where the donations have gone, and can have satisfaction in seeing results. I certainly can understand that, but I think we need to realise that Kamkwamba is the exception, not the rule. I say this because not everyone can use the outlet of the Internet due to lack of access and skills, cannot speak the vernacular – English, and for many other reasons which mean millions go unheard and unsupported.
It is so exciting when people like Kamkwamba or those of Nata Village blog about their lives, their needs, their hopes, and most wonderfully, their successes. But most obviously, these blogs are all about getting support – most importantly financial support – for their causes. Money, I say again, makes it all possible.
This is where I think big organisations have the potential to really make a difference: greater established organisations like Development Gateway Foundation have the time and resources and very importantly, the credibility to seek funding for their initiatives. This places organisations in a powerful position – one which many fail to fill properly or in the positive way they should. Yet if larger organisations, with corporate and government funding at hand, are able to filter this money down to the local initiatives that need it, then the process is working for the right reasons and in the most logical, effective manner.
Yes, the idealists out there would like to dream that every individual, community and country in Africa can embrace their own future from the outset. But the reality is they need the funding to do so. Yes, development needs to be from the bottom-up, but people need the tools with which to embrace their future – people like Kamkwamba need the money so they can build their windmills and any other innovative project they may visualise.
So lets not hasten to idealise and ignore the potential which bigger organisations possess to bring funding to the table. The extent to which organisations may succeed or fail to integrate this funding at the necessary grass-roots level may be another discussion entirely.
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
A Gateway to change
The Nata Village Blog , and a recent essay I wrote on blogging’s promise for democratic development in Africa, have both inspired me to look more closely at other websites aiding development. The Nata Village blog is refreshing because it focuses on a very small community and talks intimately about their lives. It is therefore something of a grass-roots site, able to serve its purpose simply and effectively. The personal nature of the Nata Village blog is probably one of the reasons it has had such an impact on viewers and therefore has been able to generate significant funds for their fight against HIV in the village.
Yet what about ICT development efforts on a greater national or perhaps global scale? I set out to find a site which shows a commitment to development around the world and constitutes something of a larger scale ICT-for-development success story.
And I think I found one… hurrah!
I found an organisation with a mission to “reduce poverty and enable change in developing nations through information technology” called The Development Gateway Foundation . It is an international non-profit organization providing web-based platforms to make aid and development efforts more effective around the world.
The organisation is working towards a world where: the digital revolution serves people everywhere and creates great opportunities for people due to increased access to critical information; where there is greater reliance on local capabilities; and more effective, better coordinated international aid.
So how is this site aiding African countries at a basic, accessible level? Well the Development Gateway Foundation aims to be exactly that – a gateway to issues and projects in developing countries around the world.
The organisation focuses on three ways in which even small investments in information and communications technology can make a major difference:
• Effective government
• Knowledge sharing and collaboration
• Local partner programs in nearly 50 countries – connecting developing country organizations into a global network to empower them to use information and communications technologies to bolster local development efforts.
This last point is important, because here is one of the reasons the site works so well: while it gives a global overview of issues and projects, it also has a strong local focus. The organisation has helped set up and hosts development sites for developing countries all over the world – including Africa.
One such example is Rwanda Development Gateway (RDG) . The RDG is a group of three “ICT for Development” initiatives under the Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Scientific Research, being funded by the Government of Rwanda. This project is a national portal for information sharing and represents a one-stop-shop for information on Rwanda and the country's web interface to the rest of the world.
The Development Gateway Foundation acts as a portal – an oversight of and entrance to development issues globally. They are building online resources which enable development information and knowledge-sharing worldwide through bringing people and organisations together, all of whom are working to improve life in developing countries.
The site shows a fair balance between two extremes – a locally-orientated and driven site for development, and a large-scale organisation for development. All online websites for development should remember to keep a clear focus on the people whom they are hoping to assist. If they remember to do this, it seems their priorities, and their site will be pointing in the right direction.
Yet what about ICT development efforts on a greater national or perhaps global scale? I set out to find a site which shows a commitment to development around the world and constitutes something of a larger scale ICT-for-development success story.
And I think I found one… hurrah!
I found an organisation with a mission to “reduce poverty and enable change in developing nations through information technology” called The Development Gateway Foundation . It is an international non-profit organization providing web-based platforms to make aid and development efforts more effective around the world.
The organisation is working towards a world where: the digital revolution serves people everywhere and creates great opportunities for people due to increased access to critical information; where there is greater reliance on local capabilities; and more effective, better coordinated international aid.
So how is this site aiding African countries at a basic, accessible level? Well the Development Gateway Foundation aims to be exactly that – a gateway to issues and projects in developing countries around the world.
The organisation focuses on three ways in which even small investments in information and communications technology can make a major difference:
• Effective government
• Knowledge sharing and collaboration
• Local partner programs in nearly 50 countries – connecting developing country organizations into a global network to empower them to use information and communications technologies to bolster local development efforts.
This last point is important, because here is one of the reasons the site works so well: while it gives a global overview of issues and projects, it also has a strong local focus. The organisation has helped set up and hosts development sites for developing countries all over the world – including Africa.
One such example is Rwanda Development Gateway (RDG) . The RDG is a group of three “ICT for Development” initiatives under the Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Scientific Research, being funded by the Government of Rwanda. This project is a national portal for information sharing and represents a one-stop-shop for information on Rwanda and the country's web interface to the rest of the world.
The Development Gateway Foundation acts as a portal – an oversight of and entrance to development issues globally. They are building online resources which enable development information and knowledge-sharing worldwide through bringing people and organisations together, all of whom are working to improve life in developing countries.
The site shows a fair balance between two extremes – a locally-orientated and driven site for development, and a large-scale organisation for development. All online websites for development should remember to keep a clear focus on the people whom they are hoping to assist. If they remember to do this, it seems their priorities, and their site will be pointing in the right direction.
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
A website making a difference
There is no denying that developments in ICTs have huge potential to facilitate and encourage development. The digital revolution can be used to the benefit of those needing access to better information and can provide those who traditionally have been voiceless, to have their voices heard. Yet closer inspection on this topic so far has largely led me to develop a rather grim perspective on the use of digital technology in development, because it often seems to have little real effect.
This is why discovering the Nata Village Blog was so exciting. I stumbled upon this blog through reading Christian Kreutz’s discussion of web 2.0 in the context of development. While there are numerous challenges regarding web2.0 for rural development such as connectivity and lack of skills, Kreutz says the Nata Village blog is a positive case study which shows communities can “communicate their messages and interact with a worldwide audience”.
Nata is a small village of 5000 people in Botswana, which has been extremely hard-hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. With over 400 AIDS orphans and nearly 50% of all pregnant women in Nata testing as HIV positive, the village is taking steps to take control of a fate which seems sure to wipe out most of their population.
Through the help of a US Peace Corp in Nata, Melody Jenkins, and Jon Rawlinson, a Canadian television producer and IT specialist, Nata has become one of the first rural villages to establish its own website to raise funds to fight HIV/AIDS. The website is dedicated to the people of Nata who despite enormous losses and challenges still have the courage and determination to fight the ravages of this pandemic.
The site has stories, photographs and videos about Nata Clinic, features about PLWA’s (People Living with AIDS), village life, youth groups, the Kgosi’s (chiefs) and the professionals involved in the fight to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.
As most of the village residents are apparently illiterate, the blog posts are written by Jon Rawlinson & Melody Jenkins, but a camera has been donated to the locals so that they can tell their story through photographs. This is one of the ways in which the site is sustainable and effective – through the local residents’ input. Local residents have said they see the importance for the communities to resuscitate the spirit of self-reliance rather than relying on the government for assistance.
And most importantly, the initiative is having an effect, with funds being donated towards furnishing the clinic, HIV/AIDS education programs, support groups and more.
While the ideal would be a site where residents could play a bigger role in the posting of content, this is still an inspiring example of a locally-run website which is benefiting a rural village, which otherwise would still be struggling to get their story heard or find support for their cause.
This is why discovering the Nata Village Blog was so exciting. I stumbled upon this blog through reading Christian Kreutz’s discussion of web 2.0 in the context of development. While there are numerous challenges regarding web2.0 for rural development such as connectivity and lack of skills, Kreutz says the Nata Village blog is a positive case study which shows communities can “communicate their messages and interact with a worldwide audience”.
Nata is a small village of 5000 people in Botswana, which has been extremely hard-hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. With over 400 AIDS orphans and nearly 50% of all pregnant women in Nata testing as HIV positive, the village is taking steps to take control of a fate which seems sure to wipe out most of their population.
Through the help of a US Peace Corp in Nata, Melody Jenkins, and Jon Rawlinson, a Canadian television producer and IT specialist, Nata has become one of the first rural villages to establish its own website to raise funds to fight HIV/AIDS. The website is dedicated to the people of Nata who despite enormous losses and challenges still have the courage and determination to fight the ravages of this pandemic.
The site has stories, photographs and videos about Nata Clinic, features about PLWA’s (People Living with AIDS), village life, youth groups, the Kgosi’s (chiefs) and the professionals involved in the fight to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.
As most of the village residents are apparently illiterate, the blog posts are written by Jon Rawlinson & Melody Jenkins, but a camera has been donated to the locals so that they can tell their story through photographs. This is one of the ways in which the site is sustainable and effective – through the local residents’ input. Local residents have said they see the importance for the communities to resuscitate the spirit of self-reliance rather than relying on the government for assistance.
And most importantly, the initiative is having an effect, with funds being donated towards furnishing the clinic, HIV/AIDS education programs, support groups and more.
While the ideal would be a site where residents could play a bigger role in the posting of content, this is still an inspiring example of a locally-run website which is benefiting a rural village, which otherwise would still be struggling to get their story heard or find support for their cause.
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Global development plan continues to fail
The UN has recently released an Africa and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2007 report which states that sub-Saharan Africa is not on track to achieve ANY of the MDGs. This is cause for concern, bearing in mind we are exactly half way through the period in which the goals were meant to be achieved. Guido Schmidt Traub, from the UN Development Programme says "the stark reality is that there's not even a single country in the continent that is on track to achieve the MDGs". So what has gone wrong?
The Africa & MDGs report says although there have been major gains in several areas and the Goals remain achievable in most African nations, even the best governed countries on the continent have not been able to make sufficient progress in reducing extreme poverty in its many forms.
Before I discuss this issue any further, let me remind you of the Millennium Development Goals, which committed to:
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.
(You can go to the official MDG site to find out more)
The Africa & MDGs report shows while there have been some success stories, they are few and far between, as targets have failed to be met in all of the eight categories. The report attributes continued challenges as ranging from lack of capacity to unfair global trade, as well as the failure of rich countries and donors to live up to their pledge of doubling aid to Africa.
My previous discussion about the new economy increasing the digital divide has interesting implications here, as the era of technology and digitisation may be a contributing factor to increasing global economic divides, and preventing the achievement of the MDGs in countries like those of sub-Saharan Africa.
However, this is not to say that the MDGs are unachievable and we should all give up. Reports such as the ICT for Development: Contributing to the Millennium Development Goals shows there are projects around the world where ICTs have successfully aided development. As I discussed previously, developing countries need to work effectively with the changing global regime of ICTs and need to adopt practices such as telemedicine, distance learning and e-government in order to work towards development in this new economy.
This 2003 report sees what we can learn from ICT projects in developing countries about proper design, sustainability and impact of such interventions. It notes the widespread hope within the international development community that ICTs could potentially “be a powerful tool of development and poverty reduction, and of achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.
We need to transfer hope and plans into concrete reality. The Africa & MDGs report says donors need to “accelerate their plans to scale up assistance” and concludes on a positive note, saying that “despite the lack of progress towards the MDGs, the Goals remain achievable in most African countries”.
Yet time is indeed running out, and the commitments made and reaffirmed by world leaders “must be urgently translated into practical plans with systematic follow-through”. Once again, world leaders need to put talk into action, and one of the key areas they should be focusing on is how ICTs can be used in development.
See the following articles on this issue:
China's Xinhau news agency
SABC News
The Africa & MDGs report says although there have been major gains in several areas and the Goals remain achievable in most African nations, even the best governed countries on the continent have not been able to make sufficient progress in reducing extreme poverty in its many forms.
Before I discuss this issue any further, let me remind you of the Millennium Development Goals, which committed to:
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.
(You can go to the official MDG site to find out more)
The Africa & MDGs report shows while there have been some success stories, they are few and far between, as targets have failed to be met in all of the eight categories. The report attributes continued challenges as ranging from lack of capacity to unfair global trade, as well as the failure of rich countries and donors to live up to their pledge of doubling aid to Africa.
My previous discussion about the new economy increasing the digital divide has interesting implications here, as the era of technology and digitisation may be a contributing factor to increasing global economic divides, and preventing the achievement of the MDGs in countries like those of sub-Saharan Africa.
However, this is not to say that the MDGs are unachievable and we should all give up. Reports such as the ICT for Development: Contributing to the Millennium Development Goals shows there are projects around the world where ICTs have successfully aided development. As I discussed previously, developing countries need to work effectively with the changing global regime of ICTs and need to adopt practices such as telemedicine, distance learning and e-government in order to work towards development in this new economy.
This 2003 report sees what we can learn from ICT projects in developing countries about proper design, sustainability and impact of such interventions. It notes the widespread hope within the international development community that ICTs could potentially “be a powerful tool of development and poverty reduction, and of achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.
We need to transfer hope and plans into concrete reality. The Africa & MDGs report says donors need to “accelerate their plans to scale up assistance” and concludes on a positive note, saying that “despite the lack of progress towards the MDGs, the Goals remain achievable in most African countries”.
Yet time is indeed running out, and the commitments made and reaffirmed by world leaders “must be urgently translated into practical plans with systematic follow-through”. Once again, world leaders need to put talk into action, and one of the key areas they should be focusing on is how ICTs can be used in development.
See the following articles on this issue:
China's Xinhau news agency
SABC News
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Development as a wholistic process
I was starting to build a rather bleak picture of ICTs and development in Africa – there seemed to be a lot of policy making going on, and not enough projects with tangible results. Upon closer inspection, however, I have come to realise there are in fact numerous worthwhile projects of various shapes and forms all over Africa. One such program, the e-learning Africa news portal ‘Intel Teach Program’ , proved to be an excellent case study of ICTs development. This program promoted the effective use of technology in DZJ Mthebula High School in a semi-rural region of Limpopo province.
What struck me about this story were two key nuances: firstly that dumping technology in a community is useless unless the skills are taught for the consumption of and production using this technology. Secondly, this case study emphasised the importance of focusing on schools and introducing students to technology which can aid their learning experience, and teach them the skills they need to thrive in the knowledge economy/ information society.
Mthebula High School was donated computers by Telkom a few years ago, but none of the teachers were incorporating the technology into their instruction. School language teacher, Mercy Ntlemo, attributed this to most of the teachers lacking “the specific knowledge and training to integrate technology in any substantive way”. This meant the computers were gathering dust, barely used beyond basic information retrieval and simple word processing.
This example speaks to the larger debate within ICTs and development: development needs to happen on a multitude of different levels. It makes no sense to think you are aiding development by donating free technology like computers to those who lack the skills to utilise this technology effectively.
In this particular case, Ntlemo underwent the Intel Teach Program, a professional development program designed to help teachers integrate technology effectively in the classroom with the objective of helping students build 21st century skills. Ntlemo felt she really benefited from the training and following her success, many other teachers did the program, to help “conquer their technophobia”.
This training program exposed the teachers to new approaches for creating assessment tools and aligning lessons with educational learning goals and standards. Additionally, they discover new ways to incorporate the use of the Internet, Web page design, and student projects as vehicles for powerful learning.
As a result of the Intel Teach Program, Ntlemo says that technology is now an integral part of the curriculum at DZJ Mthebula High School, and project based learning is the norm. The training program revolutionised the way the teachers used the computers – a wonderful resource which until then were being completely underused. Ntlemo says the program “has revolutionised the way we teach.”
So what does a story such as this one teach us? It teaches us that we need to have a wholistic approach to development, and that development occurs within a particular context – such as lack of digital literacy. We need to understand the contexts of the communities needing developments in ICTs so that development does not become a worthless endeavour but rather a meaningful process of change.
To find out more on some of the interesting ICT development projects in Africa, visit the following links:
1. Un Economic Commissions for Africa
2. Acacia: Communities and the Information Society in Africa Program
3. APC Women’s networking support program
4. World Bank: Africa and the knowledge economy
What struck me about this story were two key nuances: firstly that dumping technology in a community is useless unless the skills are taught for the consumption of and production using this technology. Secondly, this case study emphasised the importance of focusing on schools and introducing students to technology which can aid their learning experience, and teach them the skills they need to thrive in the knowledge economy/ information society.
Mthebula High School was donated computers by Telkom a few years ago, but none of the teachers were incorporating the technology into their instruction. School language teacher, Mercy Ntlemo, attributed this to most of the teachers lacking “the specific knowledge and training to integrate technology in any substantive way”. This meant the computers were gathering dust, barely used beyond basic information retrieval and simple word processing.
This example speaks to the larger debate within ICTs and development: development needs to happen on a multitude of different levels. It makes no sense to think you are aiding development by donating free technology like computers to those who lack the skills to utilise this technology effectively.
In this particular case, Ntlemo underwent the Intel Teach Program, a professional development program designed to help teachers integrate technology effectively in the classroom with the objective of helping students build 21st century skills. Ntlemo felt she really benefited from the training and following her success, many other teachers did the program, to help “conquer their technophobia”.
This training program exposed the teachers to new approaches for creating assessment tools and aligning lessons with educational learning goals and standards. Additionally, they discover new ways to incorporate the use of the Internet, Web page design, and student projects as vehicles for powerful learning.
As a result of the Intel Teach Program, Ntlemo says that technology is now an integral part of the curriculum at DZJ Mthebula High School, and project based learning is the norm. The training program revolutionised the way the teachers used the computers – a wonderful resource which until then were being completely underused. Ntlemo says the program “has revolutionised the way we teach.”
So what does a story such as this one teach us? It teaches us that we need to have a wholistic approach to development, and that development occurs within a particular context – such as lack of digital literacy. We need to understand the contexts of the communities needing developments in ICTs so that development does not become a worthless endeavour but rather a meaningful process of change.
To find out more on some of the interesting ICT development projects in Africa, visit the following links:
1. Un Economic Commissions for Africa
2. Acacia: Communities and the Information Society in Africa Program
3. APC Women’s networking support program
4. World Bank: Africa and the knowledge economy
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
World Information Society Day passed us by…
This week I visited UNESCO's Communication and Information homepage , only to discover that the 17 May was World Information Society Day - a fact which had completely passed the Rhodes new media class by. As young people studying new media and exploring this notion of the ‘Information Society’, it seemed embarrassing we didn’t even know the day existed. As far as I’m concerned this day actually went unnoticed in South Africa as a whole, a rather disturbing realisation considering the focus of WISD is supposedly those on the furthest end of the digital divide.
That said, what is WISD all about; does it have any real significance? The UNESCO site says the day is celebrated each year to remind the world of the “vision of the World Summit on the Information Society to build ‘a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society’ based on fundamental human rights”.
That’s fantastic… but how is this day reminding the world of this vision if we aren’t aware of the day and what it means? This worries me, considering the vision they speak of starts seeming more like hot air than actual policy-making and active development and change programmes.
Judging from the links in and around UNESCO’s information about WISD, I get the impression it was more resolutions and re-affirming of previous development plans in the global ICT realm than real action. For instance, the message from UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, urged “policy-makers and industry leaders to put their minds together, and to work cooperatively with children and youth to produce suitable technologies, applications and services to facilitate access to information and communications technologies”.
He noted that young people are the driving force behind innovation in the development and use of new technologies, but the digital chasm leaves many unable to capitalise fully on the benefits of globalization. He emphasised that “young people everywhere must have equal opportunities to rise out of poverty and illiteracy and to realize their full potential”.
I agree of course, but the question remains: what is really being done on a practical level? How are organisations like UNESCO, which should hold responsibility for helping to facilitate ICT development globally, actually aiding this development? I wonder how many youth in Africa were aware of this grand notion of a WISD? How many will be empowered to the extent that they can really be the “driving force behind innovation in the development and use of new technologies”? I don’t mean to be cynical, and I recognise the need for strategy and goal-making, but if this has no real impact then we’ve completely missed the point. I hope WISD resolves to be the global promise, with a global reach and real affects next year.
That said, what is WISD all about; does it have any real significance? The UNESCO site says the day is celebrated each year to remind the world of the “vision of the World Summit on the Information Society to build ‘a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society’ based on fundamental human rights”.
That’s fantastic… but how is this day reminding the world of this vision if we aren’t aware of the day and what it means? This worries me, considering the vision they speak of starts seeming more like hot air than actual policy-making and active development and change programmes.
Judging from the links in and around UNESCO’s information about WISD, I get the impression it was more resolutions and re-affirming of previous development plans in the global ICT realm than real action. For instance, the message from UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, urged “policy-makers and industry leaders to put their minds together, and to work cooperatively with children and youth to produce suitable technologies, applications and services to facilitate access to information and communications technologies”.
He noted that young people are the driving force behind innovation in the development and use of new technologies, but the digital chasm leaves many unable to capitalise fully on the benefits of globalization. He emphasised that “young people everywhere must have equal opportunities to rise out of poverty and illiteracy and to realize their full potential”.
I agree of course, but the question remains: what is really being done on a practical level? How are organisations like UNESCO, which should hold responsibility for helping to facilitate ICT development globally, actually aiding this development? I wonder how many youth in Africa were aware of this grand notion of a WISD? How many will be empowered to the extent that they can really be the “driving force behind innovation in the development and use of new technologies”? I don’t mean to be cynical, and I recognise the need for strategy and goal-making, but if this has no real impact then we’ve completely missed the point. I hope WISD resolves to be the global promise, with a global reach and real affects next year.
Thursday, 17 May 2007
ICTs, Development and the New Economy: an introduction
In the following weeks I will be blogging on the topic of ‘ICTs, development and the new economy,’ a topic of great significance in a continent largely lagging behind in the digital age. We seem to be facing the unfortunate reality that the telecommunication revolution is increasing the divide between the wealthy and the poor, “creating two distinct classes of information haves and information have-nots” (Sonaike, 2004:41). This is disturbing considering the potential digital developments have to facilitate and encourage development – a potential governments, NGOs and Intergovernmental organisations should be harnessing. The digital revolution can be used to the benefit of those needing access to better information and can provide those who traditionally have been voiceless, to have their voices heard – if only we focus on making this a priority.
We need to understand that a so-called ‘information society’ cannot be measured according to the extent of internet access available in a country, but rather how and to what effect people are able to use these technologies. In Africa, although research shows all 54 countries on the continent have Internet access at least in their capital cities, “the global impact of their connectivity is negligible” (Sonaike, 2004:41). It is clear that, “having access to the Internet and being active participants in the digital revolution are two different things” (Sonaike, 2004:42), if you consider that computers in Africa are mostly used for secretarial work, and the Internet is mostly used for personal email transactions. This is in sharp contrast to ‘Northern’ countries like England and America, who are driving the digital revolution, shaping and determining information on the web, which is disseminated globally and impacts on people around the world.
My following blogs will address this notion of the ‘digital divide’; which refers to disparities in access to, and usage of, the telephone, computers and Internet within and between countries. We need to keep in mind that this divide is experienced on a variety of social levels – from income, education, age, gender, race, occupation, geographic location, language group and many other ‘divides’. Aside from the clear differences between third and first world countries, there are clear inequalities within African countries, with those currently benefiting from the Internet being an affluent “minority, urban-based elite” (Sonaike, 2004:42).
I will be addressing some of the reasons for Africa’s current lagging position in the global technology context – such as the lack of:
- Appropriate telecommunication infrastructure on the continent (and high cost of computer hardware, low bandwidth, restriction of Internet use to major cities)
- Material access i.e. possession of computers, network connections, etc
- Digital experience
- Skills access
Perhaps most importantly I want to address ideas as to how the new medium of technology can be utilised to the benefit of existing development priorities in Africa. Ideas as to how technology like the Internet can be “a partner, rather than a cog, in Africa’s development effort” (Sonaike, 2004: 43) are essential if we take development seriously – and we should. The implication of neglecting such efforts is an increasing world of inequalities, one where Africa at large will continue to suffer.
Works Cited
Sonaike, S. 2004. “The Internet and the Dilemma of Africa’s Development”. International Communication Gazette; 66; 41.
We need to understand that a so-called ‘information society’ cannot be measured according to the extent of internet access available in a country, but rather how and to what effect people are able to use these technologies. In Africa, although research shows all 54 countries on the continent have Internet access at least in their capital cities, “the global impact of their connectivity is negligible” (Sonaike, 2004:41). It is clear that, “having access to the Internet and being active participants in the digital revolution are two different things” (Sonaike, 2004:42), if you consider that computers in Africa are mostly used for secretarial work, and the Internet is mostly used for personal email transactions. This is in sharp contrast to ‘Northern’ countries like England and America, who are driving the digital revolution, shaping and determining information on the web, which is disseminated globally and impacts on people around the world.
My following blogs will address this notion of the ‘digital divide’; which refers to disparities in access to, and usage of, the telephone, computers and Internet within and between countries. We need to keep in mind that this divide is experienced on a variety of social levels – from income, education, age, gender, race, occupation, geographic location, language group and many other ‘divides’. Aside from the clear differences between third and first world countries, there are clear inequalities within African countries, with those currently benefiting from the Internet being an affluent “minority, urban-based elite” (Sonaike, 2004:42).
I will be addressing some of the reasons for Africa’s current lagging position in the global technology context – such as the lack of:
- Appropriate telecommunication infrastructure on the continent (and high cost of computer hardware, low bandwidth, restriction of Internet use to major cities)
- Material access i.e. possession of computers, network connections, etc
- Digital experience
- Skills access
Perhaps most importantly I want to address ideas as to how the new medium of technology can be utilised to the benefit of existing development priorities in Africa. Ideas as to how technology like the Internet can be “a partner, rather than a cog, in Africa’s development effort” (Sonaike, 2004: 43) are essential if we take development seriously – and we should. The implication of neglecting such efforts is an increasing world of inequalities, one where Africa at large will continue to suffer.
Works Cited
Sonaike, S. 2004. “The Internet and the Dilemma of Africa’s Development”. International Communication Gazette; 66; 41.
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