We use the knowledge and experiences that have been gathered over the years to further support our partners, and to development new initiatives. By becoming an expertise-based organisation, we are able to function effectively as a strategic partner, and as an adviser.

Data (December 2006) has been gathered on all our Country Programmes, except for Jamaica, and covers all sectors, except for environment as there are too few projects too evaluate.

Focusing on the less privileged people

One of the great strengths of IICD is its commitment to working with partners from all segments of society. Partnerships have been formed with grass roots organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), governments and private sector organisations. In 2006, grass roots organisations and NGOs working directly with the poor at the community level accounted for 51% of IICD’s partners. In the private sector, IICD partners include small enterprises, such as farming cooperatives or small ICT training centres. Within governments, the national sector ministries are often appropriate local partners.

IICD’s Country Programmes are currently reaching over 250,000 end-users and an estimated 2,500,000 beneficiaries. End users are those people who, thanks to IICD-supported projects, now have access to the Internet or a computer. This can be at one of the 250 information centres established in the different countries, or one of the participating schools, hospitals and government offices. Beneficiaries represent a larger group of people who benefit indirectly from IICD-supported activities, for example by listening to radio programmes or visiting websites set up by the partner organisations.

The increased attention given to reaching people in rural areas, low income users and women is reflected in the profile of the end users. The majority (70%) of end users live in rural areas. However, gender balance remains a priority – in 2006 only 38% of end users were female. In 2006, 48% of end users indicated that their income was below-average, whilst 49% indicated an average income.

Integrating projects and networks at the institutional level contributes directly to the long-term sustainability of ICT initiatives undertaken by partners. However, at the sector level major challenges are found. Integrating ICT within sectors requires time and considerable discussions with both government ministries and development partners.

Impact and lessons learned by IICD

Education
Impact and lessons learned by IICD projects within the education sector emphasize ICT in the teaching and learning processes. This can range from preparing teaching materials and enhancing the school administration system to improving the ability of both teachers and students to use ICT in the classroom. The focus is on primary and secondary school teachers, and secondary school children. Introducing ICT into the classroom has many benefits. If children are aware of, and can use, ICT learning materials and resources it will enhance their future education and increase their career prospects. In 2006, 16 projects in 5 countries were surveyed and analysed. Respondents included teachers and students within primary and secondary education. Continuing the trend seen in previous years, satisfaction with the technical support and capacity development provided through the projects was high. The vast majority of participating teachers and students felt that the project goals were being achieved. The majority of participants were positive about their participation in the education programmes. This included increased awareness of the potential for ICT in education, and individual and institutional empowerment. Increasingly, respondents are indicating that ICT is directly strengthening the learning and teaching process in the classroom.

Governance
IICD’s ICT-enabled governance initiatives in Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia include helping local communities to voice their needs, learn about public services and pressurize policymakers into being more responsive. IICD also facilitates political efficiency, using ICT to improve data and work-flows. By enhancing information flows between and within local communities and districts, IICD supports and improves decentralisation processes. In 2006, 9 projects in Ghana, Bolivia, Tanzania and Uganda were surveyed and analysed. Participants of these projects indicated that they were highly satisfied. They reported that their feelings of awareness and empowerment were also enhanced through the ICT in governance projects. A more varied result is found regarding the direct contribution to governance objectives such as transparency and the improved quality of government information. Here, partners find that the complicated structure and political environment requires stronger project implementation support to get the expected impact.

Health
All of the projects being carried out by IICD’s partners in the health sector address basic health care problems in rural regions, where people are beyond the reach of urban-based specialised staff. The scope of IICD’s programme in the health sector is rapidly growing as a result of collaboration with Cordaid. In 2006, 5 projects in Mali, Uganda and Tanzania were surveyed and analysed. Each of these projects addressed different needs such as patient, hospital and health management information systems, long distance diagnoses and long distance learning for health workers. Results from 2005 and 2006 indicated that whilst levels of satisfaction, awareness and empowerment remained high in 2006, the level of impact had slowed down. Furthermore, the increase in the sector-specific impact of ICT on the quality of information is very encouraging.

Livelihoods
The majority of IICD’s livelihoods projects involve the use of ICT applications in agriculture. The projects often provide farmers with information related to production and market prices. ICT is also being used to link farmers in rural areas with each other and with key national and international markets. For the 34 projects surveyed in 2006, it is notable that all impact indicators have improved, after a dip in 2005. However, economic impact, which is the most relevant indicator in this sector, is still below 50%. This can be explained in part by the high expectations of the farming community, as well as the difficulty in deriving instant economic benefits from ICT in the short term.