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Up one levelUsing ICTs to enhance the skills of health workers in rural areas
In April 2003, IICD joined Cordaid and CEDHA in organizing a conference to explore ways in which ICTs can be used to develop and deliver continuing medical education to healthcare workers in rural areas of Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Here we introduce and report back on some of the issues that were discussed.
E-learning experts in Tanzania call for cheaper bandwidth
“Bandwidth will always be expensive if we depend on satellite,” said one of the participants of the SWOPNet meeting.
Thematic Networking brochure (English)
Thematic Networking at IICD Sharing knowledge about ICTs within development sectors
UNDP Human Development Report 1999
On the 12th of July 1999 the UNDP released a new Human Development Report: ‘People, not just profits’. The Human Development Reports give an original approach to Human Development. In 1990 the concept and measurement of human development was defined. After that, every year a report was published on economical, political, social and other factors determining human development. The overall trend is clear: most countries have shown significant advances in human development over the last two decades, even many of those that have suffered setbacks in per capita income. Between 1975 and 1990, human development, as measured by the Human Development Index, improved in every country of the world. The newest report focuses on the positive and negative aspects of globalisation and the importance of keeping in mind what all international co-operation is about: People, not just profits. This vision includes the role of ICT’s. ICT’s are of central importance for human development in a globalised environment. Yet the gap between the knows and the know-nots seems to be widening.
IICD supports local content media award
AISI Media Awards encourage more informed coverage of the information society and ICT for development issues in Africa. Two IICD awards will recognise innovative local content initiatives in Africa.
Negocios electrónicos para ONGs
El sector de la economía con fines de lucro ha invertido billones de dólares buscando maneras de lograr un desempeño exitoso en la economía del conocimiento. Las nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TICs) modifican los costos, extienden los mercados, expanden el flujo de información y cambian los límites de las organizaciones.
IICD: An Evaluation for the Netherlands Department General of International Cooperation (DGIS)
The introduction of ICTs in developing countries raises a whole range of questions. Which role should development aid play in this field? Is an ICT policy not by definition a technology driven policy? How can it become demand driven, and how can it help to benefit those population groups most in need? IICD was founded to find answers to some of these questions.
Ugandan schools need to start operating like ICT companies
The introduction of ICTs into education is a leading goal of donor organisations and NGOs in Uganda. Peter Lievense explores lessons from IICD-supported projects.
How can ICTs create livelihood opportunities in Zambia?
From 7-11 October, IICD and its local partners organised an ICT Roundtable workshop to examine how ICTs might make a difference to local livelihoods.
Building Digital Opportunities: ICT Case Studies
OneWorld is carrying out case studies to help give decisionmakers a clear understanding of how civil society is actually using information and communications technologies, and what the impact is.
IICD moves into new office building
As of July 14, 2003 IICD will be located in another building within The Hague. IICD will move to Raamweg 5.
Train-the-Trainer workshop held in Tanzania
21 March 2002 IICD's national training partners from Bolivia, Ghana, Jamaica, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia recently participated in a Train-the-Trainer workshop in Tanzania. Hosted by Soft-Tech Consultants Ltd, the programme focused on both ICT skills development and project management.
Mali-NTIC - a web space on IICTs in Mali
Afribone and IICD recently launched a new website on ICTs for development in Mali.
Mali-NTIC - un nouveau espace sur les NTIC au Mali
Afribone en collaboration avec IICD ont lancé un nouveau site sur les NTIC et le développement au Mali.
Meeting real information needs through telecentres
Telecentres are seen as a means of providing affordable access to the Internet for the poor. But what would the poor do with access to the Internet? Community consultation exercises recently carried out by Youth Alive in Soweto, South Africa, and Armonia in Mexico City, tried to gain an understanding of what young people really need.
eCommerce and craft producers
While some companies and organisations have found new ways of working and conducting business to benefit from the Internet and e-commerce, many companies have found that e-commerce has failed to deliver in terms of actual sales of products or services. Even Internet companies such as Amazon have failed to make a profit yet. Gamos and Big World are working on a DFID funded project to investigate if and how craft producers in less developed countries can take advantage of the Internet and ecommerce to sell their goods.
E-networking energy and the environment in Tanzania
With support from IICD and Hivos, the Tanzania Traditional Energy Development and Environment Organisation (TaTEDO) is using ICTs to improve communication and knowledge sharing among Tanzanian organisastions working in this area.
Tanzania's E-ThinkTank
According to Tanzania government official David Sawe: "the growing online community of the Tanzania E-ThinkTank members bears witness to the unique value of information networking among people within the field of ICT for Development."
Technologies for education: potential, parameters and prospects
This book provides a global overview of how information and communication technologies (ICTs) relate to education. Case studies examine how ICTs are integrated into learning systems in different settings.
Global Teenager Project launched in Tanzania
On 5 September 2001, the Global Teenager Project began its activities in Tanzania when three schools decided to participate in the Learning Circles.
Assessment tool: ICT & development - help or hindrance?
Issues that donors and developing countries will confront in making effective use of ICT.
Overcoming the urban-rural divide in Uganda
I-Network Uganda provides a platform for sharing knowledge and forming partnerships around the use of ICT for development.
July 2003 edition of iConnect Ghana
ICONNECT GHANA is a quartely online, offline and e-mail knowledge service designed to enable the use of ICTs as a tool for Ghana's development.
ICT and Flood Disaster Relief in Mozambique
An experience in using the internet in an attempt to help people cope with the floods in Mozambique and to request assistance with a translation into French to assist people in Madagascar also suffering from floods.
Internet in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya and Uganda: An Update
Russell Southwood comments on his visit to Africa and presents his findings and impressions.
UNDP's SU/TCDC Launches WIDE Initiative
SU/TCDC, established within UNDP by the United Nations General Assembly in 1974, is launching the WIDE Initiative in support of, and to further, technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC).
'We' the participants of the Information Society Learning Circle 2003 state that:
‘We need a clear understanding that the Information society is beyond the world of the Internet and that technology is a means to an end in the Information Society.’
Le rôle de l'information dans le développement de la filière karité et les NTIC au Burkina Faso
Tidiani OUEDRAOGO, de nationalité burkinabé, conduit actuellement une recherche sur le rôle de l’information dans le développement de la filière karité.
Global Teenager report - Learning Circles October through December 1999
This is a report about the Global Teenager Learning Circles that have taken place from the end of October through the beginning of December 1999. The report includes emails from teachers and students and gives an insight into the kind of exchanges that have taken place in the Learning Circles.
Mbeki Appeals for Internet and Trade Support
The South African President, Thabo Mbeki, has called for an international initiative to prevent Africa being left behind by the revolution on the internet.
Health Ghana - Summary Report
This report provides a summary of the outcomes of the ICT Roundtable Workshop on Healthcare provision in Ghana held in Accra in October 1999. It contains an overview of the objectives, input for ICT policy in the Health sector in Ghana and project ideas resulting from the workshop
Bridging the Information Divide
While the information divide grows daily, a dedicated group of people is working together to build bridges to span it -- and eventually to close it. Their reasons are as diverse as the organizations they represent. But their ultimate goal, to bring knowledge and information to those in the farthest reaches of the globe, often the poorest and least fortunate, brings benefit to all.
Research-in-progress on the transfer of electronic network technology
At present, there is hardly any empirical research on the transfer of electronic network technology. Most literature tells merely about technological possibilities. It generally ignores the implementation process, actual use and institutionalization - and thus the real benefits and constraints. Secondly, there are few analyses that integrate the complete socio-cultural context in which the transfer process takes place. One of the implications is that the studies usually address only the role of the actors in the recipient's country. They completely ignore the part that the actors in the North play, and the influence of the North-South context on the process. Third, most transfer research focuses on agriculture and industrial sectors. In those cases, the main issue is economic results and eventually the creation of an endogenous technology base. There is not much research on the NGO/civil society sector, where the aim of technology transfer is to contribute to the social or political activities of NGOs. Another aspect often ignored is the question whether (and how) the grassroots will benefit from the fact that NGOs acquire access to computer networks. Fourth, transfer research generally lacks gender sensitivity. Implementation of new technology in the South often yields less benefits for women. Women suffer many problems in obtaining and maintaining access to the technology. When they succeed, they encounter more problems than male users do. Finally, most research on North-South transfer conceptualizes technology and transfer as 'black boxes', ignoring the socio-cultural aspects embedded in them. Studies on other technological processes during the last twenty years demonstrated that such approaches are biased and fail important insights. Below you can find a descri[tion of the theoretical framework.
Health Ghana - Reference Report
This report is developed in preparation of the ICT Roundtable Workshop on health care provision. It also provides an overview of ICT policies and projects in the health sector in Ghana
Schools Sustainability Issues
Results of discussions on strategies to work towards sustainable school-based IT labs.
Gender and ICT Awards accepting applications
The Gender and ICT Awards aim to honor and bring international recognition to the innovative and effective projects by women to use ICTs for the promotion of gender equality and/or women’s empowerment.
Jamaican Government promoting Open Source
"The Government of Jamaica is promoting the use of open source technology in a bid to encourage the use of more affordable computer operating systems and application software," reports the Jamaica Observer.
World Wide Web Week to support ICT-enabled development
IICD and its Tanzanian national training partners Learn-IT and UCC are organising a ‘World Wide Web Week’ from June 23 to 27, in Dar es Salaam.
Minister: Use ICT to reach rural communities
Tanzanian editors receive training to sharpen ICT skills.
Programmes-Pays d'IICD
Mise en œuvre d’un développement facilité par les Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication
Visit public event 'Fill the gap!' in Amsterdam
On Thursday November 27, Hivos Oneworld and IICD are organising a one-day public event on the information society, featuring a Forum and a Market.
Mensenrechten twistpunt bij discussie informatie maatschappij
EU op de bres voor privacy en vrijheid van meningsuiting bij VN-top WSIS.
I Feria TIC en la Educación en Oruro, Bolivia
Estudiantes de Primaria y Secundaria compartieron con la comunidad en general los trabajos realizados que pretende utilizar las TIC como una herramienta novedosa.
Compte rendu de la recherche sur les usages des NTIC et la médiation des savoirs en milieu rural au Bénin et au Mali
Avec l’appui d’IICD, Ken Lohento a effectué une recherche sur les usages des NTIC et la médiation des savoirs en milieu rural au Bénin et au Mali. Il nous fait part de ses résultats.
Train the trainers programme
From June 5 to June 16 2000, the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) will invite its national training partners to participate in an intensive 'Train-the-Trainers' programme on the IICD premises in The Netherlands. Around fifteen training partners from organisations in Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda and Jamaica will take part in this highly interactive course. Participants already have a solid background in ICT and training. The course's aim is to provide insight into methodologies and concepts of self-directed and lifelong learning. It will focus on the use of interactive courseware materials, i.e. computer-based training courseware programmes, other ICT learning resources, as well as financial, administrative and management-related issues.
IICD brochure in English
This document is a two pager on the mission and activities of IICD. This is the English document. The Spanish version can be found below in the download section.
Taller 'Capacitando al Capacitador' en Santa Cruz, Bolivia
En un ambiente cálido como es Santa Cruz, el 25 de noviembre iniciamos el taller “Capacitando al Capacitador” organizado por Captic, uno de los proyectos que conforma la gran familia Tic Bolivia.
ICT Roundtable Conference Burkina Faso - Summary report
This is a summary report of the National ICT Roundtable held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in January 1998. It contains an overview of the objectives of the Roundtable conference, the input it created and project ideas resulting from the workshop. In addition, it outlines the planned follow-up activities.
ICT Roundtable Conference Jamaica (1998) - Summary report
This is a summary report of the National ICT Roundtable held in Kingston, Jamaica in July 1998. It contains an overview of the objectives of the Roundtable conference, the input it created for ICT policy in Jamaica, and project ideas resulting from the conference. In addition, it outlines the planned follow-up activities.
National ICT Roundtable Conference Tanzania (1998) - Summary report
This is a summary report of the National ICT Roundtable held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in June 1998. It contains an overview of the objectives of the Roundtable conference, the input it created for ICT policy in Tanzania, and project ideas resulting from the conference. In addition, it outlines the planned follow-up activities.
ICT sustainability cases show that ICTs can enhance development
Case studies of 12 development projects examined how NGOs are seeking to mediate ICTs to their wider, non-connected communities.
Lessons from the field: ICTs in agriculture
This article from the What Works series introduces ways in which ICTs are used to provide relevant agricultural information in rural areas.
Helping producers make money from digital information
In an effort to strengthen the negotiating position of agricultural producers, many technology-based information providers are introducing new ICTs into the balance. Russell Southwood explores the issues.
Examining local eGovernment training needs in Africa
The capacity implications of new ICTs for local governments and municipalities in Africa were explored at a recent meeting hosted by CAFRAD in Morocco.
From Beedees to CDs: Snapshots from a Journey through India's Rural Knowledge Centres
Rural ICT centres, if properly designed and managed, can be much more than just ‘access centres.’ They can become community owned ‘knowledge centres’ that directly and indirectly empower people living in rural areas. This was the conclusion reached by participants in the first South-South travelling workshop on ICT-enabled development, organised by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. (doc: 559kb, pdf: 748kb)
Global Teenager supports rural community in Zimbabwe
The Ntabazinduna community in rural Matebeleland is set to benefit from a computer Laboratory worth millions of Zimbabwe dollars. This story is based on an article reported by the Zimbabwean Sunday Times.
RADA develops 'one stop shop' on agri-information
Jamaica's Rural Agricultural Development Authority is developing an Agricultural Business Information System to provide data on crop production and marketing. An article on this IICD-supported project was written in the Gleaner newspaper.
Helping producers make money from digital information
In an effort to strengthen the negotiating position of agricultural producers, many technology-based information providers are introducing new ICTs into the balance. In this IICD research brief, Russell Southwood explores the issues.
Les Kitois et le net'
Sirandou.net, financé par IICD, fourni par Datatech et mis en route en décembre dernier est le premier cybercafé de Kita, au Mali. Sirandou.net emploie deux jeunes femmes auxquelles Mali-ntic a tendu son micro.
India's move to e-governance exposes ancient system flaws
BANGALORE, INDIA (PANOS) - India has rushed headlong into a romance with electronic governance but, in a country struggling to emerge from centuries of entrenched inequalities and poverty, its outcome is baffling observers.
Open source software: take it or leave it?
A new report by IICD showcases a few of the many promising initiatives and illustrates some of the challenges associated with Open Source implementation in Africa.
Improving rural health delivery in Zambia using ICTs
The E-Brain Forum of Zambia and the Computer Society of Zambia held a discussion on improving health delivery through the use of ICTs.
Funding available for development and human rights software
The Open Society Institute's Information Program is calling for proposals for software tools designed to meet the mission objectives of civil society organisations and actors.
President of Sénégal calls for digital solidarity
"The great magic about information and communication technologies has been to suggest the measurement of distances in megabit per second instead of miles."
Información, Tecnología y la Pequeña Empresa
Esta guía está pensada para el personal de las agencias que cooperan con el desarrollo de pequeñas, medianas y micro empresas en los países en desarrollo.
Bolivia ICT roundtable on agriculture (2002) - Reference Report
A report on the status of ICT in the agriculture sector in Bolivia (in Spanish).
Bolivia ICT roundtable on agriculture (2002) - Summary Report
A second Roundtable workshop on agriculture for small farmers was held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia in July 2002. The report includes a series of policy recommendations on ICTs in agriculture in Bolivia as well as 9 project ideas (in Spanish).
Bolivia ICT roundtable on environment and sustainable economic development (2000) - Summary Report
Summary report of Bolivia ICT Roundtable on NGOs, environment, and sustainable economic development, 7-11 November 2000.
Bolivia ICT roundtable on environment and sustainable economic development (2000) - Reference Report
An overview of ICTs for development in Bolivia with a focus on their use by NGOs.
Shaping public-private ICT partnerships
In October 2001, the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit began work on a DFID-funded research project to identify and inform public and private sector policy makers of the factors shaping successful pro-poor information society partnerships between business, government, the public sector and civil society.
Louder voices: Strengthening developing country participation in international ICT decision-making
International decisions about information and communication technologies (ICTs) have far-reaching implications for developing countries. Yet developing countries are poorly represented when agendas are set and decisions made. CTO and Panos London suggest ways to give developing countries a louder voice in these processes.
Logiciels Libres: À Prendre ou à Laisser? - Un état des lieux du logiciel libre en Afrique
Une étude visant à faciliter une prise de décision éclairée concernant les systèmes de technologies de l’information et de la communication.
Technologie de l'information et de la communication : Un manuel pour les entrepreneurs des pays en voie de développement
Ce manuel a été conçu pour aider les entrepreneurs à connaître ces nouvelles technologies et à comprendre comment ils pourraient les appliquer dans leurs entreprises.
The world's biggest ever lesson
On April 9, the ‘world's biggest ever lesson’ will take place. In more than 50 countries, in thousands of different classrooms, adult education centres, university campuses, churches and village halls, the same lesson is taught to the world.
Telecommunications - Development and the Market: the Promises and the Problems
Around 80 percent of the world's people do not have regular access to a telephone. Enthusiasts claim that telecommunications in the modern global economy offer a new dawn of economic opportunity for developing countries. Do late-starters in telecoms 'risk exclusion from the global economy' or are the claims exaggerated? A background article on this subject is published at the following URL: http://www.oneworld.org/panos/briefing/telecoms.htm
Bringing computers to Zambian schools
Chilufya Musosha visited three Global Teenager schools in Zambia to examine how they set up and run their computer labs. Read how they mobilise school children to tackle the sustainability issue.
Egypt second fastest-growing computer market
CAIRO, (November 17, 1998 12:33 p.m. EST) - Next only to China, Egypt has the second fastest-growing market for personal computers in the world and the highest growth rate in the Arab world, senior managers from Intel Corporation said Tuesday.
Applications for visas, passports ... Via Internet @ GINKS LAUNCH
Nana Akomea, Information Minister of Ghana, stated that applications are part of the government's nation-wide plan to develop the ICT in the running of its machinery.
E-inclusion, globalisation and new forms of learning
When discussing e-inclusion, different angles can be chosen; theoretical, practical, philosophical, etcetera. Nathan Ducastel from IICD chose a practical point of view in his article on e-inclusion.
IICD partnership activities in 2000
In order to fulfil the needs of its local partners as effectively as possible, IICD is actively pursuing strategic partnership agreements with various public, private and non-profit organisations.
IICD Global Teenager Project activities in 2000
In 2000, the Global Teenager Project was extended to 13 countries, and a further eight countries are in the process of becoming participants. In total, some 2000 students at 75 schools are now active participants in this international learning programme.
IICD knowledge sharing activities in 2000
This extract from IICD's 2000 annual report introduces the institute’s information, learning, and exchange activities.
IICD capacity development activities in 2000
IICD’s Capacity Development programme aims to enhance ICT-related skills and institutional capacities of local partners. In this respect, it supports the capacity of local training organisations to conduct autonomous Capacity Development operations.
Access with content: Supporting rural communities in Zambia
Participants in a 1998 ICT Roundtable workshop in Zambia highlighted the communication and information problems faced by Zambia’s estimated 150,000 commercial farmers.
Spreading the use of ICTs in Tanzanian NGOs
In November 1999, IICD and Hivos jointly sponsored an ICT Roundtable workshop on ICTs for NGOs. Held in Tanzania, people from around twenty Tanzanian and Ugandan NGOs participated in the brainstorming event.
The challenge of globalisation: a speech by Jacob Malihoja
Jacob Malihoja, Managing Director of Joyous Computer Training in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was invited to present his views on The Challenge of Globalisation and the Digital Divide: Creating Linkages Knowledge, Opportunities and Wealth at a conference organised by the Kenya Information Society (KIS) on 24th October, 2002 in Nairobi, Kenya. Joyous Computer Training is one of IICD's National Training Partners in Tanzania. In his talk, Mr. Malihoja described the relationship between ICTs and globalisation, and the impact of these trends in different parts of the world.
ICT Roundtable workshop in Ecuador on livelihood opportunities
During the Roundtable workshop (June 17 - 20, 2003), the new IICD Country Programme Ecuador is being launched in Ibarra, north of Quito.
NTIC et Entreprenariat - l'Art de concrétiser ses projets
Inscrivez vous a l'atelier "Entrepreneurs d'aujourd'hui et de demain dans les branches de l'Internet, des Télécommunications et de l'Informatique" en Mali.
Open Source Software as a Tool for Development
Last month an initiative was started by a small group of people who are members of the Internet Societal Task Force (ISTF). They are currently setting up a working group around the idea that open source software is a good tool in the promotion of access to the Internet.
