Building Digital Opportunities: ICT Case Studies

The case studies are being carried out as part of the Building Digital Opportunities (BDO) programme. Over a dozen organisations in South Asia, Southern Africa and Central America will be profiled. Their activities vary from offering wireless communication equipment to tribal nomads and teaching slum children how to use a computer, to training NGOs how to build a website and online broadcasting of radio programmes. By using the same structure and definitions, the conclusions on impact and sustainability are fairly comparable.

Published Case Studies

Read the full studies

Afronet (the Inter-African Network for Human Rights and Development) - Lusaka, Zambia
Afronet uses a website and e-mail for the dissemination of information and communication with their stakeholders. Internally they have PC's and access to e-mail and Internet to make their work more efficient. Published July 22, 2003.

Indev - Delhi, India
Indev is an initiative of the British Council to address problems faced by development managers in accessing development information on India. Indev uses ICTs and the ItrainOnline website to enhance their training workshops. Published July 9, 2003.

Deepalaya - Delhi, India
Deepalaya is an Indian NGO whose mission is to promote the overall development of unprivileged communities, with a particular focus on education. Deepalaya. They offer computer classes to their students, starting at the age of 10 (6th grade). Computer training is also included in their vocational programme. Published June 24, 2003.

Future Case Studies

RLEK (Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra) - Dehra Dun, India
RLEK has implemented a project that uses a wireless communication system to improve the exchange of information and communication between isolated tribal communities.

KCR (Kothmale Community Radio) - Kothmale, Sri Lanka
Kothmale has and Internet Project through which information from the internet is used for their radio programmes, internet access is offered to the community and people are trained in the use of several ICT applications.

Video SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association) - Ahmedabad, India
Video SEWA shows that even an apparently sophisticated technology like video can be handled and used effectively by illiterate women to raise awareness and for lobby and advocacy.

COPPADES - Kathmandu, Nepal
COPPADES is an NGO in Nepal, which is trying to address the problem of lack of IT access and education in the rural areas of Nepal with focus on students and youth.

eBrain (eBrain Forum of Zambia) - Lusaka, Zambia
eBrain is a Zambian platform for information sharing, networking and lobbying in the field of ICT for development. eBrain has a website and a quarterly newsletter and also organizes monthly offline meetings.

Channel Africa - Johannesburg, South Africa
Channel Africa broadcasts news from Africa via shortwave, satellite and internet. Current affairs, economics, technology, education, environment, tourism and sport are all covered by Channel Africa.

Women'sNet- Johannesburg, South Africa
Women'sNet offers a support and networking program designed to enable (South) African women to use the internet to find the people, issues, resources and tools needed for women's social activism.

NGO-CC (Non-Governmental Organisation's Co-ordinating Committee) - Lusaka, Zambia
NGO-CC is establishing computer centres in the provinces of Zambia in order to give women access to the possibilities the Internet offers.