ICTs for Development (ICT4D) 4/19/2017 ICTs for Development (ICT4D) Multimedia Training Kit <www.itrainonline.org>

Aims for this session Participants will be able to: 4/19/2017 Aims for this session Participants will be able to: Explain the general issues and engage in debate about the role of ICTs in development Describe challenges of implementing ICTs in developing countries Be able to access, assess and use basic ICT indicators

Defining the digital divide 4/19/2017 Defining the digital divide The term digital divide refers to the increasing access gap between those who have and those who do not have: access to information and communication technologies; access to content that benefits them socially and economically; skills to take advantage of ICT services; the ability to afford to pay for digital services.

4/19/2017 What is ICT4D? ICT4D is concerned with using new and existing technologies to extend the reach of communication and information resources. Facilitating access to ICT resources, and promoting their effective use makes these information and communication initiatives much more complex and dynamic.

4/19/2017 Drivers of ICT4D The Missing Link (extending basic telecom infrastructure to all) Rise of Civil Society Communication Rights Globalization and Information Networks

APC internet rights charter 4/19/2017 APC internet rights charter The Right to Communicate Freedom of expression and information exchange Diversity, ownership and control of content Free/open source software, technology development and intellectual property rights Privacy Global, regional and national governance of the Internet Awareness, protection and realisation of rights ASK THE STUDENTS: Should access to telecommunications be considered a ‘Right’?

Four pillars of the CRIS campaign 4/19/2017 Four pillars of the CRIS campaign Communication Rights in the Information Society: Creating spaces for democratic environments; Reclaiming the use of knowledge and the public domain; Reclaiming civil and political rights in the information society; and Securing equitable and affordable access. <www.crisinfo.org>

Different ICT4D components 4/19/2017 Different ICT4D components access to ICTs ability to use ICTs actual use of ICTs impact of using ICTs.

Bridges.org – Real Access 4/19/2017 Bridges.org – Real Access Affordability Capacity Relevant content Integration Socio-cultural factors Trust Political will Legal and regulatory framework Local economic environment Macro economic environment

Real Access Criteria (1) 4/19/2017 Real Access Criteria (1) Affordability Is technology access affordable for people to use? Capacity Do people understand how to use technology and its potential uses? During this part of the workshop, participants should be encouraged to contribute examples and views on their own national situation with regards to the ten Real Access criteria.

Real Access Criteria (2) 4/19/2017 Real Access Criteria (2) Relevant content Is there locally relevant content, especially in terms of language? Integration Does the technology further burden people's lives or does it integrate into daily routines?

Real Access Criteria (3) 4/19/2017 Real Access Criteria (3) Socio-cultural factors Are people limited in their use of technology based on gender, race, or other socio-cultural factors? Trust Do people have confidence in and understand the implications of the technology they use, for instance in terms of privacy, security, or cybercrime?

Real Access Criteria (4) 4/19/2017 Real Access Criteria (4) Political will Is there political will in government to do what is needed to enable the integration of technology throughout society? Legal and regulatory framework How do laws and regulations affect technology use and what changes are needed to create an environment that fosters its use?

Real Access Criteria (5) 4/19/2017 Real Access Criteria (5) Local economic environment Is there a local economy that can and will sustain technology use? Macro economic environment Is national economic policy conducive to widespread technology use, for example, in terms of transparency, deregulation, investment, and labour issues?

Debate on the priority of ICTs for development – against 4/19/2017 Debate on the priority of ICTs for development – against Critics argue: ICTs are a waste of money Funding should be directed to more important areas of impact and real need There is the risk of disillusionment ICTs will not necessarily provide benefits and may infact open people up to new forms of harm There has been a significant amount of literature criticising the approach that has been followed for introducing ICTs in developing countries. That approach had been based on a technology supply-side solution, which took little account of the needs and information and communication demands of the the community or the end users. This supply side approach has generally failed, even if in some cases some benefits have derived from it. That criticism has certainly benefited some of the newer more holistic approaches that has become at least the norm in ICT programmes plans, even if they are not fully implemented in reality. For the last point, gender related perpretation of harm is of particular concern.

Debate on the priority of ICTs for development – pro 4/19/2017 Debate on the priority of ICTs for development – pro Supporters argue: The digital divide will become perilously wider if ICTs are not promoted ICTs can support other social and economic goals to improve peoples lives Access to ICTs and participation in the Information Society will have far reaching benefits In particular, the presenter should discuss the notion of “network effects”. A positive network effect means, for example, that a telephone network has more value if the people you want to communicate with are also connected to the network. The more participants a network attracts, the more its value increases.   Examples of negative network effects would be a farmer not having access to market prices and competing with others who did; or exclusion from the network because ICT infrastructure reach or costs are prohibitive because of sufficient economies of scale. There is a future component to increased marginalisation and exclusion from networks.

United Nations Millennium Development Goals 4/19/2017 United Nations Millennium Development Goals 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

United Nations Millennium Development Goals 4/19/2017 United Nations Millennium Development Goals Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development. Target 18: In cooperation with the private sector make available the benefits of new technologies, specifically information and communications. Indicator 47: Telephone lines and cellular subscribers per 100 population. Indicator 48: Personal computers in use per 100 population and Internet users per 100 population.

ICTs and development goals (education) 4/19/2017 ICTs and development goals (education) ICTs as a subject: information literacy, programming and other related skills. Computer-based training and distance education Access to learning communities Access to increased and up-to-date information Development sectors and the potential for ICTs. ICT & Education: ICT is a subject that is important for young people to study as there are likely to be many future job opportunities. For example, Malaysia has a policy of having all students using a computer at school from the age of seven. ICT can support education in other subjects through Computer Based Training (CBT) and Distance Education. CBT can teach any subject at the student’s own pace, and distance education supports collaborative sharing of experience. The Internet has more information than libraries and is constantly updated. People can access the latest information and not rely on older textbooks that frequently become outdated.

ICTs and development goals (health) 4/19/2017 ICTs and development goals (health) Telemedicine: broadband applications – from health clinic to hospital Telehealth: phone and computer support for clinic management and information flows Information sharing: information and exchange on health priorities, e.g. HIV / AIDS, TB, cholera Epidemiology: statistics and information to support knowledge and disease management ICT & Health: Telemedicine supports medical procedures over broadband network connection (e.g. medical expert in city directing intervention in a rural health clinic). There are some pilot projects of this, but it is very expensive and not in widespread use in developing countries. However, Ethiopia has successfully used telemedicine to allow the few trained radiologists to give diagnoses to various hospitals. Telehealth can assist in management and procedures at clinics throughout the country. The internet can provide very good information on many health issues, especially for HIV/AIDS related areas. There are good forums and discussions to share experience and ask advice. Epidemiology: ICTs can be used to collect health information and statistics of use to national and international disease management.

ICTs and development goals (SMMEs) 4/19/2017 ICTs and development goals (SMMEs) ICTs can support routine business operations: accounts, letters, plans ICTs can be an opportunity themselves: training, support, sale, program, web Linking suppliers directly to markets: reducing role of intermediaries Info for tenders, linking SMMEs, support & funding, supply and sales chain E-Commerce opportunities ICTs and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs – small business): While ICT can support SMMEs, it should also be emphasised that ICT4D projects can also provide support to the private sector by creating awareness about services and applications; providing training necessary to create a critical mass of users; and by offering test-bed opportunities for assessing markets for new technologies and services.

ICTs and development goals (governance) 4/19/2017 ICTs and development goals (governance) Access to government information, services and processes Transparency of governance Mitigation of corruption Access to representatives: constituents direct link to members of Parliament ICT & Governance: ICTs can support the link between people and government, supporting democracy and democratic participation. However, ICTs are only a tool which requires a political will to do this. Conversely, ICTs can and are used for increasing surveillance and repression. ICTs can allow an increased link between people and their government, providing easier access to a range of government information and services. For example, visas and drivers licences can be obtained using online forms – meaning that travel to a city is not required. E-government is the term used to provide information and services online for internal efficiency and greater links to the population. ICT networks can strengthen links between citizens and the member of parliament (where there is a constituency system)

Review of the debate on ICT for development (1) 4/19/2017 Review of the debate on ICT for development (1) Although the costs of new information infrastructure are high, the future costs of not doing so are much higher ICT is a priority for development but requires national level strategies and support ICTs should be development focused A best practice formula is not possible because of developing countries diversity The key concepts to be emphasised here are: Network effects Political will Real Access criteria

Review of the debate on ICT for development (2) 4/19/2017 Review of the debate on ICT for development (2) There is general agreement that ICTs are a powerful tool for development and there is commitment from international institutions. What are some best practices for ICT implementation with a development focus? Review ... Much time and effort is lost in this debate. Participants should now be conversant in the fundamental reasons for supporting ICT for development initiatives. A more useful question then becomes how we can use ICTs with a development focus. There a number of important multilateral resources that are committed to this, including the World Bank, the IDRC, CIDA, AUSAID, USAID, CTO, G8 and many others. They have all committed vast amounts of money to assist developing countries in this effort.

Models for ICT4D implementation 4/19/2017 Models for ICT4D implementation Community driven initiatives Private Public Partnerships Pro poor, pro market strategies Public service models Question What are the implications of these different models in terms of project or programme and: Designing the project or programme Ownership Management Intersection and integration with other social goals (e.g. education, health, governance)

Regulatory issues Universal service Consumer advocacy Pricing policies 4/19/2017 Regulatory issues Universal service Consumer advocacy Pricing policies Interconnection agreements Efficient use of resources Licencing for internet service providers Spectrum licencing Do the participants know where to find out information about these regulatory issues?

Indicators What are indicators? 4/19/2017 Indicators What are indicators? What kind of information do indicators provide? Where can indicators be obtained? This slide introduces what will be covered in the next four slides on Indicators. Do participants already use indicators in their work?

What do indicators measure? 4/19/2017 What do indicators measure? Infrastructure roll-out teledensity, computers per household, waiting lists, etc. ICT use number of internet hosts, international telephone traffic, etc. Other factors literacy, school completion rates, demographics, etc.

What kind of information do indicators provide? 4/19/2017 What kind of information do indicators provide? Quantitative indicators Qualitative information Relative terms Absolute terms There are different ways of measuring and assessing information. It is important to stress that indicators are NOT NEUTRAL. Sometimes they are used in a misleading fashion. It is important to be critical of indicators. A quantitative survey or assessment counts things: how many phone lines exist, how many homes and schools have computers, etc. However, as seen in the section on Real Access criteria (above), measuring the digital divide is complicated by qualitative factors: aspects that are not easily counted, but which have bearing on how effectively ICTs are deployed. QUESTION: what kinds of information are not measured by quantitative indicators? Absolute terms: The overall number of telephones, or the total amount of investment in a sector, etc. Relative terms: assessing numbers in their context: Teledensity is a good example to use here (number of telephones per 100 inhabitants). However, teledensity does not measure shared phone use, for example.

Where can indicators be obtained? 4/19/2017 Where can indicators be obtained? International Telecommunication Union (ITU) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/ Measuring the Information Society website (UNCTAD) http://measuring-ict.unctad.org/ World Bank Data and Statistics http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/countrydata.html National Regulatory Authorities Regional Regulatory Organisations Research Organisation These sources provide basic ICT and demographic indicator information. There are also important regional sources of information – such as Research ICT Africa (these sources are all available in the ICT4D Resources handout. Participants should be encouraged to share their sources for indicator information.

4/19/2017 Summary Access to and opportunities for productive use of ICTs, engenders economic and social empowerment and facilitates participation and democracy. ICTs are fundamental for achieving development goals. It is important to set goals and to chart progress – at local to international levels.