Deploying ICTs to Catalyze Development in Rural Regions John A. (Matty) Mathieson Director, Center for Science, Technology and Economic Development SRI International

Connectivity for Development …the New Frontier  Rapidly evolving ICTs Community radio, satellite TV, computer- based kiosks, wireless devices etc. Community radio, satellite TV, computer- based kiosks, wireless devices etc.  Innovative models-of-use Non-profit vs. for profit, donor-driven vs. community-driven etc. Non-profit vs. for profit, donor-driven vs. community-driven etc.  Variety of institutional structure Private-public partnerships, Private-public partnerships, Donor-beneficiary partnerships etc. Models-of-Use Institutional Structure Technological Capability The goal is to connect rural communities to outside information and communications to catalyze development progress.

Digital Divide …the Changing Paradigm Old Definition of the Divide: Education, Knowledge sharing Access to content Creation of content Application Access to content New Definition of the Divide: Social Change, Economic Development Communication Creation of content Access to content Communication Creation of content Access to content The divide keeps growing

E-inclusion…the Evolving Design  First Generation  Second Generation  The New Generation  Education and Knowledge Sharing  Education, Knowledge Sharing, and Communication  Education, Knowledge Sharing, Communication, and - Application of information and communication to catalyze socio-economic change

Key Issues for ICT Development Initiatives  Provide real value to the community Not in the technologies, but in the socio-economic foundations that technologies help strengthenNot in the technologies, but in the socio-economic foundations that technologies help strengthen  Build in long-term sustainability Emerges from community engagementEmerges from community engagement  Avoid selection Bias Target audienceTarget audience Appropriateness of the interventionAppropriateness of the intervention Choice of technology and operational modelsChoice of technology and operational models

A Few Examples of New Generation Initiatives… InitiativeCountry Agents of Socio- Economic Change E-ChoupalIndia Individual PCs, Internet PiPOPLebanon PCs, Internet Telecenters, Software Grameen Phone Bangladesh Cellular Phones MANOBI net Senegal PDAs, Cellular Phones, Internet (WAP)

E-Choupal …harnessing the power of ICTs to empower Indian farmersPartnership(2-way) Technology Components Benefits to the Community Development Outcome Private Sector (ITC Limited)/ Community (Farmers in Rural India) Run by a Sanchalak (a lead farmer elected by the community and trained by ITC)  Information kiosks PC/ VSAT PC/ VSAT  Web portals (Hindi)  Smart cards  Office Software Cost to farmers None Cost to ITC $3,000-6,000 per installation $100 per year in maintenance Primary Real-time information on Ag markets Real-time information on Ag markets Analysis of national & international trends in Ag markets Analysis of national & international trends in Ag markets Best Practices in farming techniques and procurement Best Practices in farming techniques and procurementSecondary  Use by school children  Promotion of rural insurance Villages connected: 21,000 Farmers empowered: 2.1 Million Number of installations: 4,100 Increase in soya production: 50% to 80% Decrease in sales to Agents: 50% Higher return for produce, lower cost for inputs, directly accruing to farmers

PiPOP …bridging the divide in rural Lebanon Partnership(3-way) Technology Components Benefits to the Community Development Outcome Donor agency (USAID)/ Private Sector (SRI/PCA)/ Community Driven by the Community Driven by the Community Run by a local PiPOP manager Run by a local PiPOP manager  Community Learning Center PC/ LAN/ Internet PC/ LAN/ Internet  Web portals (Community)  Software (as needed) Cost to Users Nominal, per use ($1/ hr) Cost/Installation$8,000-10,000Primary Access to information Access to information Education for school children Education for school children Need-based training Need-based training Integration with productive industry clusters Integration with productive industry clustersSecondary Communication with expatriate Lebanese Communication with expatriate Lebanese Number of Regional centers connected: 14 Expansion of tourism to ‘hidden’ Lebanon Rural small businesses on the map

Grameen Phone …good development is good business Partnership(2-way) Technology Components Benefits to the Community Development Outcome Private Sector (Grameen) & Community Variant of Micro-lending program – Grameen Bank Variant of Micro-lending program – Grameen Bank Run by poor women in Bangladeshi villages Run by poor women in Bangladeshi villages  Cellular phones (GSM) (GSM) Cost to Users Taka 6 per minute Cost to the Phone Lady: Taka 12,000 Loan from Grameen Primary Access to low-cost telecommunication facilities in rural regions Access to low-cost telecommunication facilities in rural regions Real earning opportunities for poor women Real earning opportunities for poor womenSecondary Link to the Grameen lending network Link to the Grameen lending network Number of phones: 39,000 Villages connected: 28,000 28,000 Number of people connected: 50 million Real cost savings for users: 132 – 480 Taka per call (US$2.7 – US$10 per call) Average revenue per Phone Lady is double that of phone booths

MANOBI net …E-services for the Senegalese fishermen Partnership(2-way) Technology Components Benefits to the Community Development Outcome Private Sector (MANOBI) & Community Poor fishermen trained by MANOBI Poor fishermen trained by MANOBI  PDAs  Cellular phones  Internet (WAP/SMS) (WAP/SMS) Cost to Users 180 CFA ($0.29) per minute Primary Access to market Access to market Real-time info on pricing Real-time info on pricing Knowledge sharing Knowledge sharingSecondary Helps in fisherman rescue operations Helps in fisherman rescue operations Number of fishermen connected: 60 (Being scaled up to a nationwide program) Improved quality of product, reduced waiting time, leading to increased sales per day

Key Success Factors…  Clear understanding of the real community needs  Design of an appropriate intervention to deliver value to the users  Choice of appropriate technologies  Demand aggregation to reduce costs  Financial sustainability via community acceptance  Assessment of post implementation requirements, including training & maintenance  Community involvement in all stages of project design, implementation and management

Bottom Line: ICTs are enablers ICTs can connect and empower communities E-inclusion is more than just access to and chat rooms Targeted, results-oriented and sustainable interventions can be developed