an Eldis Resource

This report offers 12 detailed case studies of activities that sought to benefit the poor and had an ICT component.

The case studies show that ICTs can enhance development projects. The research has not conclusively proven that an ICT activity directed at increasing income for the poor can, on its own, generate cost recovery inclusive of set-up and replacement costs, i.e. achieve economic sustainability. However, the studies do indicate that this is beginning to happen in some cases, and the prospects for the future are encouraging. More importantly, the case studies clearly show elements of institutional and social sustainability. They also show significant developmental impact, and there are indications that ICT activities can be regarded as cost effective.

Findings include:

• the need to distinguish between activities which focus on economic sustainability and those supporting social and institutional sustainability
• projects have targeted a range of groups (not necessarily the poor directly) and have achieved sustainable, development objectives
• the case studies suggest that sustainable information activities do not necessarily cut out the intermediary or middle man by providing more direct access to information (they re-intermediate rather than dis-intermediate). But an ICT intermediary is less likely to abuse that position than a traditional intermediary
• ICT activities cannot be in isolation from the policy environment. ICT activity is particularly enhanced when planned to be set in the context of other policies, and in some cases can even influence change of policies
• linkages between the target group, the intended form of sustainability and the institutional arrangement are essential to long-term capacity building
• in relation to projects, participatory planning processes may enhance the project as a whole, although this seems to be more in terms of tailoring the ICT activities to the information needs as opposed to an intended ownership of the ICT activity by the target group
• for sustainability, there is a need for both technical and organisational capacity. However, they seem to draw out three important principles
  • most of the case studies have an identifiable “Champion” - either a person or group who want to see the project succeed
  • the project does not need to start with the required capacities - it can gain the capacities as the project develops
  • the capacities need not be within the project organisation or target group. The studies show three mechanisms for gaining capacity: it is possible to buy-in expertise when necessary, to hire specific skilled staff or to train existing staff (or volunteers).
• sustainability of an ICT activity is likely to be strongly influenced by the technology used. Technology issues critical to sustainability are:
  • the use of commercially available equipment i.e. that there is a local (within country) IT industry that can do repairs and source spare parts
  • a willingness to overcome technical difficulties, which are the bane of all users of ICTs, and which in many cases will get easier in the longer term e.g. increased opportunities for connectivity, more robust operating systems
  • quantity and style of equipment that matches the use, which is a factor of matching the plans to the resources available
• cost-recovery measures to cover equipment replacement costs are starting to be implemented, but generally these at levels insufficient for replacement of equipment

The case studies used are:

• Acisam, El Salvador: community using audio and video to capture their local mental health problems, and feeding the outputs back to the community via loudspeakers, radio, cable television
• Caribbean, Disaster Information Network (Cardin): network of institutions across the Caribbean using ICTs to archive and retrieve data which is vital to their disaster preparedness planning
• Deniva, Uganda: NGO network using modern ICT media to enhance existing networking activities
• Digital Village, South Africa: one of the oldest Telecentres in Africa, this study offers interesting insights into why one center has survived, while several others locally have had to close
• FOOD/Indiashop, India: training educated unemployed youth to become “e-marketers” as a mechanism for developing ecommerce of handicrafts
• Global Voices, Kenya: community using video to increase awareness among government and their fellow community of the community needs
• Gyandoot, India: network of financially self standing kiosks, aiming to improve the transparency of local government through increasing access to services and information, and to enhance the livelihoods of the public by providing better access to agricultural information, commerce, education and training facilities
• Kumnifo, Ghana: GIS information gathering activity on a province wide scale, for stakeholders in natural resource management
• Manage, India: networks of training and information kiosks aimed at increasing rural farmers access to information services
• MIGIS, China / Cambodia: using computer GIS systems and enhanced graphics to validate and present information gathered participatorily from illiterate and semi literate communities
• Revistazo, Honduras: online magazine that tackles sensitive political issues to inform the public and encourage good governance
• UDS, Uganda: NGO has facilitating the setting up of centres which offers access to ICTs and training services for small business

The website offers summary and full versions of the case studies and the overview report. Also included is documentation and video material produced by each of the case study organisations. An analysis of sustainability and DFID's Sustainable Livelihoods approach is included

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