commbox Digitalisation

"This evaluation examines the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in development by extracting lessons from previous IDRC project experiences, in order to provide input for the design and implementation of the Acacia program. Acacia explores the investment in, and application o ... f, ICTs by African communities to build local resources to solve development problems. The evaluation also tested the usefulness of the Lanfranco Framework for studying the value of ICTs in development research. ICTs were found to be valuable tools that can help people to gather and analyze information, store and manipulate data, and improve communication. ICTs improved the capability of individuals and institutions to tackle and solve development problems. National ICT policies and legislation, as well as the policies of donor agencies with respect to ICTs, were influenced by project activities, and consultations and lobbying efforts by Centre staff, efforts which were facilitated by email and internet access. Geographic information systems (GIS) projects demonstrated the potential of this technology to encourage planners and communities to take a more holistic view of development problems. Projects emphasized regional training and relied on local capabilities to establish and manage ICT systems. Programme support helped create an information culture and an environment in which people with similar interests could share ideas and were encouraged to form professional associations and informal networks. ICTs were most effective in overcoming barriers of distance and time, with electronic mail and associated list servers being used most often. GIS technologies helped overcome language barriers by presenting complex spatial relationships as more easily understandable maps. Several projects provided access to hardware and software that offered capabilities that were previously inaccessible. By providing improved access, enhanced sharing, and timely delivery of information, ICTs empowered people to take action. Projects were able to create a culture of communication and were most effective in this role when information was tailored to the needs of users. When jobs and economic activity were created, they were in most cases in the information and communication sector. Use of ICT is expanding in Africa. It is important that government policies and regulations with regard to telecommunications anticipate this coming tide and that development activities take advantage of opportunities presented by ICTs. These technologies can alter the perception of development problems, provide opportunities for improved communications, deliver information quickly and inexpensively over great distance, and offer the potential to enhance regional collaboration to address common problems. To realize these potentials, close collaboration with communities and appropriate packaging of information products will be crucial." (Review by IDRC Evaluation team, evaluation@idrc.ca; www.idrc.ca/evaluation, cited from the "Annotated Bibliography of Evaluations in Africa": http://www.geocities.com/afreval/documents/education.htm, 10.04.2007) more

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Zukunftsmarkt Telekommunikation: Aktuelle Trends in Lateinamerika

Köln: Bundesstelle für Außenhandelsinformation (BfAI) (1997), 217 pp.

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Fachwörterbuch der Telekommunikationstechnik = Dictionary of Telecommunication Technology = Dictionnaire du technique de télécommunication

Bosch Telecom (ed.)

Berlin: Springer, 3rd revised ed. (1997), 428 pp.

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Multimédia et communication à usage humain: Vers une maîtrise sociale des autoroutes de l’information

Alain His (coord.)

Paris: Éditions-Diffusion Charles Léopold Mayer (1996), 332 pp.

"L'un des phénomènes majeurs du XXe siècle est, sans conteste, la domination de la communication collective, jusqu'aux années 70, par les grands médias comme la radio, les journaux puis le cinéma et la télévision. Depuis 20 ans, le bouleversement est complet : la télécopie, la vidéo, la ... more

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Telecommunications: A Swedish Contribution to Development. Evaluation of BITS' Support to Telecommunications Development

Lars Rylander, Ulf Lundin et al.

Stockholm: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) (1996), 37 pp.

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The Right to be Informed

Rome: IDOC Internazionale (1996), 48 pp.

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Kursbuch Internet: Anschlüsse an Wirtschaft und Politik, Wissenschaft und Kultur

Stefan Bollmann, Christiane Heibach (eds.)

Mannheim: Bollmann Verlag (1996), 515 pp.

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@t Ease with E-Mail: A Handbook on Using Electronic Mail for NGOs in Developing Countries

Geneve; New York: United Nations Non-Governmental Service (NGLS);Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) (1995), x, 108 pp.

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Making a Difference: Measuring the Impact of Information on Development. Proceedings of a workshop held in Ottawa, Canada, 10-12 July 1995

Paul McConnell (ed.)

Ottawa: International Development Research Centre (IDRC) (1995), vi, 246 pp.

"This book reports on an international research program investigating the impact of information on development. It presents a series of case studies and essays that describe practical, operational experience with methodologies to assess the impact of information. Amongst many issues, authors examine ... more

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