"Internet Governance is not a simple subject. Although it deals with a major symbol of the DIGITAL world, it cannot be handled with a digital - binary logic of true/false and good/bad. Instead, the subject’s many subtleties and shades of meaning and perception require an ANALOG approach, covering
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a continuum of options and compromises. Therefore, this booklet will not attempt to provide definitive statements on Internet Governance issues. Rather, its aim is to propose a practical framework for the analysis, discussion, and resolution of the key problems in this field." (Introduction, page 5)
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"The role of information and knowledge in development is contentious - whilst information is central to development, practitioners struggle to define a causal link between it and development outcomes. The authors conclude that information-sharing of itself does not necessarily lead to such outcomes,
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unless the processes are in place to support its transformation into knowledge. Based on the principle of technology challenging poverty, this paper summarises the findings from a two-year research project conducted by the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) and Cranfield University into the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) for development. In developing countries most people have little experience of ICTs, little time or money, low levels of literacy, and highly contextualised knowledge and language requirements (representing a challenge known as 'the first mile'). The paper springs from an analysis of the literature, and a case study based on practical experience of a project in Peru. It offers recommendations for practitioners, and suggestions for further research. Changes in the ICT industry such as "convergence" and the reduction of costs lead to hopes that "technology-leapfrogging" will help to bridge the "digital divide". The Peruvian case (a Rural-Urban Information System) project links local information centres (infocentres) in the region to information providers such as government bodies and NGOs working in the region. Project success depends on attention to process, and the authors recommend two key principles: communities need to first specify the development outcomes they want; and projects need to adopt an iterative project cycle. This comprises researching and planning, implementation, evaluation, and learning and sharing, to ensure practitioners repeatedly re-evaluate assumptions, learn from experiences, and involve the community at each stage." (Oxfam Review 10/06)
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"Aiming to bring some of the network-cultural forms of collaboration into ICT debates dominated by standard policy and research procedure, the Incommunicado project does not offer a univocal master-narrative of what’s wrong with the world of ICT, or of how it should be. Members of the Incommunicad
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o network are pursueing multiple vectors of inquiry that are unlikely to converge in yet another civil society declaration or intergovernmental policy proposal but - at best - coordinate possible interventions across the imperial terrain of a global network economy, at least heighten our sense of the incommensurability of competing info-political visions. To stress the simultaneity of these efforts, and to take stock of where we think incommunicado ‘is’ at the time of this writing, the entries below are a first attempt to identify some of these vectors." (Instead of an introduction, page 3)
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"A Governança da Internet não é um tema simples. Embora diga respeito a um símbolo essencial do mundo DIGITAL, não pode ser tratada numa lógica digital-binária de falso/verdadeiro, bom/mau. Em vez disso, as muitas sutilezas e matizes de significado e percepção exigem uma abordagem ANALÓGIC
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A, capaz de cobrir um continuum de opções e compromissos. Conseqüentemente, esta brochura não tentará fazer afirmações definitivas sobre questões de Governança da Internet. Antes, o seu objetivo é propor um quadro prático de análise, discussão e resolução dos problemas-chave deste campo." (Introdução, página 5)
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"The Rural ICT Toolkit concentrates on the “how to” of implementing rural ICT programs and projects. It is aimed at providing state of the art knowledge and best practice on rural ICT development, basic recommended standards and tools for rural ICT initiatives. Among other things, it summarises
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best practice on rural ICT policy, funding principles & processes, monitoring and evaluation. It provides a basic understanding for technology options available. It offers a framework to select appropriate rural ICT projects, and it explains essentials of demand studies, business plans and socio-economic impact analysis." (Introduction, page 1)
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"Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly seen as integral to the development process. This paper reviews some of the evidence for the link between telecommunications and the Internet and economic growth, the likely impact of the new ICTs on income inequality and anecdotal
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evidence regarding the role of the Internet in improving government services and governance. It looks at methods to maximize access to the new ICTs, and improve their development impact both in promoting income generation and the provision of quality services." (Abstract)
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"The overall objective of this study was to provide a starting point for the involvement of development assistance in the promotion of ICTs for development. In the form of country studies we first tried to give insights into the ICT sectors along with stakeholders’ and other ICT-related activities
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in the selected countries (Peru, Vietnam, Lao P.D.R, Uganda and Tanzania). Based on this assessment, strengths and weaknesses were named and starting points for potential German involvement identified. The following section should point at some general lessons learnt from all countries and, with due caution, sum up the activities and discussions on the German donors’ side, as they emerged in the countries themselves or in discussions while this study was conducted." (Synopsis, page 67)
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