Working methods related to ICT for Development
There is a need for rigorous applied research about ICT and Development, including about processes, modelling and scaling (from small or pilot interventions). Theoretical models and frameworks are needed, as well as rigorous and evidence-based methods.
Development situations must be analyzed first and only then consider ICT tools and resources to arrive at solutions. First detect real problems, then work on the solutions. One should not start with ICTs to solve development problems.
Effective knowledge management is very important, with the ample proliferation of actions and projects it is difficult even for the most powerful development organizations to be aware of all that is worth knowing in ICT for Development (ICT4D) in the world.
While there is progressively less debate about the utility of ICT4D (and more about how to take advantage of those technologies), there is still a lack of sufficient evidence rigorously collected and well-structured models in that regard.
No specific ICT tool can be the most important or predominant everywhere (eg. mobile telephony), but that doesn’t mean the actors specialized in them should advance its applications and uses as much as possible. The key point is that users and development decision-makers are well informed and can thus choose appropriately.
The scale of development problems to confront is enormous, but analysis helps to break down the problems to more manageable parts to facilitate interventions. It is not possible to do everything at the same time, instead what is convenient is to articulate a set of components in order to know where to act and at what scale. Pilot projects still have their place in the ICT4D context, particularly to test innovations.
We should work with approached based in experience and knowledge, understanding models and processes. From that it is important to asses the types of project and programmes that result to learn how relevant such models and processes are.
It is recommended to incorporate socio-emotional factors in the ICT4D work. Even if indicators are difficult to define and measure, these are real factors and they play a role in how the projects and actions are carried out.
Actors involved
It is necessary to promote and facilitate collaborative work among organizations from different sectors (civil society, academia, business, government, etc.). A multi-stakeholder approach is often well suited to development cooperation actions.
Users are also actors who should be involved in ICT4D processes. There is much talk about demand-driven development projects, but do users have the possibility of making contributions?
In Spain there is some significant professional capacity with regard to ICT4D that can be applied and exploited – for AECID and other actors of Spanish Development Cooperation (ministries, municipalities, universities, etc.). Moreover, those entities can also collaborate with international organizations with significant expertise in this area.
During the event if was very valuable to witness the diversity of points of view, opinions and interests.
ICTs can serve as a stimulus for self-esteem when people gain skills in them and start to use them in their development contexts (eg. for non-digital, basic literacy, ie. learning to read and write).
Towards a true co-operation (among equals)
“Nothing about us without us” (Merryl Ford, Meraka Institute, South Africa). Development cooperation work must be made from the field and with people and organizations there.
The R +D + I agenda (Research, Development and Innovation) related to development (including about ICT) should have southern actors as shapers and agents.
It is important to empower southern actors for innovation in ICT4D, promoting opportunities in developing countries for innovators, entrepreneurs and business.
ICT4D and development/cooperation policies
It is significant that various actors from the Spanish Government (3 different ministries: Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Science and Innovation; and Industry, Tourism and Commerce) have converged for the first time to talk about ICT and Development. This presents an opportunity to advance in the integration of ICT in Spanish Development Cooperation and in the development work carried out in the field.
The coming phase in ICT4D places emphasis in knowledge management and agenda transformation (eg. for innovation and research). This is coherent with a new development model (Development 2.0) and thus a new model for development cooperation (Network Cooperation).
There is a need to raise more awareness for people and organizations that work in development cooperation about the uses of ICT in their work contexts.
The ICT4D area is not new, there is at least about 20 years of work in it, and there is much experience and learning to draw from. And nowadays the beneficiaries of ICT4D are sharing and presenting their own good practices (because of Web 2.0 tools).
It is important to work on capacity development at the personal, institutional and community levels. This includes strengthening local leadership.
