Author: Daniel Taghioff, click here to see my homepage.

Click here to download an "Adobe Acrobat" version of the whole report, so you can read it offline.

For a browsable online version click on the underlined chapter headings below.

 

 

 

 

Seeds of consensus

 

 

The potential role for information and communication technologies in development:

Empowerment, appropriateness and measuring if needs really get met.

 

Keywords: Capacity building, basic needs, appropriate technology, information technology, internet, video, village pay phone, community radio, literacy, social capital, civil society.

 

 

Acknowledgements:

(Alphabetical) Carolyne Dennis, Mark Hodge, Naeem Khalid, Vikas Nath, Donal Savage and many others,

Alva Taghioff and Olivia Andersson deserve a special mention,

thank-you for being patient.

 

 

April 2001

Seminar in Advanced Methodologies and Professional Practice

School of Oriental and African Studies

University of London

 

 

 

Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

 

Abstract

The potential role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in development: a first glimpse

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3

Defining and analysing ICTs

3

Participation and Empowerment: The implications of viewing information as a form of consensus.

4

Information, Trust and Social Capital

6

Focussing the discussion

7

Chapter 2: Existing applications of ICTs.

 

The appropriateness of ICTs

9

Case studies

10

Gasaleka and Mamelodi Telecentres, South Africa

11

Grameen Village Phone, Bangladesh

13

Kothmale Community Radio, Sri Lanka

16

Labour News Production, Korea

18

ICTs, Civil Society, Social Capital and the State

19

Chapter 3:

A suggested approach to ICTs in development, and some issues in measuring the impact of information.

 

Some basic problems to be addressed

21

Why are the components of this model necessary?

22

What the actors in the model should provide

23

The role of apex organisations

23

The role of intermediaries in "capacity building"

25

Some issues in the measurement of the impact of information

25

 

 

Bibliography

27

General web references

31

Appendix 1: World Bank national income categories

33

Appendix 2: Potential actors within the model suggested

34

 

 
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