This document provides an overview of the topic of ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development). It begins by defining key terms like ICT4D, developing countries, and development paradigms. It then covers foundations of ICT4D including infrastructure requirements, stakeholders, and measures of the digital divide. The document outlines steps for implementing ICT4D strategies and projects and discusses niches for alternative ICT4D tools. Specific examples of ICT4D initiatives in sectors like health, agriculture, education, and governance are also provided.

1. IS 627 : Advanced Information
Systems
Overview of ICT4D
D. Shao

2. Outline
• Understanding ICT4D
• Foundations of ICT4D
• Implementing ICT4D
• Niches of ICT4D
• ICT4D in practice
• Open issues for research
• Reading list

3. UNDERSTANDING ICT4D
SESSION 1

4. Objective
• To understand the definitions and concepts
underlying ICT4D
– explain the connection between ICTs and development
– categorise the history of ICT4D
– categorise key theories and concepts of relevance to
ICT4D.

5. What is ICT4D?
• What Do We Mean By “ICT4D”?
• What are the examples of what we mean
by ICT4D?
• To understand further, look at I, C, T, D in
turn.

6. Defining Information and Communication
Knowledge
Information
Data

7. CIPSO view of ICT system
Capture
Input
Store
Process
Output
Storage Retrieval
Data Processed
data
Information
SOURCE RECIPIENT
Core information system
Wider information system
Knowledge

8. Different Scopes of ICT
ICT Scope 3:
All ICT
ICT Scope 2:
All Electrical ICT
Any entity that
processes or
communicates
digital data
Any entity that
processes or
communicates
data in electrical
form
Any entity that
processes or
communicates
data in any form
ICT Scope 1:
All Digital ICT

9. Different Scopes of Development
Development
Scope 1: Agenda-
Specific
Development
Development
Scope 3: Generic
Development
Development
Scope 2:
Geography-
Specific
Development
Any progressive
change in a
society
Any progressive
change in a
developing country
Particular progressive
changes in a
developing country

10. What is a Developing Country?
• Developing countries are middle-income
economies with a GNI per capita of less than
$12,736 but more than $1,045 and low-income
economies show a GNI per capita of $1,045 or
less
(World Bank, 2014).
• Gross National Income (GNI) is the total
domestic and foreign output claimed by
residents of a country, consisting of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) plus factor incomes
earned by foreign residents, minus income
earned in the domestic economy by
nonresidents
(Todaro & Smith, 2011)

11. Defining ICT4D

12. Development Paradigms
Dominant Phases of Particular Development Paradigms
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
Modernisation
Growth as development
Technology transfer
Transfer of ideas/values
Dependency
Core-periphery position within world system
Breaking away
Basic Needs
Focus on basic needs
High degree of state intervention (agricultural
policies, credit, etc)
Neo-Liberalism
Beginning of retreat of the state
Focus on markets – getting prices right
Human Development
Multi-dimensional – micro-credit, gender, environment, poverty, etc.
Greater focus on participatory methods
Post-Development
Idea and discourse of development as
problematic
Sustainable Development
Meeting current needs without compromising
future needs; especially environment
International Development Goals
Millennium
Development Goals
Sustainable
Development Goals

13. What Does “ICT4D” Mean?
• ICT4D means technology is used to
deliver international development
agenda.
• But what is that agenda? It has
changed over time.
• *Find the MDGs and SDGs and identify the
ICT-specific targets within those goals.

14. Millennium Development Goals

15. MDG 8F
“In cooperation with the private
sector, make available the benefits
of new technologies, especially
information and communications”

16. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

17. SDG 9C
“Significantly increase access to information and
communications technology and strive to provide universal
and affordable access to the Internet in least developed
countries by 2020”
Plus SDG targets that specifically identify ICTs in relation to:
- higher education scholarships (Goal 4 – 4B)
- women’s empowerment (Goal 5 – 5B)
- innovation capacity (Goal 17 – T17.8)

18. Critiques of ICT4D
Development
Paradigm
ICT Role
Modernisation ICTs transferred from global North have a central role in delivering
economic growth and new cultural values
Dependency ICTs transferred from global North could be exploitative, and greater
emphasis should be on local development of ICTs which would have a
central role in delivering economic growth
Neo-Liberalism ICTs have an important role in connected enterprises and countries to
local and global markets, and in increasing the efficiency of – and
delivering alternatives to – the state
Human
Development
ICTs are not central but locally-appropriate digital applications could
deliver social and other development outcomes for those on lowest
incomes
Post-
Development
ICTs are not central but are carriers of discourse and sites for both
exclusive and alternative approaches to development
Sustainable
Development
ICTs are not central and can deliver either sustainable and just, or
unsustainable and unjust development depending on the type of
application

19. Phases of ICT4D
Issue / Phase ICT4D 0.0
(1960s – mid-1990s)
ICT4D 1.0
(mid-1990s – mid-
/late-2000s)
ICT4D 2.0
(mid-/late-2000s
onwards)
Iconic Technology PC Database Telecentre Mobile Phone
Key Application Data Processing Content (&
Interaction)
Services & Production
The Poor Who? Consumers Innovators &
Producers
Key Goal Organisational
Efficiency
MDGs Growth &
Development?
Key Issue Technology's Potential Readiness &
Availability
Uptake & Impact
Key Actor Government Donors & NGOs All Sectors
Attitude Ignore --> Isolate Idolise --> Integrate Integrate -->
Innovate
Innovation Model Northern Pro-Poor --> Para-
Poor
Para-Poor --> Per-
Poor
Dominant Discipline Information Systems Informatics /
Development Studies
Tribrid of CS, IS and
DS
Development
Paradigm
Modernisation Human Development Development 2.0

20. FOUNDATION OF ICT4D
SESSION 2

21. Objectives
• To explain the foundations that need to be in
place for ICT4D to work
– Explain the ICT4D value chain model
– Categorise the technological and human
infrastructure of ICT4D
– Identify key ICT4D stakeholders and policy
components
– Critique measures of the digital divide

22. The ICT4D Value Chain
Precursors
-Data systems
-Legal
-Institutional
-Human
-Technological
-Leadership &
Vision
-Drivers /
Demand
Inputs
-Data
-Money
-Labour and
Knowledge
-Technology
-Values and
Motivations
-Political support
-Goals and
Objectives
Intermediates /
Deliverables
-Locations (e.g.
telecentres)
-ICTs (e.g. PC,
mobile, tablet)
-Software
applications
Outputs
-New
communication
patterns
-New
information and
decisions
-New actions
and transactions
Outcomes
-Financial and
other
quantitative
benefits
-Qualitative
benefits
-Disbenefits
Development
Impacts
-Public goals
(e.g. SDGs)
- Other impacts
(intended and
unintended)
Strategy Implementation Adoption Use
Exogenous
Factors
READINESS UPTAKE IMPACTAVAILABILITY
Sustainability
Scalability
Enablers
Constraints

23. Technological Foundations of ICT4D
Infrastructure
Hardware
Software
Data
Communication &
Processing
ICT User

24. Data quality: OCARA
Data
Openness
Completeness
Accuracy
Relevance
Appropriateness of
presentation

25. Ladder of ICT4D Roles
Digital Non-User
Digital Consumer
Digital Producer
Delinked
Intermediated Consumer
Indirect
Passive Consumer
Active User
Creator
Enabler
Producer
Innovator
CategoryRole

26. Global ICT4D Stakeholders
ITU
UNCTAD UNESCO
UNDP
FAO UNDESA WHO
World Bank
Other UNGIS
member
agencies
UNGIS
WSIS
Action Lines

27. ICT4D Stakeholders
Government
(Public sector)
NGOs
Development
Agencies
Private Sector
Partnerships Networks
Hybrid
Organisations
ICT4D
Hubs / Labs /
Clusters

28. Domains of ICT4D Policy
Technological
Infrastructure
Legal &
Institutional
Infrastructure
Data
Infrastructure
Financial
Infrastructure
Human
Capabilities
Infrastructure
ICT Consumption ICT Production
Digital Harm
ICT4D
Infrastructure
ICT4D
Production and
Use
ICT4D Impact

29. Social dimensions of the digital divide
• What are the digital divides within a country:
– Groups who have more access to ICTs and who are the
groups who have less access to ICTs?
• Technological divisions:
•Different divides for different technologies (worse for
computers, better for mobiles)
•Historical pattern: old divides close (e.g. mobile); new
divides open (e.g. broadband)
•Social divisions:
•Age, Education, Gender, Ethnicity, Disability and
Geography

30. IMPLEMENTING ICT4D
SESSION 3

31. Objectives
• To explain how best to put ICT4D into practice
– Explain the steps of ICT4D strategy
– Describe good practice in ICT4D implementation
– Utilise the design–reality gap model in ICT4D
implementation
– Identify key determinants of ICT4D adoption and use
– Summarise key ICT4D evaluation frameworks and
issues

32. The ICT4D value chain
Precursors
-Data systems
-Legal
-Institutional
-Human
-Technological
-Leadership &
vision
-Drivers/demand
Inputs
-Data
-Money
-Labour and
knowledge
-Technology
-Values and
motivations
-Political support
-Goals and
objectives
Intermediates/d
eliverables
-Locations (e.g.
telecentres)
-ICTs (e.g. PC,
mobile, tablet)
-Software
applications
Outputs
-New
communication
patterns
-New
information and
decisions
-New actions
and transactions
Outcomes
-Financial and
other
quantitative
benefits
-Qualitative
benefits
-Disbenefits
Development
impacts
-Public goals
(e.g. SDGs)
- Other impacts
(intended and
unintended)
Strategy Implementation Adoption Use
Exogenous
factors
READINESS UPTAKE IMPACTAVAILABILITY
Sustainability
Scalability
Enablers
Constraints
The processes that make up ICT4D: strategy, design/implementation, adoption/use,
evaluation of impact.

33. Overview of ICT4D strategy
Where
are we
now?
Where do
we want
to get to?
Where do
we want
to get to?

34. Steps of ICT4D
strategy
1. Create ICT4D
planning
structures/roles
2a. Audit current
ICT4D
2b. Get guidance
from wider strategy
3. Set ICT4D
objectives and
principles
4a. Determine ICT4D
technical
architecture
4b. Determine ICT4D
social architecture
5. Disseminate and
plan ICT4D actions
6. Manage, evolve
and review ICT4D
strategy

35. ITPOSMO checklist and design–
reality gaps
Information
Technology
Processes
Objectives and
values
Staffing and
skills
Management
systems and
structures
Other
resources
Information
Technology
Processes
Objectives and
values
Staffing and
skills
Management
systems and
structures
Other
resources
RealityDesign
Gap
Technical
architecture
Social
architecture

36. ICT4D technical architecture
ICT4D technical
architecture
Development
processes
Data
management
ICTData
Telecommunications
Hardware
Software
Data
flow

37. ICT4D project evaluation
• “World Bank ICT projects with the objective to directly
promote target access for the underserved and the poor
had limited success; only 30 percent have achieved their
objectives.” (IEG 2011:xiv)
• “We follow the prospects of 36 private telecenters which
were opened at various times between November 2001
and February 2004. By May 2005, 32 of these 36
telecenters had closed.” (Best & Kumar 2008:31)
• “Of the papers examined, 70% (28 of the 40) referred to or
reflected on some level of failure or unintended negative
outcomes related to the use, uptake, or adoption of ICTs in
developing communities.” (Dodson et al. 2013:23)

38. • There’s a lot of ICT4D failure around.
• Not unique to ICT4D but wasteful.

39. Principles for digital development

40. Diffusion of Innovations attributes
• Relative advantage
• Compatibility
• Complexity
• Trialability
• Observability

41. ICT4D evaluation overview
Why?
For
Whom?
What? How? (1)
When?
How? (2) Pilot &
Action

42. NICHE FOR ICT4D
SESSION 4

43. Niche for ICT4D
• ICT4D community developed some
useful ‘alternative tools’ responding
to prevailing inequalities in access and
participation from the technological
perspective

44. Freedom Fone
Zimbabwean Innovation
Voice-based dial up services
 voice reporting
 voice recognition
 voice menus
 SMS polls
 no online access needed
 open source
 bridging literature and
language barriers

45. Ushahidi
Kenyan Innovation
multiple-channel
crowdsourcing
information to map
(visualize) platform
• Information
emergency response,
election monitoring,
peace building… e.tc
• open source

46. Frontline SMS
Bulk messaging tool
send, receive, and
organize text messages
through a mobile device
and a laptop
• offline support
• open source

47. Speak2Tweet
Google & Twitter launch
in reaction to Egyptian
government internet
shut-down
Creating tweet by calling a
phone
• Automatic country
hashtag

48. GeoChat
• enabling self-organizing
• group communication
based on SMS, email, and
Twitter
• Simplifying team
communications, logistics
and data reporting
• open source

49. ICT4D IN PRACTICE
SESSION 5

50. Health Sector
 facilitation of health communication
 medical supply coordination
 distance diagnosis
 pre and post natal health
 public health education
 awareness creation / social change
 advocacy

51. My Question
• allows young people to send in questions
about sexual reproductive health and/or
HIV/AIDS anonymously to trained counselors
via SMS, voice, or through email.

52. Stock-out campaign
Pill check week
revealing shortages of
essential medicines in
Kenya, Malawi, Uganda,
and Zambia
 SMS text messages were sent when data
collectors discovered stock-outs of essential
medicines
 Computers running FrontlineSMS processed
and validated data before sending to
Ushahidi interface to be visualized on the
web

54. Adverse Reaction Reporting - Tanzania
• A multi platform
application for reporting
adverse reactions caused
by Drugs, Cosmetics or
Medical Devices
– Developed by CIVE for
TFDA

55. Agricultural Sector
• market price information
• market supply and demand
information
• information on production techniques

56. Mfarm Kenya
Transparency tool
for farmers
• local farmers receive crop
prices and market
information by sending SMS
shortcode
• digital marketplace in which
subscribing farmers can sell
their crops & by farm inputs
• Online platform to connect
and sell collectively

57. iCow Kenya

58. Education Sector
 Mobile learning
 Distance learning
 Literacy teaching
 formal / informal education
 life skills etc.

59. GraphoGAME
• Grapho Learning
Initiative
• digital-based learning
game to teach basic
literacy and supply
further access to reading
materials in local
languages via mobile

60. eShangazi Tanzania
• Tanzanian based Initiative
• Facebook based on the Reproductive and
HIV/AIDS Education
• AI app

61. Rights & Democracy
• access to information and free
• call for action, mobilization
• coordination of action
• visualizing injustice
• voter education & voter registration
• election monitoring
• violation reporting
• e-governance / e-government

62. witness.org
• using power of video
and storytelling to
open the eyes of the
world to human
rights abuses
• Training human rights defenders to use video to
fight injustice, and to transform personal stories of
abuse into powerful tools that can pressure those
in power or with power to act

63. alavateli
Freedom of information
request platform
 supporting citizens
requesting government
information
 all replies made public
 platform
 Transparency /
accountability
 open source

64. Good Governance
• Tools for promoting good governance
• Tools for promoting transparency and
accountability

65. Wagosy - Tanzania
• WaGoSy is an
integrated and
innovative ICT system
designed to enhance
participation,
transparency,
accountability and
awareness among LVB
water resources
stakeholders.
– Developed by CIVE-
UDOM for VICRES

66. mRushwa - Tanzania
• mRushwa is a mobile
base tool for reporting
briber act
anonymously

67. Your Turn
• What other ICT4D projects do you know?

68. OPEN ISSUES FOR RESEARCH
SESSION 6

69. Open Issues for Research
• ICT and Economic Development
• Aim – to understand how ICTs can help deliver
economic growth
– Key strategies and key foundations for economic
growth in developing countries
– The informational context of growth in developing
countries
– Models of ICT4D-enabled change for evidence on
ICTs and economic growth

70. Open Issues for Research
• ICTs, poverty and livelihoods
• Aim – to understand how ICTs can help
eradicate poverty
– Relationship between ICTs and financial poverty
eradication
– Relationship between ICTs and financial poverty
eradication
– Impact of ICTs on gender equality

71. Open Issues for Research
• ICTs and Social Development
• Aim – to understand how ICTs can help develop
human capabilities and well-being
– Social and human development as a development
goal
– Relationship between ICTs and social development
(health and education)
– Capabilities framework
– Implications of the relation between ICTs and
capabilities

72. Open Issues for Research
• E-Governance and development
• Aim – to understand how ICTs can help develop improve
governance in developing countries
– explain governance-related goals in development
– define and illustrate public value
– analyse the public value of, and challenges to, e-
services in developing countries
– utilise models to analyse the role of ICTs in e-
accountability and e-democracy initiatives
– analyse the role of motivation and power in e-
governance initiatives.

73. Open Issues for Research
• ICTs and Environment Sustainability
• Aim – to understand how ICTs can support
environmentally-sustainable development
– Describe the overall relationship between ICTs and
environmental sustainability
– Explain the different orders of effects of ICTs on pollution
and climate change mitigation including green and smart
ICT applications
– Use analytical frameworks to understand environmental
monitoring information systems
– Categorise use of ICTs in disaster management
– Interpret analytical models of resilience and e-resilience

74. READING LIST
SESSION 7

75. Reading List
• Duncombe, R. (2006) ‘Analysing ICT Applications for Poverty Reduction via
Micro-enterprise Using the Livelihoods Framework’, Development Informatics
Working Paper Series, Paper No. 27, IDPM, University of Manchester.
• Farrell, G., and Isaacs, S. (eds) (2007) Survey of ICT and Education in Africa: A
Summary
Report, Based on 53 Country Surveys, infoDev/World Bank, Washington, D.C.
• Heeks, R. B. (2008) ‘The ICT4D 2.0 Manifesto’, Development Informatics
Working Paper Series, Paper No. 30, IDPM, University of Manchester
• Heeks, R. B. (2006) Implementing and Managing eGovernment: An
International Text,Sage,London.
• Heeks, R. B. (2003) ‘Most eGovernment-for-Development Projects Fail: How
Can Risks beReduced?’,iGovernment Working Paper Series, Paper No. 14,
IDPM, University of Manchester.
• Heeks, R. B. (2002) ‘Failure, Success and Improvisation of Information Systems
Projects in Developing Countries’, Development Informatics Working Paper
Series, Paper No. 11, IDPM, University of Manchester

76. Reading List
• Kenny, C. (2006) Overselling the Web?: development and the Internet, Lynne Rienner,
Boulder
• Krishna, S. and Madon, S. (2003) The Digital Challenge: Information Technology in the
Development Context, S. Krishna and S, Madon (eds),Ashgate, Aldershot
• Takeuchi, T (2008) ICTs for Development in Ethiopia – A Case of the SchoolNet Project -
, A dissertation submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of MSc in ICT
for Development
• Takeuchi, T (2012) ‘FOSS as a driver: Perspectives from the ICT development agenda’in
Free and Open Source Software Technology for Sustainable Development edited by
Sulayman K. Sowe, Govindan Parayil and Atsushi Sunami, United Nations University
Press
• Toyama, K. (2015) Geek Heresy: Rescuing Social Change from the Cult of Technology,
PublicAffairs
• Unwin, T (2009) ICT4D: Information and Communication Technology for Development,
Cambridge University Press
• Amitabh Ojha (2009). E-Governance in Practice, GIFT Publishing.

77. THANK YOU