Comment by Alakananda Rao on July 25, 2012 at 6:46pm

Am interested in contributing to the dialog on E-readiness and Capacity Building ..perhaps  new  modes of access and ease of  use.

The  Digital Divide  is still a reality in most of the  developing nations. While technology has made access possible the ability to use the technology is  still a challaenge  for the people who are often not fully literate, do not knw  the English Language, and have never handled equipment before.

Interaction by means  other than the keyboard and English typing --  voice activation, language options whch are within the reach of technology of to-day must be allowed to prolferate rather than the archaic model of hammering at a keyboard or even touchscreend that replicate it . This could  be the means towards the universal access to technology options  and  it is  important  to present these  issues  at The  WSIS.

Is there any consultation planned in this area? I  would  like to participate  both as a technologist as well as a Development practitioner

Comment by Alakananda Rao on July 25, 2012 at 6:54pm

We  have  worked in the  area of  Capacity Building and  would  like to upload some of our stories but  am not able to  connect to ICT4D E-Readiness and Capacity Building Initiative, (DERCI)-  can  someone  send me a link ...

Thanks,

Comment by Klaus Stoll on July 25, 2012 at 7:08pm

Dear Alakananda Rao

Thank you very very much for your contribution. As you will see we are working daily on the new www site and the content so sometime a link or another is not quite ready. 

Here is the draft text for the DERCI Initiative we are planning.(see below). You can join the initiative as an organization by writing to me. I will in the next 15 minutes create a DERCI discussion group on the GKPF www site and you then can upload your stories. Every story contributed will be an important contribution and communities everywhere will benefit. Every story is a good investment into sustainable development, even if we think it is just a story.

Ok, here the draft DERCI outline. Feel free to suggest changes and to make comments:

ICT4D E-Readiness and Capacity Building Initiative

 

One of the main GKPF action lines is the creation and execution of an ICT4D E-Readiness and Capacity Building Initiative with its members and partners.

 

One of the biggest and basic challenges that face those implementing development is that none of the stakeholders in development are actually able to take full advantage of the available ICT tools and solutions. The basic fact is that a huge majority of those involved in development are not ICT ready and lack basic and operational e-literacy.

 International donor organizations are facing major problem because of the lack of e-readiness and literacy, prevents them from identifying those project partners in the field  that are ready and able take full advantage of the resources and ICT solutions available. It is a fact, that a lot of development resources do not reach the field or are wasted because of a lack qualified implementation partners.

 ICT infrastructures are often created without adequately taking into account the need for training and the development of the strategic uses of the same infrastructure, which will make it effective and sustainable.

 

From all this follows the need to initiate a global ICT4D capacity building and certification program for e-readiness in development for all sectors and stakeholders.

 

Such an e-readiness and capacity building initiative cannot be created over night and not by one organization. GKPF has therefore decided to initiate the process by creating the ICT4D E-Readiness and Capacity Building Initiative, (DERCI), as one of the GKPF action lines that will be implemented by GKPF, his members and his partners.

 

The initial steps DERCI will take are threefold:

 

1)      Creation of a DERCI working group. Organizations such as IICD and AKVO have already indicated that they want to join GKPF in this working group.

2)      Preparation of an initial DERCI meeting and workshop at the upcoming WSIS Forum, Geneva, 13-17 May, 2013.

3)      In order to prepare for the workshop, DERCI will initiate a stories collection initiative on the GKPF www site under the title “Infrastructure s not enough for Development”. There is still a huge need to demonstrate with practical examples from the development field that development is not dependent on infrastructure but the wise strategic use of the infrastructures and resources available. As a clear outcome of this we want to promote the adoption of an “infrastructure plus”, (plus capacity building and e-readiness certification), strategy in development.

 

If you are interested in joining DERCI, please register with the GKPF www site, if you have not already done so, and join the DERCI discussion and working group online.

 

Comment by Krishna Mishra on September 19, 2012 at 3:29pm

Infrastructure Plus approach will give the required push for realizing the full potential of ICT.Let us take the example of eKutir.We started providing the Agricultural Services to the Resource Poor Farmers who are illiterate.A local entrepreneur was trained and acted as a human interface between Technology and the Farmers in providing the services.But the demand for ICT based services could not be realized and one of the factors was the eLiteracy  level  was  low.We prepared an eAgro Activity Card and started giving exposure to the users and stakeholders including Farmers which created a demand for the use of technology.What is required is to think different and need based training should be designed.ICT as a tool for productivity should be clearly spelt out in the capacity development program which gives acceptance to the users.Like we have designed Activity Card for the students,for the Community based Organisation ,Housewives etc.GKPF has rightly flagged this issue and a concrete action plan should  come out of the deliberation. KCMishra

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