towards inclusive development: icts and changing geometry of information flows within communities...
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Towards Inclusive Development:
ICTs and Changing Geometry of Information Flows within
Communities
Vikas NathFounder
KnowNet.org
DigitalGovernance.org
Transforming and Sustaining Inclusive Development CommunitiesTransforming and Sustaining Inclusive Development Communities
19 September 200319 September 2003
AmsterdamAmsterdam
ICT, ICT, Information Access and FlowsInformation Access and Flows
Information AccessInformation AccessOpportunities / avenues available to individuals to seek information from different sources. For instance from other individuals, institutions, and public domains and
databases.
Information FlowInformation FlowThe supply / availability of information within a society. Information flows may be 'restricted' in some societies and 'open' in
others.
Impact of ICT on Information AccessImpact of ICT on Information Access
Changes in "Information Access" can be analyzed along 3 dimensions:
Sources of information
Intensity of interactions, and
Information types
The impact is Positive/ Increasing in each of the The impact is Positive/ Increasing in each of the cases.cases.
Impact of ICT on Information FlowImpact of ICT on Information Flow
Changes in "Information Flow" can be analyzed along 2 dimensions:
Information Production
Information Broadcast
The impact is Positive/ Increasing in each of the The impact is Positive/ Increasing in each of the cases.cases.
Schematic Representation of Impact of Schematic Representation of Impact of ICT on Information Access and FlowICT on Information Access and Flow
Pre-ICT Society Post-ICT Society
Geometry of Information Flows: Geometry of Information Flows: The Missing ElementThe Missing Element
ICT has paved way for more number of inter-linkages, increase in ICT has paved way for more number of inter-linkages, increase in intensity of interactions, and greater opportunity to broadcast intensity of interactions, and greater opportunity to broadcast content to distant and transnational public domainscontent to distant and transnational public domains
It is evident that ICT enhances Information Access and Flows… and almost automatically in the project designs.
But if the benefits of ICT for Development projects are to provide benefits to the disadvantaged communities and difficult to reach communities, then there is something critical missing in the project designs. And the missing element is the "Geometry of Information Flows."
What do we mean by Geometry of What do we mean by Geometry of Information Flows:Information Flows:
A detailed human-centric picture of information flows in a society. Focuses on "Who are the people" getting connected and are benefiting when there is an increase in information access and flow.
AIM is to understand the distribution of "information" and "information flows" in the society, instead of focusing solely on enhanced communication.
Which new constituencies/ target groups have been brought under the ICT networks?
Has any relevant content started to flow to communities newly brought under the ICT networks?
Does information flow to the disadvantaged communities increase, when there is a total increase in information access and flow?
• Who are our Target groups that we want to reach out to, through ICT for Development projects?
• What are the key information needs of the disadvantaged community?
• What are the existing channels by which information reaches to thedisadvantaged community?
• What is the weakest link in the chain of information flows: from source to the disadvantaged communities?
Guidelines for Shaping Geometry Guidelines for Shaping Geometry of Information Flowsof Information Flows
Geometrically Sensitive ICTD Geometrically Sensitive ICTD Models for Developing CountriesModels for Developing Countries
• Wider Dissemination ModelWider Dissemination Model• Critical Flow ModelCritical Flow Model
• Comparative Analysis ModelComparative Analysis Model• E-advocacy/ Lobbying and E-advocacy/ Lobbying and
Pressure group modelPressure group model• Interactive-Service ModelInteractive-Service Model
Wider Disseminating ModelInformation: Information:
Public Domain Wider Public DomainPublic Domain Wider Public Domain
Public Domain Information
Wider DomainWider Domain • Laws and LegislationsLaws and Legislations• Local Govt. Offices and Local Govt. Offices and Officials InformationOfficials Information• Government Budget, Plans Government Budget, Plans and Expendituresand Expenditures• Key Judicial Decisions: Key Judicial Decisions: state vs. citizen decisionsstate vs. citizen decisions
ExamplesExamples
Brazil: Official Government WebsiteBrazil: Official Government Website
www.brazil.gov.br
South Africa: Idasa’s Political Information and Monitoring South Africa: Idasa’s Political Information and Monitoring Service (PIMS)Service (PIMS)
www.pims.org.za/monitor
India: Directory of Government MinistriesIndia: Directory of Government Ministries
www.goidirectory.nic.in
Armenia: Online forum for Democratic ParticipationArmenia: Online forum for Democratic Participation
www.forum.am www.forum.am
Critical Flow ModelCritical Information:Critical Information:
Private Domain Wider Public DomainPrivate Domain Wider Public Domain
Private Domain Information
Wider DomainWider Domain
• Corruption InformationCorruption Information• Enquiry reports, scientific Enquiry reports, scientific research, impact studies research, impact studies commissioned by the commissioned by the GovernmentGovernment• Company’s Green Company’s Green Ratings Ratings • Human Rights Violations Human Rights Violations RecordsRecords
ExamplesExamples
Bangladesh: Human Rights Portal Bangladesh: Human Rights Portal www.banglarights.net
Mexico: Declarenet www.declaranet.gob.mxMexico: Declarenet www.declaranet.gob.mx
El Salvador: Probidad El Salvador: Probidad www.probidad.org
India: Central Vigilance Committee India: Central Vigilance Committee www.cvc.nic.in
Colombia: Transparent MunicipalitiesColombia: Transparent Municipalities
www.paipa.gov.cowww.paipa.gov.co
www.transparencia.buga.gov.cowww.transparencia.buga.gov.co
Comparative Analysis ModelInformation:Information:
Private / Public Domain + Public / Private Domain Private / Public Domain + Public / Private Domain Wider Public Domain Wider Public Domain
Public/PrivateDomain
Wider DomainWider Domain
Public Domain Information
Public/PrivateDomain
Comparative Analysis ModelComparative Analysis Model
• Based on Based on Precedence Precedence InformationInformation(time line)(time line)
• With and With and Without Without InformationInformation
• Court Rulings / Historical ArchiveCourt Rulings / Historical Archive •Tracking Performance Records / Tracking Performance Records / Financial Assets Growth of MinistersFinancial Assets Growth of MinistersElectoral Candidates InformationElectoral Candidates Information
• Bringing out Best / Worst PracticesBringing out Best / Worst PracticesDisaster ResponseDisaster ResponseComparative policies- Bt Cotton & Comparative policies- Bt Cotton & Trademark Potatoes CampaignTrademark Potatoes Campaign
ExamplesExamplesArgentina: Cristal (Budget comparisons and use of public Argentina: Cristal (Budget comparisons and use of public funds)funds)
www.cristal.gov.ar
Sri Lanka: Kothmale Project (Comparison of Education Sri Lanka: Kothmale Project (Comparison of Education Indicators)Indicators)
India: Green Ratings of Chief MinistersIndia: Green Ratings of Chief Ministers
www.cseindia.org www.cseindia.org
India: Comparative Learning from DisastersIndia: Comparative Learning from Disasters
www.nic.in www.nic.in
Mobilisation and Lobbying Model Building Allies / Networking Networks for Building Allies / Networking Networks for
Concerted ActionConcerted Action
Communities
Virtual CommunityVirtual Community
Networks
Individuals
Interest Groups
Common Common GoalGoal
Real CommunityReal Community
ExamplesExamples
Planned, Directed, Strategic flow of Information to Planned, Directed, Strategic flow of Information to build strong issue-based Allies / solidarity to build strong issue-based Allies / solidarity to complement action in Real World. complement action in Real World.
((often through combination of other models)often through combination of other models)
• e-e-Signature Campaigns Signature Campaigns • e-Groups on Agriculturee-Groups on Agriculture• Zimbabwe Kubatana.net (using emails for lobbying)Zimbabwe Kubatana.net (using emails for lobbying)
Service Delivery Model USER SERVICE PROVIDER USER SERVICE PROVIDER
E-GovernmentE-GovernmentE- debatesE- debatesE-ballotsE-ballotsE-procurement of E-procurement of servicesservicesE-administration: E-administration: taxes, parking taxes, parking tickets, licensestickets, licenses
ExamplesExamplesBrazil: Citizen Services Centre Brazil: Citizen Services Centre
Mongolia: Citizens Information CentreMongolia: Citizens Information Centre
Nepal: Municipal Services Online Nepal: Municipal Services Online
www.bharatpurmun.org.np www.bharatpurmun.org.np
India: Bhoomi Project (Karnataka)India: Bhoomi Project (Karnataka)
www.revdept-01.kar.nic.in www.revdept-01.kar.nic.in
Namibia: Parliamentary website for bill discussionsNamibia: Parliamentary website for bill discussions
www.parliament.gov.na www.parliament.gov.na
Basic RequirementsBasic RequirementsRemoval of Mind Barriers!Little recognition to people’s Knowledge and their ability to make Informed decisions.
Creation and focusing on Intermediary OrganisationsProvide people access to ICT and impart skills and training on
its use – Schools, NGOs, Post Offices.
Education LevelsLow literacy in developing countries implies lower capacity to
learn and interact.
Government as a ModelNeeds to have information-sharing culture
INNOVATIONS
End NoteEnd Note Strength of any ICT for Strength of any ICT for
Development Model is based Development Model is based
on the strengths of Human on the strengths of Human
Networks within which they Networks within which they
operate, including a robust, operate, including a robust,
active and questioning / active and questioning /
inquisitive civil society.inquisitive civil society.
For more information:For more information:
Vikas Nathfounder
KnowNet.org InitiativeDigitalGovernance.org
A network of over 1800 individuals