ICT for education and development

Carlos Rodriguez Casal

Carlos Rodriguez Casal is Evaluation Officer, European Commission, Directorate-General Information Society and Media, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.

Abstract Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to assess the contribution that information communication technology (ICT) can make in development and education, covering different application fields. Design/methodology/approach - This work looks into the practical application of ICTs covering the application possibilities, the limitations and the methodological application. Information has been taken from multiple real experiences. Findings - The paper finds that there are significant opportunities for improving the benefits of integrating ICTs within development programs. Limitations should be accepted at present while a holistic approach should be taken to consider the real local needs. Originality/value - ICTs should be taken into account within multiple development programs as a tool to improve their efficiency. Limitations are covered in the paper, as well as recommendations about the deployment of ICT infrastructures with other development targets. Keywords Communication technologies, Education, Design and development Paper type Research paper

(MDGs), addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions, including hunger, disease, gender inequality, lack of education, poor access to basic infrastructure and environmental degradation. This paper presents information and communication technologies (ICTs) as means to realizing these goals. It shows the added value of using ICTs within multiple initiatives and from different angles, addressing too the limitations in the context of development, where ICTs are not the solution, but a powerful means.

s the gap between rich and poor remains wide, different initiatives seek to contribute to improving the living conditions of the least favored. Perhaps the world's most relevant effort is the general commitment to the Millennium Development Goals

1. Development, the MDGs and ICTs

This paper is a summary of the work done by members of tt30 in 2006 presenting in Nigeria the project ''ICT for Education and Development''. The Young Think Tank of the Club of Rome is committed to creating a sustainable and fair future for humanity by advocating innovative projects aimed at promoting holistic and long-term approaches. See www.clubofrome.org/tt30/ index.php The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reect the policies of the Commission of the European Union.

The gap between rich and poor remains wide and many countries still witness and suffer extreme poverty, diseases, ethnic conicts and man-made or natural disasters. These issues are part of a vicious circle where the inefficiency of the public institutions is backed by high levels of corruption, and society faces high debt burdens with low levels of resources and human capital. In order to change these situations, solid and conscious national strategies aim to move towards sustainable development together with external aid, debt relief and improved access to fair international markets. As a shared commitment aimed at addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions and setting specific targets to be achieved by 2015, the eight MDGs were signed by 191 nations to: 1. eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (MDG1); 2. achieve universal primary education (MDG2);

DOI 10.1108/14636690710762093

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3. promote gender equality and empower women (MDG3); 4. reduce child mortality (MDG4); 5. improve maternal health (MDG5); 6. combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases (MDG6); 7. ensure environmental sustainability (MDG7); and 8. develop a global partnership for development (MDG8). Progress towards these goals has so far been slow. While there has been progress in some regions, some countries were unable to make the investments in human capital and infrastructure that were required, and those able to face the investments could not confront all the economical challenges, leaving behind some parts of society. Perhaps governance is often inadequate either because of the ruling elites being corrupted or because the policy makers lacking awareness on how to proceed and neglect core development priorities. Or perhaps the goals were too ambitious without enough international will and allocation of economical resources. Human rights have been considered by the UN as a cross cutting issue. The adoption of a human rights-based approach in development and poverty reduction strategies should be taken, but still, a strong decoupling between human rights and the development community is limiting the effectiveness of advocacy work and policy reform. The right of development should be understood strongly connected to human rights: freedom and liberties should aim to provide the space for individuals to formulate their own path; this and no other is the meaning of the right to development both at the individual and collective level. In this frame, the author of this ICT for education and development report find it relevant to emphasize the role that ICTs can play in supporting development and the achievement of the MDGs. ICTs also offer an entire new range of opportunities for the realization of the right to participation and are becoming a key component of advocacy strategies, networking or peace negotiations. It is now required that decision makers urgently form a precise understanding of the relationship between ICTs with development, and start using all available tools to take the maximum benefit of such infrastructures. The following sections of this summary elaborate how ICTs can support the development and the achievement of the MDGs. Before going through that analysis it seems relevant to face an important ethical question: primary needs are often not satisfied and many humans are sill lacking basic goods such as of food or water. Can we ignore these needs and use available resources to develop information infrastructures? Even if the answer has to be soberly considered, it seems that the implications of ICTs' deployment and use are simply too large and too obvious to be ignored, therefore the right balance has to be sought, trying to provide countries with the infrastructure that may finally improve people's situation. The spread of ICTs hold the promise to greatly facilitate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and within this line of though, the United Nations World Summit of the Information Society of 2005 established the ''Tunis Agenda'', asking investments to expand capacity building and to create regional infrastructure extending the application of ICT infrastructures to different development sectors. Such kinds of infrastructures are not only hardware and software provided with some training. The right infrastructure is such that can guarantee their maintenance and a minimum of profitability as to be sustainable, choosing the right technologies - starting with the existing ones - and letting people to get involved avoiding the scattering of black boxes, that local users can not operate.

2. Investing in ICTs
Investment in ICTs can be oriented toward consumption or production. In what context does investing in ICTs contribute better to reducing poverty and achieving development? Evidence through practical experience in the world indicates that investing in ICT consumption might contribute mainly to increasing human and knowledge capital, while

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investment in ICTs production seems to be a more effective tool for development of the whole society. In both cases ICTs can create new jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities. For the adoption of ICTs, population has to be aware of the possible uses and benefits of technology thus creating a read demand of services and applications. This will only happen once that contents are culturally adapted to the environment respecting language, religion and traditions of users. ICT production includes creation of hardware, software and other components of the ICT infrastructure, and not just helping large hardware and software firms in developing countries. Production encompasses consultants, trainers, internet service providers, data services providers, application providers, web designers, etc. In particular, a key sector worth mentioning is software development. There are some characteristics of software that make it different from other industrial sectors from an economic perspective: lower entry barriers than other ICT sectors and production knowledge relatively easy to acquire. Additionally, software is strongly incremental and code re-use is a common practice both by proprietary and free/open source developers. This feature allows sparing unnecessary efforts on the development of state-of-the-art methods and algorithms, hence focusing on personalization or innovative steps. These characteristics enable countries and regions with qualified workers and minimum capital for the creation of companies. There are still many software innovations to be developed, such as cultural adaptation, environmental interaction, ubiquity, artificial intelligence, system integration . . . At the moment, when outsourcing of software production from countries with high labor costs is becoming usual, developing countries have an opportunity for the creation of a local software industry.

3. Use of ICTs within development

3.1. Education, training and diffusion of information When going into the key areas of ICT applications, education is the first and best possibility to inuence in development. The central question is whether and under which conditions the improved access to ICTs can enhance the individual and collective capabilities of people to better achieve the lifestyle they value. It seems that literacy is the key element, and similarly newly acquired ''informational capabilities'' can act as an agent for change for individuals and communities enhancing their abilities to engage with the formal institutions in the economic, political, social and cultural spheres of their life. Options include providing children a basic education, professional training, technological literacy programs and dissemination of information. Providing children with a basic education is needed and by the time being there is an enormous lack of funding. Some children are unable to attend because of the lack of a school accessible to their homes or because books, school uniforms or tuition fees are a heavy burden. ICTs can help by providing alternative possibilities for education. A concrete and extra effort on education has to be made to compensate for the current situation regarding women. Educated women have fewer children, get medical help sooner and provide better care, education and nutrition for their children. This reduces hunger, infant and maternal mortality, the spread of diseases, and environmental damage. The low levels of literacy, infrastructure development, factors of physical, economic and social access as well as linguistic barriers still impede the spread of ICTs in Africa. These problems associated with the adoption of new technologies are often connected with the scarce technical capabilities of users, making it necessary to familiarize individuals with the new technologies simultaneously with the deployment of infrastructures and applications in their mother tongue, their local customs and in harmony with their cultural symbols. In this frame, technological literacy programs aim at bringing citizens closer to technology by using general purpose equipment running computer programs with simple interfaces which are adapted to the cultural environment are highly valuable. These technological literacy programs are often carried out in the so-called telecenters, premises provided with ICT

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infrastructures and specialized personnel dedicated to teaching new technologies to the population located in the area of inuence of the center. As users get involved using ICTs, new social interactions are appearing via email or chatrooms, and they have profound implications for the social support networks. Social norms are being affected by ICTs, especially the internet, which is creating new networks through which individuals can share values and experiences. This sharing might relax cultural barriers and strength cultural practices that encourage health-seeking behavior and, in general, can support a better life. People are inclined to feel more ''included'' when online, because of the anonymity of users in virtual domains, and the fact that users are not physically present. These factors contribute to the search of information and improvement of daily habits. Training can also be supported by ICTs. It is increasingly frequent to use these technologies for education of professionals using digital content and remote connections or interactive applications when students cannot go to the training center. In particular, distance learning can support the training of professionals in the health sector, providing access to best practices and directions to improve skills. Strongly linked to education, the spread of information is emerging through different means such as broadcasting public health messages, awareness campaigns through mass media outlets, dissemination of preventive information, capacity building through online training or public policy advocacy through online discussions and debates. In particular, the knowledge dissemination can be a key tool for sharing medical information: current medical research, breakthroughs in treatment and new approaches in patient care which can be useful for patients, health functionaries, students and researchers. Some examples of information users are listed next:
B

Policy-makers who use the information and opinion generated through e-networks, list servers, blogs, newsletters and journals as a guide to formulate concrete policies and expediting institutional resources.

Donors/aid organizations who aim to ensure transparency and accountability in logistic, operational and financial commitments. Program functionaries who need to ensure greater networking and coordination between stakeholders to inform program planning, delivery and evaluation. They also need ICTbased tools for facilitation of intervention programs through streamlined surveillance systems for better targeting, monitoring and evaluation, besides improved delivery mechanisms. ICTs also provide them a platform for sharing information and knowledge which can feed into better program delivery in terms of replication of best practices. Health workers including doctors, nurses and paramedics participating in clinical intervention programs and who use ICT tools for clinical data management, monitoring patient profiles, drug supplies and other logistic requirements facilitating remote consultation in diagnosis and treatment. Researchers and students who gain from information networking, online journals, libraries and data. Vulnerable groups such as the youth may learn about prevention of infections through information dissemination tools like web sites, online journals and newsletters, training modules, E-discussion groups and help lines etc. While being the age-group most vulnerable, the youth are also the most receptive to the use of technology for information and communication. People living in isolation who are supported through online counseling and guidance for a better life, removing socially inhibiting stigmas and prejudices. Other concerned persons, who are active in building up opinion, pressing for policy initiatives and advocating for a better world.

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3.2. Links to the larger health system ICTs are a key instrument in planning and monitoring public health programs, especially at the sub-regional or regional levels. Strong and efficient systems and better links to the larger health system are necessary. ICTs can enhance both of these. First, mobile communication networks can improve physical links by expediting the response of emergency transportation. Second, ICTs can create virtual links - telemedicine - between attendants and more highly trained personnel at district and central hospitals. Mobile phones, radio units and digital cameras can all serve to enhance the quality of first-line care provided. Individuals can also benefit of remote consultation about diagnosis and treatment. Patient monitoring, managing drug logistics for patients in health care programs, electronic medical records are all tools facilitated by ICTs within the health sector.

3.3. Assessment of needs ICTs can increase the efficiency of social service delivery and raise economic efficiency by reducing costs, supporting management and imposing safeguards against corruption: 1. ICTs can increase the quantity and quality of population data and, through simple spreadsheets and databases, expedite the organization and interpretation of the data. 2. ICTs can easily monitor levels of resources, such as inventory and personnel or anticipate resource gaps. For example, for the administration of drugs, continuous, real-time monitoring of inventory ICTs can immediately alert managers when supplies fall below critical thresholds. These thresholds could be fixed or linked via information networks to other systems, for instance, within malaria surveillance systems, to estimate needs - in this case, antimalarial drugs. This application links with the so-called ''Supply chain management'', in which ICTs can expedite each step of the supply chain by creating electronic links between local facilities, procurer's, foreign and domestic distributors and import authorities. 3. ICTs can link different providers together to increase coordination. For example, in some areas many different NGOs and government work alongside one another but find it difficult to track each other's activities, which could lead to duplicated efforts, supply shortages or missing the opportunity to work together achieving a better result. 3.4. ICTs for control and accountability ICTs can play a critical role in strengthening accountability systems. For instance, the performance of workers can be tracked, budget processes can be transparent or selling prices can be controlled (providing community awareness of governmental regulations on prices, thus preventing exploitation of information asymmetries). ICTs can also improve the quality and control of prevention, treatment and care and support programs which critical components in the long-term management strategy for diseases such as malaria or HIV/AIDS. ICTs facilitate the monitoring of public expenditures and supports political empowerment to those countries that need to convince their development partners. ICTs are a facilitator through program coordination and documentation of results which are very important from the point of view of convincing donors to continue funding the programs. ICTs surveillance can be used to make an efficient and environmental friendly use of chemicals to enhance agricultural yield or within manufacturing, transport or heavy industry which have high levels of pollution, harming human health and contaminating local environment. Surveillance can also be linked to the exploitation of natural resources to use better natural resources and rationalize the use when there is pressure of globalization on developing countries to exploit their natural resources. ICTs, through satellite observation and networks of sensors can support the protection of existing natural conservation areas such as water resources.

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4. ICTs are not a panacea

Because of the existing hype around the potential benefits of ICTs, the high expectations of development communities cannot be met. ICTs alone are not able to change the existing structural, social, political and economic inequalities. Contribution of ICTs to growth will be as an enabler or a tool for other contributors to growth. ICTs should normally be understood as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. In relation to poverty, there is no direct and causal relationship between ICTs and poverty reduction. This relationship is much more complex and indirect in nature, whereby the issue of its impact on the livelihoods depends to a large extent on the dynamic and iterative process between people and technology within a specific local, cultural and socio-political context. Frequently, the most immediate and direct effect of ICT programs seems to be the psychological empowerment of people, whereby newly acquired ICT skills provide people with a sense of achievement and pride, thus strengthening their self-esteem. ICT detractors insist on the lack of infrastructure support (supporting electricity and telecommunication network), poor internet connectivity, expensive access, lack of skilled and experienced staff for operating ICT systems, inexistence of documentation and communication setup, expensive access, poor utilization skills and few appropriate contents . . . these arguments may draw a very negative view of the situation, but even then the role of ICTs should be accepted calling for an integrated approach addressing together the above mentioned ICT issues in a holistic approach integrated within other areas of political activity.

5. Complementary actions
For ICTs to contribute effectively to growth, ICT deployment should be accompanied by a holistic view with complementary actions to allow social-economical development to happen. The success of national efforts and the works of international partnerships lie in good governance, driven by investments in ICTs, and shaped by the ability of governments to combat corruption, promote the rule of law and invest in their people. The additional ingredients necessary to make this happen are political will, effective public-private partnerships and demonstrated commitment of all stakeholders. Legal certainty and the promotion of fundamental and universal human rights are vital, as it is the rule of law establishing democratic institutions and ensuring sound predictable and transparent legal systems which will create sound business environments cutting transaction costs, and empowering local entrepreneurs. Mature macroeconomic conditions will come together and will enable the development of innovative business models offering new opportunities for the widespread of economic and social development through the empowerment of large numbers of poor people. Public support should aim at achieving two targets. One is partnership with the private sector to extend core infrastructure and promote the technological learning necessary for sustained economic growth. The other is to support investments that complement the private sector activities in the market that normally bypass people living in extreme poverty who cannot afford to pay for basic services. At the same time, corruption has to be combated because it undermines economic development and poverty reduction efforts. It can erode political stability, which would exacerbate economic woes and deter local and foreign investments. Last, but not least, governments must systematically holistically consider the gender aspects. Empowerment of women is vital because their lack of education, inuence and resources to care for their families and to fully participate in the development process is vital to meet any of the MDG targets. Women's education, work and political status are important, but together with support to self-help initiatives, access to capital for economic enterprise, good salaries and participation.

6. Designing an ICT program

Most of the current information society (IS) development programs start with the deployment of communication infrastructures oriented towards improving access, but adoption is a

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much more complex issue. Therefore the human development of people, rather than technology itself should be the center of design and evaluation of ICT programs. The important advantage of using this approach is its emphasis on the ability of ICTs to improve the daily livelihoods of communities, in contrast to more conventional approaches that overemphasize the significance of technology itself for social change. Furthermore, evaluations of the impact of ICT programs should focus on an analysis from the vantage point of the people, rather than from the perspective of outside donors or investors. The following are concrete recommendations on the manner in which ICT programs should be designed in order to be most effective on facilitating the empowerment of marginalized groups: 1. The potential benefits of ICTs are largest when they are being fully integrated into other sectoral development programs (i.e. in education or health). It is, however, important that marginalized communities first identify and define their own needs and development priorities before, in a second step, a project can define whether and how ICTs can support the community's development goals. 2. ICT programs are most effective, when combining traditional media with new forms of ICTs. Any program should strengthen traditional information systems, build on existing indigenous knowledge and enhance existing information channels rather than undermine existing structures. 3. It is essential that ICT programs prior to initiating any project activities carry out a detailed assessment of existing information ows and information needs. The analysis should focus on how the new technologies can strengthen existing communication and information exchanges within and in between communities. The assessment should furthermore identify key ''information intermediaries'' in the community and analyze existing power relationships as they relate to the transfer of knowledge within the communities. 4. Analyze the process of how ICTs are being introduced. Outside agents or intermediaries may play a key role in supporting communities in appropriating the technologies to meet their own local and cultural needs. Within this process, it is vital that community members gradually gain the skills to make meaningful use of ICTs as well as gradually take ownership of the management of the program. 5. The most important factors inuencing, whether an ICT program has positive outcomes or not are social, political and cultural, while the technical issues involved in the provision of ICTs frequently do not play a key role.

Corresponding author
Carlos Rodriguez Casal can be contacted at: carlos.rodriguez@ec.europa.eu

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