Message-ID: <TCPSMTP.18.2.4.-9.3.36.3180191682.3185262@formnet-svr.form-net.com> Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 23:03:36 +0300 From: mailto:bdogithongo@FORM-NET.COM Subject: IT in development To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
PR>We are collecting opinions on the necessity such a for PR>on IT in development. Any help, idea, suggestion would be appreciated. We ar PR>also looking for sponsors for our initiative.Please add my opinion to that of those who are strongly in favour of such a forum. The applications of IT to developmental concerns are already well established in "serious" disciplines such as meteorology and agricultural research in a country such as Kenya where I'm from. I believe that there is even greater scope for applying IT in non-traditional areas of development and IT such as direct grassroots interventions in alleviation of poverty, primary health care and educational issues. These are typically not mentioned in the same breath as computers - perhaps because of the perception that an investment in computers is not appropriate for the poorest of the poor.
On the other hand, computers are getting cheaper, so is the cost of telecommunications. In addition, in LDC's such as Kenya, the possibility of bypassing traditional wire networks for telecommunications and instead using national satellite links is becoming increasingly more realistic. Currently the work of the government and NGO's in Kenya is supported electronically by a company called Regional Reach that puts TV's and VCR's in shopping centres across the country thus allowing them to get access to important educational information in areas such as health, micro-enterprise development, agricultural matters and so on. (The cost is underwritten by advertisers) Giving these rural communities access to worldwide knowledge of how communities are developing themselves can only improve the scope for generation of ideas and the hastening of development. Such links would also put direct beneficiaries in touch with small or individual donors who, lacking the organisation presence of say, CARE International, may not otherwise be able to contribute whether in terms of technical, material or financial assistance.
Investing at the rate of one generator-powered PC per village may seem somewhat ambitious but I think that this is only in the context of a single organisation like say, a government. Where communities and even the private sector can see the benefits of such an investment, the 1500 odd dollars or so that it would take to get hooked up would be something they would consider well worth doing a bit of fundraising for.
New ways to purify water, irrigate land, alternative energy sources that can conserve fuelwood, new ways to maintain road networks, techniques that help pump water, grain storage developments, access to on-line books - these and others are areas where I see a direct, beneficial and susbstantial impact in the lives of the poor and where I for one, would be very keen to hear what list members have to say about how IT can make this work.
Joseph Gichuki Senior Consulting Manager, Githongo & Associates Ltd P.O. Box 47089 Nairobi Tel 254-2-228206/7/8 Fax 254-2-331068 Electricity House 14th Floor Harambee Avenue Nairobi Kenya