Message-ID: <002a01be1408$213ea4c0$78e06883@steve.tdg.ca> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 17:01:15 -0500 From: Don Richardson <mailto:drichard@UOGUELPH.CA> Subject: Telecom for Rural Development Conference - Participant To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Greetings, The participant recommendations from the Oct. 26 & 27, 1998 conference on "Partnerships and Participation in Telecommunications for Rural Development" are now on-line at http://www.snowden.org/conference/index.cfmDuring the two-day conference hosted by the Don Snowden Program for Development Communication at the University of Guelph in Canada, the 200 participants had a chance to work in small groups to share their experiences, reflect on conference presentations and develop specific recommendations that would be of value to policy-makers, decision-makers, funding organizations, program planners and, of course, rural community members who wish to enhance their use of telecommunications for rural development.
Below are: 1) specific recommendations from each of the 17 working groups formed during the conference. 2) a summary of these recommendations that was presented back to participants
It should be noted that many of the participants commented that the summary did not accurately reflect the level of detail in their recommendations, and asked us to present their recommendations in complete detail, together with the summary - hence both the specific recommendations and the summary are included here.
The full proceedings for the conference, including conference papers will be posted to our website within the next two weeks. For further information on the Don Snowden Program and related conference information, including a list of participants see http://www.snowden.org
Sincerely, Don Richardson, Director, Don Snowden Program for Development Communication University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADVANCING TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT
--Taken directly from recommendations made in small groups by participants in "Partnerships and Participation in Telecommunications for Rural Development" Conference, University of Guelph, Canada, October 27-28, 1998
--Each group had a visual icon (e.g. baseball, banana) to maintain continuity between sessions and help participants find their tables and flipcharts for each working group session - hence the "odd" group names! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 1: BASEBALL
1) There is a need to analyze the power dynamics of introducing telecommunications in rural communities, taking into consideration the effects of neocolonialism, the potential for violence, and control and subversion of the message. 2) Transfer of technology and knowledge has to be bi-directional and valued in both directions. 3) Listen to, respect and learn from local resistance to the introduction of new technologies in rural communities. 4) Evaluation needs to be a continuous and participatory process recognizing that telecommunications and rural development are "moving targets". Sustainability is not easy to access in a dynamic process and we need to focus on social and cultural impacts, not just economic viability. 5) To ensure rural development, central governments and urban centres *must* contribute to and maintain the telecommunications infrastructure and not leave the private sector to determine equity. As practitioners, we need to promote community interests at the national level by inputting into legislative and regulatory frameworks.
Group 2: PAINT CANS
1) Introduction of technologies need to be articulated to local community development needs and wants. 2) There is a strong need to market / educate people about public access so it gets utilized and new innovations can occur from the bottom up. 3) Access to the knowledge economy can help address poverty issues but is not a development end in itself. 4) Public access areas (eg; libraries, community access centres, telecentres, etc.) need to get reduced rates to provide equitable access. 5) Support community-based organizations to introduce ICTs; at the same time, create a "space" for all stakeholders (political, corporate, community) to voice their position and have a place in the development process.
Group 3: TELEPHONE
1) Partnerships must provide groups with equal power –a longterm strategy and vision are essential. 2) Need LOCAL CHAMPIONS who understand the needs of community PLUS "pump priming" money for projects (eg; loans at reasonable rates). 3) Expectations and requirements of partnerships should be set in writing. 4) Innovators must be willing to take a "step back" if the project is not working. 5) Identify "systemic barriers" and find ways to overcome them.
Group 4: ELECTRICAL OUTLET
1) Technology is the easiest part. To understand what is needed from a sociological, regulatory, political and technological perspective before initiating new projects. 2) NEEDS ASSESSMENT that is flexible, is made at a local level; Decisions need to be made based on the community needs. 3) A business plan that is "evolvable", multi-sourced and easily available (eg; influenced by the state of the market à repairability; What you can buy and repair locally; multi-sourced and easily available as well as appropriate; Ensure the investment is able to move forward.). 4) Finding people in the system who have connections to both local and "high end" of the system; "Outsiders" / agencies need to find a person with influence who is respected; People with needs and local connections. 5) Training: orientation for decision-makers of various development investment re: the use of telecommunications media. Educate people while they are still learning.
Group 5: [Group name unknown]
1) Variety of models based on the positive and negative lessons learned (local and professional knowledge). 2) Identify necessary steps…
Group 6: BANANA
1) Partnerships –Be clear who is partnering; who should be partnering; why they are in the partnership; benefits and costs to partners; partners behind the partners; ongoing dialogue throughout the process. 2) Be flexible in terms of the partnership –create a dynamic relationship where the roles of the partners change as the needs of the partners change. 3) Be led by the needs, not by the technology. Be aware of the things the technology can do and match to needs where appropriate. 4) Consideration of the positive contribution to local economic development should be taken in the assessment of needs and the design of process and projects. 5) Re: this conference: A website devoted to the conference and follow-up work; links to sites of participants and sites created where they don’t yet exist; noting successes, cautions and resources / tools that we develop.
Group 7: WRENCH, PhD!
1) The Goal is to meet "real" and accurately-identified needs, as identified by community members. These must be constantly reviewed and adjusted. 2) Identify the *true* "influencers", those who are truly respected; it is important to note they may or may not be obvious (eg; don’t choose only based on position title). 3) Do "community building" among stakeholders, based on the values that everyone is equally important and should be respected and "heard" –This process is important even before a "project leader" is chosen. 4) Any project should be part of "community development", at the request of the community. This requires a "consultant" who gives options and true choice, whose work fits within the cultural context, with the project created on a "case-by-case basis" (no "template" for a project). 5) A need to know *why* we are doing what we are doing! Need to identify current skill sets and interests for training, and the motivation level. The project needs a "foundation" in the community so it is not a "temporary" project but is sustainable.
Group 8: CHERRIES
1) The question of how telecommunications will complement and contribute to the community’s view of rural development. 2) Identify local champions that have credibility for all stakeholders (eg; understand the "big picture" and how interactions affect this). 3) Assuming that technology is available (eg; not a constraint), allow the individual to pursue his/her objectives without (government) regulation. 4) There must be an appropriate opportunity for a neutral body within a framework to respond to political, socio-economic and regulatory constraints in a timely manner.
LE GROUPE 9: "CANNETTE"
1) Les demarches participatif. 2) Disponabilite de technologie simple a mettre en oeuvre et facile a utilisation. 2) La formation et la communication. 3) Facilite access aux sources de financement. 4) Developper un bon mechanism de suivi, d’evaluation dans un cadre participatif.
Group 10: HAPPY FACE
1) Start with the national development plan and the existing regulations(--this has hopefully developed already through consultation, top down and bottom up). Process feeds directly into policy. 2) Identify the target communities, identify pilot projects; this way, you can identify stakeholders. 3) Concentrate on pilot activities. 4) Concentrate on consultation process: identify major stakeholders in order to determine their specific roles. 5) General information provided to communities (create awareness); provide training for those involved in implementation. 6) Have a feedback mechanism to government institutions to identify deficiencies in structures, policies, etc. (eg; forum could be a mechanism); this way, the regulations can be modified. 7) Exchange of experience and learn from each other (eg; through conferences). 8) For international organizations and member states involved in rural telecommunications, should establish a worldwide forum for exchange of this information.
Group 11: [name of group unknown]
1) A successful telecommunications development initiative is only *one* aspect of a community development process. 2) A successful telecommunications development initiative is catalysed by an awareness of other initiatives, successes and failures (availability of information). 3) To ensure that community development benefits are integrated into the process of telecommunications development (contractual obligations). 4) International benchmarks can be useful in establishing standards of accountability and "socially responsible" practice in telecommunications development initiatives. 5) Important: transparency of stakeholder interests.
Group 12: APPLE CORE –The co-operative organization for revitalizing everyone!!
1) Ensure that government plays an appropriate role: providing leadership and resources. 2) ICTs should be driven by real needs of people (eg; communities that are being served). 3) Build on existing resources, including organizations infrastructure, skills and indigenous knowledge. 4) Management and technologies should be adapted to meet evolving needs of communities. People skills should compliment technical skills. 5) Partnerships should be inclusive –ensure participation of all stakeholders.
Group 13: Combined : CLOCK / LEMON
1) Community empowerment is key. Includes (1) full audit of stakeholders in community; (2) capacity building process, if necessary; (3) profit sharing. 2) Must be focused on longterm returns / results including: (1) financial; (2) social; (3) environmental bottom lines. 3) Proper and full planning process must be done first, including education about positive and negative impacts of new media. 4) Build on existing infrastructure (eg; community groups / community radio; physical infrastructure –towers, etc.).
Group 14: LIGHTBULB
1) Awareness / motivation of the people. 2) Establishing co-operatives in rural areas. 3) Establishing community meeting places. 4) Providing basic training to the village-dwellers. 5) Creation of multimedia network.
Group 15: DUCK
1) Need for integration of perspectives, community needs. 2) Right to access should be a human right; universal access. 3) Community ownership, buy-in and management imperative. 4) Importance of both centralization and decentralization of policy issues. 5) Role of government in an information society.
Group 16: PINK BALLOON
1) That partnerships be defined as being founded on the principles of transparency, compromise, accountability, equity, inclusiveness and the provision of mutual benefit. 2) That technical and macro-commercial concerns should not overwhelm the social, cultural and micro-economic needs of a community. 3) That effective leadership be fostered at the community level and that policy-makers become sensitized to the importance of this leadership’s input to the overall sustainability of any rural development project. 4) The need for "clear" policy guidance which addresses grassroots community needs cannot be under-estimated, and that policies demonstrate consistency. 5) The need to educate the community and decentralize power is achieved through broad community involvement and consensus.
Group 17: 8-BALL
1) Define expectations, understandings and interest with respect to rural telecommunications and information needs. 2) Define who are the required partners. 3) Converge differing needs towards a common need and a shared understanding. 4) Define roles and responsibilities of partners. 5) Maintain the view of economic viability throughout the project’s life.
2) SUMMARY OF PARTICIPANT RECOMMENDATIONS
Partnerships and Participation in Telecommunications for Rural Development: Exploring What Works and Why, Oct. 26 & 27, 1998, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Vision
- A long-term vision and strategy is essential
Community - Stakeholder consultation - Identify local leadership - Focus on people, not technology - Rural telecommunications is not an end in itself, but one aspect of community development.
Community - Build on existing skills and infrastructure - Technology must be easy to use and available - Need for a local capacity to repair technology
Alliances (Partnerships) - Clarify roles and responsibilities - Need for flexibility in choice of alliances - Respect stakeholder values - Identify expectations and “agendas”
Power - Transparency - Mutual accountability in partnerships - Decentralization of power through building community consensus - Respect local resistance and culture
Training - Decision-makers - Manager-operators - Rural communities
Training - Rural communities need to learn how to operate new technologies and to use them for their own benefit - Raise awareness of negative and positive impacts
Management - Clear understanding of purpose - Recognize that both needs and technologies are evolving
Evaluation - Evaluation is a continuous process that leads to change - Measure both social and economic impacts
Pilot Projects - Use pilot projects to develop models - Share experiences with others
Mechanisms - Need for mechanisms to deal with regulatory issues at a global level - Need for a world-wide forum to exchange information - Need to develop international benchmarks and standards
Policy - Policies need to be developed at the community level through stakeholder consultation - Policies need to be clear and consistent
Financial Issues - Need for loans at reasonable rates for pilot projects - Finances are important for sustainability - Community telecentres should have access to subsidized telephone rates Government - Governments need to be committed to maintaining rural telecom infrastructure - Governments should deal with issues of equity
FOLLOW-UP - Web-site to serve as a clearing- house for conference proceedings and ongoing information exchange
RESEARCH TOPICS that can yield info of relevance to policy making & decision-making - Organizational policy - Local policy - Gov’t policy - Corporate policy, etc, etc,
Components of each research topic or issue: - A *substantive* dimension - what? - A *relationship* dimension - who? - A *procedural* dimension - how?