ADB’s Operational Plan for Health and Partnership Opportunities
ADB’s Experience in Supporting e-Community Centers
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Transcript of ADB’s Experience in Supporting e-Community Centers
ADB’s Experience in Supportinge-Community Centers
Jeoung-Keun LeeSenior Capacity Building Specialist
ADB Institute, Tokyo
1. What is the digital divide?
2. Is the digital divide gap narrowing or widening?
3. Why should we reduce the digital divide?
Questions
Questions (cont’d)
4. What are the roles of e-community centers?
5. How do we create an e-community center through community participation?
6. What are the roles of governments, schools,
NGOs, entrepreneurs and donors in supporting e-Community centers?
Questions (cont’d)
7. What is ADB doing in support of e-community centers?
8. What is ADBI doing to promote e-community centers?
9. In what other ways is ADB striving to reduce the digital divide?
10. Is there a need for new models for closing the digital divide?
What is the Digital Divide?
OECD Definition (2001):
Gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regards both to their opportunities to access ICT and to their use of the Internet for a wide variety of activities.
Narrowing Gap?
Yes, it is narrowing. Developing countries already ‘digitally
leapfrog’ the developed world Per capita digital divide is shrinking
No, it is widening. Poor households use Internet less than the
richer households.
Analysis of the Digital Divide
By country: developing countries By income level: low income group By gender : women By education level: less schooling By geography: rural area By ethnic background: minority
Causes of the Digital Divide
No hardware or software Lack of information and know-how Too expensive to use and maintain Fast development of new technology
Importance of Digital Inclusion
• Digital literacy is one of prerequisites of workforce employment in the 21st Century
• Access to education opportunity, learning materials and tools
• Uniform access to government services and information
• Fast and cost-effective communications• New modes of commercial transactions (digital
payment, online shopping, etc.)
• train teachers and health workers provide health care information computer literacy training e-government services e-commerce link to global markets market price information for farmers support for SMEs participation in the political process
Services of e-Community Centers
E-Community Centers Help Stakeholders
Acquisition of information Communication among stakeholders Voice their concerns to wider audience Wider dissemination of information Complement to face-to-face meetings
ICT tools for collaboration
E-mail Internet Instant messaging and chatting File sharing Web-meeting and web conferencing Discussion forum Group calendar Audio and video conferencing Blog wiki
How to involve stakeholders
Step 1: Define the problem to be addressed,Step 2: Identify and understand the interests of
key stakeholders,Step 3: Establish effective two-way communication
to work together,Step 4: Develop options for mutual gain, andStep 5: Disseminate information through the media
and other networks
Models for Reducing Digital Gap
(1) Infrastructure Model
(2) Training Model
(3) Hardware and Training Model
(4) Community Support Models
Community Support Models
School-based model
Public sector-based model
Private sector-based model
Community ownership model
Thailand: Skills Development Project
Establish IT Courses at Skills Development Institutes
Train certified IT technicians Open the computer labs for
community use
Viet Nam: Technical Education Project
Attach production units to technical schools
Operate production unit just like a normal business unit
Serve the community on a cost recovery basis (cheaper service)
Sri Lanka: Community Information Services for the Poor
Establish a central community information center in a district networked with
several small village information centers Operate it as a cooperative venture Render assistance to the poor, as needed
Other Interventions of ADB
ICT Development Strategy (2003) Creating an Enabling environment Building human resources ICT components in all ADB projects
JFICT (Japan Fund for Information and Communications Technology): $10 million in 2001
CLICK (Center for Learning, Information, Communication and Knowledge)
DIAL (Development of Internet for Asian Law)
ADBI’s Intervention
Training of trainers in e-government, e-commerce, e-learning, e-community,
etc. Partnership with other agencies (Network of
Asian and Pacific Schools and Institutes of Public Administration and Governance)
Adoption of distance learning, using CD-ROMs, Video conference and web-based training
New Model?
Yes, and What Model?
As in the case of the Millennium Development Goal, it is difficult to reduce the digital
divide dramatically. We have to establish at least an Internet-
based global school, teaching ICT free of charge.
This will free up education budget that can be used in expanding digital infrastructure.
New Model? (cont’d)
No, the same old model
We have tried many different models so far. It’s not a question of models, but strong political will and massive investment.
Whose Role?
Individual Government Community ICT Companies Donors
Critical Success Factors of e-Community Centers
1. Plan well based on information needs of the community.
2. Involve key stakeholders from the planning stage, after analyzing stakeholders thoroughly.
3. Equip minimum ICT tools per e-community site.
4. Train supervisors and community people on using ICT tools.
Critical Success Factors (cont’d)
5. Develop community websites with efficient information gathering, analysis, repackaging, and dissemination mechanism.
6. Adopt and modify sustainable business model.7. Ensure community ownership, secure
supporters, and find a champion.8. Critically evaluate efforts, report back to
stakeholders, and adapt as needed.
Thank you very much!
Let’s Reduce Digital Divide