1

55thth INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OPEN ACCESSOPEN ACCESS

BAGAMOYO, TANZANIA

14-16 NOVEMBER 2007

ICT FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Theophilus E. MlakiDirector of Information and Documentation

Tanzania Commission for Science and TechnologyTMlaki@costech.or.tz

2

CONTENTSCONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND PHILOSOPHY2.0 KNOWLEDGE3.0 ICT AS TOOLS OF KNOWLEDGE ACCESS4.0 A TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION5.0 DIGITAL DIVIDE6.0 NARROW THE DIVIDE - KNOWLEDGE ACCESS

FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES7.0 CONCLUSION

3

1.01.0 INTRODUCTION AND PHILOSOPHYINTRODUCTION AND PHILOSOPHY

Tanzania – a rich country where poor people live “Maendeleo ni ya Watu siyo ya vitu” (Julius Nyerere)The concept of human development has become the leading alternative to the view of development equated exclusively with economic growth. Human development focuses on people (UNDP).Creating, accessing, utilizing and sharing information and knowledge is today the most powerful tool to enable individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential.

4

Human development implies that people’s capabilities are enhanced and their lives enriched. It is a process of enlarging

people’s choices, which is achieved by expanding human capabilities and functioning

5

2.0 KNOWLEDGE2.0 KNOWLEDGE 2.1 MDGs and Knowledge

6

“Half a hectare of land and one year of labour were required to feed one person in 1900; whereas that same half-hectare now feeds 10 persons on the basis of just one and a half days of labour”.

Agricultural Society

Industrial Society

Knowledge Societies

Machines to multiply

muscle power

Knowledge to multiply

brain power

2.2 Social transformations2.2 Social transformations

7

2.3 UNESCO’s concept of Knowledge 2.3 UNESCO’s concept of Knowledge SocietiesSocieties

Human Needs and Rights

Knowledge Societies

Pluralism

Human Needs and RightsHuman Needs and Rights

Knowledge SocietiesKnowledge Societies

PluralismPluralism

Knowledge Dissemination

Knowledge Utilization

Knowledge Preservation

Knowledge Creation

Freedom

Inclusiveness

Diversity

Empowerment

8

3.03.0 ICT AS TOOLS OF KNOWLEDGE ACCESSICT AS TOOLS OF KNOWLEDGE ACCESS

Major advances towards convergence of computer,broadcasting and telecommunication technologies is nowreferred as Information and Communication Technologies(ICT). ICT are used to facilitate the processing, transmissionand management of information and knowledge. As anintermediate good or product, the value of information andknowledge in use varies dramatically depending upon thecontext. It would seem logical to conclude that better access toa resource as basic as information and knowledge wouldgreatly improve standards of living of the people. Howeverit is very difficult to provide solid empirical evidence tosupport this conclusion.

9

ICT play a prominent role in the broader conception ofpoverty. They offer new channels for the diffusion of knowledge and create physical and virtual spaces for socialcommunication thus empowering people. All sectors and areas related to human activity anddevelopment (education, health, agriculture, governance,environment etc.) benefit a lot in the use and application ofICT.

10

4.0 A TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION4.0 A TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION

11

5.0 DIGITAL DIVIDE5.0 DIGITAL DIVIDE

Access to ICTs grows steadily, but ‘digital divide’ persists.

Proportion of world population with telephonesubscriptions, PCs and internetconnections, 1990-2004 (Percentage)

Source:The Millennium Development Goals Report 2006

12

5.1 The divide5.1 The divide

Knowledge Divide or Digital Divide

Access to knowledge

Prosperity

Globalization

Inclusion

Limited accessto knowledge

Poverty

Marginalization

Exclusion

13

5.2 New Developments5.2 New Developments

Number of people having access to communication and information tools constantly growing

Web 2.0 reality in many parts of the world

– Highly decentralized structures

– Fosters creativity and productivity

– Individual content creation Increasingly strong role of citizens’ media Emergence of multi platform delivery systems

a) New a) New formsforms of living together of living together

14

Multilingual, web-based, free content encyclopedia (Wikipedia)

New forms of social networking (Blogs, MySpace, FaceBook, YouTube, Second Life……)

New phenomena foster participation, democracy and transparency

But

Fundamental freedoms increasingly threatened

New security issues

b) New collective spacesNew collective spaces

15

6.06.0 NARROW THE DIVIDE - KNOWLEDGE NARROW THE DIVIDE - KNOWLEDGE ACCESS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIESACCESS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

To transform rural communities in Africa we mustensure that knowledge reaches the remote villages. Availability of ICT is making this possible despitenumerous challenges. More ICT projects are now being sent to rural areas

to narrow the digital divide. Telecenters now act as knowledge access points forrural communities.

16

Rural Telecentre matrixRural Telecentre matrix

17

6.16.1 Sengerema Community TelecentreSengerema Community Telecentre

Supported by COSTECH, TTCL, TCRA, Unesco,ITU, IDRC and Sengerema Community.

Pilot Project from 2001 – 2004; More than 3000 people ICT trained of which 40% are women; Full Community participation

Women managed Community Radio Local content (www.sengerema..or.tz) and Local

Video produced Local Internet Service Provider for the area and

District ICT base.

18

- Self Financing - US$ 50,000 per year.

- Researching on District Television, District Telephony, and District Knowledge Center.

- Every District a Telecentre

19

6.2 Serengeti And Wami Pilot Projects Supported 6.2 Serengeti And Wami Pilot Projects Supported by SIDAby SIDA

Population (2002- census)

Mara=1,369,000– Bunda=260,000

– Serengeti=177,000

Coast = 900,000– B’moyo=230,000

20

6.2.1 Objectives6.2.1 Objectives

To design an approach to ICT-based rural development in Tanzania to be the basis for a development program

To identify end-users needs and ability to pay for their services

To identify and test different business models for sustainability

To propose and test methods that can be scaled up on a national level

21

6.2.2 Expected results6.2.2 Expected results

Improved Service delivery

– District offices– Schools– Health institutions

Existence of broadband pilot sites A proposal for national broadband connectivity

plan

22

6.2.3 Approach6.2.3 Approach

Initial focus of the project :

(a) Service sectors

Promote ICT applications in Healthcare, Education, local administration and SMEs

(b) Infrastructure

Use of existing infrastructures (wired and wireless)

(c) Cooperation

Seeking cooperation with partners already working with healthcare, school, local government administration and small businesses.

6.2.4 Basic enabling assumptions6.2.4 Basic enabling assumptions Open Regulatory Environment allowing local

entrepreneurs to build and operate Open Markets Fiber regarded as essential resources available for all,

like roads... National ICT Policies and implementation plans for

basic public services Entrepreneurs will come out of the woods if the

opportunities exist

24

6.2.5 Milestones6.2.5 MilestonesSerengeti

– Backbone is already connected– One health center (Nata) and a district hospital

(Mugumu) are connected– District offices and 2 secondary schools to be

connected soon– Local awareness workshops conducted

Wami– Backbone is already connected– 3 health centers, 2 secondary school and 3

offices connected– Local awareness workshops conducted

25

Huge interest among usersTechnically feasableCapacity building of human resources

– ICT-based business development– ICT Awareness Trainings– Systems administration – Entrepreneurship

Integrating with government initiatives

27

6.2.6 Initial Service Offered6.2.6 Initial Service Offered

File transfer and sharing Emails Tele/Video conference Voice Telemedicine (All the above)

28

6.2.7 Challenges6.2.7 Challenges Getting agreement with infrastructure owners Government involvement Strong Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) Availability and reliability of power supply Rural

– Low purchasing power– Low density– Low Computer literacy

Moving from Digital Immigrants to Digital Citizens

29

7.07.0 CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION In the years to come, the difference will not be

rich and poor nations, but rather nations with high or low levels of knowledge (Smartest Nations).

In the continent of Africa, our focus should be to make people more knowledgeable through the use of ICT.

Innovation and change is necessary “Do not go where the path may lead. Go

instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Society participation and involvement absolutely essential