ICT Volunteering and Human Development Evolution and Trends Conference on Volunteering and ICTs...
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Transcript of ICT Volunteering and Human Development Evolution and Trends Conference on Volunteering and ICTs...
ICT Volunteering and Human Development
Evolution and Trends
Conference on Volunteering and ICTs
World Summit on the Information Society 7-8 December 2003
Manuel Acevedo
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Contents of the presentation
ICT Volunteering and Human Development
Mainstreaming ICT into Development Organizations
Volunteer Networking
Volunteering in the Information Society : WSIS
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What is ICT Volunteering?
Range of volunteer action whose common characteristic is the targeted use of ICTs (particularly digital technologies) Actions by volunteers resulting in the practical use by
development actors of relevant ICTs – supporting a community telecenter
Use of ICT (particularly the Internet) to enable and facilitate volunteer collaboration – eg. Online Volunteering
Volunteering’s niche in ICT4D: capacity building on the uses (ie. applications) and opportunities (ie. outreach, awareness) of ICT across development areas
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Why ICT Volunteering?
Massive needs around the world
Many people willing to contribute
Mechanisms already exist: UNITeS, NetCorps Canada, VITA, PeaceCorps, Red Cross, etc.
Volunteer added-value: they accompany a specific development process “powered by solidarity” youth as a under-utilized development asset Internet‘s culture is (still) a culture of solidarity and volunteering
Volunteering are essential to respond to capacity-building needs in the Information Society
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Mainstreaming ICT into Development Organizations
Development orgs. as catalyzers for wider absorption of ICT in overall developmental processes Need to lead by example !
The main challenge is to achieve the proper levels of internal capacity in an agengy
ICT Volunteers can be instrumental in mainstreaming ICT into development orgs.
They can assist in both aspects of mainstreaming: Internal: integration of ICT into administrative and
operational processes External: widespread application of ICT in field projects
and initiatives supported by an agency
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Networking Development Cooperation
Development cooperation practices need to adjust to the new context and dynamics of the Network Society
Connected development nodes individuals, projects, organizations
Knowledge generation from connection rather than rather than collection
New project architecture establishing/managing networks to maximize
generation and application of knowledge for development
Enabling involvement of the “global citizen” to achieve the Millennium Development Goals
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Types of Volunteer-based Networks
A. “Action” networks connecting individual volunteers to development orgs. & stakeholders (eg. NetAid/UNV Online Volunteering service)
B. Knowledge network created within a Volunteer-involving org. (eg. UNV or the Red Cross)
C. Institutional networks formed by volunteer organizations (eg. IAVE, NetCorps Canada Coalition)
D. Volunteer-to-Volunteer networks (independent or institutional)
E. The “Open-Source” approach to development (eg. Linux)
F. Virtual Communities of PracticeG. Human Metadata Networks
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A project network, “Powered-by-Volunteers”
project
community(virtual, physical)
company NGO
another project
dev agency
university
online Volunteers
other universities other NGOs
other volunteers
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Ten key types of ICT Volunteering functions (I)
Across development themes
1. Provision of basic technological literacy
2. Information brokering – the “human last miles” of connectivity
3. Creation of local digital content
4. Inclusion of marginalized and disadvantaged groups into the Information Society
5. Awareness raising of decision-makers on the possibilities of ICT4D
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Ten key types of ICT Volunteering functions (II)
In specific thematic areas of development
1. Integration of ICT into the educational system
2. Involvement in community telecenters
3. Use of ICT and networking by local human civil rights organizations
4. Incorporation of ICT into the battle against HIV-AIDS
5. Application of ICT to disaster management and post-conflict situations
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Volunteering and WSIS
Basic message: the role of Volunteering must be included in analysis and policies of the Information Society
Volunteering has already shaped the Information Society
The Information Society is impacting volunteer action
WSIS Plan of Action: ICT Volunteering needed for success
From Geneva to Tunisia: making ICT Volunteering a more visible actor
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A Volunteer Plan of Action for WSIS (I)
Development-wide proposals
Support to national and international university volunteer networks in ICT for Develoment
Creation, expansion and support of national/regional online volunteering services
Coordination under UN of a “Hackers Without Frontiers” programme Support to ICT Volunteering programmes (UNITeS, NetCorps Canada,
etc. Support to Diaspora volunteers networks in ICT4D Promotion of corporate volunteering initiatives on ICT4D An international “Telecenter Volunteer Exchange” facility Establishment of/support to of basic computer literacy training
programmes. Support to volunteer-involving orgs, like NGOs, that are involved in the
social appropriation of ICTs.
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A Volunteer Plan of Action for WSIS (II)
Thematic proposals
Establishment of national "University ICT-for-education Volunteering" schemes to build teacher capacity (secondary schools) for ICT integration
ICT Volunteering initiatives for digital inclusion of people with disabilities
ICT Volunteering support to HIV/AIDS initiatives, like the programme underway in Southern Africa Promotion of networks to assist people affected Creation of telework and e-learning opportunities Teacher-to-teacher, doctor-to-doctor mentoring
Volunteer initiatives in telemedicine Facilities for ICT volunteers in disaster situations ICT Volunteer programmes in refugee camps
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United Nations Information Technology Service: UNITeS
Special UNV initiative aimed at reducing digital divides
One of the “Digital Bridge” programmes of Kofi Annan (Millennium Report)
Volunteers building human and institutional capacity on uses/opportunities of ICT for human development
Global programme (65% of vols from South, intl. and natl. volunteers)
Close to 200 volunteers onsite, about 100 online, in over 50 countries.
Involves volunteers from other organizations (not only UNV), also online
UNITeS Community Network, Knowledge Base
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Online Volunteering
Innovative modality of volunteering for development cooperation
Translations, content editing, proposal writing, web-site programming, online research, graphics design, technical assistance mentoring, e-moderating...
The Net is the medium
Flexibility, adaptability
Interesting possibilities of online/on-site collaboration among volunteers
Facilitates continued engagement by former “on-site” vols
Online Volunteer service through NetAid (www.netaid.org/OV)
Partnership between NetAid Foundation and UNV Largest listing of OV opportunities for development cooperation In 3 yrs., 14,000 OV applicants, 5,000 OV assignments, 270 host
institutions
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Conclusions
ICT Volunteering is a powerful new resource for Human Development
Started with basic ICT skills training
Moved on to capacity building and awareness raising
ICT Volunteering to enable ICT mainstreaming in development
Harnessing power of networking to generate increased added value – “network capital”
Make ICT Volunteering an important element for WSIS Plan of Action
Raise visibility of ICT Volunteering in the process to Tunisia 2005