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Ethics and the Internet in West Africa: Toward an Ethical Model of Integration

Patrick J. Brunet, Oumarou Tiemtoré, Marie-Claude Vettraino-Soulard

Ottawa; Asmara (ER): International Development Research Centre (IDRC); Africa World Press (2004), 148 pp.

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Livelihoods Approaches to Information and Communication in Support of Rural Poverty Elimination and Food Security

Robert Chapman, Tom Slaymaker, John Young

Overseas Development Institute (ODI); Department of International Development (DFID); FAO (2003), viii, 62 pp.

"It is widely acknowledged that a livelihoods approach provides a useful, logically consistent framework for thinking through the complex issues influencing the lives of the poor. In particular it draws attention to ways in which policies, institutions and decision-making processes influence resourc ... e access and ownership, and determine strategic livelihood options available to poor households. Information and communication systems are crucial in this regard, both in generating information required by the rural poor to make decisions on livelihood strategies, and in generating information required by institutions responsible for making decisions about policies and processes that affect those strategies. In each case, it is only through improved information that individuals and institutions can make informed choices about the opportunities and constraints associated with agriculture-based strategies. However, improved information alone is not sufficient for improved decision-making. Decision-making is a political process and promoting multi-stakeholder participation in decision-making processes is a key concern. Furthermore, different stakeholder groups each have specific information needs and delivery preferences. Highly differentiated information needs assessment is essential in order to effectively support decision-making at different levels. It is evident that effective promotion of poverty reduction and food security requires changes in institutions and attitudes, knowledge and information levels, processes and skills. Improved understanding of the capacity of decision-makers at different levels to make use of the information provided is key for the identification of appropriate systems and institutions for the delivery of relevant information. Enhancing the quality and quantity of information also relies on attention to the flow of information, such as the means of communication, format and content. Information can potentially have a catalytic role but much depends on its reliability and relevance to the needs of particular user groups. There is a necessary trade-off between the level of technical detail involved in information collection and analysis, and the practical usefulness of that information. Standardisation of techniques of information collection, storage and presentation is important, both to improve efficiency in information handling within agencies and also to ensure that information can be used externally by other agencies, thereby facilitating greater cross-sectoral communication and coordination. Equally important is developing effective means of prioritising information needs at different levels. Improved information can enable people to better defend their interests and articulate their needs; it increases their bargaining power and ability to influence decision-making processes which affect them. Transparency is equally important if information is to empower people to make better decisions. Improved communication systems can enable individuals to organise as groups and use information to hold institutions and authorities accountable." (Executive summary, page vi) more

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World Telecommunication Development Report: Access Indicators for the Information Society

Geneva: ITU (2003), 149, 89 pp.

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The Wireless Internet Opportunity for Developing Countries

Boston: Wireless internet Institute (w2i); World Times (2003), xvi, 127 pp.

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IT for Poverty Reduction: Sample Cases from Thailand

Thaweesak Koanantakool, Direk Charoenphol, Chadamas Thuvasethakul (eds.)

Bangkok: National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NEC-TEC), 2nd ed. (2003), 50 pp.

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Low Cost Access and Connectivity: Local Solutions

Catherine J. Steele (ed.)

UN ICT Task Force (2003), 103 pp.

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Information and Communication Technology Development Indices

Philippa Biggs

New York: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (2003), ix, 86 pp.

"This cross-country study compiles data and calculates ICT Development Indices for the following: connectivity (physical infrastructure for ICTs, in penetration rates of Internet hosts, PCs, telephone mainlines and mobile phones per capita); wider access to ICTs (literacy, GDP per capita and cost of ... more

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Telecommunications and Information Services for the Poor

Juan Navas-Sabater, Niina Juntune, Andrew Dymond

Washington, DC: World Bank (2002), xi, 101 pp.

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Closing the Gap in Access to Rural Communications: Chile 1995-2002

Bjorn Wellenius

Washington, DC: World Bank (2002), ix, 52 pp.

"In 1994 the government established a Telecommunications Development Fund, financed by the national budget, to catalyze additional private investment in payphone service in rural and urban areas with low income and low telephone density. The Fund has been very successful. Between 1995 and 2000 it su ... pported the provision of payphone service to more than 6,000 rural localities with about 2.2 million inhabitants, thereby reducing the proportion of Chile's population living in places without access to basic voice communication from 15 percent in 1994 to 1 percent in 2002. In addition, some 25,000 individual rural telephone lines are being provided. The subsidies awarded cost the government less than 0.3 percent of total telecommunications sector revenue during the funding period, and Fund administration cost about 3 percent of the monies granted. The Fund's success was due largely to extensive reliance on market forces to determine and allocate subsidies, minimal regulatory intervention, simple and relatively expeditious processing, and effective government leadership. Competition among existing and new operators for the rural market and subsidies led to substantial reductions in cost to the government compared to earlier public sector investments in similar facilities. Commercial success has hinged on operators using the subsidized payphone infrastructures to also provide individual business and residential telephone lines and, subsequently, add value through new services (including voice mail and internet access in some areas) over this network. Interconnection was the single most important regulatory factor of commercial viability, with access charges in some cases surpassing 40 percent of rural operating revenues. The design of the Fund proved robust, and remains the leading example of a costeffective slution to reduce access gaps in basic communication in emerging economies. Some questions remain, however, about whether the services can be sustained in the long term, what to do with the small residual rural population still excluded, and whether anything needs to be done in urban areas. These questions-in addition to limited design improvements suggested by the Fund's experience, as well as work still in progress on quality standards and monitoring-are relevant to the Fund's proposed extension into more advanced modes of communication and access to information, as well as to other countries learning from the Chilean experience." (Executive summary) more

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WorldCat (11)

E-Readiness Assessment of Ukraine

L. A. Wolanskyj (ed.)

UNDP Ukraine (2002), 86 pp.

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L'internet, son web et e-mail en Afrique: Approche critique

Raphael Ntambue Tshimbulu

Paris: L'Harmattan (2001), 353 pp.

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Informe sobre Desarrollo Humano Ecuador 2001: Las tecnologías de información y comunicación para el desarrollo humano

Marco Antonio Rocca, Fernando Pachano (eds.)

Quito: Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) (2001), xxvi, 266 pp.

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WorldCat (14)

Evolution und Effekte des Internets in Peru

Nina Fluck

Aachen: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Magisterarbeit im Fach Wirtschaftsgeographie (2000), 145 pp.

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Gender and the Information Revolution in Africa

Eva M. Rathgeber, Edith Ofwona Adera (eds.)

Ottawa: International Development Research Centre (IDRC) (2000), 247 pp.

"The essays in this book examine the current and potential impact of the ICT explosion in Africa. They focus specifically on gender issues and analyze the extent to which women's needs and preferences are being served. The authors underscore the need for information to be made directly relevant to t ... more

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Knowledge Societies: Information Technology for Sustainable Development

Robin Mansell, Uta Wehn (eds.)

Oxford: Oxford University Press; United Nations Commission on Science and Technology Development (1998), vii, 323 pp.

"Revolutionary information and communication technologies are contributing to dramatic changes in the competitiveness of global and local markets and in the way people conduct their business and everyday lives. The potential benefits and risks these changes present for developing countries and trans ... more

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América Latina en internet: Manual y fuentes de información

Graciela Fainstein Lamuedra et al.

Madrid: CINDOC (1997), 263 pp.

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Multimédia et communication à usage humain

Alain His

Paris: La Librairie FPH (1996), 332 pp.