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In search of the chimera

In search of the chimera. Measuring the impact of information on development. In search of the chimera. Maartje op de Coul New media evaluation, Oneworld International maartje.opdecoul@oneworld.org Sarah Cummings

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In search of the chimera

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  1. In search of the chimera Measuring the impact of information on development

  2. In search of the chimera Maartje op de Coul New media evaluation, Oneworld Internationalmaartje.opdecoul@oneworld.org Sarah Cummings Information manager, Information and Library Services, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)s.cummings@kit.nl

  3. Content • Chimera = impact • Oneworld case studies (impact assessment) • Smart tools (performance evaluation) • Some conclusions • And a question….

  4. Why ‘chimera’ = impact • Mythical creature with three heads... but also unachievable illusion • Child of Typhon, a dynamic force like the Internet • Impact: socioeconomic development or long-term behavioural change • Performance evaluation • ICT4D: wireless, mobile phones, telecentres • Information services: QAS, newsletter, SDI, libraries etc

  5. Oneworld case studies: overview • 2003 • 20+ ICT4D projects visited • Three continents • Link between ICT4D and poverty • Building Digital Opportunities (DFID, SDC and DGIS) plus implementing agencies

  6. Oneworld case studies:methodology • Impact = • socio-economic development • long-term behavioural changes • ‘any change at the level of organizations’ Indicators: opportunity, empowerment and security

  7. Oneworld case studies: findings 1 • OpportunitiesSkill building, access to markets and e-business • Empowerment- Individual level: self-confidence, self-esteem, emancipation, changing power relations, visibility- Organizational level: efficiency, networking, effective lobbying, access to public services, transparency and accountability of governments • SecurityLife saver, warning fires, empowerment

  8. Oneworld case studies: findings 2 • SustainabilityFinancial, human resources • Regional differencesSouth Asia: varied infrastructure, involvement of private sector, rural areas, little M&E, technical creativitySouthern Africa: low commitment of government and private sector, infrastructure limited, early stageCentral America: high commitment government and private sector, sophisticated content, Spanish, good M&E

  9. Tecnoclub/Paniamor – San José, Costa Rica

  10. Agronegocios – El Salvador

  11. Video SEWA - Ahmedabad, India

  12. Oneworld case studies: conclusions • Cautious optimism • Compatible technologies • Combination with traditional technologies • Financial base

  13. LEAP IMPACT 1 • Dgroup on evaluation of ICTs and information services • Smart tools: CTA, IICD and KIT plus 40-50 individual partners: writers, testers, thinkers, coordinators, reviewers • Self-help, resource poor environment • 4 modules of ‘Smart tools’- Preparatory work- Process tools- Data collection and analysis- Activity tools

  14. LEAP IMPACT 2 • Testing of the activity tools: 18 testers in the South, and some in the North • Testing to be completed October • Revision based on testing • Handbook end 2004 • Publication: medio-2005 • End of a three year project........what next?

  15. Conclusions • In different ways, either self-motivated or donor motivated trying to understand the impact of ICT4D and performance of information services • How do you show that your newsletter or website has ‘impact’? • Is impact assessment a three-headed monster...? • Impact assessment essential if investments in ‘information’ are to be compared with other development interventions.... • Sustainability of the ‘information hype’

  16. A question….. • How to evaluate communities? • KIT has 3 new communities, one on iManagement • Standards and approaches?

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