IFAP Information Society Observatory

Title: Technology for Transparency: The role of technology and citizen media in promoting transparency, accountability, and civic participation
Editor: David Sasaki
Pages: 75 pp.
Source: Transparency and Technology Network
Publisher: Global Voices
Date (published): 27/05/2010
Date (accessed): 28/05/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
This report is the culmination of four months of research examining the objectives, challenges, successes, and effects of online technology projects that aim to promote transparency, political accountability, and civic engagement in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, China, and Central & Eastern Europe. A team of eight regional researchers documented a total of 37 case studies of relevant technology projects. Though this report contains only executive summaries of each case study, full interviews including audio podcasts and related documents, are available on our website. In addition to the in-depth case studies, we have also documented over 30 project listings, which provide basic descriptive information and context about related projects.

This report is structured in three sections. The introduction examines the differing aspects between traditional watchdog journalism and online media that rely on raw data sources, often directly from government websites. The introduction also aims to contextualize the benefits of transparency, accountability, and civic engagement from a grassroots, networked perspective. The second section of the report consists of regional overviews authored by each of our eight researchers. These overviews document the history of the good governance movement in each region, the role of technology in promoting transparency and accountability, and summaries of the case studies they documented. The concluding section groups case studies thematically in order draw out trends, conclusions, and recommendations that apply across a number of projects.

Title: Demystifying Internet
Author: Linda Raftree
Source: Wait… What?
Date (published): 25/05/2010
Date (accessed): 26/05/2010
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
I was in a workshop in the Upper West Region of Ghana this past week. The goal was two-fold. 1) to train a small group of staff, ICT teachers and local partners on social media and new technologies for communications; and 2) to help them prepare for a project that will support 60 students to use arts and citizen media in youth-led advocacy around issues that youth identify.

I was planning to talk about how social media is different from traditional media, focusing on how it offers an opportunity to democratize information, and how we can support youth to use social media to reduce stereotypes about them and to bring their voices and priorities into global discussions. But all those theories about social media being the great equalizer, the Internet allowing everyone’s voices to flourish and yadaya, don’t mean a lot unless barriers like language, electricity, gender, and financial resources are lowered and people can actually access the Internet regularly

Title: World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report (WTDR) 2010: Monitoring the WSIS Targets: A mid-term review
Pages: 258 pp.
Publisher: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Date (published): 29/04/2010
Date (accessed): 26/05/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, 6,5 MB)
Abstract:
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005) brought together governments, civil society and the business sector to discuss a broad range of subjects related to ICT for development. In the end, governments agreed on a set of commitments and actions to foster the establishment of an inclusive infor- mation society. In particular, ten targets were identified in the Geneva Plan of Action, along with numerous recommendations based on different action lines (Action Lines C1 — C11). The targets, to be achieved by 2015, are:
1. To connect villages with ICTs and establish community access points
2. To connect universities, colleges, secondary schools and primary schools with ICTs
3. To connect scientific and research centres with ICTs
4. To connect public libraries, cultural centres, museums, post offices and archives with ICTs
5. To connect health centres and hospitals with ICTs
6. To connect all local and central government departments and establish websites and e-mail addresses
7. To adapt all primary and secondary school curricula to meet the challenges of the information society, taking into account national circumstances
8. To ensure that all of the world’s population have access to television and radio services
9. To encourage the development of content and put in place technical conditions in order to facilitate the presence and use of all world languages on the Internet
10. To ensure that more than half the world’s inhabitants have access to ICTs within their reach

The year 2010 marks the midpoint between the Tunis phase of WSIS (2005) and the deadline for achieving the WSIS targets (2015), in line with the target date of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report presents a mid-term review of the progress made towards achieving the ten WSIS targets. The overall objective of the report is to provide policy-makers with a comprehensive assessment of the WSIS targets to date and, based on the findings, make suggestions on the types of policy measures required to meet them. The report also highlights the need for formal monitoring of progress towards achieving the WSIS targets. Currently, there are no agreed indicators for the targets which countries could use for monitoring purpose
...
The report is based on the latest available data. While some data are collected at the international level, notably by ITU, UNESCO and UNDESA, overall data availability relating to the WSIS targets is poor. To complement these data sources, a survey was carried out by ITU among its Member States, between September and November 2009. The information provided by countries is featured throughout the report.

Title: Global Information Technology Report 2009–2010: ICT for Sustainability
Authors: Soumitra Dutta, Irene Mia
Pages: 436 pp.
ISBN: 978-92-95044-81-4
Publisher: World Economic Forum and INSEAD
Date (published): 02/03/2010
Date (accessed): 21/05/2010
Type of information: ressearch report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, 25 MB!)
Abstract:
The Report is the ninth of a series and is the result of a well-established partnership between the World Economic Forum (the Forum) and INSEAD, aimed at advancing the understanding of networked readiness’ key drivers.The Report is composed of four thematic parts. Part 1 features the findings of the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) for 2009–10, together with selected essays examining different topics related to ICT and sustainability in its economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Part 2 provides insight into best practices and policies in networked readiness and competitiveness, focusing on specific country case studies.The countries selected this year are Spain, Ireland,Tunisia, and China, which all have adopted interesting examples of successful ICT strategies to foster national economic growth and development. Part 3 features detailed profiles for the 133 economies covered in this year’s Report, offering a detailed assessment of each economy’s current networked readiness landscape and allowing for international and historical comparisons on specific variables or components of the NRI. Part 4 includes data tables for each of the 68 variables composing the NRI this year, with rankings for the economies covered, as well as technical notes and sources that provide comprehensive information on hard data variables.

Title: Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development: Core ICT Indicators, 2010
Pages: 94 pp.
Publisher: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Date (published): 04/02/2010
Date (accessed): 21/05/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
1. This publication presents the first revision of the core list of ICT indicators, originally published by the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development in 2005. The main purpose of the core list is to help countries produce high quality and internationally comparable data on information and communication technology. To assist in achieving this goal, the indicators have associated statistical standards and guidance.
2. There are 46 ICT indicators in the revised core list and two reference indicators. In comparison, the 2005 list contained 41 ICT indicators (and one reference indicator).
...
12. An important improvement to the first core list has been the addition of eight new indicators on mea- suring ICT in education (and one reference indicator). These indicators were developed by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) over several years and have been subject to extensive testing and consultation processes.

Title: Towards inclusive knowledge societies: a review of UNESCO's action in implementing the WSIS outcomes
Author: David Souter
Pages: 66 pp.
Publisher: UNESCO
Date (published): 06/05/2010
Date (accessed): 17/05/2010
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, 19.8 MB!)
Abstract:
This report reviews the UNESCO’s work in these implementation areas during the five years since the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2005. It summarises some highlights of what has been achieved to date and reflects upon the challenges which have arisen in the implementation of WSIS outcomes.
The report looks in turn at UNESCO’s three main roles in WSIS implementation:

as a coordinator/lead facilitator, with ITU, UNDP and UNCTAD, of the overall implementation process, including UNGIS and the WSIS Forum;

as a facilitator of six Action Lines to facilitate the implementation of the WSIS outcomes in specific areas of work; and

as an implementer of programmes and initiatives that seek to build inclusive Knowledge Societies and thereby contribute to the achievement of WSIS goals.

The final section of the report looks forward over the next five years to suggest ways in which implementation of WSIS results might be more effectively integrated in the broader work that UNESCO and other agencies are doing. This work aims at achieving the benefits that can be derived from the Knowledge Societies to whose development UNESCO is committed.

French version: Vers des sociétés du savoir

Title: National e-Strategies for Development: Global Status and Perspectives, 2010
Pages: 68 pp.
Publisher: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Date (published): 29/04/2010
Date (accessed): 17/05/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, 4,2 MB)
Abstract:
In its Paragraph 85, the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society denotes the leading role that governments, in partnership with other stakeholders implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), have in the elaboration of “comprehensive, forward-looking and sustainable national e-strategies, including ICT strategies and sectoral e-strategies [...], as an integral part of national development plans and poverty reduction strategies, [...] before 2010”.1
The report “National e-Strategies for Development: Global Status and Perspectives, 2010” provides a high-level update and an overview of the progress countries have made in their effort to develop national e-strategies, ICT strategies and sectoral e-strategies, analyzing as well the extent into which ICT have been incorporated into poverty reduction strategies and other national development plans.
In order to provide a broad analysis of ICT strategies, this report describes strategic approaches of national e-strategies and provides three examples of national ICT strategies, detailing their evolution over time.
The report identifies at least 161 economies (84 percent) that have already met the WSIS target of having a national ICT strategy in place by 2010. It also indicates areas where existing national e-strategies could be improved, such as their strategic orientation and their integration into national development plans and poverty reduction strategies. Based on the analysis of sectoral e-strategies, the report also emphasises the need for more comprehensive sectoral e-strategies that take full advantage of the potential ICT have for the economy and society. Finally, the appendix provides the reader a comprehensive list of national ICT strategies developed by ITU Member States.
The information presented in this report comes largely from the WSIS stocktaking,2 an extensive online research initiative conducted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which brings together national ICT and sectoral e-strategies of ITU’s Member States, as well as publications by the five UN Regional Commissions.

Title: Measuring the Information Society 2010
Pages: 124 pp.
ISBN: 92-61-13111-5
Publisher: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Date (published): 26/03/2010
Date (accessed): 17/05/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
The latest edition of Measuring the Information Society features the new ITU ICT Development Index (IDI) and the ICT Price Basket - two benchmarking tools to measure the Information Society. The IDI captures the level of advancement of ICTs in 159 countries worldwide and compares progress made between 2002 and 2008. It also measures the global digital divide and examines how it has developed in recent years. The report also features the latest ICT Price Basket, which combines 2009 fixed telephone, mobile cellular and fixed broadband tariffs for 161 economies into one measure and compares these across countries, and over time. The analytical report is complemented by a series of statistical tables providing country-level data for all indicators included in the Index.

(The freely downloadable pdf-version excludes the Annex 4, which features the statistical tables of tariffs used to compute the ICT Price Basket.)

Title: Anthropology: Taking it mobile
Author: kiwanja (Ken Banks)
Source: Build it Kenny, and they will come…
Date (published): 08/05/2010
Date (accessed): 10/05/2010
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Anyone taking more than a passing glance at the kiwanja.net website shouldn’t need long to figure out my four key areas of interest. I’ve always maintained that if your ideal job doesn’t exist then you have to create it, and being able to combine my passions for technology, anthropology, conservation and development is for me – through kiwanja.net – that dream job.

Saying that, it doesn’t go without its challenges. Putting aside the difficulties faced by the global conservation and development communities, most of my thinking today centres around the sometimes uncomfortable tension between appropriate technology and the mobile phone, and the potential role of applied anthropology in helping us understand what on earth is going on out there. We can’t always rely on Indiana Jones, Hollywood’s answer to anthropology, to get us all the answers.

Title: Empowering Haitian women through digital tools
Author: Abby Goldberg
Source: United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI)
Date (published): 08/05/2010
Date (accessed): 10/05/2010
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
We at Digital Democracy received a request from the Protection Officer for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse working on behalf of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who relayed the enormous and immediate need for mechanisms to streamline protection, documentation, and service provisions around gender-based-violence. Her mandate was to create this mechanism and she asked whether we could join an “interagency working session”, meeting with thirteen local women leaders from five different organisations in Port Au Prince, to provide technical expertise at the meeting.