Title: ‘Informational Capabilities’- The Missing Link for the Impact of ICT on development
Author: Björn-Sören Gigler
Pages: 16 pp.
Source: Open Development Technology Alliance
Publisher: The World Bank
Date (published): 13/12/2011
Date (accessed): 15/12/2011
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"Under what conditions can information and communications technologies (ICTs) enhance the well-being of poor communities? The paper designs an alternative evaluation framework (AEF) that applies Sen’s capability approach to the study of ICTs in order to place people’s well-being, rather than technology at the center of the study. The AEF develops an impact chain that examines the mechanisms by which access to, and meaningful use of, ICTs can enhance peoples “informational capabilities” and can lead to improvements in people’s human and social capabilities. This approach thus uses peoples’ human capabilities, rather than measures of access or usage, as its principal evaluative space. Based on empirical evidence from rural communities’ uses of ICTs in Bolivia, the study concludes that enhancing people’s informational capabilities is the most critical factor determining the impact of ICTs on their well-being. The findings indicate that improved informational capabilities, like literacy, do enhance the human capabilities of the poor and marginalized to make strategic life choices to achieve the lifestyle they value. Evaluating the impact of ICTs in terms of capabilities thus reveals that there is no direct relationship between improved access to, and use of, ICTs and enhanced well-being; ICTs lead to improvements in people’s lives only when informational capabilities are transformed into expanded human and social capabilities in the economic, political, social, organizational and cultural dimensions of their lives."

Title: Women and Mobile: Is It Really a Global Opportunity?
Authors: Anne-Ryan Heatwole with Katrin Verclas
Source: MobileActive.org
Date (published): 08/03/2010
Date (accessed): 08/03/2010
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Today is International Women's Day and as we do every year, we are looking at the complex and intriguing issue of women and mobile technology around the world. A new report, “Women and Mobile: A Global Opportunity,” by the GSMA Development Fund, the Cherie Blair Foundation and Vital Wave Consulting, tackles the issue of the gender gap in mobile phone usage with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.

Title: ICTs for agricultural livelihoods: Impact and lessons learned from IICD supported activities
Publisher: International Institute for Communication and Development
Date (published): 05/11/2009 (republication, orginally published in 2006, republished in 2007)
Date (accessed): 17/11/2009
Type of information: report
Language: English, Spanish, French
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
This book by IICD highlights the lessons learned and achievements of the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) and its partners in using ICT4D to support agricultural livelihoods.

Agriculture is an important economic sector, since it provides income and food for a large segment of the population in developing countries. Intensification of production and increased market orientation are the main processes that can contribute to the future viability of the sector and create income for the people that depend on it.

The projects described in this booklet were carried out by IICD and its partners over a six-year period and provide examples of the many ways in which ICTs contribute to poverty alleviation in the agriculture sector.

By sharing our experiences in this booklet, IICD hopes to contribute to a better understanding of the opportunities of employing ICTs and their contribution to reaching the Millennium Development Goals in the agricultural sector.

Title: ICT for the Exchange of Farmer Experiences in Ecological Agriculture - Bolivia
Publisher: International Institute for Communication and Development
Date (published): 17/03/2009
Date (accessed): 17/11/2009
Type of information: post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
The project proposes the use of ICTs to support the exchange of successful experiences related to ecological agriculture and the sustainable use of natural resources among farmer communities. ICT are used to ease the way for the dissemination of information concerning a wide range of experiences, valuable knowledge and the use of innovative technologies among small farmers. Distant communities of small organic farmers can take advantage of this information. The project comprises the registration of experiences and the production and dissemination of training material based mainly on multimedia presentation tools, combining texts, digital photography, audio, video, printed material and the production of testimonial radio programmes broadcasted through rural and community radio stations.
(via http://twitter.com/e_agriculture )