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Good practice paper on ICTs for economic growth and poverty reduction

BATCHELOR, Simon
SCOTT, Nigel
et al
2005

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This report aims to give an overview of what DAC members currently know about how information and communication technology (ICT) use in developing economies can stimulate economic growth and poverty reduction. It draws attention to the cross-cutting applications of ICTs, to their role as tools, not goals, and links their use to development co-operation

Global health watch 2005-2006 : an alternative world health report

LEMA, Claudia
et al
2005

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This report is the result of a collaboration of leading popular movements, NGOs, activists, academics and health workers. It provides an evidence-based analysis of the political economy of health and health care and challenges policies and initiatives of global organisations including the World Bank, the World Health Organization and UNICEF. Many key issues relevant to health are covered, including health care services and systems, health of vulnerable groups, climate change, food and water, education, armed conflicts. Part E also provides and assessment of the impact global institutions, transnational corporations and rich countries. This report is a call for action, directed to health workers and activists and national and international policy-makers

Piloting paperless data entry for clinical research in Africa

MISSINOU, M A
OLOLA, C H,
ISSIFOU, S
et al
2005

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The study compared the accuracy of data entry using the current standard practice (a paper-based case report form with double data entry) with that using a personal digital assistant (PDA) in a clinical study in rural Gabon. The paperless systems functioned smoothly and no data were lost. The clinicians involved in this study preferred the handheld computers, and their use will be considered in future studies in an African clinical research network

The role of information and communication technologies in the development of African women | Le rôle des technologies de l'Information et de la communication dans le développment des femmes africaines

RADLOFF, Jennifer
PRIMO, Natasha
MUNYUA, Alice
August 2004

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This paper presents the findings of a study commissioned by the Association for Progessive Communications on the role of ICTs in empowering women in Africa. It provides examples of good practice and includes recommendations to civil society organisations on how to create an enabling environment for women to access and use ICTs for development. The crucial link between understanding the gender dimensions of the information society - in terms of what women's needs are and a thorough understanding of conditions of access, policies - and the potential ICTs have of boosting the economic, political and social empowerment of women, and the promotion of gender equality is explored. An extensive resource list and examples of successful initiatives form the field are included in appendices

Straight from the source : perspectives from the African free and open source software movement

BRIDGES.ORG
TACTICAL TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
May 2004

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This essay is drawn from the proceedings of AfricaSource, a workshop that brought together free and open source software (FOSS) developers from across Africa. Participants shared technical skills and experiences, discussed key challenges in realising FOSS projects, and developed concrete strategies for strengthening the nascent community of FOSS technologists working in African contexts. The workshop offered a mixture of structured discussions and hands-on work with an emphasis on practical and intense knowledge exchange. This essay carefully and sensitively summarises the views of the AfricaSource participants on the obstacles facing the FOSS community in Africa. A dialogue on the topic may help to catalyse changes that will reduce or eliminate barriers to free and open source software development in Africa

Promoting the application of science and technology to meet the development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL. UNCTAD
April 2004

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This paper places ICT in a broad perspective of science and technology. The report seeks to identify approaches for the effective promotion and use of science and technology to meet the development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration (MDGs). It particularly emphasises that academia/government/industry partnerships are essential in order to build scientific and technological capabilities and to foster market-oriented policies and developments; and that access to new and emerging technologies is imperative

Disabled people and the internet : experiences, barriers and opportunities

PILLING, Doria
BARRET, Paul
FLOYD, Mike
2004

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This report explores how provision of goods and services over the Internet affects people’s lives. While the Internet might have some capability to provide goods, services and communication at a distance, improving access in doing so, some research findings in the early days of e-commerce suggested diminished access for some groups.
This research focuses on the impact of the Internet on people with disabilities. There is the possibility that provision of information and services through the Internet might actually narrow rather than widen choices, because it might lead to the phasing out of traditional ways of providing services preferred by some disabled people

The cost-effectiveness of technology transfer using telemedicine

JOHNSON, K
KENNEDY, C
MURDOCH, I
2004

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This article describes the use of teleophthalmology, a form of telemedicine, as a mode of technology transfer between the United Kingdom and South Africa. Researchers found the technology transfer project to be cost-effective in reducing the burden of eye disease, and that practitioners in South Africa also learned novel procedures that could help future patients and improve cost-effectiveness

Skills development in sub-Saharan Africa

JOHANSON, Richard
ADAMS, Arvil
2004

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This report discusses the programme Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The aim of this programme was to support economic development through skilled technical and vocational education and training in the Sub-Saharan African region. The report provides a summary of the TVET programme and highlights the competition that results from technological changes which requires higher levels of skills and productivity. Case studies and statistical analyses from several countries are presented. This report would be useful for practitioners interested in skills development in Sub-Saharan Africa

ICT, PRSPs, and MDGs

BANURI, Tariq
October 2003

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This paper considers the dissemination of ICT within various conceptual frameworks, calling for approaches that start with the needs and desires of poor people for information. It is strongly illustrated with examples from India and Pakistan. Banuri then turns to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and to the potential of ICT to support progress in meeting these goals. Finally, he criticises governments for lack of a coherent, human development-based ICT policy emphasizing the MDGs, while suggesting that civil society has done better

Comunicación sin fronteras : un proyecto de universalización de las tecnologías de información y comunicación en Costa Rica

CAMACHO, Kemly
HIDALGO, Christian
April 2003

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The document analyses the 'Communication Without Borders' programme - a proposal developed in the Republic of Costa Rica in 2003 to incorporate new technologies into the life of the citizens. It examines the programme as it works in reality, showing the difference between the ideal model and the one executed. It makes recommendations around policy issues, institutional change and infrastructure development

Communication and natural resource management : experience/theory

FEEK, Warren
MORRIS, Chris
et al
2003

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This book has been written as a tool for people involved or interested in communication and natural resource management who seek a better understanding of how different theories and strategic change principles relate to actual practise. It relates a variety of theories and change principles in simplified, almost schematic form, to a series of real initiatives in the field through interactive 'experiences'. Each 'experience' is organised around a theme, a learning objective, a description of an actual natural resource management and communication initiative, and one or two theoretical lenses through which to analyse the initiative. The idea is not to 'discover' the right approach but rather to create an interactive space that enables you to reflect on what might work in your own context and also on how different contexts may require different approaches, principles and theoretical frameworks. People working in development fields other than natural resource management will also find this book very useful

From beedees to CDs : snapshots from a journey through India's rural knowledge centres

FERGUSON, Julie
January 2003

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Rural ICT centres, if properly designed and managed, can be much more than just 'access centres.' They can become community owned 'knowledge centres' that directly and indirectly empower people living in rural areas. This was the conclusion reached by participants in the first South-South travelling workshop on ICT-enabled development, organised by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation [Publisher's abstract]

Labour savings technologies and practices for farming and household in eastern and southern Africa|Labour constraints and the impact of HIV/AIDS on rural livelihoods in Bondo and Busia districts western Kenya

BISHOP-SAMBROOK, Clare
2003

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This report presents the difficulties of, and threats to, rural livelihoods in western Kenya. The information is one component of a joint IFAD/FAO study entitled ‘Improving Women’s Access to Labour Saving Technologies and Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa’. It is divided into six related topics, which include tables, charts, diagrams and illustrations. This would be useful for stakeholders and policy makers interested in agricultural and rural development in western Kenya

Perspectives on disability, poverty and technology : a report to Healthlink Worldwide and GIC Ltd

ALBERT, Bill
MCBRIDE, Rob
SEDDON, David
September 2002

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This paper sets out an approach to disability and development based on the social model of disability. It states that national and international statistics on the incidence of physical and/or mental impairment provides a partial and often misleading notion of the social reality of disability in developing countries. They should therefore not be used to gauge the needs of disabled people or to estimate the costs or benefits of programmes. The paper argues for the need to formulate an integrated strategy towards disability and development. It recommends that specific criteria be adopted for judging project concept notes and proposals and makes recommendations regarding the choice and weighting of criteria. It also provides a set of recommendations for: DFID in general; DFID in relation to its Disability Knowledge and Research (KaR) programme; the Disability KaR programme managers; further work to be undertaken

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