Increasingly the model for sustainable development includes NGO programs started with seed funding with the aim to be self-sustaining after a set period of time. In the case of community Internet centers sustainability raises the issue of how the benefits from the project relate to the ability or willingness of the target communities to pay for the project's outputs, or the willingness of project sponsors (government or institution) to underwrite costs in the long run.

The aim of this toolkit more...

‘The vision of Biher is that by the end of 2012, Bihar becomes one of the top five e-Governed, IT-enabled, e-Literate States in the Country and is regarded as a preferred destination for IT businesses and is a major supplier of skilled IT manpower.’

Policies making and their implementation is a governmental task. There is always a big gap between the desired policies and actual policies that are in existence. This, naturally, affects the Nation at large but its consequences are mostly borne by the citizens of that Nation. Although there are many policy lapses in India but the most glaring among them are those pertaining to Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Abstract: 'The research will evaluate the design, development and implementation of telecentres from an end user perspective. The originality and significant contribution to knowledge of this research will be to propose a bridge between two disciplines; information systems design and community development. This research is designed to provide a framework specifically for community based telematics projects which will draw upon participatory techniques developed based on research and practice in more...

Abstract: 'Creating associations for cooperation and developing solidarity, which is to say forming active citizenry, is not possible without democratic policies of communication based on dialogue, on the shared construction of a city, and on compromise and public deliberation. “The individual that uses communication technologies and information does not instantaneously transform into a user. The participation in projects and programs of info-inclusion, the governing and rights of the Internet more...

Afghanistan ICT has truly been a success story emerging from a country left dysfunctional after 23 years of war. ICT lessons derived from this success are highlighted, as are some thoughts on making more effective use of the ICT infrastructure in the future. Findings and observations of successes and challenges are based on visits by one of the authors (Larry Wentz) to Afghanistan in April and May 2006 to research the rebuilding of Afghanistan telecommunications and IT and their use as enablers more...

The World e-Parliament Report 2008 represents a first effort to establish a baseline of how parliaments are using, or planning to use ICT to help them fulfill their responsibilities and to connect to their constituencies. The Report also provides an opportunity for sharing lessons learned and good practices from different regions of the world.
The WePR 2008 is a joint product of UNDESA and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, prepared as part of the work of the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament.

'IISD's Tony Vetter was investigating the impacts of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on sustainable development when he stumbled upon a troubling connection. The last time the price of the mineral tantalum (a key ingredient in compact electronics) spiked, it helped to fuel one of Africa's bloodiest-ever wars. As the demand for mobile phones rises dramatically, so again does the price of tantalum. Will the fragile Congolese democracy be tested?'

ICT is an integral part of technological progress and is a cross cutting theme that affects all aspects of a country: government, business, and society. In today's digitally lead economy, investments in ICT cannot be ignored. A country must have the capacity to develop effective options for ICT use and reduce the risk of inappropriate and/or badly implemented investments.

Hickling International has been focusing on building sustainable and adaptable governance structures, and the capacity to more...

'The APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor's primary goal project is to enable African civil society organisations to engage in information and communication technologies (ICT) policy development to promote an Information Society based on social justice and human rights. The ultimate aim being that governments and policy makers recognise that access to and the use of ICTs is a basic human right.

The project, initiated in late 2001, continues to research, collect, interpret, produce and disseminate IC more...