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...

Abstract: 'At the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations (G8) Summit in Okinawa, Japan (July, 2000), the Heads of State acknowledged that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) 'is one of the most potent forces in shaping the twenty-first century'. However, the ever-widening gap between the world's information 'haves' and 'have-nots' - the 'digital divide' - is hindering development and growth.

To address the problem, the G8 generated the Okinawa Charter on the Global Information Soci more...

Abstract: 'Commercial telecentres are fully sustainable in many urban areas where a number of specific conditions apply. In sparsely populated rural areas, sustainability is difficult to achieve because infrastructure may be lacking and because local demand is scattered and has limited purchasing power. Even in urban areas commercial telecentres cannot afford to provide public service goods, like informal adult or remedial education, to serve the special needs of low income people and disenfranc more...

The study is intended to provide guidance to organisations working in the education sector and is directed towards policymakers, ICT practitioners and donor agencies, in particular.

'Introduced in 2005, FrontlineSMS is a messaging hub that allows non-profit organisations in developing countries to manage two-way bulk messaging by attaching a mobile phone to a laptop computer. FrontlineSMS is being used by grassroots non-profit organisations in over 40 countries for a variety of activities, including healthcare in rural settings.' BBC Online via SciDev.Net, 21 July 2008.

A bulk SMS communication program, intended for use by NGOs.

The e-Bario Knowledge Fair, incorporating the UNDP Workshop on
E-Inclusion and Media for Indigenous Peoples, attracted more than 100 participants from 15 countries. Arising from the joint proceedings, the delegates formulated the e-Bario Vision for Indigenous Peoples which was presented to the 3rd Global Knowledge Conference (GK3) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 12 December 2007.

THE E-BARIO VISION FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND ICTS

"We welcome the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous P more...

Après plusieurs années d’existence, Africanti renouvelle en 2007 sa présence sur le web grâce à un nouveau site, sans changer de philosophie : mettre à disposition en libre accès les ressources et les textes de recherche sur les TIC en Afrique. Africanti bénéficie de plus de l’apport du GDRI Netsuds récemment créé. N’hésitez pas à nous faire part de vos commentaires sur cette nouvelle version. présentation: "Africa’nti , observatoire sur l’insertion des technologies de l more...

According to a recent message published by Firoze Manji and Mukoma wa Ngugi
Co-Editors of the Pambazuka News, the Web site needs urgent financial support: "This year we were told by a small loyal family foundation that, due to their own budgetary constraints, they will no longer continue to fund Pambazuka News. In addition, a major US foundation that provided core funding for Pambazuka News over the last two years did not renew their grant owing to a shift in funding priorities." Pambazuka News more...

The New Tactics in Human Rights Project, led by a diverse group of partner international organizations, advisors and practitioners, promotes tactical innovation and strategic thinking within the international human rights community. The collaborative Web site of the project proposes regular online discussions such as Mobile technologies for Human Rights and more. Strategic and tactical thinking, long used by business and military strategists, is an effective means for the human rights movement t more...