ICT Enabled Development: Using ICT Strategically

ICT Enabled Development: Using ICT Strategically

[2010] This report was developed by Plan Finland to support country offices in Africa to apply ICTs more strategically and effectively to development goals.

The first section explains the concept of ICT-enabled development, and the reasons why it is important for development organisations to take it on board. With many ICT tools and applications available, the job of a development organisation is no longer to compensate for lack of access but to find innovative and effective ways of putting the tools to development ends.

A checklist for planning strategic use of ICTs suggests some key steps for the design process, and some questions to ask in order to ensure appropriate and workable plans ensuring that ICT use is both linked to real development needs and priorities, and appropriate to the target group. The report also provides examples (of both methodologies and experiences) to orient participatory assessment and planning ICT for development processes. Plan’s current development work with ICT in Africa is included as additional material.