Promising solutions to reach the last mile: the use of ICTs to bridge the knowledge divide

Promising Solutions to reach the last mileThe use of ICTs to bridge the knowledge divide

Practical Answers Sri Lanka (PASL) Where knowledge blends with a difference

Practical Answers Sri Lanka

• Development information service of Janathakshan

• Partner of Practical Answers group of Practical Action

• 25 years history on providing development information

Our VisionRight knowledge at right time to make the worldeco-friendly, poverty free and sustainable

Our MissionTo contribute to the improvement of lives and livelihoods,by providing knowledge relevant to development andpoverty eradication

Paradigm Shift: sustainable social enterprise by 2018

Hybrid Business Model

Knowledge Services Business Unit

Essentials of an effective information service

• Asses the demand

• Generate and collect

• Compile, process, develop, quality assurance

• Organize and store

• Distribution, promotion, marketing

• Develop and strengthen the pool of expertise

• Build partnership and networks

•

Practical Use of ICTs

Web Portal: www.practicalanswers.lk

Digital Repository: www.library.practicalanswers.lk

Face book:www.facebook.com/practicalanswerssrilanka

Twitter & You Tubehttps://twitter.com/practicalasl

https://www.youtube.com/user/janathakshanvideos

Blog & Slide Sharehttp://practicalanswerssrilanka.blogspot.comhttp://www.slideshare.net/practicalanswerss

Television & Radio

Use of digital media tools and devices

• Desktops, laptops, tabs, fax machines, scanners, voice recorders, digital camera

• Skype and vidyo• Internet, wify• Sharepoint• Village information centres

Mobile Applications

Why ICTs & Digital Media Tools• To create innovative and user friendly contact formats

• To disseminate and share the knowledge and information

• Free and open access to knowledge materials

• Provide a gateway to connect with the service

• To strengthen the knowledge base by gathering knowledge and information

• To create a platform to directly interact with each other

• To create development discussions

Why ICTs & Digital Media Tools • To build communities and networks

• To lobbying and advocacy

• To showcase the impact

• To ensure the effective communication with internal and global team

• To share learning

• To market and promote the service

• To establish the brand presence and enhance the brand reputation

Wider reach

258 676 380 506

2816 32003800

010002000300040005000• 30 % growth of enquiry

numbers• 150 000 page views and

downloads• 171 new partnerships

initiatives: cooperate, public, development organizations

• 1.5 million beneficiaries

Growth of income

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

Q1-2013 Q2-2013 Q3-2013 Q4-2013 Q1-2014 Q2-2014

Inco

me

(LK

R)

Quarter of the year

• LKR 1 430 000.00 during Q1 and Q2 vs annual target of 3 000 000.00

• LKR 900 000.00 via online resources

Continued support

• Replicable business model to the Practical Answers group

• Positioning PASL within Janathakshan as their official information service and public interface

• Interest of private sector partners for join investments

National Recognition

E-Swabhimani award as the National Best e-content for livelihood development by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) in 2010

Practical Future

• Regional digital repository for open access

• Knowledge Avenue: green technology demonstrations, non-

traditional resource library which provides a space to play, share and learn with and access to ICTs, provision of business services

• Online business platform

• Digital literacy improvement campaign

We are available @

PRACTICAL ANSWERS - Sri Lanka

No 05, Lionel Edirisinghe Mw, Colombo 05TELEPHONE: 94-11-28 29412FAX: 94–285 6188E MAIL: practicalanswers@practicalaction.org.lkWEB: www.practicalanswers.lkREPOSITORY: www.library.practicalanswers.lkFB: facebook.com/practicalanswerssrilankaTWITTER: @practicalaslYOU TUBE: janthakshanvideo

Thank You