Effectiveness of ICT Based Engagement Processes and Partnership building

Session 25: Implementation of ICTs for

Development Strategies in Agriculture

Janet C Achora – PhD Candidate Agriculture and

Rural Innovations- Makerere University

ICT Based Engagement Processes in Partnership Building

Case study: Integrated Soil Fertility Management- ISFM

What are engagement processes ?

Does engagement involve?Does engagement translate into practice?How do ICTs promote engagements?

Principles of engagement

• Three principles based on engagement theory

• The first principle “Relate” refers to learningactivities that occur in a group context

• The second principle “Create” makes learning acreative and purposeful activity

• The third principle “Donate” stresses the value ofmaking useful contribution while learning. Learningactivities have an outside (authentic) focus.

Types of ICTs used in engagement

online forums, Web Logs (blogs), e-mail discussion groups,

dgroup, social media,

GIS, Community meetings , Listening clubs

decision support systems, mobile mapping ,

mobile (cellular) phone applications,

community radio stations

Ways in which ICTs may not engage

Neil. S, 2003 puts forward five factors that may influence an individual’s non use of technology.

Economic/material Cognitive deficiency Technophobia Ideological refusal and diffusion

are all fashioned around a deficit model where non-use of technology is due to shortfalls n cognition, personality, knowledge, resourcing, social situation or personal ideology.

understood as the perceived needs of the individual rather than the perceived needs of society

Example of partnership building

Use of experiential learning models

Information and communication mechanisms

Information outreach models

Building entrepreneurial capacity along value chains

R & D

M & E

Consumers

Value Chain

Supporters

Payment

ISFM Polici

es

Farmers

Research

NGOs/GOVT

Private

sector

Cash

Information

technologies

Production activities

Procuring input

Harvest & postharvest

handling

Processing

Transport & Trading

Market trends

Transporters/cost

Company’s competitiveness,

Regulations/policies

Networks/

standards/information

Information flow

& Research

Information flow

& Research

Janet C Achora, 2013

Partnership building in ISFM & Value Chain relations

In concluding

• Engagement is an emerging concept

• The focus of most ICT intervention has been on use and dissemination as opposed to measurement of how the engagement processes of the actors involved take place.

• Individuals are NOT just 'end users' with no role to play in the technological process beyond accepting ready-made technological artefacts, but rather

• Play an active part in exploring the processes underlying how technologies are consumed and used.

Conclusion

• How do these processes relate with the ICT declarations and Agriculture?

• How do they result in Action?

• What needs to be done?