ADB’s Experience in Supportinge-Community Centers

Jeoung-Keun LeeSenior Capacity Building Specialist

ADB Institute, Tokyo

1. What is the digital divide?

2. Is the digital divide gap narrowing or widening?

3. Why should we reduce the digital divide?

Questions

Questions (cont’d)

4. What are the roles of e-community centers?

5. How do we create an e-community center through community participation?

6. What are the roles of governments, schools,

NGOs, entrepreneurs and donors in supporting e-Community centers?

Questions (cont’d)

7. What is ADB doing in support of e-community centers?

8. What is ADBI doing to promote e-community centers?

9. In what other ways is ADB striving to reduce the digital divide?

10. Is there a need for new models for closing the digital divide?

What is the Digital Divide?

OECD Definition (2001):

Gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regards both to their opportunities to access ICT and to their use of the Internet for a wide variety of activities.

Narrowing Gap?

Yes, it is narrowing. Developing countries already ‘digitally

leapfrog’ the developed world Per capita digital divide is shrinking

No, it is widening. Poor households use Internet less than the

richer households.

Analysis of the Digital Divide

By country: developing countries By income level: low income group By gender : women By education level: less schooling By geography: rural area By ethnic background: minority

Causes of the Digital Divide

No hardware or software Lack of information and know-how Too expensive to use and maintain Fast development of new technology

Importance of Digital Inclusion

• Digital literacy is one of prerequisites of workforce employment in the 21st Century

• Access to education opportunity, learning materials and tools

• Uniform access to government services and information

• Fast and cost-effective communications• New modes of commercial transactions (digital

payment, online shopping, etc.)

• train teachers and health workers provide health care information computer literacy training e-government services e-commerce link to global markets market price information for farmers support for SMEs participation in the political process

Services of e-Community Centers

E-Community Centers Help Stakeholders

Acquisition of information Communication among stakeholders Voice their concerns to wider audience Wider dissemination of information Complement to face-to-face meetings

ICT tools for collaboration

E-mail Internet Instant messaging and chatting File sharing Web-meeting and web conferencing Discussion forum Group calendar Audio and video conferencing Blog wiki

How to involve stakeholders

Step 1: Define the problem to be addressed,Step 2: Identify and understand the interests of

key stakeholders,Step 3: Establish effective two-way communication

to work together,Step 4: Develop options for mutual gain, andStep 5: Disseminate information through the media

and other networks

Models for Reducing Digital Gap

(1) Infrastructure Model

(2) Training Model

(3) Hardware and Training Model

(4) Community Support Models

Community Support Models

School-based model

Public sector-based model

Private sector-based model

Community ownership model

Thailand: Skills Development Project

Establish IT Courses at Skills Development Institutes

Train certified IT technicians Open the computer labs for

community use

Viet Nam: Technical Education Project

Attach production units to technical schools

Operate production unit just like a normal business unit

Serve the community on a cost recovery basis (cheaper service)

Sri Lanka: Community Information Services for the Poor

Establish a central community information center in a district networked with

several small village information centers Operate it as a cooperative venture Render assistance to the poor, as needed

Other Interventions of ADB

ICT Development Strategy (2003) Creating an Enabling environment Building human resources ICT components in all ADB projects

JFICT (Japan Fund for Information and Communications Technology): $10 million in 2001

CLICK (Center for Learning, Information, Communication and Knowledge)

DIAL (Development of Internet for Asian Law)

ADBI’s Intervention

Training of trainers in e-government, e-commerce, e-learning, e-community,

etc. Partnership with other agencies (Network of

Asian and Pacific Schools and Institutes of Public Administration and Governance)

Adoption of distance learning, using CD-ROMs, Video conference and web-based training

New Model?

Yes, and What Model?

As in the case of the Millennium Development Goal, it is difficult to reduce the digital

divide dramatically. We have to establish at least an Internet-

based global school, teaching ICT free of charge.

This will free up education budget that can be used in expanding digital infrastructure.

New Model? (cont’d)

No, the same old model

We have tried many different models so far. It’s not a question of models, but strong political will and massive investment.

Whose Role?

Individual Government Community ICT Companies Donors

Critical Success Factors of e-Community Centers

1. Plan well based on information needs of the community.

2. Involve key stakeholders from the planning stage, after analyzing stakeholders thoroughly.

3. Equip minimum ICT tools per e-community site.

4. Train supervisors and community people on using ICT tools.

Critical Success Factors (cont’d)

5. Develop community websites with efficient information gathering, analysis, repackaging, and dissemination mechanism.

6. Adopt and modify sustainable business model.7. Ensure community ownership, secure

supporters, and find a champion.8. Critically evaluate efforts, report back to

stakeholders, and adapt as needed.

Thank you very much!

Let’s Reduce Digital Divide