Pan All Ia Learning Clinic

Centre for Development Informatics

Frameworks for ICT4D Impact Assessment

Richard Heeks


University of Manchester, UK

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/cdi



Understanding Frameworks•A formal means of organising your impact assessment data

•Compendium URL: http://bit.ly/SMYkp

•ICT4D IA Overview:

Why?

For Whom?

What? How? (1)

When?

How? (2) Pilot & Action


The ICT4D Value Chain

Precursors-Data systems-Legal-Institutional-Human-Technological-Leadership-Drivers/Demand

Inputs-Money-Labour-Technology-Values and Motivations-Political support-Targets

Intermediates / Deliverables

-Telecentres-Libraries-Shared telephony-Other public access systems

Outputs-New Communication Patterns-New Information & Decisions-New Actions & Transactions

Outcomes-Financial & other quantitative benefits-Qualitative benefits-Disbenefits

Development Impacts

-Public goals (e.g. MDGs)Strategy

ImplementationAdoption Use

Exogenous Factors

READINESS UPTAKE IMPACTAVAILABILITY

Sustainability

Scalability

Pazos telecentre example: http://bit.ly/Hvkk4


Methodological Overview of ICT4D IA Frameworks

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9a 9b 9c 10 11

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Project Goals

Communications-for-Development

Capabilities (Sen) Framework

Livelihoods Framework

Information Economics

Information Needs/Mapping

Cultural-Institutional Framework

Enterprise (Variables)

Enterprise (Relations)

Enterprise (Value Chain)

Gender Telecentres

Primary/Secondary? Mixed Primary Typically Required

Primary Typically Required

Primary Required

Primary Required

Primary Required

Primary Required Primary Required

Primary Required

Primary Required

Primary Required

Primary Required

Primary Required

Data-Gathering Methods? Multiple Multiple Multiple Multiple Multiple Multiple Multiple Multiple Multiple Multiple Interviews Plus

Multiple Multiple

Participatory? Not likely Possible Rarely Possible Possible Not likely Possible Possible Possible Rarely No Typical Possible

Quasi-Experimental? Possible Possible Typical Possible Possible Possible Not likely Rarely Possible Possible Rarely Rarely Possible

Quantitative/Qualitative? Quantitative Either Either Either Either Both Mainly Qualitative

Typically Qualitative

Both Both Both Both Mixed

Multi-Disciplinarity? Not Possible Limited Possible Possible Limited Unlikely Possible Possible Possible Unlikely In Theory Possible

Timing? Either Either Either Either Either Longitudinal Preferably Longitudinal

Either Either Either Quasi-Longitudinal

Either Either

Level? Typically Meso

Mainly Micro

Micro Mainly Micro Multiple Micro/Meso

Typically Meso

Micro and/or Meso

Micro or Meso

Micro Micro Micro and/or Meso

Micro and/or Meso

Multiple Micro/Meso

Audience/Discipline? Multiple Any Communications for Development

Development Studies

Development Studies

Economics Information Systems

Varied Business Studies

Business Studies

Business Studies

Gender Studies

Varied

Resource Requirements? High Variable Variable Variable Variable High Relatively High Variable Variable Moderate-to-High

Relatively High

Relatively High

Varied

Generalisability From One Project?

Possible Limited Fairly Good Limited Limited Moderate Limited Poor Modest Limited Moderate Moderate Possible

Comparability Across Projects?

Possible Limited Some Variable Variable Rather Limited

Possible Poor Fair Fair Moderate Fair Possible


Content of Each IA Framework

•Summary

•The Framework

•SW Analysis

•Methodological Summary

•Method Recommendations

•References & Bibliography

•Variants

•Examples of Use


IA Framework Pros & Cons Exercise

•Identify two benefits of using a framework in your ICT4D impact assessment. (Do any of these address the challenges identified earlier?)

•Identify one cost of using a framework in your ICT4D impact assessment.


IA Framework Selection ExerciseIDRC has asked you to conduct an impact assessment of a mobile phone project in Indonesia. The mobile phones are being used to provide health information to community health workers.

Select one of the impact assessment frameworks from the Compendium which you think would be appropriate for you to use.

•Reflecting on the reasons why you have selected that framework, can you identify two selection criteria that you used?

•Are there any other selection criteria you would recommend when choosing a framework for ICT4D impact assessment?

Education

Pan All Ia Learning Clinic