Building E-Community Centers for Rural Development Workshop

Post-course Statement

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Background

Over 60% of the people in the Asia-Pacific region live in rural areas. The rural population tends to be poor, neglected and marginalized groups of society. In comparison to urban areas, the accessibility and availability of information and communications technology (ICT) is significantly lower in rural areas. Government and the private sector do not invest much in infrastructure development for ICT in rural areas, as it is not cost-effective. In case infrastructure is available, rural communities cannot afford to purchase needed communications equipment such as telephones, radios and computers or pay for connectivity to the Internet. Funds available to purchase needed equipments and connectivity and the lack of awareness regarding the use of these technologies, have greatly contributed to the growing rural-urban digital divide.

Community e-centers have sprung up across developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region at a rapid rate. The growing need to become part of the knowledge society or knowledge economy has encouraged many countries to take this initiative. Developing the community e-center is not only about providing ICT equipment, but also understanding the needs of the people who would use them, and providing locally useful information content and applications in local languages. In many cases, these centers have been established by development agencies on a pilot basis and often their sustainability is not guaranteed after the initial project period.

Experiences show that employment of proper technology, community ownership through participatory development approach, capacity of community in the use of ICT, and private sector operation contribute to sustainability of the centers. However, there are not enough studies on the issues of how to set up and how to sustain them. Therefore, there is a need to examine various issues related to community e-centers to develop guidelines or models for successful development and operation of these centers for developing countries to reap the most benefits from ICT for rural development.

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Objectives

During the workshop, which we are organizing with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, participants will draft action plans to improve existing e-community centers or establish new centers. The workshop will also provide a forum to

• share experiences of community e-centers for rural development in participating countries
• examine issues in operating and establishing community e-centers in rural areas
• develop business plans and models for sustainable community e-centers in rural areas
• identify policies that can effectively promote community centers

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Outputs

• About 25 trained participants in establishing community e-centers
• Realistic strategies developed for establishing community e-centers in their countries
• Summary of proceedings
• Workshop materials that can be converted into interactive CD-ROMs and published online

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Participants

Decision makers in government ministries of communications, rural development, economy, or planning of the member and associate member countries of UNESCAP and ADBI. About 25 participants will attend this Workshop from 18 countries. In addition, about 5 observers from civil society and international agencies are expected to attend.

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How to apply

By invitation only.

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Language

English (No interpretation will be provided.)

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Responsibilities

Each participant is required to prepare a country report describing the use of ICT in rural communities in their country and an action plan to implement ICT for rural development. Suggested outlines of the country report and the action plan will be provided in advance.