ICT4D 2.

0: THE NEXT
PHASE OF APPLYING ICT FOR
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Richard Heeks (2009)

Presented by:
Anirban Das
 SUMMARY
 ICT4D1.0 has already paved the way into 2.0 which presents opportunities
for professionals & vendors in new kinds of ICT implementations for
developing countries.

 ICT4D1.0 lasted for about a decade beginning at the mid of 1990’s and it had
sought quick of-the-shelf solution for the rural poor in the form of telecenters
and telecottages. These pro-poor efforts occurred on behalf of poor
communities but outside them.
 Perhaps because of this, these efforts had large design vs. reality gaps and as
a result they had little success in terms of providing any intended benefits to
the disadvantaged.

 ICT4D 2.0 will involve para-poor efforts where innovation is done working
alongside poor communities and per-poor efforts where innovation occurs
within and by poor communities
THE BASIC PROBLEM STUDIED IN THE PAPER, THE
LITERATURE IT RELIES ON AND THE GAP IT FILLS
 Researching various theoretical perspectives to explicate the process of
ICT introduction and adoption aimed at economic development in
underprivileged communities.

 Answer for skepticism (due to several ICT interventions) of developed

world’s ability to contribute meaningfully to ICT4D in developing
societies

 In the wake of technology push worldwide much of the stucturational

explication of the technology evolution seems to leave a gap in
socialized understanding of processes involved in ICT4D.

 Centering explanations for ICT4D on the technological evolution

aspects while insufficiently capturing the importance of the agent or
user-agent in the technology -ser engagement
THE METHODOLOGY FOLLOWED FOR DATA
COLLECTION, THE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE, AND THE
MAIN CONCLUSIONS
 Chronological Stages of the informatics life-cycle, closely linked with ICT4D
value chain. Identifies different stages of evolution of ICT enabled initiatives
and corresponding assessment studies.

 Explores availabillity (HW,SW,NW) Focus on Uptake(User, usage, use

divide) & Impact (effectiveness, efficiency, equity)
 ICT4D 2.0 will involve para-poor efforts where innovation is done working
alongside poor communities and per-poor efforts where innovation occurs within
and by poor communities
 CRITIQUE OF THE PAPER, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
LIMITATIONS OF METHODOLOGY, CONCLUSIONS, OR
THEORETICAL FRAMING

 Unclear of emergence of future developments

 Technological progress & direction-

 Emerging disciplines – how to be handled?

 Emergence of sub-phases?

 Poor Centric Developments – logic : do we have examples to

back the logic?
 Can poor drive the changes?

 Will poverty be eradicated?