The Jamaica Sustainable Development Network
Networking at the National Level
Prepared for Workshop onPrepared for Workshop on
“ “ Using Information for Decision-making on Using Information for Decision-making on Sustainable Development- Issues and Challenges for Sustainable Development- Issues and Challenges for
Caribbean SIDSCaribbean SIDS” ”
Organisation of American States and UN Department of Economic and Organisation of American States and UN Department of Economic and Social AffairsSocial Affairs
May 27-28, 2003, Rex St Lucia, St LuciaMay 27-28, 2003, Rex St Lucia, St Lucia
Genesis of the SDNGenesis of the SDN
• SDN - a UNDP initiative developed in response to Agenda 21.
• Objectives: To facilitate access to information and support the process of SD through the use of ICTs.
Attributes of ICT4D
ICTs offer a powerful mechanism to:• Facilitate cost effective access to and
dissemination of information• Promote non discriminatory dialogue• Establish communities of interest across
borders• Provide visual representations of complex
development issues eg through GIS• Provide opportunities for modelling
various outcomes based on specific scenarios
JSNDPJSNDP
Jamaica SDNP operationalised in 1998
MissionTo enhance citizens’ capacity to access,
understand, distribute and utilise information to enable them to sustain their livelihoods and socio-cultural values while conserving their natural environment.
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
• Multidisciplinary steering committee including private sector, public sector and academia representatives
• Institutionalised in October 2002 as not for profit NGO
• Multidisciplinary Board
• Continued support from UNDP/GOJ
FOCUSFOCUS
• Connectivity
• Capacity
• Content
• Cost
ACTIVITIES
Rural telecentre establishment Capacity building in basic computer use and
the Internet as well as other applications SD web site establishment & maintenance Web page development and hosting Database establishment and information
management
Community focal pointsCommunity focal points
A combination of a community telecentre and information focal points
Partnerships developed based on criteria:• Must have a community development and or
an information dissemination mandate• Must have a secure location• Must have trainable staff• Must be willing to function as a node for a
community information network
Community focal points Community focal points (cont’d)(cont’d)
• Must have proven ability to network and serve a wide constituency of community interests
• Location must have community consensus
Features of AgreementFeatures of Agreement
JSDNP provides:
• Equipment
• Training for staff and community members
• Training material, operating guidelines
Features of AgreementFeatures of Agreement(cont’d)(cont’d)
Partner delivers:• Secure location• Trainable staff• Ready access and assistance to
public• Quarterly reports on # users, user
profile, revenue, expenditure• Information sub-committee
Focal point partnerships Focal point partnerships
Liguanea Cybercentre, St Andrew Bluefields Peoples Community
Association Browns Town Branch Library Montego Bay Marine Park International School of Jamaica, St
Mary Caribbean Coastal Area Management
Programme, Clarendon
WHERE WE ARE WHERE WE ARE Six rural community focal points established-several
have leveraged additional support for their activities
More than 500 persons at the community level trained in basic computer applications and use of the Internet
Provision of Internet/computer access to over 4,000
persons in the seven locations which are served by JSDN cybercentres
Standardized operating guidelines and business model established for community cybercentres
Business Development programme underway to ensure financial sustainability of the Network
WHERE WE WANT TO WHERE WE WANT TO BEBE
Want to create a culture that values information at all
levels make the point that information, unlike other
commodities, increases in value the more it circulates
foster recognition of the value of local knowledge and have communities recognised as legitimate custodians of their own information
WHERE WE WANT TO WHERE WE WANT TO BEBE
support focal points in their quest to respond to the development needs of their constituents:
Via literacy, distance learning, online discussions
Livelihood enhancement using tools such as ecommerce, digital art, digital music
Increased involvement of youth in community development process
WHERE WE WANT TO WHERE WE WANT TO BEBE
Support new and emerging resource management groups such as local forestry management committees, local watershed committees, water users associations etc
Facilitate emerging governance structures and processes such as Parish Development committees, and local sustainable development planning processes
Strategies to get Strategies to get therethere
Development of community web sites, Development of a community information network
involving local partners and stakeholders Establishment of a GIS based Development
Information system with community level detail Provision of access to tools and relevant applications
to emerging local management groups Extending the network of community focal points
Features of Features of community websitescommunity websites
Community profile -demographics,economic activities, resource organisations
Projects-ongoing and plannedCommunity events Issues of concernPlans to link these with online
newsapers
Development Information Development Information systemsystem
Should be a community owned and maintained resource
Should make use of GIS and overlay demographic and other social and economic features on natural resource base maps
Lessons LearnedLessons Learned CBOs NGOs and other CSOs have an increasing
role to play in the SD process ICTs are a valuable tool to support the SD process
on a number of fronts and at various levels CSOs operating at the community level are well
placed to introduce the technology and adapt to the development needs of the community
Capacity building at the local level to harness use and disseminate information using available technology needs to be an ongoing process
The process of empowerment of citizens to effectively participate in SD is a time consuming and involved one and should not be compromised for short term gains
Thank YouThank You
For Your AttentionFor Your Attention