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The importance of an enabling environment for ICT4D

in the context of rural economic development

Pierre Lucante

Head of Sector Project ICT4D, GTZ

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Key aspects of an ‘Enabling Environment’

Needs and / vs. Wants

Policies and Regulation

Capacities

Community of Practice

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Needs and / vs. Wants People matter, not so much technology

Ownership & local relevance

Solutions need to be appropriate for rural contexts

But how to foster demand-driven policies? And what about the needs of the poorest segments of

the population?

“Simple technologies are always the best technologies.” Corinna Kuesel, GTZ

“In ICT4D, we need to think less about the ‘T’ and more about the ‘D’!” David Grimshaw, Practical Action and DFID

“Information is one service, and an important one, that ICTs can provide. But they will only have a positive impact if we understand the broader marketing context that farmers face.” Jenny Aker, Tufts University

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Policies and Regulation to promote ICT in Rural Areas

Is ICT Policy enough? “If a farmer learns which market has the best price, but there isn't a road allowing him/her to get there, this information won't transfer into increased income.” Jenny Aker, Tufts University

How? Liberalisation, PPP and/or Universal Service

Local concertation to define appropriate policy

Mobile Service Coverage; Source CTO

Why?

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Capacities in ICT4D

Institutional Capacities enable institutions to use & understand ICT ensure that ICT policies and regulation are implemented

effectively

IT Sector Capacities foster local ICT entrepreneurship

End-User ICT literacy allows users to participate actively in the improvement

of services and creates new learning opportunities enhances the potential for local innovation

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Community of Practice Learning about failure and success

stories Sharing expertise and new ideas Linking civil society, private sector and

development cooperation

But using which tool? Which forum?

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Thank you!