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