Half the world population is “Unconnected” to the Web
What is the common approach to connect the unconnected?
“Given that the Internet has become an indispensable tool for realizing a range of human rights, combating inequality, and accelerating development and human progress, ensuring universal access to the Internet should be a priority for all States.”
Frank La Rue, 2011 UN Special Rapporteur
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The common approach in all policy papers about international development mention the Internet, as the solution.
An alternative approach: “DownScaling the Web” • The current Web uses the
Internet as its unique backbone;
• Internet backbone is concentrated in large urban centres, in developed countries;
• Needs electricity, datacenters, infrastructure;
• Uses expensive devices; • Internet is expensive for
the poor.
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Downscaling is an alternative to bring the advantages of technologies for those who do not have internet.
What do we mean by “DownScaling the Web”?
• Facilitating information sharing and communication for people who are currently unconnected:
• Creating inexpensive, sustainable solutions and contextualized technologies.
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“Downscaling” is about finding solution for local information and counication problems, using a context-sensitive appraoch.
Sustainability of supply driven ICT solutions for development often
questioned:
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Why is Downscaling necessary? Because common approaches consist of deploying western technologies in developing countries.
International development projects (donor-funded) use a linear appraoch to externally manage and control activities, results and outcomes. Every development consuultant or practitioner knows this, as this is part of project proposals and reporting schemes. It does not allow deviations from initial plans and therefore is counterproductive for real innovation.
These methods are similar to the Waterfall model, used in software engineering. This model is only useful when the outcome is known. Currently, other models have become widely used, especially for technological innovation.
Donor-driven projects require a fixed path from start to end
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A conceptual model showing the “standard approach”, vs the action research/iterative labs/agile approaches to innovation.
Moreover: What is development?
And who sets the development goals?
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An other issue concerns the “Development Goals”. We all want to improve the lives of people in developing countries, but the “End of Poverty” by e.g. development economist Jeffrey Sachs is very different form how people in Burkina Faso may see this.
We propose a new low-resource aware framework for DownScaling
“ICT4D 3.0”
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Our low resource aware framework is user-centered. It consists of five aspects or components, which can be used and readjusted when needed. Its flexible and iterative nature allows deviations from plans and fosters innovation.
Context analysis: reveals local constraints
• Low levels of literacy • Many different
languages spoken • Poor infrastructures:
(no electricity in the villages, no internet, only radio/2G mobile)
• Low purchasing power
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Context analysis: road shows, field visits, literature studies, meeting local users.
Needs assessment: users set goals
• Find local customers • Treat/prevent animal disease • Combat soil degradation • Predict rainfall • Receive flood alerts • Know more about
regreening
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Needs assessment: to make sure we understand what people’s objevtives in live and work are, we do a goal oriented requirements analysis. We do open discussions, interviews, focus groups. This is iterated many times! �Development goals by local people
Use case and requirements analysis
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Use case and requirements analysis is teh process to (iteratively) find the best solution for an information need, prioritise what is most important and feasible. Collect all requirements and model the information using formal and non-formal modeling tools. Interaction with users is crucial.
Development is done iteratively, in various cycles of prototyping, testing, evaluating. Users play a role in evaluating and deploying. Local users can also be local service providers like radio stations and local reseachers, ICT enterpreneurs or NGOs. The business aspects of the deployment are also evaluated. What are the costs? What are people prepared to pay for an information service?
innovation4dev • The Case of: Knowledge sharing for Food Security in
Rural Africa through adaptive, collaborative technology (ICT) development, 2009 - ongoing
Sustainability assessment
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During the development, sustainability is assessed and business models are sought. Different scenarios are modeled, using business requirement engineering tools such as e3-Value and I-star. This gives an insight on the sustainability in a networked constellation of business partners.
Best kept secrets of sustainable projects
• Partnerships with local organizations • Talking frequently to end-users • Long term collaboration • Combining knowledge domains • Supporting local innovation • Building on local expertise • Starting from legacy work flows
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Observations: this is based on 7 years of experience in the field.
Conclusion: How do we see the future Web??
DownScaled Contextualized Community-Based
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Finally, to successfullyy DownScale the Web we need more people who use this appraoch. Communities of practice, people who want to be engaged in co-creation of innovations for development! A new approach: ICT4D 3.0 join us now!