ICT Volunteering and Human Development

Evolution and Trends

Conference on Volunteering and ICTs

World Summit on the Information Society 7-8 December 2003

Manuel Acevedo

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Contents of the presentation

ICT Volunteering and Human Development

Mainstreaming ICT into Development Organizations

Volunteer Networking

Volunteering in the Information Society : WSIS

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What is ICT Volunteering?

Range of volunteer action whose common characteristic is the targeted use of ICTs (particularly digital technologies) Actions by volunteers resulting in the practical use by

development actors of relevant ICTs – supporting a community telecenter

Use of ICT (particularly the Internet) to enable and facilitate volunteer collaboration – eg. Online Volunteering

Volunteering’s niche in ICT4D: capacity building on the uses (ie. applications) and opportunities (ie. outreach, awareness) of ICT across development areas

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Why ICT Volunteering?

Massive needs around the world

Many people willing to contribute

Mechanisms already exist: UNITeS, NetCorps Canada, VITA, PeaceCorps, Red Cross, etc.

Volunteer added-value: they accompany a specific development process “powered by solidarity” youth as a under-utilized development asset Internet‘s culture is (still) a culture of solidarity and volunteering

Volunteering are essential to respond to capacity-building needs in the Information Society

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Mainstreaming ICT into Development Organizations

Development orgs. as catalyzers for wider absorption of ICT in overall developmental processes Need to lead by example !

The main challenge is to achieve the proper levels of internal capacity in an agengy

ICT Volunteers can be instrumental in mainstreaming ICT into development orgs.

They can assist in both aspects of mainstreaming: Internal: integration of ICT into administrative and

operational processes External: widespread application of ICT in field projects

and initiatives supported by an agency

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Networking Development Cooperation

Development cooperation practices need to adjust to the new context and dynamics of the Network Society

Connected development nodes individuals, projects, organizations

Knowledge generation from connection rather than rather than collection

New project architecture establishing/managing networks to maximize

generation and application of knowledge for development

Enabling involvement of the “global citizen” to achieve the Millennium Development Goals

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Types of Volunteer-based Networks

A. “Action” networks connecting individual volunteers to development orgs. & stakeholders (eg. NetAid/UNV Online Volunteering service)

B. Knowledge network created within a Volunteer-involving org. (eg. UNV or the Red Cross)

C. Institutional networks formed by volunteer organizations (eg. IAVE, NetCorps Canada Coalition)

D. Volunteer-to-Volunteer networks (independent or institutional)

E. The “Open-Source” approach to development (eg. Linux)

F. Virtual Communities of PracticeG. Human Metadata Networks

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A project network, “Powered-by-Volunteers”

project

community(virtual, physical)

company NGO

another project

dev agency

university

online Volunteers

other universities other NGOs

other volunteers

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Ten key types of ICT Volunteering functions (I)

Across development themes

1. Provision of basic technological literacy

2. Information brokering – the “human last miles” of connectivity

3. Creation of local digital content

4. Inclusion of marginalized and disadvantaged groups into the Information Society

5. Awareness raising of decision-makers on the possibilities of ICT4D

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Ten key types of ICT Volunteering functions (II)

In specific thematic areas of development

1. Integration of ICT into the educational system

2. Involvement in community telecenters

3. Use of ICT and networking by local human civil rights organizations

4. Incorporation of ICT into the battle against HIV-AIDS

5. Application of ICT to disaster management and post-conflict situations

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Volunteering and WSIS

Basic message: the role of Volunteering must be included in analysis and policies of the Information Society

Volunteering has already shaped the Information Society

The Information Society is impacting volunteer action

WSIS Plan of Action: ICT Volunteering needed for success

From Geneva to Tunisia: making ICT Volunteering a more visible actor

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A Volunteer Plan of Action for WSIS (I)

Development-wide proposals

Support to national and international university volunteer networks in ICT for Develoment

Creation, expansion and support of national/regional online volunteering services

Coordination under UN of a “Hackers Without Frontiers” programme Support to ICT Volunteering programmes (UNITeS, NetCorps Canada,

etc. Support to Diaspora volunteers networks in ICT4D Promotion of corporate volunteering initiatives on ICT4D An international “Telecenter Volunteer Exchange” facility Establishment of/support to of basic computer literacy training

programmes. Support to volunteer-involving orgs, like NGOs, that are involved in the

social appropriation of ICTs.

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A Volunteer Plan of Action for WSIS (II)

Thematic proposals

Establishment of national "University ICT-for-education Volunteering" schemes to build teacher capacity (secondary schools) for ICT integration

ICT Volunteering initiatives for digital inclusion of people with disabilities

ICT Volunteering support to HIV/AIDS initiatives, like the programme underway in Southern Africa Promotion of networks to assist people affected Creation of telework and e-learning opportunities Teacher-to-teacher, doctor-to-doctor mentoring

Volunteer initiatives in telemedicine Facilities for ICT volunteers in disaster situations ICT Volunteer programmes in refugee camps

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United Nations Information Technology Service: UNITeS

Special UNV initiative aimed at reducing digital divides

One of the “Digital Bridge” programmes of Kofi Annan (Millennium Report)

Volunteers building human and institutional capacity on uses/opportunities of ICT for human development

Global programme (65% of vols from South, intl. and natl. volunteers)

Close to 200 volunteers onsite, about 100 online, in over 50 countries.

Involves volunteers from other organizations (not only UNV), also online

UNITeS Community Network, Knowledge Base

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Online Volunteering

Innovative modality of volunteering for development cooperation

Translations, content editing, proposal writing, web-site programming, online research, graphics design, technical assistance mentoring, e-moderating...

The Net is the medium

Flexibility, adaptability

Interesting possibilities of online/on-site collaboration among volunteers

Facilitates continued engagement by former “on-site” vols

Online Volunteer service through NetAid (www.netaid.org/OV)

Partnership between NetAid Foundation and UNV Largest listing of OV opportunities for development cooperation In 3 yrs., 14,000 OV applicants, 5,000 OV assignments, 270 host

institutions

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Conclusions

ICT Volunteering is a powerful new resource for Human Development

Started with basic ICT skills training

Moved on to capacity building and awareness raising

ICT Volunteering to enable ICT mainstreaming in development

Harnessing power of networking to generate increased added value – “network capital”

Make ICT Volunteering an important element for WSIS Plan of Action

Raise visibility of ICT Volunteering in the process to Tunisia 2005