A Middle Way in using ICTs for Development

My SCD 401 paper (the deadline for which was extended by two days – which means I can spend next weekend not sleeping and pounding out the pages) is by no means the first time I am grappling with the question of ICTs (information and communication technologies). Indeed, some of you (i.e. Richard) may recall that it was at this time last year that I was writing my ginormous paper for Communication and International Development (CMNS 446) class on – you guessed it – Web 2.0 in International Development, with particular reference to the 2004 South Asian tsunami.

The questions, however, have changed a little in my head. My tutor marker directed me to this article on best practices in ICT “first mile” development initiatives, and I’m particularly struck by the section discussing technological versus social determinism:

Several commentators find that ICT for development initiatives are too ‘global’ in their approach, without acknowledging the importance of local contexts in making information usable as knowledge. Ballantyne ( 2002) highlights the emphasis on external content ‘pushed’ at people living in poverty and the struggle faced by efforts to push local content (e.g. research conducted in the South or Southern arts) onto a global stage. Many initiatives are criticised as offering one-way transfer of information (usually from the global to the local level) but failing to promote genuine two-way knowledge sharing.

…

There is a distinction between authors who see technology as a solution to development problems and those that seek social solutions. Articles cite particular types of technologies and applications, such as WIFI, open source software, low-cost devices, translation engines, as ‘stepping stones’ towards ‘digital inclusion’ (Primo Braga, Daly, & Sareen 2003). This technological determinism recognizes the difficulties of communicating to the local context (such as language or access barriers), but locates the potential to overcome them in new technologies, rather than in social factors. Concerns are raised by other authors that technology is increasingly determining the solutions sought to development problems: “What I am concerned with is the degree to which complex social development goals become seen as functional or technical problems when ICTs are introduced and how technology becomes particularly determinant in how larger goals are understood and acted upon.”

That last paragraph hits home. I wonder, do I think blogs will save the world? Even I know that’s silly. People will save themselves. Blogs will enable those who are willing to help others and those who are willing to seek that help.

At the same time, I remember drafting briefly in my head the section where I might explain why it is important to engage with technology in getting a message out. Among some of the reasons I came up with:

1. RSS, blogs, tagging, podcasting – these are the tools and mechanisms you can use to not only reach a professional, tech-savvy, and/or increasingly younger audience, but to maintain the connections. I may not donate today, but I may subscribe to your RSS feed and volunteer tomorrow. It’s a different way of conducting a relationship.
2. I think that “donor fatigue” thing might be mitigated by people being able to feel like they can participate in the work being done. Part of that participation is being able to get perspective from the people that actually do the work. That said, blogging is intense – and, as Jane and Nadia very thoughtfully pointed out, the not-profit sector is stretched to near-breaking even at the best of times, and for direct service organizations, the work is likely more often traumatic and taxing than not. What they may want to say to an audience definitely takes a bit of a discerning eye. I just found the Salvation Army‘s blog.)
3. I’ve also started reading about the concept of glocalization. I think there’s a lot of fascination with the idea that something someone learns on the other side of the world could be applicable right here. But there are a lot of things to overcome to make that a reality. Things like a culture of sharing (not hoarding) and collaboration. This culture won’t come out of thin air – in fact, I think it only works if it happens on an individual level, because a culture of oversharing can easily morph into something slightly more sinister, mob-rulish or whatnot. In fact, it will only come about with an appeal to the best in all people, all walks of life–no small task indeed.

I’ve had quite a few conversations now where this notion of politics comes up as one of the more pervasive obstacles in the realm. I like the idea of finding a middle way between the aforementioned types of determinism. Could it be a little of both? Could it be neither?

So yes, work on women’s literacy before you string up the fibre optics (but feel free to go nuts with the mobile phones). Develop technologies for use with illterate peoples that can be used in their native languages. Talk to them about what they are doing and what they want to do. And please, please don’t burn out.