1. ICT Training – Livelihood Promotion for Rural Women
ICT Applications in Rural Community eCentres
ICT Training –
Livelihood Promotion for Rural Women
Pilot Cases from Bhutan and Philippines
Asia Pacific Women’s Information Network Center
Sookmyung Women’s University
Hanah Zoo

2. Contents Ⅰ Overview Ⅱ Project Activities Ⅲ
Evaluation & Lessons Learned Ⅳ
Looking Ahead 1

3. About APWINC
1996. Founded for managing FebMed/WomMed network in the APEC region
Opened APWIN IT Edu Center and APEC Women’s e-Biz Center under APWINC
Started “Initiative for APEC Women’s Participation in the Digital Economy”
Project (2005~2009)
1998. Established as UNESCO Chair in communication Technology for Women (1998~2008)
2009. Joined UN Global Compact as an academic organization
To contribute to the advancement of women’s e-culture and e-business abilities by researching, developing, and spreading future technologies related to gender & ICT
Vision 2

4. Human Capacity Building
Customized training for government officials, entrepreneurs, educators, NGO leaders, and local women and recommendations on policies related to gender & ICT issues
Partnerships
Partnerships L O C A G B 3

5. “Can does not mean will or has”
- David Souter about ICTs in Developing countries-
Ten Myths about Technology and Development
Myth 5: “If you build it, they will come”
Myth 3: “ ‘Needs’ are more pressing than ‘Desires’”
- Kentaro Toyama -
Kentaro Toyama is a visiting scholar at the School of Information at the University of California, Berkeley.  Until 2009, he was assistant managing director of Microsoft Research India, which he co-founded in Kentaro identified a number of myths that surround the field of ICT4D and argued that these can confuse our thinking about the proper role for technology in addressing development problems
Myth 3: ‘Needs' are more pressing than desires: A high proportion of the income of the very poor goes on what Western observers might view as ‘luxury' items: (music, photos, festivals & weddings) rather than ‘basics' such as healthcare.
Myth 4:‘Needs' translate into business models: Building a business model around the needs of poor communities is possible, but there are significant barriers. Poor populations are harder to reach, and they may not want to pay for the services you provide, even if their value seems obvious to you.
Myth 5: If you build it, they will come: Spending is not always rational. An eye hospital in India offers extremely high quality cataract operations for free and covers all related costs. 10% of those offered the service will still refuse to have the operation. 4

6. I. Project Overview (1) Project Title
Development and Delivery of Training Tools on the Use of ICTs for the Promotion of Livelihood for Women in Rural Areas ( )
Project Goals
To promote access and use of ICT and multipurpose telecentres for women in rural areas of Philippines and Bhutan in promotion of local livelihood
To improve rural women’s economic capability with the use of ICT
Project Partners
Project Coordination (SEA Area Office)
Resources
Content Development
Trainer/Researcher
(in-kind contribution)
Local Coordination
Telecentre support for trainings 5

7. I. Project Overview (2) Project Duration August 2009 ~ April 2010
Project Activities
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Preliminary Research
Needs Assessment
Training Tool
Development
Pilot Training
Literature review on existing training tools to promote ICT use by rural women
Field visit to Philippines and Bhutan for consultation with target beneficiary groups and other stakeholders
Training content development to improve rural women’s livelihood
via ICT use
4 modules including
Social Networking
Marketing & Promotion
Use of Internet Source for Work
Comprehensive Review
Trained 24 participants from Bato Layette, Philippines, Dec 2009
Trained 20 participants from Punakha, Bhutan, Mar 2010 6

8. Further Segmentation of
II. Project Activities (1)
Preliminary Research
Objectives
To review existing training tools for promoting ICT use by rural women
To examine the feasibility of applying the tools to target telecentres
Findings
Further Segmentation of
‘Women’
Different Motives,
Different Use
There are more women (55%) who haven’t visit telecentre than those who have
‘Women’ is too big a category to identify reasons for ICT uptake
Women visit telecentre more frequently than men (62% vs. 38%)
 Once women adopt ICT, they utilize better
Women access the Internet for social networking
 Telecentre as a communication access point
Women relatively weak at using ICT for their ‘productive’ work
Training tool combining social networking + livelihood development to motivate women’s ICT use for livelihood
“women tended to use the CeC more than men” 62% of female respondents said they visited the CeC in the past 6 months, while 38% of male said;
to segment the whole population of women.
Those women at whom the first tool targets might be relatively familiar with ICT, and willing to make use of ICT activities. Therefore, they need an advanced level of ICT use and application. On the other hand, those for the second tool are usually less familiar with ICT. Thus, they need a basic level of ICT use and they need to learn that ICT can help improve their lives.
Adaptation of Gender Evaluation Methodology for Philippine Community e-Center” National Computer Center on March 18, 2009 7

9. II. Project Activities (1)
Preliminary Research
Approach
Motivation
Social
Networking
Livelihood
Promotion
Basic
ICT
Skills
ICT-aided
Problem
Solving
Productivity
Efficiency
User
Capacity
Uptake
Use/Apply
the handbook identifies the types of key interventions that the supporting agencies should consider for women of IBEs including: capacity building, funding investment, infrastructure, HRM, and competition.
Typical examples of IBE include:
A women’s cooperative that assembles personal computers
An individual woman running her own cybercafé or Telecenter
A female entrepreneur plus staff managing a shop selling computer supplies
A woman graduate designing websites for local businesses
Two women providing IT training classes and word processing services
The main content of the website is the Women’s ICT-Based Enterprise for Development Handbook, provided in 9 different languages via the link below.
Telecentre
Sustainability
Social use
Livelihood use 8

10. II. Project Activities (2)
Needs Assessment
Objectives
To familiarize the trainers with the sources of livelihood in the pilot areas
To identify the information needs of women to improve their livelihoods
To evaluate the level of target women’s ICT access and use
Pilot Areas in Brief
Brgy. Santo Nino, Bato Leyte, the Philippines
October 22-23, 2009 (2-day consultation)
4th class municipality with 32 barangays (partially urban)
Farming (coconut, cassava) and animal raising major sources of livelihood
Punakha Dzong, Bhutan
December 21, 2009 (half-day consultation)
Previously capital of Bhutan until 1955, located 1200 meters above sea level (rural)
Rice farming is the primary source of livelihood and weaving as supplementary income source for women 9

11. II. Project Activities (2)
Needs Assessment
Questions
Demographic Info
Years of schooling
Age
Income/livelihood
Livelihood
Existing info source
Information needs
Level of ICT Use
Mobile / SMS usage
/prev. ICT exposure
Others
Bato Leyte
Phunaka
Secondary level
20~84 yrs (median)
Farmers/Housewives
Dep. of Agriculture
Agri-info, finance,
Co-Op promotion
Yes (100%)
No (100%)
Expectation to project
Availability
Secondary level (8th Gr.)
17~26 yrs
Housewives (unemployed)
Words of mouth, TV
Housekeeping, weaving,
SME management 10

12. II. Project Activities (3)
Content Development
Outline
Two ICT Training tools have been developed:
Basic Internet and Computer Literacy Training (Local trainer, Philippines)
Customized Training for Livelihood Promotion (APWINC)
1) Basic Internet and Computer Literacy Training
Scope : Simple computer operations, Internet research, electronic mailing system,
social networking and Microsoft Word
Modules
MODULE I – Basic Computer Systems
MODULE II – Introduction to the Internet
MODULE III – Introduction to Electronic Mail ( )
MODULE IV – Understanding Folders
MODULE V – The Processes
MODULE VI – Introduction to Social Networking
MODULE VII – Other Activities in the Internet
MODULE VIII – The Desktop and the Online External Drive
MODULE IX – Introduction to Microsoft Word 11

13. II. Project Activities (3)
Content Development
2) Customized Training for Livelihood Promotion
Topic Areas and Modules
Modules
Subtopics
Online and
Social Networking
Types of social networking services (Facebook, , newsletter)
Internet forum (Palay Chikahan, OPAPA, posting questions)
Online security (Protecting the computer)
Marketing and Promotion
Basic business planning
Marketing for women-owned business/ sales
Improving products
How to use ICT to promote products (mobile, SNS, )
Principles of Economics
Basic economic concepts
Market /Goods
Supply & Demand
Cost & Price
Microfinance as a funding source
Problem-Solving and
Decision Making
Defining the problem /Gathering information
Developing alternatives /Weighing Alternatives
Selecting the Best alternative / Implementing the solution
Monitoring progress /Reviewing
Utilization of
Technical Training Resources
Web links to the Department of Agriculture
Hands-on experience 12

14. II. Project Activities (3)
Content Development
2) Customized Training for Livelihood Promotion (cont’d)
Methodology & Structure
Practice
Case
Concept
Introduction
Extension
Introduction of topic with aid of available audio-visual, graphic contents
Presentation of main concept in keyword format
Presentation of day-to-day cases to facilitate participants’ understanding of concept application, with aid of available multimedia contents
Application of concepts with custom-designed exercises reflecting the participants’ specific needs ; Information search on the web
Follow-up activities for further self-study by individual participants 13

15. Sample Page
Palay Chikahan
Palay Chikahan is an Internet Forum based in an international social networking site NING
You can join the Palay Chikahan Internet Forum and post questions regarding rice production
Also, you can build up your Profile to show your interests and expertise to other members 14

16. DA’s Homepage – Daily News Monitor
Sample Page
DA’s Homepage – Daily News Monitor
From ‘Daily News Monitor’, you can get what newspapers speak every day .
You can get other Filippino’s business story from ‘Success Story’.
Click the flowing table or ‘daily news archive’ to see whole list of the tips 15

17. Pinoy’s Site – Production Guides
Sample Page
Pinoy’s Site – Production Guides
From ‘Production Guides’, you can get some practical guides for farming various kinds of.
Click the Icon to see more in detail 16

18. Bato Leyte, Philippines
II. Project Activities (4)
Pilot Training
December 7-9, 14-18, 21-22, 2009
Community eCenter (CeC)
Bato Leyte, Philippines
March 1-5, 8-12, 2010
Community Information Center (CIC)
Punakha, Bhutan 17

19. II. Project Activities (4)
Pilot Training
Key facts
Bato, Philippines
Punakha, Bhutan
Duration
10 days (2 weeks, Mon-Fri)
December 2009
March 2010
Courses
A) Basic ICT Literacy + B) Customized Livelihood promotion
Trainees
(12 females, 8 males)
20 (females)
Grouping
2 groups (Morning/Afternoon session)
Language
English /English (Tran.)
Local language / English (Tran.)
Telecentre
Community e-Center
10 computers
(Internet/ wifi access)
Community Information Center
8 computes + 2 laptops
(Partial Internet access)
Local Input
Daily transportation
2-months CeC voucher*
2 laptop computers
Documentation staff
Other Facts
100% daily attendance
Boost of confidence
Combination of men & women
Fear of making mistakes
CIC run by an entrepreneur*
Lack of local contents
Weaving design community
2-months CeC voucher*
CIC run by an entrepreneur* 18

20. III. Evaluation (1) Training Contents
Keyboard/mouse practice for trainees with zero-computer literacy
Local examples to maximize content relevancy
Facilitators
Language matters
Local knowledge crucial to boost participants’ learning
Hands on Exercises
Learning by doing
Motivation to uptake and use ICT for livelihood
Follow-up Activities
Post-training exercise/ follow-up output
Involvement with local co-operative
(SNS page/ website for online product advertisement)
Role of telecentres 19

21. III. Lessons-learned (2)
Community Development + Business Incubation
One strategy that farmers engage in (to solve information need) is to ask other farmers either from their barangay or from a neighboring barangay who have attended a seminar regarding new information that they can use in their farms. Now the participants can share information they have via online community space.
At first, participants thought that there was a mismatch in their needs and the ICT information shared by the project team, but as shared by one participant, he eventually realized that the project can be a great help to them since they can make their own website to promote their own products and skills of every member of the
co-operative.
Weaving is the most popular business among Punakha women but competition is high as many are producing more or less the same products. Online weaving design community can help them find creative designs that can sell better at the local market. 20

22. III. Lessons-learned (3)
ICT Training for Livelihood
& Telecentre Sustainability
Use
ICT-supported
Business Incubation
Adoption
Entrepreneurship development
Extending the role of telecentres
ICT-enabled
Service
Capacity-
Building
Local online service
(e-Government, Co-op Website)
ICT Content
ICT literacy training course
ICT access
Facility, Internet connection 21

23. IV. Looking Ahead
Dissemination of the APWINC model in the APEC region
Incubate women’s e-business and empower women’s entrepreneurship + +
Academic Support
Tailored Tool
Financial Resource
To raise project efficiency by researching local needs
To develop applicable tools for women to meet community needs and activate local economy
To obtain resources from governments, international organizations and global enterprises 22

24. Breakthrough with Public-Private Partnership
Local Gov’t N E D
Complementing financial source
Strategic Execution of ODA
Enhancing the value of national brand
Int’l Org. N E D
Complementing hesitant contribution from governments
New agenda, new funding source
Research &HRD Hub
- Experience of Re.& Training for developing countries
- New int’l norm (UNGC) friendly activities
Private N E D
- Ensuring diplomatic channel to emerging markets
- Expanding local-friendly brand image abroad
- Lack of proper experiences and programs to do CSR 23

25. Thank You! Hanah Zoo Head, Division of Policy Development
Asia Pacific Women’s Information Network Center (APWINC)
Sookmyung Women’s University, Korea