1. Session 2 “ICTs for Development” course
Foundations of ICT4D
Session 2
“ICTs for Development” course
Aim – to explain the foundations that need to be in place for ICT4D to work
Objectives – participants will be able to:
- Explain the ICT4D value chain model
- Categorise the technological and human infrastructure of ICT4D
- Identify key ICT4D stakeholders and policy components
- Critique measures of the digital divide

2. Intermediates / Deliverables
The ICT4D Value Chain
Precursors
-Data systems
-Legal
-Institutional
-Human
-Technological
-Leadership & Vision
-Drivers / Demand
Inputs
-Data
-Money
-Labour and Knowledge
-Technology
-Values and Motivations
-Political support
-Goals and Objectives
Intermediates / Deliverables
-Locations (e.g. telecentres)
-ICTs (e.g. PC, mobile, tablet)
-Software applications
Outputs
-New communication patterns
-New information and decisions
-New actions and transactions
Outcomes
-Financial and other quantitative benefits
-Qualitative benefits
-Disbenefits
Development Impacts
-Public goals (e.g. SDGs)
- Other impacts (intended and unintended)
Strategy
Implementation
Adoption
Use
Exogenous Factors
READINESS
UPTAKE
IMPACT
AVAILABILITY
Sustainability
Scalability
Enablers
Constraints
2.1. The ICT4D Value Chain
ICT processes inputs into outputs; if input-process-output adds value to development, it’s an ICT4D value chain
Theory of knowledge; and theory of change
- Explain Readiness – national level precursors; and initiative-specific inputs
- Explain Availability – hardware and software deliverables
- Explain Uptake – adoption, use but also need sustainability and scalability
- Explain Impact – micro-level outputs; wider costs/benefits as outcomes; development impact
Adapted from Heeks 2014b

3. Technological Foundations of ICT4D
Infrastructure
Hardware
Software
Data
Communication & Processing
ICT User
2.2. Technological Foundations of ICT4D
Review content of Section 2.2 e.g.
EXERCISE
Present latest ITU data and identify telecommunications and hardware trends Or
DISCUSSION
Scan content of Sections and then discuss relative priority importance in ICT4D of telecommunications vs. hardware vs. software

4. Appropriateness of Presentation
Data Quality: OCARA
Openness
Completeness
Data
Accuracy
Relevance
Data
Select example of data e.g. ITU statistics and discuss how open, complete, accurate, relevant, appropriately presented
Appropriateness of Presentation

5. Intermediated Consumer
Ladder of ICT4D Roles
Digital Non-User
Digital Consumer
Digital Producer
Delinked
Intermediated Consumer
Indirect
Passive Consumer
Active User
Creator
Enabler
Producer
Innovator
Category
Role A B C D
2.3. Human Foundations of ICT4D
Students can read Section 2.3.2, or overview concept of ladder of ICT4D-related roles:
Non-users: no direct connection to ICTs, but indirect non-users get some spin-off benefits
Digital consumers may be:
- Intermediated: someone else uses the ICT on their behalf – an “infomediary”
- Passive: just receiving data
- Active: interacting and transacting via ICTs
Digital producers may be:
- Creators: making digital content such as on social media
- Enablers: assisting others by being an infomediary or selling ICTs or providing ICT training
- Producers: making hardware or software
Innovators: developing new hardware or software
EXERCISE
Which ladder role do each of the slide portraits (A to D) represent?
>Active user [woman with phone]
>Enabler [ICT trainer]
>Creator (probably) [doctor at laptop]
>Producer [assembling PCs]
Image sources:

6. Global ICT4D Stakeholders
ITU
UNCTAD
UNESCO
UNDP
FAO
UNDESA
WHO
World Bank
Other UNGIS member agencies
UNGIS
WSIS Action Lines
2.4. Institutional Foundations of ICT4D
ICT4D Stakeholders
Key global ICT4D stakeholders:
- World Bank: funds development of ICT infrastructure in developing countries
- International Telecommunication Union: lead UN agency with responsibilities for digital technologies
Other UN agencies which participate in UNGIS the UN Group on the Information Society, esp. UNCTAD, UNDP, and UNESCO
Explain WSIS Summits (2003, 2005) and WSIS Action Lines and responsibilities

7. Government (Public sector)
ICT4D Stakeholders
Government (Public sector)
NGOs
Development Agencies
Private Sector
Partnerships
Networks
Hybrid Organisations
ICT4D
Hubs / Labs / Clusters
National-level ICT4D stakeholders:
- Traditional: government, development agencies, NGOs, private sector
- Emerging: hybrids, partnerships, networks, hubs

8. Domains of ICT4D Policy Technological Infrastructure
Legal & Institutional Infrastructure
Data Infrastructure
Financial Infrastructure
Human Capabilities Infrastructure
ICT Consumption
ICT Production
Digital Harm
ICT4D Infrastructure
ICT4D Production and Use
ICT4D Impact
ICT4D Policies
Rationale for policy:
address any shortcomings within the digital ecosystem which will act as constraints to effective ICT4D
address any disbenefits of ICT4D that emerge within the spheres of inclusion, sustainability and threats
Policy domains:
Infrastructure
Production/Consumption
Impact
EXERCISE
Read Box 2.6 Uganda policy example and identify key policy stakeholders, policies, and policy domains

9. Social Dimensions of the Digital Divide
What are the digital divides within a country: who are the groups who have more access to ICTs and who are the groups who have less access to ICTs?
Income
Gender
Education
Age
Ethnicity
Disability
Geography
2.6. Digital Inclusion and the “Digital Divide”
Digital Divides
Technological Divisions:
Different divides for different technologies (worse for computers, better for mobiles)
Historical pattern: old divides close (e.g. mobile); new divides open (e.g. broadband)
Social Divisions:
EXERCISE
What are the key divides between groups in a nation:
++Income, Gender, Education, Age, Ethnicity, Disability, Geography

10. Value Chain Dimensions of the Digital Divide
Availability
Accessibility
Adoption (Ownership)
Application
Value Chain Divisions:
Availability: e.g. mobile signal unavailable to c.500m people
Accessibility: e.g. cultural barriers prevent women from leaving the home to use public access point
Adoption: e.g. those who cannot afford to adopt an ICT
Application: e.g. some smartphone users only use voice/text; others use Internet transactions

11. Digital Divide vs Digital Continuum
Haves
Have Nots
Digital Divide Model
Haves Have Lesses Have Nots
Digital Continuum Model
Digital Provide
Simple black-and-white picture of haves vs. have nots; but most descriptions are shades of grey, so continuum not divide.
Also add in “digital provide”: e.g. mobile phones bring general market efficiencies including to non-users (e.g. fish prices drop for consumers in Kerala); e.g. non-users who benefit from ICTs via infomediaries

12. Intermediates / Deliverables
The ICT4D Value Chain
Precursors
-Data systems
-Legal
-Institutional
-Human
-Technological
-Leadership & Vision
-Drivers / Demand
Inputs
-Data
-Money
-Labour and Knowledge
-Technology
-Values and Motivations
-Political support
-Goals and Objectives
Intermediates / Deliverables
-Locations (e.g. telecentres)
-ICTs (e.g. PC, mobile, tablet)
-Software applications
Outputs
-New communication patterns
-New information and decisions
-New actions and transactions
Outcomes
-Financial and other quantitative benefits
-Qualitative benefits
-Disbenefits
Development Impacts
-Public goals (e.g. SDGs)
- Other impacts (intended and unintended)
Strategy
Implementation
Adoption
Use
Exogenous Factors
READINESS
UPTAKE
IMPACT
AVAILABILITY
Sustainability
Scalability
Enablers
Constraints
This session covered left-side of value chain and boxes. Next session covers processes (arrows) and right-side boxes.
Adapted from Heeks 2014b