Re: [GKD] Development Gateway

[Zbigniew Mikolajuk]

Dear Deirdre Williams and others;

Thank you for the response to my message concerning benefits of the
Gateway at the grassroots level. The example of an expert system to advice
on the use of pesticides on coffee plantations and
implementation/deployment problems illustrates the issue of using the
advanced technology and expertise in the field. There are many similar
expert/advisory systems. For example IWMI/IBSRAM (International Water
Management Institute) developed an advisory system on soil erosion. Most
of the systems I know about are not ready to be deployed in the field,
i.e. to be used by extension workers or farmers.

My point is that the Gateway Team or a subgroup of members of this list
could select a collection of advisory systems and discuss the best way to
bring the knowledge encoded in these systems to grassroots users. We need
to discuss and solve the following.

1) Assess if the availability of a software system will really help in the
field.

2) User interface - the user interface of many systems is just the system
developer user interface, i.e. the communication with the system is at the
developer cognitive level and language and not at the level of extension
worker / farmer everyday problem handling. Many systems will need
translation to users' native languages, voice and image communication and
sophisticated user-computer dialog managers.

3) Delivery/dissemination of advisory systems. Limited access to computers
at this time (I think the situation will change pretty soon) is a problem
in delivery of "digitized knowledge", but we need to think in advance on
creating repositories of procedural knowledge (e.g. in the form of expert
systems) and going beyond databases and document management.

As you mentioned in your message one solution is to use intermediaries -
extension workers. The delivery of an advisory system as an on-line
resource is technically very challenging and probably not feasible in many
regions. We may consider a dissemination system which will consists of a
database containing information about available "electronic advisers
(programs)" and human experts (who could be contacted by email or fax),
repository of programs that can be downloaded for stand-alone execution,
catalog of CD-ROMs and a help desk.

I believe that "electronically encoded knowledge" can play significant
role in solving development problems. The application of information
technology in education, primary health care, market and employment
information, natural resources management and governance will contribute
to poverty alleviation. The most important factor in introducing new
technologies and methods is the acceptance of intended users. We must
understand that the approach "It is good for you, take it" and "We know
better" will not work. The first step is to talk to people, demonstrate
the potential of new technologies and consider together how to apply our
collective knowledge and technical resources to solving concrete problems.
Therefore, the creation of a collection of advisory systems is the second
step after discussions and experimentation in the field.

Kind regards,
Zbig

=
Zbigniew Mikolajuk, PhD
Senior Program Specialist
IDRC, ICT for Development
Tel: 1-613-2366163 ext. 2577
Fax: 1-613-5677749
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
URL: www.idrc.ca; www.enrap.org





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Re: [GKD] Development Gateway

[John Afele]

Deirdre Williams' message regarding artificial intelligence and
expert systems is a reminder of the types of tools that are
important for problem solving, unlike passive aggregations
of white papers, technical briefs, pointers to other Web sites,
and who is who, etc.

Stephen Denning suggested (at a workshop on knowledge
for development in Bern recently) that we distinguish 'nurturing
knowledge communities' from 'knowledge management.'

The goals of our various programs would determine whether a
group is concerned about knowledge management (which is
structural) versus nurturing intelligent communities (which
is philosophical, cultural, value-oriented, with technology
as a facilitator). Nurturing knowledge communities is a
visionary thing - the community has to know where it
wants to go, when to get there and how to get there; then
see whether it has all the resources or which ones to borrow
and from whom.

The information society is now beyond Internet pages;
it is about interactive problem solving, not only among
the educated but illiterates as well.

For those who are trying to make some programs refine
their focus, my suggestion would be that we cannot expect
all programs to have the same vision. We see these programs
defending their positions, naturally. Therefore my suggestion
is that you find those who share your views and build an
alternate program to compete against the other. The development
industry also needs to compete internally. Knowledge sharing
does not imply uniform outputs. Let the ideas compete; let's
see the different outputs; let the impact markets decide. Maybe,
like in politics, we also have to be compassionate competitors?

If the development and donor communities deny the
developing world this virtue of free-market while forcing
these nations to compete in other areas we would not be
true to ourselves. But this requires that all programs
should compete for access to public funds.

The biggest challenge is for developing countries to find their
own pennies and build their own programs with those they
would have identified as genuine partners. Then others would
not be far away and determine what is good for them. Who
decides for the advanced economies? Who should decide for
the transitional and developing countries?





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[GKD] ICTs for Developing Countries: Course Report

[Barbara Fillip]

Hello all:

I've mentioned my course on Information and Communication Technologies
for Developing Countries on this list in the past.  The first online
session of the course ended on June 25th.   Some members of this list
were participants in the class.   I'm now starting to prepare for the
next session that will be offered in September and I've written up some
"notes to myself" as an informal assessment or review of what happened
in this past session of the course, what went well, what I will do
differently next time.  Anyone interested in the notes (it's a rather
long and unpolished document of 30 pages) is welcome to email me asking
for the document.

It was quite a learning experience and I look forward to the next
session.

Barbara Fillip, Ph.D.
Researcher/Consultant
NEW SITE http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2mjvc





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Re: [GKD] More information on AIDA Database

[Wambui Wagacha]

Dear Virginia Yee,

I am would like to draw your attention on work done by OECD's Development
Centre in Paris, on development activities.  A global database on On going
and Completed Projects, Development Institutes and Researchers was
developed by the organisation and I was involved in the African Regional
one when I was working for CODESRIA in Dakar, Senegal. Directories on the
same were published for Africa, Asia Europe and South America. What I do
not know is whether the data base continue to be updated either in Paris
or in the respective regions. What interests me is that the ideas are the
same "Who Is Doing What Where".

Wambui


On 4 July, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 >
 > I work at the Development Gateway, where I coordinate the AIDA
 > (Accessible Information on Development Activities) database. I am
 > responding to the query by Peter Burgess in which he welcomes the
 > database but asks how it is designed and how it will achieve its expected
 > goals.
 >
 > Many organizations have their own databases and web sites with information
 > about the development activities (including projects) that they fund,
 > implement, or manage. AIDA (http://www.developmentgateway.org/idml/ui)
 > adds value to these existing development activity databases by bringing
 > them together in one, easy-to-search platform.  This will reduce
 > transaction costs involved in finding reliable information about
 > development projects and activities in any given country. AIDA provides
 > descriptive information on who is doing what, where, and with what
 > results. This kind of information can be useful to a wide range of people,
 > including government officials, NGO policy advocates, consultant
 > companies, and donor agency managers -- who need to carry out diagnostic
 > studies, identify development needs, find operational partners, and
 > monitor project results. AIDA can also help to reduce duplication of
 > efforts on the ground, promote donor and government transparency and
 > greater collaboration between institutions.
 >
 >





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