Information and Communication Technology for Development Unit (ICT4D)
| Coverage |
Sitakund, Chittagong Division |
| Duration |
From 2000 |
Situation
There is now growing evidence that the role of information, community and technology (ICT) is integral to enhancing development of the rural poor and marginalized people. In spite of this enabling potential and role, ICT is not yet a mainstream method in assisting developing countries. ICT has the ability to address traditional development problems with innovative solutions and approaches that are both effective and more easily scalable and replicable.
In Bangladesh , YPSA has been a pioneer and a leader in this area with ICT activities since the early days. Activities range from the ‘Radio Listeners Club', ‘Amateur Radio', ‘Citizen Band Radio' or ‘Virtual Marketplace' to the first ‘Community Multimedia Centre' and the first ‘Digital Accessible Information System' initiative of Bangladesh .
The formation of this unit is a result of YPSA's realization and commitment to mainstream ICT as a means towards development in Bangladesh . The unit also enables coordination among all the ongoing ICT activities and projects.
Initiative
The goal of the unit is to “promote the use of information, communication and technology as a means of development as well as a human right, and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper through effective and relevant use of ICTs”. Following is a breakdown of the units activities and projects:
Outcomes
For general access to ICT the unit has managed to establish a formal network and working relationship with schools and collages of Sitakund municipality. It also co-organized a workshop titled “Building Telecentre Family in Bangladesh : A workshop for the Social Entrepreneurs”. In addition, it melded the rural and urban together by organizing a film Camp with seven rural and seven urban youths and adolescents for the first time in the Chittagong region.
Documents that the unit has produced for disadvantaged villages include a translation and printing of a handbook titled “Community Multimedia Centre: How to get started and keep going”. It is a guidebook in the Bengali language concerning the development of a community multimedia centre.
To progress in their work with poor people, the ICT4D unit plans to set up another Community Multimedia Centre at a Pahartali slum settlement under the Chittagong municipality area, and To set up a national Free and Open-Source software and content library. For the general popoulation it would like to develop a series of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to raise awareness and conduct training on ICT4D issues. Finally, the unit plans to develop and extend research and networking partnerships with other national and international similar minded organizations.
|
