Problem overview:
Integrating stakeholders: Various institutions in the Pacific island countries starting from individuals to governments have come together under the Pacific Sustainable Development Network (SDNP) to work collaboratively in developing objectives, strategies, programmes and projects to manage information issues of a regional character in support of sustainable development.
Meeting information requirements: Information technology has made the world a smaller place through advancements in communication. The Pacific island countries are most in need for communication to minimize the distance they have with mainland.
Background in summary:
Information technology is bringing down distance barrier for PICs: One of the major constraints of "development" and "governance" in the Pacific Islands is the tyranny of distance. Moving anything, from goods and services to information to and from the scattered Pacific islands has always had a "distance tax". Modern information technology is at last bringing down this barrier.
Involvement of local institutions and individuals: The Pacific Sustainable Development Network (SDNP) was founded in 1992 to encourage exchange of information on sustainable development between government bodies, universities, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and individuals in 30 developing countries. The Secretariat for the Pacific Community/Suva was designated as the developing partner.
Collaboration at regional level and with international organizations: In September of 1997, the South Pacific Organisations Coordinating Committee (SPOCC) met in Rarotonga to establish a Working Group on Information Sector Issues.. The Forum Secretariat is working with the World Bank's Pacific Islands Knowledge Assessment exercise and the APEC Asia-Pacific Information Infrastructure process (Slatyer, Deputy Secretary General Forum Secretariat October 1997).
Strategies for information management: The Working Group will develop objectives, strategies, programmes and projects to manage information issues of a regional character in support of sustainable development of SPOCC member countries and territories. "Information Issues" are defined as "any issues that will support members' capacity to take advantage of information technology developments to enhance the well being of their people.
See document in full
Good practice rating:
(1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score) |
|
Sustainability
|
Efficiency
|
| 3 |
 Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other. |
2 |
Cost efficient. |
| 2 |
Sustainable over time (not one-off) |
Process |
| Adaptability |
2 |
Participation of the community |
| 3 |
Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?) |
2 |
Participation of resource owners/users |
| 2 |
Socio-cultural adaptability. |
2 |
Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private) |
| 2 |
Level of development adaptability. |
2 |
Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments. |
| 3 |
Style of government adaptability. |
2 |
Ability to attract political interest/support |
| 3 |
Degree of decentralization adaptability. |
2 |
Procedures for feedback and review. |
Comments on this example:
A network of low orbit satellites are already being launched with the express objective of facilitating world wide communication. One company (backed by Bill Gates of Microsoft) expects to have 840 low orbit satellites for Internet connectivity anywhere in the world at low cost. Within a decade this satellite network will make it possible for anyone to go on line from any place on earth at the same basic cost, using a relatively inexpensive (even hand-held) communication modem.
|
Sustainability of the project:
|
|
Adaptability of the project to other situations:
|
Degree of decentralization adaptability: At the local or community level, the integration of sophisticated information technology or communication systems for sustainable development networking are still rather problematic. One reason is the cost of making these equipments available for authorities in far reached areas has made the idea financial unattainable. Another reason is the reluctance of local authorities to use such high-tech equipments. Many people have still never been exposed to such technology and are still afraid of using it. Fortunately, the second problem could be easily solved through proper training.
| Process of decision making and implementation: |
Integrating stakeholders: Its is probably the best solution for Pacific island countries to come together and work cooperatively because they all have similar geographical, socio-cultural, economic, natural resources characteristics. Also, since each country is considered rather small, they might be lacking in certain areas such as financial or human resources to do the job, but if they come together, they should be able to assist each other and fill in what could be missing if they were carrying a task on their own.
Meeting information requirements: Internet and Email may serve to ease the existing communications problem between countries and regional organisations, between countries and countries, and between regional organisations. Countries are not obliged to tell regional organisations about research completed by themselves or outside workers, nor pass along statistical information on resource use. But the ease of communication via email greatly assists horizontal information exchange over any distance. Almost all regional organisations and many of the aid organisations and government ministries have internet connectivity of some kind.
|
|
