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ICT Applications
Section > Rural ICT Services
Empowering the Rural Areas through CeCs
Background
As part of ADB’s South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)
program, the project is funded by the Japan Fund for Information and
Communication Technology (JFICT) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and
jointly executed by ADB and the Information and Communication Technology
Applications Section of the Information, Communication and Space Technology
Division (ICSTD) of UNESCAP.
With the total budget of USD 1.2 million, the project aims to establish at
least 20 Community e-Centers (CeCs) in four SASEC countries (Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India and Nepal), develop local content and applications and build
capacity of local administrations and community members.
Objectives
The overall objectives of the Project are to reduce poverty, empower
communities, and improve the quality of life in rural areas in the SASEC
countries through increased accessibility of information and communication
technology (ICT) and the associated e-services by establishing community
e-centers (CeCs).
Major outputs
- At least 20 CeCs whose financial sustainability is ensured after 3
years of operation;
- Increased community productivity and profitability by at least 10% by
applying various ICT applications to socioeconomic activities;
- Improved capacity of the local government and communities to manage
and use ICT by ensuring at least 50 per cent of the ICT-illiterate
population is able to use ICT;
- At least two ICT applications developed for farming and government
public service, and at least three types of local content such as
community information, employment information, and social service
information, based on the information needs and characteristics of
communities; and
- A regional portal developed to share good practices and lessons
learned among the participating countries.
Participating countries
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal
Status
Bhutan: The national consultant was recruited to undertake the
national baseline study which identified good practices and lessons learned
and made recommendations on sustainable CeC model. The
National Stakeholders Consultation Workshop was organized in Thimphu,
Bhutan, from 30 to 31 January 2007. Currently, the national implementing
agency, Department of Information Technology (DIT) of the Royal Government
of Bhutan, is finalizing the list of potential project communities.
After the selection is finalized, a community needs assessment survey
will be undertaken, after which local content and applications will be
developed and the CeC business model finalized.
Bangladesh: The national baseline study will be undertaken
together with UNDP Bangladesh. The study will be completed by June 2007 and
the National Stakeholders Consultation Workshop is planned in August 2007.
Nepal: The national consultant was recruited to undertake the
national baseline study. The study will be finalized by the end of April.
The
National Stakeholders Consultation Workshop was organized from 9-10 May
2007 in Kathmandu.
India: the project will focus on the State of Tamil Nadu with
special attention to disaster management. The national consultant will be
recruited to undertake the baseline study at the State level.
Project activities
- The National Baseline Study
- The National Stakeholders Consultation Workshop
- Community Needs Assessment Survey
- Development of local content and ICT Applications
- Selection of appropriate hardware and software and launching of the
CeCs
- Development of training modules and conducting training at the
selected communities
- Monitoring of CeC operations
- Organization of regional workshops
- Development of the SASEC CeC portal
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