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ICT Applications
Section > Knowledge Management
> Project Knowledge Networks through ICT Access Points for
Disadvantaged Communities
Most people in disadvantaged communities and rural areas have low levels of
income, health, education, and general well-being owing to poor access to
universal services and markets. This is basically caused by poor
infrastructure provision such as energy, transport and communication network
and deficient system for financial operations. The ultimate objective of
development in these communities is the improvement of the quality of life
of the people by removing the impediments to their socio-economic
development. In this regard, ICT can be an effective and innovative
infrastructure to enable such communities to reach markets and public
services.
Funding agencies have shown continuing interest in initiating ICT projects
for disadvantaged groups of people including women and rural and remotely
located communities. Community ICT access points have been built in
different localities around the world, under such different labels as
Community e-Centres (CeC), telecentres and multi-purpose community centres.
While some centres were not sustainable or have not contributed to the
development of the communities, others have succeeded in improving and, in
some cases, revolutionizing the communities by creating an enabling
environment and new opportunities for socio-economic development. They have
had a positive impact in creating local micro-enterprises, improving access
to markets for local produce, and developing human capacity. Such community
ICT access points are seen as an effective tool in realizing many
socio-economic development goals.
In order to act as an effective development tool and to maximize the limited
resources, ICT access points, private or public, need to share information,
experience and products (e.g. training modules, content) through connecting
them by knowledge networks. They need to be transformed into service and
community development hubs, as well as centres for exchanging business
information providing sustainable sources of revenue, thus extending the
model beyond the original model that only focuses on access to ICT.
The United Nations, involving its five Regional Commissions, is executing a
project aiming to empower poor and disadvantaged communities through the
transformation of existing ICT access points in selected countries into
knowledge hubs of global knowledge networks. The project is expected to
increase engagement of target beneficiaries in disadvantaged communities in
these knowledge networks.
The activities to be carried out under the project are:
- A review and assessment of existing ICT access points;
- Setting a global framework and detailed implementation plan;
- Implementation of global/regional networks;
- Launching knowledge networks amongst stakeholders;
- Transformation of access points into knowledge hubs;
- Activating knowledge hubs and engaging beneficiaries; and
- Project evaluation and feedback.
ESCAP have initiated the Regional knowledge network of ICT access points
in the Asia-Pacific region
Project Activities
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