An impact assessment framework to evaluate ICT-led development

An impact assessment framework to evaluate ICT-led development projects in Bangladesh Conducted by: Dr. Md. Mahfuz Ashraf SIRCA Project Investigator Supervised by: Dr. Roger W. Harris SIRCA Mentor SIRCA Research Conference Global Dialogue on ICT for Development Phuket, Thailand April 16, 2011

Research Context Existing Research Our Proposed Study Not paying sufficient attention to the human and social systems Attention to the human and social systems Research Gaps Our Focus Dealing with strategic & organization level Difficult to determine the contextual factors Dealing with micro level SIRCA Research Conference, Thailand 2011 Identify contextual themes 2

Conceptual Framework Impact Assessment l. F a itic l ree Ec on om ic F ac ilit ies Po P uniti e port Soci iv tect ro uri Sec e End User Perspective Sen’s Five Freedom al Op ty s ICT Intervention Using Conceptual Framework do ms Transparency Guarantees SIRCA Research Conference, Thailand 2011 3

Methodology Research Approach Study Sites This research follows an interpretive approach, using qualitative methodologies. Gonokendra (Multi-purpose community access center) in the village of Bhobanipur Grameenphone Community Information Center (GPCIC) in the village of Chapulia SIRCA Research Conference, Thailand 2011 4

Methodology (Contd. ) Participants Samples officials and general local populace (aware of the presence and activities of the ICT 4 D project). Data Collection Primary: Interview, Focus Group Discussion & Observation Secondary: Report & other materials The definition of development based on categories Data Analysis identified by the respondents The themes arising from our field data, which are supported by the interviewees’ comments and experiences. SIRCA Research Conference, Thailand 2011 5

Findings Discussion Political Freedom q Legal awareness q Expressing opinion Economic Facilities q Employment opportunities q Utilizing resources Social Opportunities q Knowledge-Awareness-Communication Skills q. Decision Making Capability Transparency Guarantees q Access to Public Information q. Transparent Governance Protective Security Sen’s Five Freedoms q Disseminating Security Information q Protecting Community ( Disaster Management) Themes from the field results SIRCA Research Conference, Thailand 2011 6

Some highlights from the fields Knowledge about basic cleanliness ‘My child is now used to washing his hands before eating, and after using the toilet’ ‘I don’t see any families now without sanitary latrines and soap or ash in front of their house in this village’ SIRCA Research Conference, Thailand 2011 7

Some highlights from the fields (Contd. ) Information Dissemination ‘I was a witness to the days when my father could not provide three meals a day for our large family; so I consulted early with my husband regarding the safe and secure family-planning methods that I had learned about through Gonokendra ’. SIRCA Research Conference, Thailand 2011 8

Future Directions Research Avenues • Further quantifying the relationship of ICT usages and the freedoms • Impact assessment across or between micro-mesomacro levels ICT 4 D Capacity Building for CDPR, meeting with the Honorable Vice-Chancellor, University of Dhak Evidence based development Policy • Turning a research institute e. g. CDPR into a ICT 4 D policy-focused think tank. • Establishing ICT 4 D‘networks’ in Bangladesh to work effectively with public-private stakeholders. ICT 4 D Dialogues with Public ( Prime Minister Office, Government of Bangladesh) NGOs and Civil society SIRCA Research Conference, Thailand 2011 9

Thanks to All… This work was carried out with the aid of a SIRCA grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada, and administrative support from the Singapore Internet Research Centre (Si. RC), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. SIRCA Research Conference, Thailand 2011 10