Local Content Creation and ICTs for Development

This twelve page paper was written by three UNESCO affiliated authors, all of
whom have worked in the field of information and communication technology
(ICT) for poverty reduction. The authors argue
that while most ICT and computer application content is still produced in
developed western countries, locally produced content, written in local languages, is more meaningful and relevant to local
needs and interests - particularly those of women.



This paper describes two UNESCO programmes that have instituted community-driven
content in local ICT projects: Budikote Namma Dhwani community radio and the ICT centre
at Seelampur.




Budikote community radio. The Namma
Dhwani (Our Voice)
community radio serves a village area of
about 4000, and is managed by committee members selected from ten community self
help groups (SHGs). Programming ideas mostly originate in meetings of staff and
volunteers, with the SHGs involved in regular programme schedule reviews.
Further community input is obtained through questionnaires and letters received
from listeners.

Seelampur
ICT center. Local content development at this ICT centre began with a plan to record women's oral histories. From this start, and through the women's own
initiative, this programme grew into a much broader drive to develop
content aimed at increasing vocational skills through development of appropriate
local content. Women who first became involved
with recording oral traditions for the centre discussed among themselves how
content could be improved to serve their needs. As a result, new content
has been developed covering subjects from computer skills to tailoring,
embroidery, book binding and henna application. This programme integrates local content into its programming with the help of the UNESCO developed eNRICH
software application, which simplifies the process of local content development
and management.





The authors list several observations drawn from these programmes (summarised below):

• Developing and sustaining community participation in
  each project was less of a challenge than initially anticipated, primarily
  because the content was responsive to the needs of the community and main participating group.
• To build a community, the process of content creation should be complemented
  by attractive packaging of the information, appropriate training and content
  that fulfils community needs.
• Both initiatives brought women from the periphery
  of their community discourse into the mainstream, changing community traditions
  and dynamics, the impact of which will continue to show many years into the
  future.
• Building upon local traditions and knowledge has helped to increase the
  popularity of these interventions and improve the chances of sustainability.
• By using local knowledge and traditions the interventions have
  been able to work towards the development of the community through means that
  the people in the community, and particularly the women, can relate to as their 'own'.

Send an email to savithrisubramanian@yahoo.co.in
to obtain a copy of the full paper.