GKP Through the Looking Glass - An Interview with Maureen O'Neil

Maureen O’Neil President, IDRC

Question 1

AG: 'Empowerment through knowledge.' This is the mission of IDRC. How do you translate this mission in IDRC's work throughout the world? More specifically, to what extent we are successful in using knowledge in achieving MDGs?

MO: "Our mission statement is an interpretation of the IDRC Act, which was passed unanimously by Canadian Parliamentarians in 1970 to create the Centre. The Act gave us the mandate to support developing country researchers in their quest to solve their own pressing social, environmental and economic problems. I think the world of the 21st century is showing just how farsighted their actions were at the time. Indeed, the report delivered by the Millennium Project last year noted that science, technology and innovation underlie all of the MDGs." (more…)

"In translating our mission through the work we do, we begin with the problem to be solved – for example providing clean water to a low-income neighbourhood – and then examine what expertise would best contribute to a lasting solution. A typical IDRC project will bring together a variety of researchers and community groups. Beyond the engineer needed to design the infrastructure for a water project, the research team might also include a sociologist to work with local community groups, a public health expert to clearly analyze the health risks, even an economist to outline options for delivering water as cheaply and effectively as possible. By grounding the research in the local reality and involving the local community, we increase the likelihood the knowledge remains within the community and is acted upon. That is the essence of empowerment through knowledge. It is giving local researchers and communities the know-how to solve their own problems." "While the research we support is not designed to target specific MDGs, it frequently makes a contribution. For example, IDRC’s support for urban agriculture research over the past 10 years had as its goal to increase the food security and incomes of the urban poor while maintaining public health and a clean urban environment. This pioneering research has shown that urban farmers are a critical source of food and income for urban dwellers, especially the poor. Moreover, the evidence suggests that it complements rural agriculture and increases the efficiency of the national food supply. Researchers also outlined ways to limit possible negative health impacts arising from farming activities, such as raising livestock in urban areas. In cities such as Kampala, Uganda, and Rosario, Argentina local authorities have enacted legislation to promote urban food production."

Question 2

AG: IDRC is one of the very few donor agencies which puts ICT for development as organisationsal priority. However, very often we don’t see a centralised planning of mainstreaming ICTs in MDGs related developmental interventions. The reason cited for this is that aid given to mainstream development projects is too small to accommodate any ICT component in it. Please share your comments with us.

MO: "ICTs are not the answer for all development related interventions.  But not examining how they might enhance the reach or outcomes of those activities is, in my opinion, an opportunity missed. Let me give you an example. In my tenure at IDRC, I have seen a huge growth in networks – they have become an integral part of the way we do business. Networks provide opportunities to isolated researchers in the developing world. Data and information can be shared and knowledge transferred without the need to set foot outside one’s country of origin. None of this would be possible without ICTs. But this has not meant that every IDRC project supports a network. Rather as we develop projects, we will often look at whether or not a network makes sense – is it a good use of time and resources. I think this same sort of thinking can be applied to ICTs as components of development projects – do they make sense and are they a good use of time and resources."

"ICTs assist development in different ways, sometimes more cheaply than traditional methods.  In Uganda, for instance, IDRC is supporting the Uganda Health Information Network (UHIN), a collaborative project between Uganda Chartered HealthNet, SATELLIFE — a nonprofit organization focused on improving health in developing countries — Makerere University Medical School, and Connectivity Africa. Recognizing the wide use of mobile phones in Africa, the project is testing the idea that personal digital assistants (PDAs), which can connect effectively over mobile phone lines, could significantly improve the management of information and thus improve the effectiveness of the Ugandan government’s Health Management Information System. (http://pda.healthnet.org/)"

"Between October 2003 and August 2004, SATELLIFE and UCH deployed 200 Palm m130 handheld computers with accessories and ancillary equipment. Twenty Wide Ray Jacks (mobile caching server platforms) were installed at strategic locations in two pilot districts, Mbale and Rakai. The project has shown that PDAs are easily integrated into the daily work regimes of health workers and are powerful tools for data collection, providing rapid access to the information policymakers and health planners need to respond to and prevent disease outbreaks, practice sound resource management, and track public health issues. PDAs are also much more cost-effective than paper-based collection methods — use of the network costs about 24% less than traditional means of data collection and transmission."

"With the commitment of the Ministry of Health, the network plans to expand its services to other districts and provide a communications service to health-related organizations and workers. As a result, health workers in the rural areas of Uganda could now have an “always on” consultant and referral centre for information on drug interactions, disease control, and other medical questions."

"In India, rural knowledge centres in seven villages provide information on the price of agricultural inputs, market prices, government programs, and much more. The positive impact on villagers’ livelihoods has led to a movement to bring the benefits of ICTs to 600 000 villages by mid-2007."

Question 3

AG: You have been at the forefront of global developments in ICT4D arena over the years. You have been on the Board of the Markle Foundation’s Global Digital Opportunity Initiative, and Co-Chair to World Economic Forum’s Digital Divide Supervisory Committee. How do you see the change in ICT4D over the years? According to you, what are the possibilities and challenges the way development communities are embracing ICTs in their work? What is there in future for us?

MO: "With regard to the evolution of ICT4D, it is evident while walking down the streets of Kathmandu, Douala, La Paz or Phnom Penh, that a revolution has taken place: mobile phones have democratized access to telephony. An often cited statistic in the late nineties stated that there were more telephone lines in Manhattan than in all of Sub Saharan Africa (not including South Africa). Now, mobile phones permeate every strata of society and cover most rural areas. However, this begs the question: is the mobile phone an appropriate tool for reaping the benefits of the global knowledge society? In the developed world, much of the recent growth and development of knowledge based economies have come about because of the wide spread penetration of the Internet and computers. Even though recent IDRC projects have shown the benefits of mobile phones for improving health and livelihood activities, I'm still not convinced that mobile phones are a panacea for solving ICT4D challenges. Our research and experience tends to show that different ICT tools are appropriate for different situations and needs; there really isn't a "one size fits all" solution, as some experts seem to think."

"Unfortunately, even though the trend has been increasing connectivity and access in developing countries, many communities and marginalized groups still face significant challenges with regard to access. This is due partly to the fact that efforts to localise software and applications into local languages are still in their infancy - this is an issue IDRC is actively supporting through research and development. Moreover, useful ICT applications in the fields of health, education, environment or livelihoods simply aren't reaching all the people who need them. For example, an exciting project that IDRC supported in Senegal helped farmers to access agricultural market prices and demonstrated a subsequent improvement in their livelihoods. Despite that, it has only been replicated in a few countries. The same can be said of the Uganda Health Information Network project that I mentioned earlier. This is why much of IDRC's efforts will focus on ensuring successful activities are replicated and scaled up. Of course, replicating these activities isn't enough, we also need to make sure the requisite capacities exist to undertake and champion these activities and, therefore, we are also encouraging the development of greater "geek density" in developing countries!"   "As for predicting future trends, that is, as you know, quite difficult and sometimes perilous. Generally IDRC has remained successful in ICT4D because it has always relied upon, and listened to, its partners. They have told us that they are quite excited by the promise of such things as wireless networking, open source, "commons" approaches to knowledge generation and new and cheaper access devices.  These innovations should help to create inclusive, pro-poor, knowledge societies. We are also planning to help our partners share and discuss these ideas at the third rendition of the Global Knowledge conference in December 2007 in Malaysia, where the key themes will be "Emerging People, Emerging Technologies, Emerging Markets"."

* The “GKP Through the Looking Glass” Series is an initiative of the Global Knowledge Partnership Secretariat (GKPS). It is one of GKPS’ channels for active solicitation of insights into Knowledge for Development (K4D) and Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) with prominent individuals, and is presented in a number of formats, ranging from closed interviews, to live thematic discussions and panel debates.

To read the complete article, please visit the Global Knowledge Partnership website at
http://www.globalknowledge.org/gkps_portal/newsmaster.cfm?&menuid=2&
action=view&retrieveid=308.

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