In practical terms

1
1. Needs and Priorities Prove that ICT works for
Development

• In practical terms?
• Demonstrate ICTs/applications addresses
  challenges of
• Poverty alleviation and good governance
• Make stakeholders wake up
• Entry point tele-centers

Tele-centers with different modes/focuses 1
Community/general focus awareness, needs
assessment community action/contribution 2
Specific application/business focus embed in
exiting programme (rural/urban trade linkage) 3
Service/local government focus government line
agency network
2
2. Challenges
Technical lower rural tel. penetration,
wireless very expensive, vendor problem, diff.
terrain diff. to deploy wi-fi Regulatory High
ISP license fee, lack of proper frequency
spectrum planning (Telecom policy needs
revision), VOIP yet to be legalized Content
Digitization in Nepali still a problem, Nepali
Unicode (struggling usage) Institutional
Extremely lengthy recruitment
processes Attitudinal/perceptual financial
sustainability a sticky issue, forming critical
mass of dedicated people Security
3
3. Any work in the three areas?
Tele-centers focuses 1 Community/general
focus 2 Specific application/business focus 3
Service/local government focus
Policy Development/Dialogue Access Content
Development/Knowledge Management
4
4. Lessons learned
Community Interaction Skeptics outnumber
believers Approach with caution, dont raise
expectation Community leaders should be
approached first for clarity on
issues Demonstrable services/put up the
connectivity Surprise demands from community
after agreement Choice of Technology
Technology vendors could be a source of
problem, put aside adequate some time for
dialogue/research Content Content collection
and digitization proved major hassle, put aside
more resource and institutional capacity
Resource Mobilization Community leaders (some
enthusiatic but most passive), make sure to
support resource mobilization plan
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5. Possible Future Directions
FOSS Nepali-UNICODE exist, but mixed feeling
Passing of ETDS Act will prompt voice on open
and Nepalized standard, opportunity to work out
possible assistance Wireless Connectivity
Replication of the wireless Connectivity with
private sector Participation
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Thank you