Three Failure Factors: Why did the Nakaseke MCT project fail from an inclusiveness perspective?
Priority of Implementing Agency was not Inclusiveness
In initial development projects, where there is lack of experience, there was a large design and reality gap which in many cases failed to include the poor (Heeks 2008). Since the Nakaseke MCT project was an earlier form of telecentres, the same logic can be applied. In addition, the concept of inclusive growth was first introduced by Kakawani and Pernia (2000) when they defined pro-poor growth as “one that enables the poor to actively participate in and significantly benefit from economic activity” (p.3). The mere introduction of the concept was after the implementation of the Nakaseke MCT …show more content…
[…] the radio is perceived as being more relevant to the needs of the people than some of the other communication technologies at the telecentre (p.60).
The original priority of the project introduced in 1999 was not inclusiveness, and it did not show up even after a period of time. So, the project had to take a different and more inclusive perspective.
The Nakaseke MCT aimed to not only overcome the digital divide and but also to develop the impoverished community. If it promotes development at the cost of equity, it cannot be considered as a success case. The Nakaseke center has failed to narrow down this digital gap within the society.
The center itself failed to identify and include the marginal people. Almost 60 percent of the community population was functionally illiterate, which made the local population difficult to use the facilities such as computers and fax machines which requires reading and writing skills. According ITU (2001), the case created digital divide, because the local population considered the project as for the elite, and also it did not emphasize or include the illiterate population. In other words, it failed to properly identify the target groups and their needs, and target …show more content…
By doing so the paper highlights the importance of priorities set by the implementing agencies at the time, properly identifying the target groups and needs, and understanding the cultural situation of the community.
Furthermore, understanding the community is one of the most important aspects in creating a successful telecentre project. To achieve such, the aim of the project should be to observe the needs of the community by understanding the community culture, rather than merely explaining and diffusing the technology to the community. With this, the community will realize the importance of ICTs in terms of giving solution methods to overcoming their obstacles rather than accessing the information without knowing of how it benefits them. Therefore, policy makers or organizations must take this into account to understand the community carefully, so they can provide a comprehensive strategy that provides ICTs (telecentre) as a means to solve social problems by overcoming obstacles within the
Priority of Implementing Agency was not Inclusiveness
In initial development projects, where there is lack of experience, there was a large design and reality gap which in many cases failed to include the poor (Heeks 2008). Since the Nakaseke MCT project was an earlier form of telecentres, the same logic can be applied. In addition, the concept of inclusive growth was first introduced by Kakawani and Pernia (2000) when they defined pro-poor growth as “one that enables the poor to actively participate in and significantly benefit from economic activity” (p.3). The mere introduction of the concept was after the implementation of the Nakaseke MCT …show more content…
[…] the radio is perceived as being more relevant to the needs of the people than some of the other communication technologies at the telecentre (p.60).
The original priority of the project introduced in 1999 was not inclusiveness, and it did not show up even after a period of time. So, the project had to take a different and more inclusive perspective.
The Nakaseke MCT aimed to not only overcome the digital divide and but also to develop the impoverished community. If it promotes development at the cost of equity, it cannot be considered as a success case. The Nakaseke center has failed to narrow down this digital gap within the society.
The center itself failed to identify and include the marginal people. Almost 60 percent of the community population was functionally illiterate, which made the local population difficult to use the facilities such as computers and fax machines which requires reading and writing skills. According ITU (2001), the case created digital divide, because the local population considered the project as for the elite, and also it did not emphasize or include the illiterate population. In other words, it failed to properly identify the target groups and their needs, and target …show more content…
By doing so the paper highlights the importance of priorities set by the implementing agencies at the time, properly identifying the target groups and needs, and understanding the cultural situation of the community.
Furthermore, understanding the community is one of the most important aspects in creating a successful telecentre project. To achieve such, the aim of the project should be to observe the needs of the community by understanding the community culture, rather than merely explaining and diffusing the technology to the community. With this, the community will realize the importance of ICTs in terms of giving solution methods to overcoming their obstacles rather than accessing the information without knowing of how it benefits them. Therefore, policy makers or organizations must take this into account to understand the community carefully, so they can provide a comprehensive strategy that provides ICTs (telecentre) as a means to solve social problems by overcoming obstacles within the