Telecentres and Poor Communities in South Africa: What have we learnt?

Transcription

1 Telecentres and Poor Communities in South Africa: What have we learnt?

2 Einar Braathen, Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR) Julian May, School of Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal Heidi Attwood, School of Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal

3 Community-based Learning, ICTs and Quality-of-life Background to CLIQ Research Question: whether needs-based computer training and use improves quality of life for poorer people Participatory Action Research 4 case studies

4 Location of Study Sites empumalanga (case 2: rural) enyakatho (1) (case 1: urban) School of Development Studies (UKZN) eningizimu (case 3: peri-urban) entshonalanga (case 4: rural) Republic of South Africa

5 How do we know about functionality of telecentres? Key: Sources of data Findings and conclusions Experience with USAASA Telecentre functionality and policy Research Plan Implementation Experience with telecentres Detailed recommendations regarding TC functionality Methodological reflections on action and participation Experience with participants Impact of CLIQ on participants : ICT and process C L I Q B O O K

6 South African ICT Policy Background 1994: Universal Affordable Access (RDP) 1996: Tools in the Telecommunications Act lm USO s USAF i i ICASA USAASA i telecentres eningizimu

7 Functionality of telecentres TC functionality we define as having operational computers; a working internet connection; staff; a management structure; and users. Factors affecting enyakatho empumalanga eningizimu entshonalanga (case 1) (case 2) (case 3) (case 4) functionality Technology & equipment Initiation & origin Governance & org. Housing Local power relationships Driving force & managers Facilitators motivation, skills and availability Central government support Purpose & model User demand & social norms Functionality Functional SemiSemiNon-functional Classification functional functional

8 Initiation and origin entshonalanga Top-down, bottom-up or somewhere in between?

9 Governance and organisation housing Good governance Community support for organisation emp langa

10 Driving force and managers Skills and attributes vision motivation managerial and administrative business technical political development and policy

11 Facilitators The community appreciate that you use local people. But this often means that they lack skills, so you train them. But you don t have funds to pay them good salaries, so once they have acquired the skills, they move on to better jobs. enyakatho payment decision making skills

12 Telecentre purpose and model The cost for a Computer Literacy course is R20 an hour... When people don t pay on time we charge them 10% extra, this often encourages them to pay on time. eningizimu It allows children and people with crazy ideas to come even if they can t pay enyakatho

13 Local power relationships

14 Technology & Equipment Maintenance Service providers Connectivity Basic technical knowledge Power Ownership Insurance Viruses

15 Government support enyakatho The TC manager did not rely on USAASA for anything because you ll be waiting forever. enyakatho

16 User demand and social norms CLIQ Users: Unreliable / slow internet Long distances Inconsistent opening times Insecure income Discriminatory social norms Community: Inability to pay Lack of awareness Lack of skill entshonalanga

17 Overview of Functionality Factors affecting functionality Technology & equipment Initiation & origin Governance & org. Housing Local power relationships Driving force & managers Facilitator motivation, skills & availability Central government support Purpose & model User demand & social norms Functionality Classification enyakatho (case 1) empumalanga (case 2) eningizimu (case 3) entshonalanga (case 4) Functional Semifunctional Semifunctional Non-functional

18 So what s New? Factors affecting functionality Peter Benjamin (2001) Technology & equipment Initiation & origin No maintenance plan; difficult environment for computers; no replacement budget Top down does not work Governance & org. Housing Good management is needed Local power relationships Community conflict over ownership Driving force & managers Local champion is critical to success Facilitators motivation, skills and availability Central government support Payment of facilitators is critical; staff must) develop needs-based services Govt. (& other) linkages for support is important Purpose & model User demand & social norms Local demand & accessibility are key to success

19 Recommendations 1. Clarify: Should access to ICT be considered as a basic need? 2. Develop alternative models for ICT delivery 3. Build up the demand for ICTs 4. Create and sustain a public participatory monitoring and evaluation system

20 CLIQ s next paper Impact of computer Impact of CLIQ s training and use participatory action research Impact of involvement in on participants: the research process Gender and age dimensions Still need to confirm basis for calling for telecentre type facilities as public service.

21 The End CLIQ: 2 years of fieldwork Fieldwork.Basithile Dlamini, Fezile Mhlongo, Khaya Ngcobo, Khetha Mabaso, Makhosi Mathaba, Mamazi Mkhize, Mphile Msomi, Mpume Mabhida, Phindi Xulu, Sibongile Buthelezi, S bosh Maimane, Sifiso Biyela, Savego Mavuso, Sthembile Chonco, Thoko Ndarana, Xolani Ntsalazi, Zama Chonco and Zweni Sibiya. Research.Inger Harber, Jenny Schaanning, Elise Bjaastad, Einar Braathen, Julian May Admin.Shivani Durgiah, Kanagie Naidoo, Mary Smith.