Technology and Global Development
15-502
Instructors:
M. Bernardine Dias and Yonina Cooper
TA: Aysha Siddique
Spring 2009
Lecture 10
Sustainability
Outline
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Logistics
Videos
Monitoring and evaluation II
Reading
Sustainability
Your assignments for next week
Media assignment presentations
FCEs
Logistics
• Poster/demo opportunity on
February 23rd (4-6p.m.) to
present to the visiting trustees
• Campaign assignment
feedback/questions?
• Any other questions/comments?
Videos
Robot Spy-planes Get New Role as
Medical Couriers
• How does this use of technology fit with your idea of ICTD?
Cell Phones Battle Poverty
• How are cell phones battling poverty?
• How has the cell phone become a bank?
• How do you envision the cell phone aiding the poor?
Technology Boosts Income, Reduces Poverty
• How does technology boost income?
• How does it reduce poverty?
• Is the video an accurate assessment of technology's impact on
developing communities and poverty?
Monitoring & Evaluation II
Types and Models
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Many types of evaluations – but 2 main categories:
– Formative (process evaluation)
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Summative (outcome or impact evaluation)
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Examines what a project has actually accomplished in terms of its goals
Popular evaluation methods
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Pre-test Post-test model
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Measures the situation before the project starts and repeat the same
measures after the project is completed. The differences or changes are
attributed to the project
Comparison Group model
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Examines the development of the project and may lead to changes in the
way the project is structured and carried out
Compares project results on two comparable groups at the same period of
time, where one group represents beneficiaries of the project and the
other represents a group that has not benefited from the project. The
difference between the two groups are attributed to the project
Key Evaluation Indicators are: Effectiveness, Efficiency,
Relevance, Impact, and Sustainability
http://www.passia.org/seminars/2002/monitoring.htm
Planning a Monitoring System
1.
Decide what should be monitored
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The careful selection of monitoring indicators organizes and
focuses the data collection process
Decide how to gather information
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Select methods to track indicators and report on progress
(observation, interviews, stakeholder meetings, routine reporting,
field visits, etc.)
Decide who will gather information and when/how often
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Project staff at various levels will do most data collection, analysis
and reporting. Staff should agree on what the monitoring report
should include.
Decide on feedback process
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Progress reports should be reviewed by project staff and major
stakeholders. Feedback should be collected by project managers
on a regular basis.
Allocate resources for monitoring plan
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Needed funds and staff time should be allocated to ensure
effective implementation
http://www.passia.org/seminars/2002/monitoring.htm
Planning an Evaluation
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What are the purposes of the evaluation?
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Identify a manageable number of evaluation purposes and prioritize
them. Ask who needs what type of information and for what reason.
What evaluation model is the most appropriate for the project?
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The evaluation model that a specific project would utilize should be
selected during the project design phase.
What is the timing of evaluation within the project cycle?
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Evaluation timing is determined by the project plan, the identification of
significant problems during monitoring, donors’ request, etc.
What is the scope and focus of the evaluation?
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Identify the geographic area, type of activity and time period that the
evaluation should cover to clarify the types of questions to be asked.
What methods of gathering data will be used?
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Existing data should be identified and assessed. Note that extensive data
gathering is time-consuming, expensive, and can result in a lot of
unnecessary information.
What resources are needed for the evaluation?
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Sufficient human, financial and logistic resources should be allocated.
http://www.passia.org/seminars/2002/monitoring.htm
Analysis and Dissemination
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Data management is very important and needs to be planned
so that effective analysis and dissemination can follow
Both quantitative and qualitative data can be useful/required
Numerical and statistical methods are often used to analyze
quantitative data
It is important to find effective ways to combine the
quantitative and qualitative data analysis to produce overall
results and recommendations
Effectively disseminating evaluations (through presentations
and reports) is important for many reasons
Suggested content for evaluation report:
http://www.passia.org/seminars/2002/ME/Chapter6.htm
http://www.passia.org/seminars/2002/monitoring.htm
Reading
Integrating Social Development and
Financial Sustainability
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What are the dilemmas and tradeoffs facing ICT projects at the
'macro level' (state and political parties) and 'micro level'
(entrepreneurs and potential consumers)?
How did the socially-driven entrepreneurs view the government
role in the kiosks? How did the business-driven entrepreneurs
view their tele-centers? How does the balance driven
entrepreneur balance social development with business viability?
How did the consumers generally view the Akshaya project?
Sustainability
Sustainability in ICTD
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Sustainability in simple terms is a measure of the continuation
of the project after external support has been concluded.
Many development initiatives fail once the implementation
phase is over because neither the target group nor responsible
organizations have the means, capacity or motivation to
provide the resources needed for the activities to continue.
There are a number of factors that can be used to ensure that
project interventions are likely to become self-sustaining and
continue after the termination of external funding, including:
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Financial (future expenses, especially recurrent costs)
Operational (administrative capacity, technical capacity, institutional
motivation, ownership of the project, etc.)
Social (community interest, local capacity, political will, etc.)
Environmental
Technical
http://www.passia.org/seminars/2002/monitoring.htm
12 Habits
of Highly Effective ICT-Enabled Development Initiatives
from bridges.org
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Start by doing some homework. Look at what has worked and what
has not worked, study good practices in the area, and build on what
you have learned.
Conduct a thorough needs assessment of the community to be served
so you can plan to do what is actually required.
Make it local: ensure local ownership, get local buy-in, work with a
local champion, and be context specific.
Engage a local problem-solver with some degree of responsibility, and
involve them sufficiently so they can identify and address problems as
they arise.
Form sound partnerships and collaborations, and be good partners and
good collaborators.
Set concrete goals and take small achievable steps. Be realistic about
outputs and timelines.
http://www.bridges.org/12_habits
12 Habits
of Highly Effective ICT-Enabled Development Initiatives
from bridges.org
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Found your initiative on technology-neutral concepts so it can be adapted
as needed to accommodate technology change over time.
Involve groups that are traditionally excluded on the basis of age, gender,
race or religion.
Identify and understand the external challenges you face, and take
practical steps to address them.
Monitor and critically evaluate your efforts with effective tools, report
back to your clients and supporters, and adapt your approach as needed.
Make your initiative sustainable over the long term -- either by bringing in
sufficient income to be self-sustaining, or by delivering on a social mission
so effectively that it is worthy of continued donor funding.
Widely disseminate information on what you are doing and what you have
learned so others can avoid your mistakes and build on your efforts.
http://www.bridges.org/12_habits
Other References
• 15502 lecture slides from 2006 and 2007 –
jointly prepared by Rahul Tongia, Joe
Mertz, Jay Aronson, and Bernardine Dias
• Most images are from TechBridgeWorld
(www.techbridgeworld.org)
What Next?
• Economics and Fortune at the “Bottom” or Base
of the Pyramid
• Assignments:
– Due Tuesday
• View http://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_unplugged.html
– Due Thursday
• View
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/paul_collier_shares_4_ways_to_
help_the_bottom_billion.html
– Preparation questions on all reading and viewing
assignments are available on the course website in the
“assignments” section.
• Special note: first do the reading/viewing and then look at
the questions and come prepared to discuss them in class.
Media Assignment