The Internet as a Development Factor

Internet as a development factor

Anja Møller Rasmussen, Master of Library and Information Science and head of the library at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has participated in an investigation into the use of internet at African university libraries.

In connection with a Danida project concerning university libraries' use of the Internet a large investigation into researchers' and librarians' expectations to the Internet was conducted.

The investigation, which was conducted in Ghana and South Africa, clearly indicated that the Internet, especially the e-mail functions, has a large potential to improve access to information and break down the isolation that the countries are placed in through lack of knowledge. Another aim of the investigation was to look into the possibilities of proving a direct connection between access to the Internet and the traditional methods of measuring a country's development process.

The conclusion of the investigation was that users see the Internet as an opportunity; as a chance to participate actively in a professional co-operation, as a chance of improving their job skills and as a way of contributing to the development of society through the supply of information and communications channels to which the Internet gives access. The advantages are: improved, faster and more reliable contact to individuals and organisations, and access to a wide range of information sources – something that used to be an almost unattainable luxury.

It is possible to communicate directly with colleagues and thereby become visible and part of a collegiate fellowship. Now African research can be made part of the international knowledge base. Documents can be distributed and received, something that is almost impossible through other forms of communication. Another result of the investigation showed how important the Internet has become in the co-operation between institutions and in distance teaching, especially at universities located in rural areas.

Unfortunately, the exchange of information is, at the moment, primarily concentrated from North to South. The African users find information and documents while the communication of information about African conditions, seen from Africa, mostly comes from foreign journalists or development workers.

Therefore, the African users should be taught to use the Internet as a cheap and effective medium for publication of local and regional information and learn to compare the contents critically to their own reality. They should see the Internet as a part of the African culture, economy and social reality instead of yet another form of Western oriented technology”.

Moreover Anja Møller Rasmussen thinks that the Internet is an essential tool for the development in the developing countries, even though, there are obstacles:

“According to the UNDP only 0.4 per cent of the African population has direct access to a phone and only 0.05 has access to the Internet. Since access to the Internet to a very high degree is dependent on the structure of telecommunication, the undeveloped telecommunications infrastructure is a very big and important obstacle when it comes to the diffusion of the Internet.

Nevertheless, the use of the Internet grows more rapidly in the developing countries than in any other part of the world. It is estimated that the use of the Internet will be multiplied by four from approx. 7.6 million users in 1998 to 25.6 million in 2001.

This will primarily be due to the appearance of cheaper and better satellite connections, mobile phones, improved radio communication and the establishment of small telecommunications centres.

If we do not want to see, once again, developing countries, especially Africa, fall behind, we need to ensure access to and training in this new medium. A medium which, to such a high extent, is changing our whole world and the way we live in it.

The Internet in itself does not create development. The things the Internet enables all of us to do create development”.

Watchful eyes

Chuck Lancaster, supervisor of the UNDP's development of the Internet, thinks that great prospects awaits for development in developing countries with help from the new information technology. He works with a programme that trains people in developing countries in using the Internet as a part of their countries' development processes. This applies to all essential issues such as health, education, good governance etc. 80 countries are involved in the programme, which has existed since 1992-1993.

In 1998, on the occasion of a meeting on media and new technology in developing countries at the Louisiana Museum, situated North of Copenhagen, Mr Lancaster concluded in his speech:

"Information technology provides new tools to the development planner of unprecedented power.

Each day we think we see the horizon only to learn of a new application. The degree to which out lives are impacted has only just been touched, and 98% of the population is not connected.

The risks of abuse are great. The imposition of western values without counterbalance is disturbing, and the ease with which one can purchase a sexual slave over the Internet is not to the credit of the information and communications revolution. We must be constantly alert to such abuses.

We must be vigilant that the already privileged and powerful do not use this technology to become more privileged and more powerful.

The true value of the Internet lies in how it can level the playing field, foster more open competition, and help to attain sustainable development. Policies that emphasise a participatory approach, open systems and transparency will go a long way to limit abuses.

With today's technology, with connectivity to almost all developing countries, and given the magnitude and urgency of the task to correct continued abuse of our planet, it is inexcusable that planning decisions be made without the participation of all persons or their representatives whowill be influenced by the results.

We should have inherent faith that the disenfranchised will make sensible choices that favour sustainable development providing they have access to information that permits make those choices.

Above document provided as background for The Drum Beat #57

DANIDA, the Danish International Development Agency, supports communication for development. There is currently a policy revision taking place. These articles and activities indicate pathways for future activities relatingto communication for development. Not all activities are supported by DANIDA.

Inge Estvad (journalist, est@image.dk), Finn Rasmussen (Communication Adviser, IBIS Ecuador, frasmussen@andinanet.net) and Thomas Tufte, Ph.D. (Professor, Roskilde University ttufte@ruc.dk) gathered the material that provides comprehensive insight into the policies and programmes selected.