Guiding Principles/Objectives

Programmes

NORAD recognises the challenges posed by ICT in development contexts and acknowledges the increasing digital gap between the rich and the poor parts of the world. In May 2000, a working group submitted a report entitled "Bridging the digital divide - challenges and opportunities for NORAD and its development partners". In the light of the report NORAD decided to integrate ICT into development co-operation in order to combat poverty more effectively.

Principles for NORAD's use of ICT for development:

1. ICT to be regarded as a tool for attaining development goals. ICT to be integrated wherever it is expedient and feasible.

2. ICT will not be regarded as a separate, new sector but as integral part of other sectors. The priority areas of development co-operation - social development, economic development, peace, democracy and human rights, environmental and natural resources management and women and gender equality - are also the main areas for the integration of ICT into development.

3. To use ICT successfully, the partner countries must recognise the benefits and possibilities of this technology as a tool for development in their plans and analyses.

As indicated ICT is to be integrated wherever it is expedient and feasible. In order to see whether this is the case, an assessment has to be carried out, based on an analysis of the situation. NORAD has designed some guidelines to conduct a sound assessment of the situation.

Working procedures include:

Procedures and responsibilities are described in general terms in NORAD's development co-operation manual, and will also apply to projects and programmes with ICT components. The ICT aspects are to be assessed along the above-mentioned guidelines by the embassy in connection with the assessment of a project or programme. Embassies should consider appointing one person with special responsibility for ICT-relevant projects. ICT should be an integral part of the discussions during annual meeting with partners. Wherever there is a national strategy for ICT in the country or region, this should be part of the ICT assessment. Efforts should be made to find out what other donors are doing in the field, in order to achieve co-ordination and co-operation.

The technical department of NORAD Oslo may (and should in this initial phase) be consulted during the ICT assessment. The technical department is responsible for contact with external institutions on the various aspects of ICT for development and will monitor projects both in Norway and internationally.

See the “Strategy papers and related documents” section for more details.

Areas of Application:

The following areas are regarded as the main areas for ICT integration:

1. Institutional development
2. Private-sector development
3. Basic social services
4. ICT infrastructure
5. Environment and natural resources
6. Co-operation with civil society
7. Women and gender equality
8. Knowledge and human resource development
9. Promotion of institutional co-operation between institutions in the South or between institutions in the North and South on different aspects of ICT as a tool for development

n/a

Participation in Multi-donor Programmes:

n/a

Mr. Daniel van Gilst, Adviser, Agriculture, Technical Department, Unit for Private Sector Development and Employment, dvg@norad.no