Methodological principles of OneWorld ICT case studies
Since qualitative results were desired, the case study framework focuses on the use and impact of the particular ICT project or programme. Impact can be quite an ambitious term to work with, so OneWorld choose to break it down into the elements opportunity, empowerment and security. This terminology is generally used among the BDO partners and it is based on the "causes of poverty" as described in the
World Development Report 2000/2001.
Definitions:
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Promoting Opportunity: expanding economic opportunity for poor people by stimulating overall growth and by building up their assets and increasing the returns on these assets, through a combination of market and non-market actions.
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Facilitating Empowerment: making state institutions more accountable and responsive to poor people, strengthening the participation of poor people in political processes and local decisionmaking, and removing the social barriers that result from distinctions of gender, ethnicity, race and social status.
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Enhancing Security: reducing poor people's vulnerability to ill health, economic shocks, policy induced dislocations, natural disasters and violence, as well as helping them cope with adverse shocks when they occur.
Apart from impact, sustainability is looked at as well. In most of the cases sustainability is described in terms of finances and human resources. Replicability is sometimes addressed as well.
One of the conclusions of the partnership survey was that ICT had mainly increased the internal efficiency of the partners, rather than the external effectiveness. Therefore the case studies consciously try to include the external aspect, knowing that the two levels obviously influence each.
The reports follow roughly the patter of describing the organisation briefly, describing the ICT activities and finally drawing (modest) conclusions on impact and sustainability.
The "cases" are OneWorld partners and they were not selected for being success stories. Rather they are likely to throw up the positive and negative impact ICTs have had on the work of these organisations.
The case studies are mainly based on interviews with people working for the partner-organisation or involved in another way. Minimally three people are interviewed. OneWorld's evaluation manager as a principle always co-conducts the case study with a local consultant.
The first round of case studies was conducted in India and Sri Lanka in February 2003 in cooperation with Mr. Rahul Nainwal. The second round was in South Africa and Zambia in April 2003 in cooperation with Mr. Mwala K. Sheba. Latin American case studies are planned to take place in September or October 2003. The summaries of all case studies will be published on the Digital Opportunity Channel and the full reports will be linked to.
