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IC Net Limited
Information and Communication Technology
Information and communication technology is essential for social and economic development as it helps people access knowledge and connect with one another. However, developing countries tend to have significantly less availability of telephones, computers, Internet access and related services than developed countries. We are helping to close this gap, i.e. the so-called digital divide, by assisting projects to set up hubs of information technology in developing countries.
Prominent Projects
Pre-Appraisal of the Preparation of GSO Modernization under “ICT Development in Vietnam”
| Project Duration | ： May -- August 2003 |
|---|---|
| Client | ： World Bank |
| Country | ： Vietnam |
“ICT Development in Vietnam”, a World Bank (WB) project, was under preparation with three potential areas for activities: (1) ICT leadership, policy and regulations; (2) E-applications; and (3) rural ICT.
The modernization of the General Statistics Office (GSO) is a sub-component of E-applications. Objectives of this sub-component were to: (1) support the implementation of the strategic plan for modernization of GSO; (2) improve the quality, transparency and timeliness of the growth- and poverty-related data and information to fully meet the demands of government agencies, research institutions as well as other data users as the basis for policy planning and decision making; (3) modernize the system so that it would be one of the most advanced in the region; and (4) adhere to the international standards.
The objective of this consultancy was to support the WB project team in working with GSO, the project implementing agency (PIU) of this sub-component, to review, assess and comment on all necessary assessments, terms of reference, and implementation plans.
The IC Net consultant interviewed many stakeholders including local statistical offices, and placed great importance on the ties with GSO. The consultant showed the study framework to GSO in the beginning so that it would understand what the study was all about. As a result, GSO cooperated fully with the study.
Database Project for Poverty Alleviation by the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD)
| Project Duration | ： January 2005 - July 2006 |  |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Client | ： AICAD-JICA | ||
| Country | ： Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda |
Launched in 2002 and funded by the Governments of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Japan, the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD) is an international organization aiming to alleviate poverty in Africa. AICAD is currently implementing the Phase II project, scheduled to be completed by mid-2007.
Meeting on a databaseAs an Information, Network and Documentation (IN&D) advisor, IC Net is involved in AICAD’s ongoing “Project to Build a Database for Poverty Alleviation”. Based on the Information Architecture concept, the IN&D team has developed contents such as i) identification of beneficiaries, ii) understanding the needs of beneficiaries, and iii) search for and selection of sources of information on the needs, then proceeded to database system development. The project has chosen open-source software as a development tool to minimize costs and ensure ownership.
E-Learning Project Planning at the GDLN Center in the University of Jordan
| Project Duration | ： August - September 2003 |
|---|---|
| Client | ： Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) |
| Country | ： Jordan |
JICA and the World Bank had established the Global Development Learning Network Center (GDLNC) of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a distance education center, in the premises of the University of Jordan. Until recently, GDLNC had been used as a main facility for seminars and training programs by the World Bank and other organizations. However, given GDLNC’s potential for developing and delivering contents, the University of Jordan planned to utilize it as a hub for e-learning and distance education for the country and surrounding region. With abundant resources as the best university in Jordan, it planned not only to receive contents from the World Bank but also explored the possibilities of making its resources available in other regions of the country and strengthening cooperation in research with academic institutions in countries and regions with close ties with Jordan such as the Palestinian territories and Iraq.
As a country eager to develop itself as a knowledge-based society through providing opportunities for quality education to all citizens including those in rural areas, Jordan gives high priority to enhancement of higher and lifelong education nationwide. However, the University of Jordan did not have staff with experience in e-learning and distance education. It thus requested JICA for a consultant with expertise in these fields and capable of guiding and supporting the project. Following the short-term assignment on technical training for contents development in FY2001, IC Net again dispatched a consultant to support planning and management of the University’s e-learning project in FY2003. In this project, IC Net provided technical guidance to GDLNC for detailed project planning to enhance GDLNC’s capacity as a base for e-learning and distance education as well as digitalization of the network and the contents.