Change the world with a click? - New course in ICT for development

How can new technology and ICT tools be used to change the world and strengthen democracy? What can Swedish organisations learn from Africa and other parts of the world? In a three-step course Swedish CSOs will have a chance to learn more about how ICT4D (ICT for development) can become an integrated part of their activities. The first course will be delivered in the autumn of 2012.

Spider has been contracted by Sida to develop and deliver an introductory course in ICT4D for Swedish development actors. The course "ICT for Development (ICT4D) in democracy, education and health" has a very practical orientation, drawing on field experiences of ICT4D practitioners and experts to identify good practices and suitable approaches for integration of ICT in education, health, and democracy. Speakers include Dorothy Okello, one of the founders of wougnet.org (Uganda) whose mission is to promote and support the use of ICT by women, Theophilus E. Mlaki, who, until his recent retirement, worked for 20 years as a Director of Information at the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), as well as Global Reporting CEO and Spider board member David Isaksson. The course is managed by Ulf Larsson at Spider (contact: ulf(at)spidercenter.org).

ICT for Development (ICT4D) in democracy, education and health

Time: 12-13 September and 24-25 October 2012
Place: Sida Partnership Forum, Härnösand
Application deadline: August 26, 2012
Contact person: Anneli Avenäs, Jens Karberg - Sida.
Course leader: Ulf Larsson, Spider, DSV, Stockholm University
Language: English
Costs: Sida covers course fees, including board and lodging. Each participant/organization covers the cost of transportation to and from Härnösand incl. visa.

Target group
The course is targeted at CSOs supported by Sida. As the number of participants is limited, we will give priority to organizations that are considering ICT in existing projects or future planning.

Objectives
This course aims to assist Swedish CSOs to understand how ICT4D can be an integrated part of their activities, and to practically plan and implement strategic interventions. The course is organized by the Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Regions (Spider), a resource center for ICT4D based at the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University.

Content
The course gives a general introduction to ICT4D, outlining what is specific about this emerging area of development intervention and how to find appropriate solutions that combine the benefits of ICT with actual development needs, along with concrete examples of what works and what doesn't work. The course has a very practical orientation, drawing on the field experiences of ICT4D practitioners and experts to identify good practices and suitable approaches for integration of ICT in education, health, and democracy, with a particular focus on the inclusion of women and girls. Participants are expected to use this opportunity to integrate ICT into their own action plans and to identify strategic areas for ICT integration and intervention. Participants will also be introduced to methods and resources that can guide and assist their future efforts in ICT4D, including security issues and aspects of Result Based Management (RBM) and development of ICT indicators . An e-learning platform will be available during the course, both as an example of new work methods and as a communication platform for mentoring between the two course parts in Härnösand.

Apply here: http://www.sida.se/Svenska/Samarbetsparter/Sida-Partnership_Forum/kurser-o-seminarier/dolda-undersidor/ICT4D_sept_2012/ICT4D-Application-Form/
Sida's information about the course: http://www.sida.se/ICT4D_sept_2012