ITCAN was based on the belief that CSOs or NGOs can effectively use ICTs to contribute to poverty alleviation and improve health status at the community level. By the end of the 2-year project, a total of 281 organisations from the region with an interest in developing their skills in using ICTs for their sexual and reproductive health work had joined the network. (In addition, both South and Southeast Asian and European CSOs with experience in using modern communication methods in their work, and who were prepared to assume a "Training of Trainer" or mentorship role, were invited to join the network as "ICT champions"). ITCAN sought to build their ICT capacities through a combination of online and face-to-face training activities that included distance learning courses, workshops, and written guides and manuals. Through ICTs, ITCAN worked to provide member organisations with a communication platform where they could share their experiences of using ICTs in their work, best practices, and lessons learned with regard to their newly-acquired skills.

The ITCAN website (no longer in operation as of December 2009) acted as a central hub for these partner organisations. There, they could read details about upcoming (ITCAN and non-ITCAN) events in the field of ICTs for development, access resource listings on reproductive health and ICT issues, read a monthly e-newsletter, and find out more about capacity building and information exchange activities, especially online trainings. All sections of the website were also made available as text only, to accommodate slower connections.

A major feature of the ITCAN Exchange was an electronic forum designed to enable the exchange of information related to using ICTs to address HIV/AIDS. The idea was to encourage dialogue on ICTs both on a North-South and a South-South basis to help stakeholders identify synergies, share ideas and solutions, and discuss successful strategies. Examples of discussion topics included the use of ICTs for teaching and learning and the cost-effectiveness of ICTs compared to "traditional" communication methods.

ITCAN also provided a series of online manuals and guides dedicated to capacity building. These materials and their associated training programme provided information on how to acquire basic and more advanced ICT skills and how these skills could be adopted to improve press and advocacy campaigns or to reach new beneficiaries.

ITCAN conducted 3 online trainings on "Basic and Advanced ICTs" and "ICT and the Media" as well as online discussions with its members. The project also hosted a Parallel Session on the use of ICTs during the Asia Pacific Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health (APCSRH) held in Bangkok in October 2003.

Technology, Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS.

Organisers say that despite having a considerably high level of "connectivity", South and Southeast Asia demonstrate a lack of skills and knowledge in the area of ICT application. Nevertheless, they say, the desire of organisations working in civil society to use these modern tools is great. The results of a rapid assessment study undertaken by ECPD showed that most organisations did have access to internet and email but were not in the position to exploit fully the potential of sharing information and gaining knowledge that these methods offered.