The Digital Pulse: The Current and Future Applications of Information and Communication Technologies for Developmental Health Priorities

Chapter 2 - ICT for Development: A Review of Current Thinking

Section 1: The ICT4D Proponents



NGOs and the Internet in Nepal

Layton Montgomery

Summary

This brief article examines the role and history of NGOs in Nepal and the emergence of the Electronic Networking Project, an effort to improve the communications and linkages between the various NGOs and the communities that they serve. The article attempts to view the challenges for NGOs and ICTs in Nepal from both human and technological perspectives.

Key Points

Nepal has seen an exponential growth in the number of national NGOs operating within the country. Alongside that growth has been an expansion in the availability and usage of Internet and email services. The IDRC funded Electronic Networking Project is an attempt to bring the vast community of NGOs together in order to maximize efficiencies, information sharing and networking. The first Internet connections were established in 1993 but in the initial years it was mostly international organizations that utilized the new but expensive connectivity. Following the establishment of a telecommunications act and private market opportunities, Nepal saw a substantial growth in the usage of VSAT links that reduced costs substantially.

In 1997 the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) began the Electronic Networking Project (ENP) with the following objectives:

• To develop a network of “like-minded” researchers, administrators and practitioners from government, universities and NGOs.
• To share their available human, technical and information resources in socio-economic development sectors through the usage of the Internet.

This resulted in the development on the NepalNet website which provided details about organizations in the project, upcoming conferences, and a host of articles. This project eventually grew into the Nepal Internet Users Group from which the author's interviews concerning NGO perspectives about the Internet were drawn.

While most respondents were enthusiastic about the potential benefits to be gained from the usage of the Internet, many were at odds on the issue of how increasing access to information would affect the rural-urban divide within the country. Internet connectivity remains isolated to a few cities and excludes the illiterate rural areas from important national and international dialogues. Some respondents felt that this represented an important role for NGOs – to act as service providers in areas that would not receive attention from private interests. Connectivity is also important to Nepali NGO workers who are hesitant to take postings in remote areas that may inhibit their career advancement.

Some of the challenges identified in the study included the prohibitive cost of phone calls and the fact that nearly 88% of the population lives in rural areas with little or no connections, thus the most representative organizations are the least able to have their voice heard. Another subtle problem was that of properly integrating ICT usage into NGO operations without having to dedicate too much precious human resources to email and Internet duties. Finally, the author noted some features on the Nepali perspective on knowledge that effects how the Internet and information is utilized. Many NGOs in Nepal have poor reputations because they lack transparency, a practice that stems from the Nepali perspective that treats information as a valuable and guarded commodity. Information is generally provided on a need to know basis only and not freely disseminated, creating a form of power and control amongst administrators – one that breeds corruption. The author suggests that in order for ICTs and information to aid in the development of the country, changes in the organizational structure and culture of confidentiality are needed.

Source: Layton Montgomery, “NGOs and the Internet in Nepal” University of Wollongong, Australia.

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