Contribution of community informatics to development: A case study of Kaliro District

Abstract

This study was conducted in Kaliro district and sought to examine the contribution of existing community informatics to the development of Kaliro district and to suggest measures for enhancing their contribution to development. The objectives of the study were to: identify the different types or forms of CI in Kaliro district; examine the contribution of CI to development; establish the challenges faced by CI in Kaliro district; and propose measures for enhancing the contribution of CI to development in Kaliro district. The study used a participative case study design and mixed-methods research approach to solicit responses from 37 Key informants (district RDC and 36 district workers) selected purposively and 201 randomly selected CI users through interview, survey and observation methods. The study identified the different forms of CI in the; education sector, health sector, DLG administration, and general community of the district. ICT laboratories, the Internet, ICT-enabled teaching and learning, biometric technologies, and websites were cited as major CI in the education sector whereas, Health Information Systems (HIS), Health ICT infrastructure, Internet, and Biometric technologies were the major CI present in the health sector. At the different levels of DLG administration, major CI were; RDC ICT infrastructure, Internet, DLG ICT infrastructure, district web portal, and information systems. In the general community, the district had; internet cafes, multimedia libraries, telecom network service centres, secretarial service centres, E-financial service centres, ICT training centres, Wi-Fi hotspots, and computer/phone service centres. The CI had made tremendous contributions to the development of the district across the social, economic, cultural, and political dimensions. Towards social development, the CI had promoted social connection and networking, ensured quick information flow, and fostered knowledge sharing. Towards economic development, they had promoted trade and business, brought about business and economic awareness, efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery, reduction in operational costs, created jobs, generated income, and fostered new CI developments for businesses. Towards cultural development, they had exported culture, promoted cultural awareness, tourism in the area, and reinforced cultural freedom among the people of Kaliro district. In terms of political development, they had promoted government programs, human rights, provided government information, enabled civic education, eased follow-up on political developments, and fostered political stability in the district. The study further found out that the CI faced several issues but majorly, internet and network inhibitors; low access and use traffic; financial issues; illiteracy in technology; issues related to information quality; electricity issues; and irregular system breakdowns. In an attempt to solve the many challenges experienced at various CI, the study established several measures to enhance the contribution of CI to development in Kaliro district. Recommendations included, among others, government intervention, mass installation of CI in rural areas, community sensitisation, subsidising costs for user access and use, telecommunications network interventions, rural electrification, and regular supervision of CI staff and users.