The project's initial framework for Information and Communications for Development in support of Rural Livelihoods is based on the principles of the Livelihoods approach, and the seven principles for effective information and communication for livelihoods developed by DFID and FAO in 2002. Applying the framework within any context involves constructing an information and communications for development map to identify strenghts and weaknesses, and discussions with other stakeholders to identify how strategic interventions can address them.

The livelihoods approach:
The basic principles of the livelihoods approach are:

• focus on people not resources,
• be developed and implemented through dialogue and participation,
• be demand-driven with feedback loops,
• build on strengths rather than focus on constraints,
• develop or support appropriate policies, institutions and processes,
• foster micro-macro linkages,
• focus on outcomes not outputs.
  

Understanding the context:
Before starting, it’s important to have a comprehensive understanding of the context. This will require a participatory assessment of the communication infrastructure; the institutions & organisations involved in ICD in rural areas, and their information and communications and needs; the policies & plans that are already in place; the existing knowledge processes for learning and sharing - recognising that many processes do both - and any suggestions about how they might be improved; and any external factors which will influence information and communication needs. This should include everything from the household to the international-level, and should explore the links between each level. The following table provides a checklist to ensure all elements are explored:

Click here to see an example of a completed ICD Map from Vietnam.

The principles of good information and communications for livelihoods:
Research-based evidence and practical experience indicate that rural knowledge systems that effectively support rural livelihoods are likely to:

• share costs appropriately, between government for public goods information services and social protection, and users for private goods, and work in partnership with the private sector to ensure effective coverage in remote rural areas,
• ensure equitable access to all, especially women, the poor, the disabled, people living in remote areas and otherwise disadvantaged communities,
• contain a high proportion of local or appropriately localised content, both to maximise local usefulness and uptake, and to enrich local, national and international knowledge,
• build on existing systems, including information content (indigenous knowledge, local sources and databases etc), information technology (tv, radio, telephone, internet etc), processes (existing surveys, research and extension etc), and policy environment.
• build capacity at the local level to generate content and use new technologies, among intermediaries and knowledge brokers, practitioners and policy makers,
• use realistic technologies, which can used easily, managed and maintained, integrate existing and new technologies and are affordable,
• build knowledge partnerships between knowledge users, producers and intermediaries at and across all levels to convert information into useful knowledge.

Identifying strengths, weaknesses and strategic opportunities
Analysing the ICD map in relation to the key principles for good ICD will identify the strengths and weaknesses for ICD in that context. The ICD map will also identify the key stakeholders and current and planned processes which affect ICD. It is then possible to identify both opportunities where strategic interventions can significantly improve ICD, i.e. the key processes which need to be addressed, and the key partners with whom it will be necessary to work.

Click here to see an example from Vietnam.

Key issues
Work so far has identified many interesting questions in each of these areas:

Sharing costs appropriately

• What is the impact of improved ICD including social and political costs and benefits.
• What is the value of different ICDs and how can the costs be met, especially in remote areas?
• How to encourage / regulate the private sector to ensure the poor benefit?
• What levels of subsidy are appropriate to balance economic growth with social protection?
• What business models are appropriate?
• How to analyse information needs, evaluate impact and measure cost-effectiveness?

Equitable access

• How to ensure ICDs reach the intended beneficiaries and are not ‘captured’ by elites?
• How to provide ICDs that meet women’s needs?
• What is the impact of ICDs on empowerment and democratisation?
• How can improved ICDs empower communities and democratic governance?
• How can ICDs facilitate two-way information flows and question and answer services?

Local content

• How to support and build on local media, knowledge resources and networks?
• How to improve two-way information flows between micro and macro level?
• How to package information so that it is accessible, relevant and understandable in highly differentiated local contexts and how to deal with language issues?
• How to tailor information for specific users, and specific uses?
• How to integrate endogenous and exogenous information?

Building on existing systems

• Development of methodologies for mapping ‘I&C.
• How to capitalise on, rather than replace, effective existing indigenous and trusted ICDs?
• What is the role of intermediaries and knowledge brokers?
• How to make external information sources compatible with local systems & technology?
• How to use ICTs to improve KM, in particular feedback loops to improve lesson learning?
• What generic policies can improve rural and community-based ICDs?

Build capacity

• How to empower policy makers to develop and implement integrated ICDs for rural areas?
• How to help service providers to make the right information available in the right forms?
• How to build capacity among information users to access and make use of better ICDs?
• How to build networks for e-learning, information exchange and communication between individuals, groups and institutions?

Realistic technologies

• How to promote investment in R&D, and in social applications among the private sector?
• Are there more robust, simpler, less expensive alternatives to PCs?
• What fora exist for evaluating and discussing lessons learned?
• How to promote non-proprietary and local language software applications?
• Do offline networking, and remote / wireless networks provide useful solutions?
• How to learn from unintended, unimagined applications and their benefits?
• Are there useful renewable energy options (wind-up radios, solar powered e-books)?
• Are there useful community-based approaches to shared ICT access and offline outreach?

Knowledge partnerships

• How to build and strengthen new knowledge partnerships (horizontal and vertical, multi-level, inter-organisational, inter-departmental and inter-sectoral)?
• How to link globalised and localised agricultural knowledge systems?
• How to link experts & subject matter specialists into non-hierarchical communities of practice?
• How can multi-stakeholder partnerships be developed including the private sector?