Contextualised ICT4D: a Bottom-Up Approach

The term ICT4D refers to the opportunities of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as an agent of development. Much of the research in the field is based on evaluating the feasibility of existing technologies, mostly of Western or Asian origin, in the context of developing countries. In a certain way, this agenda can be understood as a top-down approach which transfers technology in a hierarchical way to actual users. Complementary to the traditional approach, a bottom-up approach starts by identifying communities that are ready to participate in a process to use technology to transform their own strengths to new levels by designing appropriate technologies with experts of technology and design. The bottom-up approach requires a new kind of ICT education at the undergraduate level. An example of the development of a contextualized IT degree program at Tumaini University in Tanzania shows that the training requires a close collaboration with local stakeholders and a creative problem solving approach throughout the studies.