Multimedia Training Kit

Why should Civil Society Organisations care about ICT policy?

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

By the end of this session you should…

• • • Be able to explain why CSOs should be involved in ICT policy Be able to relate ICT policy to your own context Have some ideas about how to get involved Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

What are ICTs?

• Information Technology: – Computers (process data) • Telecommunication Technology: – Telephone system (include fax and data transmission), radio and TV broadcasting • Networking Technology: – Internet, mobile telephones, VOIP, satellite communications Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

Exercise 1

• How does your organization use information and ICTs?

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

Strategic use of ICT

• Strengthens institutional capacity by improving information flows within the organisation and with constituents • Builds the ability to network effectively • Empowers individuals and CSO staff members to do their work • Improves the organisation's overall ability to achieve its strategic objectives Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

Exercise 2

• How can ICT policies affect your work and your ability to meet your goals and objectives?

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

Who is Civil Society?

• NGOs working in multiple fields • Scientific and academic community • Media and media activists • Trade unions • Educators, librarians • Gender advocates • Indigenous peoples • And many others Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

Civil Society Organisations

• Organisations - including movements, networks and other entities - which are autonomous from the State, are not intergovernmental and do not represent the private sector, and which in principle are non-profit making, act locally, nationally and internationally, in defence and promotion of social, economic and cultural interests and for mutual benefit.

Source: WSIS Civil Society Caucus Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

Exercise 3

• Identify specific issues of concern to CS and CSOs in your country • Are ICTs used in the work related to these issues? How?

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

CSOs using ICTs (1)

“Before, when information arrived by fax to the local union office, I never knew what was going on. If I made the effort to go into the office, the fax might be on the notice board, but half the time it had fallen off and been put into the bin, or someone had taken it home, etc.

Then we started using email in the office and the first thing I used to do when I arrived was look in the computer to see the new emails. Now that we are all on the Net, I have a copy of everything that reaches the local office. I can comment on it through the list and we can discuss things before the meetings, which makes them quicker and less boring. Now I get too much information, quite the opposite from before.” Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

CSOs using ICTs (2)

• The international campaign to ban the use of land mines is a pioneering example of the use of the internet to reach a world-wide audience and bring together various NGOs in a coalition. It culminated in 1997 in an international agreement not to use these weapons.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

ICTs and globalisation

• “Globalization is a relatively new term used to describe a very old process”: the international exchange of goods and ideas. http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/about/ • ICTs have speeded up this process dramatically • “Global Informational Capitalism” – Global: World system acts as a unit in real-time – Informational: information central to wealth creation in modern economy – Capitalism: system designed to return profit to capital owners – Most productive system ever – Among the most exclusionary (Castells) Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

Why should CSOs get involved?

• ICTs are central to contemporary society and CSOs • ICTs are central to a globalised society Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

What should CSOs be concerned with

• Promoting universal access • Protecting citizen’s right to privacy • ???

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

How to get involved in ICT policy

• Identify priority issues (e.g. access, freedom of expression, privacy, and intellectual property) • Get involved at local, regional or global levels • Influence the process and evolution of ICT for development Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

In summary

• ICTs are central to modern society • ICTs policy determines whether, at what cost, how freely and effectively we can use ICTs.

• CSOs MUST ACT NOW!

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org

Multimedia Training Kit

Why should Civil Society Organisations care about ICT policy?

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org