The rate of development at the national or local level is better
understood by the level of information flow.
However, in most countries these relationships are not widely discussed
or easily accepted, especially by development planners. The rate of flow of
information is very important in the process of mediating social and individual
change.
understood by the level of information flow.
However, in most countries these relationships are not widely discussed
or easily accepted, especially by development planners. The rate of flow of
information is very important in the process of mediating social and individual
change.
Being a social process, the flow of information that can effect changes
in the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of individuals, and groups, through
providing factual and technical information, through motivational or persuasive
messages, and through facilitating the learning process and social environment is of great importance to the
society. These results might then lead to increase in the mastery
of crucial skills by the individual, and to enhancing the achievement of
various instrumental goals. Other possible consequences of information
transmission include enhancement in self-esteem and well being through
participation in community and social life, increasing the individual’s
perceived efficacy in dealing with other people, reinforcing mutual respect and
enhancing confidence among social groups and building trust within communities.
These outcomes are the ingredients that contribute to the creation of those
positive individual, community and societal changes that together are often
referred to as development.
Information when appropriately handled and used can thus positively influence
development.
in the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of individuals, and groups, through
providing factual and technical information, through motivational or persuasive
messages, and through facilitating the learning process and social environment is of great importance to the
society. These results might then lead to increase in the mastery
of crucial skills by the individual, and to enhancing the achievement of
various instrumental goals. Other possible consequences of information
transmission include enhancement in self-esteem and well being through
participation in community and social life, increasing the individual’s
perceived efficacy in dealing with other people, reinforcing mutual respect and
enhancing confidence among social groups and building trust within communities.
These outcomes are the ingredients that contribute to the creation of those
positive individual, community and societal changes that together are often
referred to as development.
Information when appropriately handled and used can thus positively influence
development.
How information is used for national development is viewed in different
ways by different people. It has even been viewed differently in different
eras, considered variously as social
engineering or giving voice to
the voiceless. Both as idea and as practice, the relationship of
communication to development has been problematic, as it has raised many
questions. Can we show that information has a place in the development process?
What kind of information has what kind of effect on what aspects of
development? The questions are intriguing and intractable. Often the gains from
information become apparent only when something goes wrong in society. The
above-stated questions if answered by different people, we are likely to have
different views though they might be purposefully pointing to one direction.
ways by different people. It has even been viewed differently in different
eras, considered variously as social
engineering or giving voice to
the voiceless. Both as idea and as practice, the relationship of
communication to development has been problematic, as it has raised many
questions. Can we show that information has a place in the development process?
What kind of information has what kind of effect on what aspects of
development? The questions are intriguing and intractable. Often the gains from
information become apparent only when something goes wrong in society. The
above-stated questions if answered by different people, we are likely to have
different views though they might be purposefully pointing to one direction.
The Human Development Index, HDI, although the relationships are not
clearly established, shows marked differences in the information profiles of
countries of high, medium and low human development. The indicators generally
employed in the HDI are mostly infrastructural and technological, e.g. access
to: radio; television; book titles published; post offices; main telephone
lines; fax machines; mobile cellular telephone subscribers, Internet users,
personal computers. It is probably the case that the opportunities that these
channels provide for carrying information and messages and for allowing multiple
social interactions, that drive social progress, are a crucial contribution to
the level of socio-economic development of societies. Yet even if information
is only a necessary and not a sufficient ingredient for development, that
potential contribution has provided a motive for continuing to search for more
effective ways of relating information processes with development processes,
and for justifying investments in information ideas and practices. In the light
of these issues, to support the integration of information, thinking and
practice into national development and governance plans a policy approach is
needed
clearly established, shows marked differences in the information profiles of
countries of high, medium and low human development. The indicators generally
employed in the HDI are mostly infrastructural and technological, e.g. access
to: radio; television; book titles published; post offices; main telephone
lines; fax machines; mobile cellular telephone subscribers, Internet users,
personal computers. It is probably the case that the opportunities that these
channels provide for carrying information and messages and for allowing multiple
social interactions, that drive social progress, are a crucial contribution to
the level of socio-economic development of societies. Yet even if information
is only a necessary and not a sufficient ingredient for development, that
potential contribution has provided a motive for continuing to search for more
effective ways of relating information processes with development processes,
and for justifying investments in information ideas and practices. In the light
of these issues, to support the integration of information, thinking and
practice into national development and governance plans a policy approach is
needed
In conclusion, a critical look at Africa the moment, shows that a few examples
of policies designed to push the systematic use of information as part of
general development strategy are currently in place. A number of short-term
social campaigns include information activities; but these episodic
interventions, do not appear to able to sustain a national critical mass for
instigating desired social change on a continuous and consistent basis. In the
face of dwindling resources, African countries will have to avoid unplanned,
inconsistent, ostentatious or wasteful investments in the information and
communication sectors. They will also have to tackle the underdevelopment or
unbalanced development of information institutions, and be more open to certain
ideas and practices (such as freedom of expression or accountability) that
accompany a more open and participatory approach to national development. It is
therefore important that African countries should put in place a sustainable
development perspective for information and communication investments and
programs.
of policies designed to push the systematic use of information as part of
general development strategy are currently in place. A number of short-term
social campaigns include information activities; but these episodic
interventions, do not appear to able to sustain a national critical mass for
instigating desired social change on a continuous and consistent basis. In the
face of dwindling resources, African countries will have to avoid unplanned,
inconsistent, ostentatious or wasteful investments in the information and
communication sectors. They will also have to tackle the underdevelopment or
unbalanced development of information institutions, and be more open to certain
ideas and practices (such as freedom of expression or accountability) that
accompany a more open and participatory approach to national development. It is
therefore important that African countries should put in place a sustainable
development perspective for information and communication investments and
programs.
FAO (2001). A notable exception is the
effort by a few West African countries to elaborate national communication
policies for development, in collaboration with FAO. See for example, Document de la politique nationale de la communication pour le
développement au Burkina Faso, Tome 1, Tome 2; Burkina Faso, Ministère de la
Communication et FAO, Rome, 2001.
effort by a few West African countries to elaborate national communication
policies for development, in collaboration with FAO. See for example, Document de la politique nationale de la communication pour le
développement au Burkina Faso, Tome 1, Tome 2; Burkina Faso, Ministère de la
Communication et FAO, Rome, 2001.
UNESCO (1996). ‘Technology for Development
or Development for Technology?’; chap II in Information and Communication
Technologies for Development: A UNESCO Perspective, 1996, p3
or Development for Technology?’; chap II in Information and Communication
Technologies for Development: A UNESCO Perspective, 1996, p3
