Narrowing The Digital Divide Notes On A Global Netcorps by Ian Smillie - October 1999

Contents

Acronyms

Executive Summary

Introduction

Information & communications technologies and development

ICT and the Digital Divide

Caveats and Dangers

The evolution of volunteer-sending

Roots

Changing Needs; Philosophical Dilemmas

The High Cost of Technical Assistance

ICT Volunteering So Far

NetCorps Canada International

Other NetCorps-style Operations

Emerging lessons

Duration of Assignments

Requests

Recruitment and Skill Assessment

Gender

Training

Focus on Youth and 'Internships'

Field Support

Post-Assignment Follow-Up

Evaluation and Sustainability

A global netcorps?

Two Options

A Third Option: More than Just Another Website

Architectural Issues

Conclusions and Next Steps

Annex 1: List of Interviews