Model of an Information and Decision Centre for Developing Countries

Abstract

Developing Countries (DCs) are typically faced with weak infrastructures. The lack of reliable transport and communication systems compounds the general misery of disease, ignorance and poverty which in most African DCs has not only not been overcome - as had been hoped for at the time of independence from colonial powers - but has become worse in the last three decades. Partly, this deterioration must be attributed to a fundamental lack of information and inappropriate decision- making practices, characterized by distinct deficiencies with regard to stakeholder participation, transparency and accountability.

Information and Decision Centres (InfoDeCs) are designed to help DCs address common problems, resulting from over-centralization, lack of power-sharing, insufficient participation of civil society in development planning, and uncontrollable migration from rural to urban centres due to the typical neglect of rural development.

The authors have developed the InfoDeC concept as an expansion of the Multipurpose Community Telecentre (MCT) approach started by IDRC, ITU, and UNESCO in five African countries and have designed a low- cost prototype of an InfoDeC for the district capital of Bagamoyo in Tanzania. The design was based on the University of Dar es Salaam's management decision centre implemented in 1996. The paper presents reasons and rationale for InfoDeCs as intelligent hubs of the future information infrastructure of DCs, summarizes their technical and organizational functions, and assesses their potential for economic and social development.

KEYWORDS:

• Community Information Centres
• Participative Development Planning
• Group Decision Making for Social and Economic Development

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dietrich Splettstoesser

Dr. Dietrich Splettstoesser is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Commerce and Management, at the University of Dar es Salaam, where he has built the first sub- Saharan GSS-based management decision centre. He has worked as consultant, lecturer, and chief information officer in Europe, Australia and Africa, and has more than 25 years of experience in developing, implementing and managing information and decision support systems.

Ade Towry-Coker

Ade Towry-Coker is an independent IT consultant with a specialist interest in spatial information systems. She has worked for UNDP and other development agencies. She is currently the coordinator of TechnoTan - a nonprofit making technology research company promoting the use of ICTs as a tool for sustainable development.