Building collective capabilities through ICT in a mountain region of Nepal: where social capital leads to collective action

Abstract

In this paper, we explore how ICT can lead to development specifically human development in Sen's capability approach. In answering to the critique that Sen views capabilities as the individual, we incorporate the societal level by adding collective capabilities. We propose that ICT helps to create or enhance SC of communities which in turn can lead to development by building collective capabilities through collective action. To illustrate, we conducted a qualitative case study of an ICT initiative in a remote mountain region of Nepal. We found support for our proposition and further that developing collective capabilities also simultaneously enhanced individual capabilities. We contribute to theory building by showing that not just the characteristics of SC, but also its form can promote collective action. We further illustrate that the SC and the capability perspectives are compatible and it is possible to read the two streams both simultaneously and complementarily.

Keywords:

• ICT4D
• human development
• capability approach
• collective capabilities
• collective action
• social capital
• mountain region
• Nepal

Notes

^†A preliminary and earlier version of the paper was presented at the AIS SiGGlobDev workshop in St Louis, USA, December 2010.

Annika Andersson, Åke Grönlund and Gudrun Wicander are the accepting Guest Editors for this article.

While ICT is defined in many ways, such as TV, radio, mobile phones, Internet and other digitally stored information, here we refer to wireless Internet services.

Comment at Harvard forum on ICT and Poverty Reduction (http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/10787612051Harvard_Forum_2003_-_Summary.pdf).

A second concept of the CA is functionings which though related, is distinct from capabilities. Functionings refers to achievements already realized. We will not discuss functioning in detail here because our focus is more on the potential of ICT in enhancing freedom of choice. Hence whether an individual actually uses ICT is irrelevant as long as she has the freedom and choice to use or not.