15/06/2010 – ICT for development Workers
We're in tough economic times, with a huge government deficit and potentially drastic cut backs in funding for the third sector. Development workers have a vital role to play because the third sector organisations that survive and prosper will be those who make best of use of their resources, especially ICT as it underpins service delivery, marketing and communications.
Development workers aim to build the capacity (or build up the ability) of organisations they work with to better deliver their mission. In the process they've become ‘jacks of all trades' - part small business adviser, part marketing and communications guru, and part fundraiser. Consequently to help the organisations they work with, Development Workers need to know the right questions to ask and where to signpost people.
Over the years Development workers have repeatedly told us that they felt out of their depth when groups asked them about ICT. What they really needed was just enough knowledge to understand the issues in order to help them signpost groups to sources of quality advice and support.
Research into how small groups use ICT
by our own London ICT Champion shows how development workers can make a
difference in signposting ICT resources. The survey revealed that whilst 90% of
our respondents rate computers and the internet as "vital" or "fairly
important", 55% lacked an ICT budget; 65% didn't back-up data on a regular
basis; 40% had zero computers networked and 33% said their staff didn't have
access to networked computers or email.
These are serious barriers for smaller organisations and those most in need of capacity building. Knowing a few ICT basics or trusted sources of advice and information can go a long way towards helping them engage with the mainstream.
NAVCA also recognises the problem and recently commissioned us to deliver a one day ICT workshop as part of its SKILD programme for development workers. SKILD provides training for development workers who support local third sector organisations.
Whatever ICT question development workers have, whether it's on funding ICT, databases, websites, managing ICT, trouble-shooting and technical support, we have most of the answers at the Lasa ICT Knowledgebase You can download the workshop from here (www.slideshare.net/ictchamp/ict-for-development-workers).
Make no mistake, the funding squeeze is here to stay so development workers have a crucial role to play in showing where to go for quality ICT help and support.
If you'd like us to run our ICT for development workers workshop for your local network, email us at ist@lasa.org.uk
Links
Lasa
ICT Champion research: (http://ictchampion.lasa.org.uk/2009/06/research-accessing-and-using-ict-in-lambeth/)
NAVCA: (www.navca.org.uk)
SKILD
programme: (www.navca.org.uk/services/learningopps/skild)
Knowledgebase (www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk)
Posted by Andy Gregg on 15/06/2010
Golam Morshed — 12:29 on 17 June
You are right that the ICT is vital for organisations to survive not only in current economic downturn but also to excel. The way, I look at it "an extra penny saving generated through efficiency is directly making a penny available for the charity's core mission". In today's competitive age, more and more FREE stuffs are becoming available and charities should actively look for that.