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Session I: ICT4D- Healthier Communities

Spring 2015

Monday, February 9, 2015 to Friday, February 20, 2015

How is information technology transforming fields like healthcare, education, and emergency preparedness?

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How is information technology transforming fields like healthcare, education, and emergency preparedness? (Note: We invite you to use the recording of the session 1 webcast on "Information Technology and Global Health" as an additional resource, 41 minutes in length, recorded 2/17/15.)

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Course materials

Module Materials

Learning Objectives

Learn about the role of ICT in health, education, and emergency preparedness

Learn about guiding principles related to ICT and evaluate how ICT innovations are benefiting vulnerable populations

Better understand our role as American citizens and consumers in solidarity with the world’s most vulnerable

Primary Resources

DISCUSSION GUIDE

 

1)  Introduction to the use of ICT for development today

a.  CRS ICT4D Programs: Using Technology to Empower Those We Serve (video, 3:41), by CRS. CRS uses information technology to improve health services, business planning and market analysis, financial services, monitoring and evaluation, distance learning, emergency response/preparedness and water and sanitation.

b.  What exactly is ICT4D? And what do we mean by resilience? Watch CRS ICT4D: Building Resilience Through Innovation, (video,  5:23), by CRS  

c.  Mobile Phone Usage Explodes in Africa Spurring Innovation (video, 9:13), by PBS Newshour, focused on use of mobile phones in Nairobi, Kenya. “Mobile phone usage is exploding here [in Kenya], everywhere in sub-Saharan Africa…18 percent every year.  The population in Kenya is 43 million — roughly 30 million have cellphones.”

d.  Building Resilience in Poor Communities through Innovation (video, 39:38), by Stephen Hellen, CRS Director of Global Knowledge and Information Management. Hellen introduces ICT4D and discusses its impact in international development.

2)  Case Studies on selected sectors responsive to ICT4D

a.  Healthcare

i.  CRS India Cell Phones Lead to Better Health for Expectant Moms (video, 3:41): CRS' Reducing Maternal and Newborn Deaths (ReMiND) Project (2012–2015) works with government community health workers to improve the frequency and quality of pregnancy, postpartum, newborn and young child home visits in Kaushambi District of Uttar Pradesh, India. “Maternal education is arguably the most important demographic factor linked to maternal, newborn and child health in the ReMiND project area.”

ii.  CRS’ Global Health Innovations Using ICT4D (video, 33:15), by Mariana Hensley, CRS Regional Technical Advisor for Monitoring and Evaluation, Accountability and Learning in East and South Asia. Hensley led project design and mobile content development for the ReMiND project.

b.  Emergency Response/Preparedness

i.  From Paper to Digital: CRS Enhances Data Collection for Emergency Needs Assessment in Madagascar, post-emergency seed distribution in Africa, and Ipods Firmly Planted in Farmers Lives

c.  Education

i. Bridge Academies, presenters at the 2014 CRS ICT4D Conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

3) Ethical Implications of ICT4D  and the future of development

a.  Principles for Digital Development, by the Greentree Consensus.