The article offers a complete review of the issue of sustainability regarding ICT4 projects (not only telecentres). It starts with a discussion on the meaning of sustainability, and its meaning in development literature, where sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED, 1987, p. 43). Still, the author argues that the concept can be traced until much before in History.
The article discusses the contrast between the fact that the concept of “sustainability” invokes an idea of “keep going”, while when you talk about ICTs, things are always chaging. In this sense, the author brings arguments from the literature as to state that the conditions are changeable and thus, to seek for sustainability would be a fallacy.
Still, the article, in the review, exposes the five main types of sustainability found in ICT4D literature: financial, social, institutional, technological and environmental. The authors follow offering a review of how each aspect relates to the others. It is interesting the fact that the authors hightlight the fact that ICT4D projects is a highly political process and this is why political sustainability is needed.
Finally, to illustrate, the article brings two case studies: a community of researchers in Saudi-Arabia and a community radio project in India, and in both projects, the expected outcome was not reached. The authors argue, though, that un-expected outcomes can be very valuable, specially in ICT4D projects, and this not envisioned uses of the technology could be treated as “bricolage”, an alternative for the concept of sustainability in ICT4D projects. So, would it be the capability of a project to make “bricolage” what would make it possible, and going? Or, in the other hand, would all ICD4D projects be not sustainable, and just live for enough period as to a new one to start?
Ali, M. & Bailur, S., 2007. The Challenge of “Sustainability” in ICT4D – Is Bricolage the Answer? In São Paulo, Brazil. Available at: http://www.comminit.com/en/node/269971/307 [Accessed January 12, 2009].
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