Abstract

Practitioners in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for development have repeatedly relied on evaluations of past or present initiatives to advise and facilitate the design and implementation of other development initiatives. However, current quests for measures that demonstrate the developmental contribution of ICT call for new approaches to ICT4D evaluation. In response to this, the study presented in this paper provides a starting point in the development and evaluation of the appropriateness of a set of criteria – dimensions and indicators that can be applied to the appraisal of the ICT contribution to development. Development is defined as a multidimensional concept based on Sen’s capability approach, particularly focusing on the outputs (opportunities) and outcomes (benefits) ICT can enable within a given context. Indicators are proposed for education and research, healthcare, economic opportunities and political freedom dimensions. Findings obtained through exploratory survey research show that the proposed indicators are appropriate for the evaluation of the contribution of ICT to social and economic development, especially in a developing country context. Additional indicators were also proposed for some of the dimensions. Participants further reiterated the need to combine both qualitative and quantitative indicators to supplement and balance each other in the appraisal of development initiatives. Subsequent studies will seek to devise means of how this can be addressed, as well as a process through which a combined analysis can be obtained. Such studies should seek to extensively evaluate the indicators as well as apply them for the evaluation of ICT4D initiatives.

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