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Describes the development and application of a new eight-level ICT Maturity Model. The model - developed for education institutions in developing countries - links specific ICT infrastructure levels to student learning outcomes. It provides guidance on ICT planning and implementation for schools, colleges and universities.

"Access to and the strategic use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) have been shown to have the potential to help bring about economic development, poverty reduction, and democratisation. This report examines the potential of ICTs for advancing democracy and empowerment. "

Many organizations have approached the social web and new technologies from different angles during the last years. Large organisations have engaged in one or another way, in social media. But did they fully embrace the participatory web? This post takes a look at how development organisations have approached the social web and where the status quo stands.

Decentralization in many African countries means that local governments have more responsibility for managing resources. But how can we best teach the practical work-based skills needed for this? Successful distance learning programmes must be designed for sustainable development, particularly using computers and the Internet. Research from the Open University and Swansea University in the UK looks at the particular management skills African local governments need to meet new demands for cheap, environmentally friendly and economically sustainable services. Electronic distance learning (EDT) can address these new responsibilities.

This course provides a simple way to learn the basic elements of modern project management concepts that are required by international development organizations dedicated to assistance and humanitarian relief. The course is divided in 5 modules: Each module presents ideas and concepts with the aid of charts and graphics to help increase your understanding. After each module you will have an opportunity to review the main topics with a short test. The course has been designed for no more that 120 minutes. You can take the course and its modules at your own pace, the menu and index can help you move around the course and take each module and each lesson independently. To help you increase your knowledge, many modules include links to documents that you can open and read at your own time. These documents are in Adobe PDF format. Module 1 - Introduction to project management Module 2 - The Project Management Cycle Module 3 - The project Management processes Module 4 - Project Management Organzation Structure Module 5 - Roles, Responsabilities and Skills of Project Managers

"This innovative programme is a foundational course on economic and social policies to promote equity and child rights. The topics covered include: the human rights-based approach to development; equitable macroeconomic and sector policies; public finance and social budgeting; multidimensional poverty; social protection, migration and climate change. "

InVenture provides expansion capital to successful micro-businesses and becomes their partner, not their creditor. By partnering with businesses and investing in their potential, we allow businesses to take on the risk of larger scale innovations without a constant fear of failing and being unable to repay their debt. These risks can yield greater rewards and bigger growth than through traditional micro-credit financing. And bigger growth means more job creation and more lasting development for communities that are stuck in cycles of poverty.

The Internet has opened up many possibilities for rights advocates. In order to make the best use of the online world for their campaigns, however, advocates need to know what services are available, how they can be used in an advocacy campaign, who owns them and their hidden dangers. The Quick 'n Easy Guide to Online Advocacy developed by Tactical Tech, aims to expose advocates to online services that are quick to use and easy to understand. The guide provides descriptions of online services including social networking sites, image and video hosting services, and services that enhance an organisations web presence. The guide also offers advice on where and when to use these services. Case studies, security concerns as well as the advantages and disadvantages of various web services are discussed, with the aim of improving advocates ability to conduct online advocacy campaigns. The internet services listed in the guide covers four main areas in which advocates operate: informing and communicating; documenting and visualising; mobilising and coordinating; and bypassing and accessing. (Source: Sangonet)

"This wiki is being developed into a resource for non-profit organisations in South Africa, giving insight into social media tools, and giving local examples of how these tools are being applied within this sector. The majority of this information stems from discussions and panels from the Sangonet '09 Conference held in Johannesburg and Cape Town in October. This wiki stems from workshops held in 2009 run by The African Commons Project in collaboration with Sangonet, providing training to NGOs on how to use social media to have conversations with their constituents and stakeholders. Thus, this wiki space includes the outline of the workshop, content, resources, and practical sessions attached to each workshop. "