NGOs, ICTs and Information Dissemination in Asia and Oceania

• Published in: IFLA journal Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 45 - 51
• Main Authors: Reade-Fong, Elizabeth, Gorman, Gary E.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.03.2005; Saur
• Subjects: Communications technology; Computerized information work; Exact sciences and technology; Information and communication sciences; Information economics. Information policy; Information science. Documentation; Information technology; Library and information science. General aspects; Non governmental organizations; Political aspects : cooperation, coordination, standardization; Sciences and techniques of general use; Asia; Oceania; Developing countries; International cooperation; Information communication technology; Sustainable development; Information dissemination; Nongovernmental organization
• ISSN: 0340-0352; 1745-2651
• DOI: 10.1177/0340035205052643

Focusing on the situation in Asia and Oceania, this paper looks at the way in which NGOs utilize information, and to some extent ICTs, for sustainable capacity building. It is hypothesized that communication strategies that take into account the social nature of access, recognize the interaction between face-to-face and online communications, and combine Internet use with a broad range of other new and old media provide the best opportunities for sustainable development initiatives through the use of ICT. This issue is addressed through a series of questions: What are the barriers to ICT adoption, and how might its potential be realized? What is an appropriate mix of ICT-based information dissemination and traditional print-based information? How do different cultures react when information is accessed remotely rather than face-to-face? How well do NGOs collaborate with one another in sharing development-related information? What are some of the facilitators and barriers to more effective collaboration?