Purpose of the study is to develop a "Multipurpose Community Service Centre" model, and call it then an ICT Hub (Information and Communication Technologies) model to deliver integrating services to rural communinities according to their specific needs. The research will a)investigate and evaluate various case studies, models and influecing factors on integrated service delivery through Community Service Centres in South Africa and abroad; b)conduct a case study of the Ikageng Multi-purpose Community Centre in Itsoseng; c)based on above findings develop a model (ICT Hub) to rural communities of South Africa.

Cybercafés play a key role in providing internet access to developing countries. This paper examines the challenges of internet connectivity in rural and remote areas and how cybercafés now serve as a model behind government efforts to set up telecenters to extend internet connectivity to rural communities. Find out why telecenters remain popular as highlighted in two case studies: a government run initiative in the Philippines and a public-private partnership in Sri Lanka.

Drawing together the experiences of individuals, households and businesses, this book offers an international perspective on the on how and the extent to which the experiential nature of being rural, whether as an business manager in an SME (or micro-enterprise), a non-business person, a retired inhabitant or a housewife is changing as Information

"This encyclopedia provides a thorough examination of concepts, technologies, policies, training, and applications of ICT in support of economic and regional developments around the globe"--Provided by publisher.

Enthusiasm amongst international development agencies about harnessing the potential of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for development has generated questionning of the impact and sustainability of such interventions. By presenting the findings of research specifically designed to measure impact on livelihoods, Strengthening Rural Livelihoods offers new evidence for the development benefits of ICTs. The book asks if ICTs enabled farmers to sell beyond local markets and at better prices, and whether there have been social gains in linking geographically disparate households and social networks. The authors have provided significant new insights into how to overcome the challenges of mainstreaming ICTs into rural livelihoods and more effectively measuring its effects. This book will appeal to academics, civil society organizations, practitioners and students who are interested in what works and what doesn't work when applying ICTs to rural livelihoods.

The revolution in information and communication technology (ICT) in last few decades has brought tremendous benefits in all spheres and to all sections of the society. ICT is being increasingly used by the governments to deliver its services at the locations convenient to the citizens. E-Governance projects have attempted to improve the reach, enhance the base, minimize the processing costs, increase transparency, and reduce the cycle time. Similarly, ICT - which include radio and television, as well as newer digital technologies such as computers and the Internet - have been touted as potentially powerful enabling tools for educational quality by, among others, helping make teaching and learning into an engaging, active process connected to real life. Benefits of ICT in the domain of healthcare also cannot be overemphasized. An application of ICT in healthcare covers the interaction between patients and health-service providers, institution-to-institution transmission of data, or peer-to-peer communication between patients and /or health professionals. There is always a growing demand for research in ICT in all these important areas of healthcare, education and rural development.

ICT Development for Social and Rural Connectedness provides an introduction to the concept of 'connectedness', and explores how this socio-psychological term has evolved during the age of the Internet. The book surveys the principles of ICT for development (ICTD), and closely examines how ICT has played a pivotal role in the rural community development of various countries. To highlight the continued benefits of ICT in these regions, the book presents an in-depth case study that analyzes the connectedness within the rural internet centers of Malaysia. The book is intended primarily for researchers and practitioners as a reference guide to ICTD in rural environments.

Information and communication technology (ICT) has always mattered in agriculture. Ever since people have grown crops, raised livestock, and caught fish, they have sought information from one another. Today, ICT represents a tremendous opportunity for rural populations to improve productivity, to enhance food and nutrition security, to access markets, and to find employment opportunities in a revitalized sector. ICT has unleashed incredible potential to improve agriculture, and it has found a foothold even in poor smallholder farms. ICT in Agriculture, Updated Edition is the revised version of the popular ICT in Agriculture e-Sourcebook, first launched in 2011 and designed to support practitioners, decision makers, and development partners who work at the intersection of ICT and agriculture. Our hope is that this updated Sourcebook will be a practical guide to understanding current trends, implementing appropriate interventions, and evaluating the impact of ICT interventions in agricultural programs.