Technology and Community Development

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT				Attaining this ideal degree has proved difficult for
KUMAH ERIC JUNIOR				reasons of the complex interplay of some factors
MARCH 2009				including, a government founded electoral commission,
ABSTRACT:				a winner takes all setting, and no motivation to
In today's world, technology has invaded many				commit to the right virtues. Knowing that power is so
aspects of human life. From its gigantic influence on				lucrative when you come from this winner takes all
our education and professional development, to the				setting, it is really hard to let go of control of the
more subtle presence of little gadgets littering our				electoral process. This is one motivation for the
homes, technology is almost everywhere.				dishonourable acts that unfortunately we see quite
The reasons for such pervasiveness would boil down				often.
to some characteristics that technology by itself				Because elections are highly involving and they require
possesses. One such characteristic, which is of major				elaborate programs that span a series of locations
interest to many scholars, is the seeming lack of				(from a voter's home to the polling station, the
barriers to the spread of technology. It easily				collation center, the electoral commission
penetrates societies and even to remote				headquarters, the public domain and back to the
communities, and once it reaches its destination and				voter's home), It follows that unless you are trying
catches on, it becomes seemingly difficult to stop its				to make public exhibition of your nefarious activity,
spread. As a result of this, consumer technology like				you would need to be tactical to be successful at
cellular phones, computers, PDAs, radios and				such dishonorable acts. The tactics employed may
televisions have become commonplace in places like				vary but they invariably entail series of acts that are
Africa, even with all the barriers one would have				designed to prevent information from getting into the
envisaged.				public domain. So that for example, figures could be
Sadly, it does not need much analysis to realize that				changed anytime so long as the original and authentic
even though technology usage is growing rapidly in				ones do not get into the hands of the public.
Africa, we still have numerous developmental				If democratic leadership were genuinely understood,
problems in our continent. This is a situation where				there will be no attempt at election rigging. But since
advanced technology is coexisting with				we are currently not in that ideal stage, election
underdevelopment in Africa. With all the power that				monitoring is one tool we can exploit to at least cut
technology wields, it will be a useful exercise to study				the ability for cheating.
the ways in which it can be used to solve some of				Mobile phone technology is being used in election
those very problems it has come to meet. In				monitoring in some African countries under a new
essence, using our little gadgets to solve our big				system of election monitoring called "parallel
problems.				reporting". Parallel reporting is simply an
This is the background against which this study is				approach to election monitoring whereby independent
undertaken. Asking whether our problems can be				observers spread news of the votes counted at the
solved at all, then enumerating instances where				basic level, which is the polling station. The figures are
development projects that utilize technology have				then relayed to an independent center where they
been put to work, and concluding by examining the				are collated and cross checked with official figures
cases and drawing lessons from them.				announced by the electoral commission.
CHAPTER. 1.				One advantage of this scheme is seen that it will
INTRODUCTION				make it increasingly difficult for an electoral
The limits to what the human mind can conceive and				commission to attempt to fraudulently sway the
achieve are increasing. More discoveries have been				results in the favour of any of the contesting parties.
made, more things have been created, more theories				The spreading or relaying of the results figures are
have been proved and disproved, more machines				done largely with mobile phones. Senegal is an
have been made and more problems have been				example of a country where this project has been
created. Scientific technology has been the driving				successful.
force behind all these. Science has indeed proved to				3.2 HEALTHCARE
be a powerful tool which has touched many people				The statistics obtained from healthcare research are
and has shaped many communities.				interesting. Figures show that a large number of the
According to the Concise Oxford dictionary 10th				world's HIVAIDS afflicted people live in Africa. At the
edition, technology is the application of scientific				same time, one of the growing markets for
knowledge for practical purposes. Clearly from this				consumer electronics such as mobile devices,
definition we can see that scientific knowledge may				handheld PC etc may be found here in Africa. This
exist theoretically but it only becomes technology				represents a population overlap, and it is only prudent
when it is used in practical settings. For example we				that some amount of research has been directed
may say the knowledge of the rules of up-thrust and				towards attempting to find ways to incorporating
buoyancy is theoretical, however practical utilization				technology in the treatment of the numerous
of these rules to manufacture airplanes could be				diseases on the face of the continent7.
termed aircraft technology.				Tuberculosis (TB) has long been known to be one of
Again according to the Concise Oxford dictionary				the deadliest diseases known to man. Apart from the
10th edition, a community is the people of an area				threat that this highly infectious bacterial disease
considered collectively, while development is explained				presents to human life, it also enjoys some additional
to mean to grow or cause to grow and become				notoriety for lowering the sufferer's immune system
larger or more advanced. By deduction, community				to make it easy for other diseases, which may have
development could be explained to be the growth or				various degrees of harmfulness, to attack the
advancement of a group of people.				sufferer.
Today, the world has become highly technological,				As if that were not enough, TB has a deadly habit of
and things which in the seventies would have passed				mutating at the least case of drug non adherence.
for science fiction are now so commonplace that				Therefore any TB caregiver knows that a patient
they have almost become necessities. From every				who demonstrates non compliance with drug rules is
corner of the world, technology has global				clearly not interested in getting healed. As a result of
acceptance, it is ubiquitous and has the ability to				this, over the years, ways to enforce religious
dramatically change situations.				adherence of medication have been tried but success
Any attempt to ascribe reasons for this				has largely eluded caregivers.
pervasiveness of technology will have many				In South Africa, there is a very laudable project, the
suggestions, some of which are that machines have				SimPill's award-winning Adherence System project,
been proven more efficient than humans at some				which uses a real-time management system to
tasks, machines are less error prone, impartial and				increase adherence to medications prescribed to
never get tired like humans. Another could be the				treat chronic illnesses - particularly tuberculosis, which
increased sophistication of humans and the attendant				is a significant cause of death of people living with
need for equally complicated messengers to help us				HIV.
perform many tasks, which is linked to the interesting				3.3 SOCIAL ISSUES
nature of technology that once a more advanced				Serious projects that utilize technology to address
way of doing something is found, it becomes almost				social issues have been implemented in South Africa.
unthinkable to try to do it by "old				One such idea named Fahamu's Umn Yango (meaning
fashioned" means.				‘doorway' in isiZulu) has been implemented to
With such large scale interplay of these and many				curb domestic violence by equipping people with cell
more factors, there is little reason to be surprised by				phones as tools to monitor and report abuse. Under
the sudden emergence of automatic machines to				this scheme, victims use cell phones to call a
handle the little tasks of old; cleaning floors, washing				predefined and popular number and give details of
clothes, cutting bread, mixing cake etc. the list goes				the abuse.
on and on.				The fear of being victimized has always made it
And that is far from all and the list of innovative				difficult for victims, witnesses or relatives to step up
possibilities is endless. In truth, some of these				and lodge complaints to the relevant authorities.
innovations have shaped the world and there are				There are examples of places where people had
many examples to cite. The discovery of electricity				reported abuses and had been picked upon by the
and the radio wave both changed the world. Today,				abuser. We have had friends of a victim reporting an
computers are changing the world even faster. Now				abuse of their friend only to go home to be abused
with cellular phones, new opportunities have come				themselves by their spouses as punishment for
and our imagination has become the only limiting				"poking their noses in other people's
factor. We can only wait for the next big thing to be				business". These good citizens were made to
created and who knows what it will be?				pay the price for exposing a wrong thing.
The picture of technological advancement is not a				This fear has been totally eliminated under this
completely rosy one. Indeed, there are some minuses				project because of the provision of anonymity, the
to science as well, such as the introduction of new				telephone call could be made in secret, and even the
forms of danger which come as a consequence of				details of the reporter are not always required. This is
innovative forms of technology, for example the				a sharp contrast to the situation in the past where
nuclear bomb came from nuclear technology,				victims, neighbours, or witnesses were required to
unforeseen genetic mutations are as the result of				walk into a police station to make a formal report.
genetic engineering, and the numerous and little				Apart from successes chalked in the number of
talked about chemicals which can destroy the ozone				reports that are received, there has also been a
or warm the planet.				reduction in the numbers of abuse cases. This may
The seriousness of the disadvantages of technology				be partly due to the deterring feeling among
have prompted some people to argue that				would-be abusers that, any passerby holding a mobile
technological advancement, which is an example of				phone might just make sure they get a visit from a
scientific development, is making us more of				police detective for spouse battering.
advanced entities but less of humans. In other words,				3.4 ANIMAL FARMING
we have become better scientists, bankers and				Technology has also been put to good use in farming.
professionals and worse human beings. Martin Luther				Farmers who rear cattle in small herds, over time,
King puts this argument succinctly when he said				develop a personal relationship with the animals, the
"Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual				farmer knows all of them and can notice a missing
power, we have guided missiles and misguided				animal or a sick one with just a glance. However,
men."				because it takes months of careful observation of
The disadvantages that technology brings are issues				the behaviour of every cow to know every animal
which require serious examination to ascertain what				well enough to take note when there is an infection
can be done to eliminate them or at least minimize				or when an animal does not ruminate properly, this
their effects since technology has definitely come to				task would be ineffective if it were performed by a
stay, and it would be to our advantage to learn how				human shepherd with a large herd.
to work with it in ways that will be the most				To remedy this situation, the technology of vocal
beneficial to us.				tags has been developed in Europe. This project
But despite the disadvantages listed here and the				employs a tag, which is a belt fitted with sensors and
many more unnamed, we have seen that we can still				worn around each animal's neck. These sensors
derive many benefits from science and given that				monitor several indicators such as the animal's rate of
we live in, or at least come from, a part of the world				rumination, voice clarity, digestion and breathing and
where development is still a big headache, we should				send the data collected to a central computer.
be the first to start a serious study of this				Over time the computer knows what is normal for
phenomenon and see how best we can use it to our				every cow and will notify the shepherd when
advantage. We may be surprised to see that there is				something goes wrong with a cow.
a great viability in using our little gadgets to solve our				The advantage of this project is that a farmer can
big problems.				take quick and specific action like giving treatment to
Let us make it clear that the aim of this paper is not				the particular animal involved. This removes the need
to present technology as the magic cure that will				to give general treatments to the whole herd, which
clear our multitude of problems in a whiff, technology				is both time and money wasting.
alone will not solve Africa's problems because our				These are some of the ways that technology is
problems are too complex, too deep and too				being used towards increased development.
overwhelming for any simplistic scheme to be				CHAPTER 4
successful. We can only achieve success when if				WHAT LESSONS HAVE BEEN LEARNT?
have a more comprehensive approach to the				No matter how promising an idea or project sounds,
problem, to include solid commitment to serious				there are bound to be problems encountered in the
research, establishment of the appropriate structures,				deployment of the project. In achieving the above
and the taking of required initiatives. It will be				projects, following are some of the problems one is
incorrect to assume that technology in itself is				likely to be faced with:
inherently good, and just implementing it alone will be				In the election monitoring program, misinformation
enough to achieve any good result3. Though				has been identified to be one of the problems
technology may be able to do anything, people must				starring the program in the face. It is true that when
have the vision to drive it in the right direction.				all the information is not localized in the hands of
Only with this knowledge can we make any				government, then a lot more transparency will be
meaningful gains in the development agenda.				achieved, but it is also true that mass misinformation
In our particular context, Africa has proved that				remains an unpleasant possibility.
advanced technology could coexist with				Another problem could arise when there is a situation
underdevelopment. People have satellite televisions				where people do not necessarily trust the degree of
whilst there are no teachers in the classrooms, we				independence of the so called independent observers.
have mobile devices and pocket PCs and devices but				It may lead to a problem where parties could cast a
our streets are still not named properly, there is still a				slur on the reputation of the observers so as to use
large number of illiterates among the people who				the resulting mistrust to set the stage for a possible
own and use cell phones, spreading of healthcare				rejection of the results.
information is still a challenge even though a lot of				Overall this is a laudable idea and if a means of
people have access to radio and TV. This sorry list is				verification were added, the figures would mean
endless.				much more to a lot of people.
CHAPTER 2:				Whilst celebrating the successes chalked, it is
CAN TECHNOLOGY REALLY ADDRESS OUR				important to note that a number of other factors
PROBLEMS?				needed to progress before a state could move
From healthcare, access to water and life				towards a more democratic model of governance.
expectancy, to governance, industrialization and even				According to African political expert, Sheldon Gellar,
the quality of human life, there are numerous				these changes include: strengthening independent
problems confronting African communities.				media, growing and ensuring freedom of civil society,
Today we are said to be living in the information age,				decentralizing power, ceding more control to local
an era where access to information is the new				governments, empowering women and improving
driving force of the world. The proliferation of the				judicial systems to ensure independence and power
Internet and World Wide Web has reduced the				to punish.
whole world to a massive audience with				Governance is one area that is set to reap some
unprecedented access to vast quantities of				benefits of this phenomenon when used judiciously,
information. This communication is unencumbered and				unilateral rule and arbitrary action may be reduced
the formation of alliances is unhindered by physical				towards a more participatory approach to leadership
distance, national or political borders4. With all the				in Ghana
dynamics that this modernity brings, technology				Technology could help achieve those goals to some
stands tall as a favourite to achieve any meaningful				extent, as communication was the key to
sustainable development for many reasons.				overcoming oppression.
Principal among such reasons is the fact that there is				In some of the cases, such as the election monitoring
improved awareness of underdevelopment among				or domestic violence reporting, the internet could be
Africans themselves, which could be due to the				used to provide communities with means to
information age, and an improved belief that our				communicate, to organize and obtain good
situations can be turned around. This is markedly				information which is not controlled by the
different from decades ago when there was a lot of				government. However, this is not practical in Africa
resignation and despair among black professionals.				since only a tiny percentage of Africans have
Evidence to support this would be the observation				affordable access to internet.
that much more thought is being directed at the				In the healthcare project, basic mismanagement has
Africa integration agenda and greater attention being				been identified as one of the reasons why many
paid to the Economic partnership agreements (EU-				projects seem to skid to halt after being piloted.
ECOWAS).				Needed funds are not always available to those who
Another positive indicator is the growing number of				need them.
trained and competent technological professionals on				Another problem observed was that the people who
the face of the continent. Granted, the improved				will be using the project are not always consulted in
numbers by themselves will not be a good indicator,				the designing and planning of the ideas, so there is a
but with the holistic approach talked about earlier,				lack of communication between beneficiaries, health
one can see a sign of hope which shows that there				professionals, technologists, and managers.
is very high potential for success in a well though out				Another problem was the theft of cell phones.
scheme to utilize technology to solve our				Although cell phones are a relatively low-cost
developmental problems.				technology, they still hold considerable value in
Another good point is the individual work that is being				poverty-stricken areas, and are commonly stolen.
carried out by different groups using different				And, such theft is likely to rise as these devices
approaches (studies of the indigenous chieftaincy				become more and more complex. However this is
system for e.g.) at trying to solve the same				quite debatable since some analysts argue that losing
problems. This is clear evidence to state that beyond				a cell phone to a thief is less of a financial loss than
the level of commitment, there have been actual				losing a more costly machine.
attempts at problem solving. Even if some of such				In the domestic violence project one stumbling block
attempts have not been successful due to the				was the communication gap between the various
numerous challenges in the way, the experiences				parties involved in the system. Feedback was largely
have been gained and lessons have been drawn from				missing and people could not tell whether their input
them which would be utilized for future use.				was useful - or received, and in some cases, police
Finally there are areas where major strides have				officers who receive messages reporting violence
already been made in Africa. Statistics show for				against women may not be prepared to respond.
example that there have been remarkable				Another problem was the unfortunate situation
improvements in girl student enrollments in places like				where some unscrupulous people made the work
Nigeria, Kenya and Zambia5. This is definitely a				more difficult for the authorities by raising false
feather in our cap and such areas may serve as				alarms. This could be addressed by education and the
boosters to face the remaining dark spots.				incorporation of punitive measures.
All these imply that we might be closer than ever to				However to use effective punitive measures, even
solving our problems, and all that may be left will be a				more advanced technology will be required, for
few giant pushes forward.				example to pinpoint a particular cell phone subscriber,
This is where technology comes into the picture. It is				and take action against them like blocking their
the one thing that seems to know no barriers,				Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Cards etc.
catches on easily and has the power to transform				And the usual problem of financing in many projects
even the most remotely inaccessible locations on				is ever present as well, and it is the more
earth to budding business towns. It is ubiquitous. Its				predominant one in the animal rearing project.
innovations accelerate by the month. As a result, it is				CHAPTER 5
the most probable tool to achieve anything				CONCLUSION
meaningful.				Granted, there are challenges that exist in using
In the early 90's, scholars described Africa as being				technology to achieve development goals, but such
left in a technological apartheid 6. Today however,				efforts still hold great potential and the costs of any
with increased globalization perhaps a slightly better				obstacle will not stand in comparison to the threat of
picture can be painted. Even though Africa is not in				underdevelopment and poverty. So we can only
the league of the innovators of the most novel				strive to work harder at such solutions.
initiatives and we may not be making as good use of				Our development attempts and efforts should think
technologies as we ought to, or as some others are,				more seriously about sustainability and scalability. One
we would still have something positive to report. For				important consideration in this direction is the
example, in some cases, Africa actually has				affordability of the programmes we plan and develop.
comparable human and hardware resources.				The more affordable options have a higher chance of
Therefore, "apartheid" would no longer				success, so the fact that most of the development
be a precise definition of the situation as it stands.				projects do not require any extraordinarily complex
As stated earlier in this paper, technology alone will				or new gadgets is indeed pleasant to note.
not solve our problems. But with very serious				Also throughout the creation and deploying of any
considerations using active participation, a				project, enough consultation should be carried out to
comprehensive and well though out scheme that				ensure that there is a general buy-in into the idea
incorporates technology will be a very viable solution.				from the creators to the beneficiaries. This will make
However taking a look at all the attempts made so				an idea command a common sense of ownership.
far and their attendant challenges and effects if any,				The quality of the management should also be
one may say confidently that will all the proper				improved and measures should be put in place to
accompanying compliments, technology will made				ensure the right things are done.
very significant gains in spurring the development				Identifying the problem is half the solution. We
agenda on.				already now have greater awareness and we have
CHAPTER 3:				made some attempts at solving them. Putting our
HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING USED TO SOLVE				acts together to draw the lessons and re-strategizing
PROBLEMS?				with a new approach -technology, is definitely the
Across many countries around the world, people				way to go. I am confident of the viability of this new
have made serious strides at utilizing technological				approach.
knowledge to solve all manner of problems. Many				CITED REFERENCES
issues have arisen out of such attempts, and below				1 Steere M. Cell phones promise fairer elections in
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3.1 ELECTIONS				Available from Assesed 2009 March 27
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always been a challenge. It is hard to find a totally				Global Voices Online[Online]2009. Available from
free and fair voting exercise, whilst contested				Accessed 2009 Feb 6.
elections, unfair processes, non transparent				4 Finnis A.J. Learning in the Information
irregularities and simple ineffectiveness are				Age.Twinisles[Online]2009.
commonplace. With a background of poverty, it is				Available from Accessed 2009 March 27
not too difficult to understand why the stakes are so				5 Kitetu, C. Gender in Education: An overview of
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Maggies Toronto

Technology and Community Development