ICTD and Attachab - part 2 of a true eco-story November 19, 2010
Main story - ICT for permaculture /sustainable living.
John Dada is active in local community development. He has a dream of setting up a model project of sustainable living, in his home area in rural Nigeria. Years ago he got an architect to make a model of what he wanted to put in place. He put the model on his veranda, and people started to discuss the details with him - as if it was really going to happen. His vision was taking shape in the minds of others. A big leap forward came when he was given land for the purpose, at Attachab, by the local chief. (Attachab write up from Dadamac.net)
John is making gradual progress there, although he does not does not yet have all the resources or knowledge he needs. When it comes to sustainable development John is on a long "learning journey" on behalf of the community he serves.
Graham Knight and Chris Watkins both have the kind of knowledge which is relevant to John's needs. However John is in Nigeria, Graham lives in the UK and Chris lives on another different continent (and in a different time zone).
- Is this a situation where the Internet can be the "death of distance?"
- Do Graham and Chris have the knowledge John needs?
- If they do have that knowledge can they teach him what he needs to learn?
- Can they all communicate with each other despite the physical and cultural distances that separate them?
- If John learns what he needs to know in theory - will he be able to apply it in practice?
- What problems stand in the way and how can they be overcome?
- Will John's vision for Attachab become a reality?
See below for more of the background to this "ICTD" project below:
ICT4D checklist - the three legged stool
The three "legs" that a successful Internet-enabled project is built on can be remembered through the acronym ICT - which usually stands for Information,Communication and Technology.
- In an ICTD project the D is for Development - in this case the development is the development of Attachab.
- Attachab write up from Dadamac.net
- Cicely's "Dreams will come true" blog about Attachab (with lots of photos)
- Jim's photos of Attachab
In Dadamac we think of the three legged stool - the firm base - as:
- I = Information or Initiative - What is the information content of a given initiative?
- C = Communication or Community - Who will make up the "community of interest" (the people who will need to communicate effectively) if this initiative is to succeed?
- T = Technology and Socio/Technical aspects - How will the Internet (and other digital technologies) help this initiative to succeed and what are the technical and social issues that need to be managed?
The big picture here is the development of Attachab. We come into the story where John is seeking information on:
- Why drip irrigation is not advisable
- Solar cookers and Solar coolers
- Conservation Agriculture
- Purchase of pv (photo voltaic) plates
More about the people mentioned above - and a few others:
- John Dada - the initiator and visionary - expert about all things local, responsive to local needs, the hub of related community projects, with an excellent track record - always financially challenged, but rich in social capital.
- Graham Knight and Chris Watkins - rich in the kind of knowledge John needs, recently introduced to each other by Pamela McLean
- Pamela McLean - believes that the Internet should make it easier for people to "rub minds" and create new knowledge.
- Marcus Simmons - was introduced to John by Pamela, and helped with training and development at Attachab during visits in 2008 and 2009
- Jim Guy - is currently working at Attachab, but is due to return home in December.
- Nicola Fishman - helps with Dadamac online meetings and blogs about what is going on.
- Cicely Brown - worked with John for two years - and left a great blog record with excellent photos.
- Bidi Bala - is the manager of Zittnet - which provides Internet connectivity.
- Michael Maranda - links with Chris Watkins and Pamela McLean through Movement Camp (and related online spaces) initiated by Coalition Of The Willing - his work regarding effective use of different platforms for online collaboration is relevant for the work Pamela and Nikki do.
Technology = Technology and Socio/Technical aspects
This section is for people who like to know what is going on behind the scenes. You can enjoy the unfolding story of Attachab without giving the technology a second thought. However if you have an interest in how the Internet helps to make things happen, then the list below is for you. It explains how information is flowing:
- John Dada and his team in Nigeria have access to the Internet through Zittnet
- Emails
- Graham, Chris and John are exchanging emails relating to John's need to information.
- Chris and Graham are also exchanging emails relating to some online issues.
- Pamela is being sent copies of emails by Graham, Chris and John.
- The Dadamac people - John, Pamela, Nikki and Bala email each other often
- Online meetings in real time
- Pamela, John, Nikki (and often Bala) are in regular contact through the weekly Dadamac UK-Nigeria team meetings, using Skype typed chat, as well as through emails.
- As well as weekly online team meetings, Dadamac has open meetings online on the First Thursday of the month
- Graham has been part of First Thursday meetings in the past.
- Who meets who face to face
- John and Bala meet face to face
- Pamela knows John and Bala face to face from her working holidays with them at Fantsuam
- Nikki and Pamela meet face to face
- Graham and Pamela know each other face to face, but don't meet often
- Phones
- John and Pamela sometimes connect through SMS (text messages) if Internet connections fail
- Graham and Pamela also speak on the phone.
- Other information flows online
- Pamela, Chris and Michael Maranda are in contact online through various platforms because of their shared involvement in Coalition of the Willing
- Sources of infromation
- Graham shares information through his newsletter (contact biodes@bigfoot.com to go on the mailing list)
- Chris is a founder of Appropedia a wiki about appropriate technology
- Coalition of the Willing, Movement Camp, and some of the other related online spaces:
- Coalition of the Willing wiki - the place to get involved with Movement Camps and other activities.
- There is a 15 minute video introducing Coalition Of The Willing
- Coalition Of The Willing has a blog
- Posterous post on How Coalition Of The Willing and Dadamac relate to each other
- Formal or informal structures
- Pamela is wondering if the informal exchange of emails will work well enough for John, Graham and Chris to get things done
- It might help to set up something a bit more formal.
- She is wondering if it would be helpful to offer the kind of structures already in use by Dadamac for other projects
- Alternatively Michael Maranda may have better suggestions from the approaches he is using, and considering, for Coalition Of The Willing.
It is important to keep remembering the purpose of this analysis of
- I = Information or Initiative
- C = Communication or Community
- T = Technology and Socio/Technical aspects
As a reminder - his current questions are about
- Why drip irrigation is not advisable
- Solar cookers and Solar coolers
- Conservation Agriculture
- Purchase of pv (photo voltaic) plates
Anything might happen, and people who start off simply reading this story could well finish up as one of the characters in it.
Posted to Dadamac's Posterous by Pamela McLean
Replies - You can respond publicly by posting a comment on Dadamac's posterous or privately by emailing me .
Email - pamela.mclean@dadamac.net
Twitter - @Pamela_McLean and #dadamac
Dadamac - "We introduce people to each other (mostly UK-Nigeria) and help them do useful stuff. How can we help you?"