Global Impact Study of Public Access to Information & Communication Technologies is a five-year, $7.2-million international research project sponsored by the Global Libraries initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The project is implemented by IDRC in partnership with the Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) at the University of Washington Information School.
Through telecentres, libraries, and other emerging models of public access to information and communication technologies (ICT), this project examines impact in a number of areas, including employment and income, education, civic engagement, democracy and governance, cultural and language preservation, and health.
Using longitudinal and comparative research approaches, the project seeks answers regarding the magnitude of these impacts and how to measure them, as well as the relationship between the costs of providing public access to ICT and its benefits.
Why this research? Why now?
Over the last decade, governments, international development agencies, foundations, and corporations have made significant investments to increase public access to ICT, particularly in developing countries. As these investments continue to grow, questions are being raised about their social and economic impact, particularly:
- What are the observable social and economic impacts of public access to ICT?
- What is the magnitude of these impacts and how can we measure them?
- What is the relationship between costs and benefits of providing public access to ICT?
The Global Impact Study investigates these questions using longitudinal and comparative research approaches. Researchers examine the impact of a range of shared, public access models, such as the provision of ICT in libraries and telecentres, as well as other models and innovations that emerge over the life of the project (2007–2012). The project examines both positive and negative impacts on populations’ well-being in the areas of employment and income, education, civic engagement, democracy and governance, culture and language preservation, and health, among others.
Two phases
The Global Impact Study began in October 2007 and will last five years, until 2012. The first phase, which ended in December 2008, focused on secondary data research and three country-level field studies (Chile, Bangladesh, Lithuania) to pilot research methods and frameworks. The project is now in the second phase — researchers are examining evidence of impact from a series of longitudinal and comparative field studies in a number of countries.
Tapping research networks
Project researchers come from existing and new research networks, as well as from teams convened at both the global and regional/country level where field research is carried out. Part of the mandate of this project is to connect people and build a community of researchers working around these issues.
Improved capacity, better research methods & a common framework
Throughout its five-year span, the Global Impact Study will build research capacity in developing and emerging economies. It will also improve methodological approaches and create a common framework and vocabulary for further research.
Better programs & policies
The Global Impact Study is important because it will generate evidence to support policy and investment decisions and provide insights into how to develop better initiatives.
