[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >Hi Taran > >the NGO world is much like the corporate world. Some businesses are still >born, others have a short and troubled life and most have a short life when >considered within the span of human existance. The same holds for NGO's and >orgs which have, as their markets, the funding sources, governmental and >foundational. These customers must determine how and when to spend their >money also. And, in the world of international development, they are fickle >consumers, much like folks seeking the latest business management models. >If one method doesn't work, there is always another possibility. The >"digital divide" is the current darling of a certain community, much like >many of the business management books that have been on the tables of the >book stores. > > Yup, that much is true. Personally, I think it's worse than the corporate world at times because in a lot of smiles there are very sharp teeth.
>As was mentioned on this list, Microsoft just did a massive project in >Jamaica. Public/private partnerships are an interesting model. Its hard to >keep one's heart pure (linux and the 100 computer vs the computer giants) >and, at the same time, meet one's development goals. So, maybe the best way >is to seek funds from a private sector partner who has similar interests. >After all, there was a massive conference putting the private sector and >the development community together. And, a corporate expenses account can >dwarf a foundational funding. With the growth of the SRI (sociall >responsible investments) and CSR (corporate social responsibility) >movements on the rise- maybe foundations and government agencies aren't the >obvious partnerships. > > Well, honestly, the projects I am working on don't require funding. In fact, I played that game for two years - trying to get funding, and even volunteering to do no-cost work for some NGOs. I work within my own funding now, and find that life is a lot less disappointing when I don't have to worry about fitting a project within certain parameters. Sure, I can't save the world, but the world has been doing pretty well without Taran. :-) I just focus on my 'backyard' like a good little hobbit. >And if there are concerns regarding these partnerships, maybe one should >reassess the idea of ICT4D (after all, there is probably "Intel Inside"). > >thoughts? > > One of the other things I do is challenge some of the ICT4D initiatives in the region, and participate as the ICT4D process and my budget permit. I don't sit around writing papers anymore, especially after the ARC project. I find that if I do not set my expectations on others, I am far less disappointed and therefore can maintain a personal commitment to the projects I am interested in instead of what is cool this season. I've been approached on projects as recently as last week by funders. One project has really caught my interest, though, and maybe I'll work on that one. Time will tell. But funding doesn't define what I do. I define what I do, and while that autonomy can be harrowing at times, I like who I see in the mirror every morning. In fact, a friend of mine (on this list) and myself were discussing on Thursday how rich we would be if we simply threw away our scruples. :-) But I'm a bit of an anomaly. There are some really great people in ICT4D with demonstrated thresholds of patience beyond my comprehension. I am not wired for red tape, there are better people for dealing with that. And I trust these good people to do what they can to affect that process (though at times I disagree with them) - in the meanwhile, I just do what I can where I am and try to learn from the people that everyone is trying to help. I'm finding that if we listen, they actually have a lot to say - but that requires our changing of our own worldviews to be more inline with their own as much as the other way around. I am fortunate in having met some great people who continue to help me do that. In fact, a lot of what I have been writing recently has been a lot of remixing of what I have learned on the ground in my travels in Latin America and the Caribbean. It's been very humbling. -- Taran Rampersad Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.knowprose.com http://www.easylum.net http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran Coming on January 1st, 2006: http://www.OpenDepth.com "Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
