Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs)

Enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and reach of technical assistance

ACDI/VOCA recognizes the need to integrate the latest thought, trends and best practices into its approaches. This applies to the provision of sound project design as well as practical tools and media to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and reach of technical assistance provided to a large number of beneficiaries. One medium that has gained increasing relevance is information communication technology (ICT).

A lack of timely and accurate information is a significant barrier to competitiveness for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which are now widely recognized as the prime engine of growth in most of the developing world. To address this gap, ACDI/VOCA incorporates ICT and multimedia technology to stimulate and meet increased local demand for market information, as well as credit information and technical knowledge on the part of farmers and other target beneficiaries.

In Kenya, Malawi and Uganda ACDI/VOCA has incorporated the use of market information centers, cell phones with SMS text, weekly e-mails and radio bulletins to provide farmers with weather and market information and more.

In India ACDI/VOCA is helping to build effective private sector-sponsored extension services for horticultural farmers, which includes the adoption of appropriate ICT delivery mechanisms such as hand-held PDAs in conjunction with cell phones.

In Egypt ACDI/VOCA developed a series of television and radio spots to promote the safe handling of milk, better animal husbandry and the nutritional benefits of milk products to lower rates of infant and child malnutrition. The television spots were aired by Al Jazeera and as a result awareness, adoption of improved practices and consumption of dairy products far surpassed expectations. ACDI/VOCA also developed the popular and long-running Serr Al Ard television series, which uses a lively soap opera format to subtly communicate agricultural extension messages.

In Ethiopia ACDI/VOCA assisted the ECafe Foundation and other local stakeholder institutions to organize the first internet auction of African coffees. It generated more than $187,000 for the farmers, at an average price of $3.22 per pound compared to the market price of $1.30 (an overall premium of $75,000 was paid for these extraordinary coffees). All proceeds were distributed to the cooperatives. The second such auction, conducted in August 2006, earned over a quarter of a million dollars.

The Sustainable Cocoa Enterprise Solutions for Smallholders (SUCCESS) Alliance, an ACDI/VOCA-led partnership between public, private and nonprofit organizations that promotes the sustainable cultivation and marketing of cocoa by smallholders in four countries, disseminated pest control and quality control information through mass media, including radio programs developed by program partner Overseas Strategic Consulting that were broadcast throughout the cocoa-growing areas of Sulawesi, reaching 270,000 farmers.

In Vietnam ACDI/VOCA developed a website for the Vietnamese Association of Rural Industrial Small and Medium Enterprises (VARISME), which allows the association to sell space to its members on an internet-enabled searchable English language product database. This will significantly extend the members’ market reach.