PANOS MEDIA FELLOWSHIPS ON ICTs-ENABLED COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR SOCIAL CHANGE - CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2002

["Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>]

PANOS MEDIA FELLOWSHIPS ON ICTs-ENABLED COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR 
SOCIAL CHANGE - CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2002.  

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Panos seeks to offer a number of fellowship grants to journalists or 
development experts to research and write articles in national and 
international media on ICTs and their development impact. Information 
and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are recognised as a powerful 
tool to facilitate social development. The flow of information from 
and towards the poorest should increase, if poverty is to be reduced. 
ICTs greatly facilitate the flow of information and knowledge 
offering the socially-marginalised and the poorest of the poor 
unprecedented opportunities to assert their own entitlements. Leading 
international institutions, donor agencies, NGOs, academics, 
researchers and activists have all been contributing to this 
development strategy. Success stories and lessons-learned case 
studies of how ICTs have transformed lives of the poor are abundant. 
The potential is real - yet sceptics warn of the hype. Issues like 
the huge flow of funds from the donor community, the sustainability 
of telecentres, and the usefulness of these centres in the lives of 
the poorest of the poor are all key areas of discussion. 'Louder 
Voices' ( http://www.panos.org.uk/home/summary% 20Study1.doc), a 
recent study by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation 
(CTO) and Panos London on strengthening developing-country 
participation in international ICT-decision making, points out that 
developing countries are poorly represented when agendas are set and 
decisions made. Panos sees the need to have an independent account by 
journalists and development experts who can reflect the range of 
perspectives among user communities, the rural poor, government 
officers, development workers, policy makers, and other stakeholders, 
as to what 'ICTs for development' means in their societies. These 
views need to frame the debate around ICTs-enabled development 
discourses. 
 
What does Panos want to do? 
 
Panos has been commissioning independent journalists for a decade to 
write media articles and report to encourage and support informed 
debate on various development issues. Panos plans to commission 
journalists and development experts from the South to report on rural 
ICTs in their regions. 

These aspects will be published in the author's national media as 
well as forming part of a major Panos international report. 
 
After a careful study of existing literature on this topic, the 
following are identified as key issues: 
 
I. Basic issues 

- The use and effectiveness of telecentres 

- On the needs and demands of rural communities where telecentres are 
located 

- On the cost factor 

II. Telecentres and sustainability 

III. Telecommunications policy and rural welfare 

IV. Dominance of non-native languages in Information and 
Communication Technologies for Development sector 

V. Flow of information - before and after the telecentre in a rural 
setting 

VI Innovative combinations of technology to increase the access to 
information 
 
Mini-briefings are available from Panos (see below) on the above 
topics which explain the themes in detail. These mini-briefings are 
only guidelines and applicants are encouraged to combine these issues 
when formulating their proposal. 
 
Successful applicants will be expected to 
 
* Produce a 3000 word analytical report for Panos based largely on 
field research and interview 

* Publish at least two articles based on the report in their 
local/national media 
 
How to apply: 
Interested applicants should: 
 
* read the mini-briefings 

* send a one-page proposal. This should cover: 

  - the aspect/s of rural ICTs you propose to study 

  - explanation of the situation 

  - explaining your methodology: particulars of areas of visit, 
possible list of people (or type of people) who you would interview 

  - expected duration of the work 

* deadline for receiving proposals Friday October 4th 
 
Panos will shortlist candidates on the basis of these outlined 
proposals. 
 
The amount for each Fellowship will be decided by Panos London on an 
individual basis. Panos London's decision on awarding fellowship is 
final. 

Please write to Murali Shanmugavelan 
(mailto:MuraliS@panoslondon.org.uk ) to receive mini-briefings. 
 
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