NEF and the Digital Age: Moving From Technology to Information

Few know what information and communications technology (ICT) for development mean, but not at the Near East Foundation. It is an increasingly powerful tool that includes:

• participating in global markets;
• promoting political accountability;
• improving the delivery of basic services;
• and enhancing local development opportunities.

NEF believes that moving from the technological age into the information age helps create an informed and participatory citizenry and puts entire communities and businesses in a better position to make informed choices. In turn, this can lead to an increased awareness of both human rights and opportunities ahead.

At NEF we are using new technologies and/or integrating new technologies in our projects to increase their impact, especially for youth and people living in rural areas. We strongly believe technology can provide new educational and economic opportunities, connect people together, and increase awareness.

Our websites and ICT-enabled projects include:

• Asset Based Community Development -- a strategy for community development that is sustainable. The site promotes positive action for change, rather than focusing on needs and problems. Acknowledging community weaknesses and strengths is important, but here attention is on using available assets and opportunities to support and sustain community development. This contrasts to a "need-based" approach. The website was created in cooperation with Coady International Institute, Canada.

• NGO IT Services Network in Jordan -- a web-based solution that includes a Grant Making System, Knowledge Forum, Youth Network, Virtual Support System, and NGO Data Bank. The site provides basic information and helps to match interested individuals with specific talents with NGOs seeking volunteers. The Network has designed and sponsors online the first CharityNavigator-like independent NGO evaluator in the Middle East. The transparency the site provides, both to applicants and other interested parties, represents a notable achievement for Jordan's non-governmental sector. The website was created in cooperation with Jordan's Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

• Philanthropy for Social Development -- aims to enhance links between local philanthropy in Egypt--whether material giving or volunteer effort--and social development. The premise springs from the "Philanthropy for Social Development" program and a belief that development must start from within, that our resources are the main assets that lead to development. NEF's goal: to explore and understand the philanthropic environment in Egypt--its size, potential and challenges, to eventually help mobilize and invest philanthropy into sustainable development of the country.

• Promoting Participatory Development in the Arab World -- aims to better capture the diversity of experiences implementing participatory development in the region; and spreading best practices among development practitioners and non-governmental organizations. The site promotes participatory development approaches while addressing limitations of information exchange and distribution. The website was created in cooperation with International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and Department for International Development (DFID), London, UK.

Those sites are produced and prepared by Near East Foundation field staff and partner agencies, along with input and comments from members and readers. Individual comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions of NEF.

NEF's www.neareast.org website, with thousands of daily visitors, also uses the internet as an online resource hub for development practitioners, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions. And NEF has moved its Learning Resources Centre online, with its 30,000 items supporting field-based practice and management in development--both in English and Arabic, printed and audio-visual. ICT is also an integral part of how NEF operates internally.

In short, NEF is using the internet as an effective tool for project and knowledge management, fundraising and public relations, archiving and information systems.