Information and Communication Technologies for Development Working Group

Through advising, training, and sharing resources and information, the ICT for Development Working Group (ICTDWG) seeks to help NGOs to improve and increase their use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in order to be more effective in their development work in Vietnam.

ICT for development refers to the effective use of information and communication technologies for sustainable development, utilising modern media (computers, internet, email, multimedia and social networking) and traditional media (radio, television and print) for knowledge management and knowledge sharing.

This includes sharing practical information and tools relating to key issues such as knowledge management; the media and technologies including computers, the internet and email programs and systems. It also includes using technology in a way that includes everyone in the community.

Key objectives

• To facilitate an NGO ICT community focused on information-gathering, skills-sharing and peer learning, relating to ICT topics for sustainable development.

• To provide an opportunity for development organisations to expand their practical ICT knowledge.

• To increase the awareness, integration and adoption of free open source software (FOSS) tools by NGOs, thus helping to reduce licensing costs, software piracy, virus and copyright issues.

• To provide guidance on improving ICT infrastructure within the development community in Vietnam.

• To promote, through the use of ICT for development, practical and sustainable solutions using both modern media (computers, internet, email, multimedia and social networking) and traditional media (radio, television and print) so that both NGOs and therefore the community in Vietnam can benefit from all these forms of media.