Project description

Title: Information Systems for Rural Development in Peru and Bolivia
Commissioned by: GTZ and BMZ
Country: Latin America
Overall term: May 2001 to December 2005

Context

In the rural regions of Peru and Bolivia, there are no operational mechanisms for coordinating institutional information providers or customized collation of information and knowledge. This means that small producers have no access to relevant, reliable, timely and detailed information for making business decisions.

Objective and impacts

By using new means of communication and drawing on many sources of detailed information, the producers are able to improve their productivity and access to markets and thus earn a higher income.

Approach

In cooperation with public and private institutions, the supply of information and the accessibility of Internet-based information systems is improved. Local contents are prepared in cooperation with the rural population. In the course of setting up and operating rural telecentres, services are developed to meet needs and the rural population trained in using ICT.

Syndicates of public and private institutions that process and manage specific information act as information sources. Regional information centres collect, process and circulate information via the Internet, newsletters, radio and television. Rural telecentres in municipalities and water user organizations are equipped with computers and Internet connections, and prepare local information for dissemination via the Internet and radio programmes with feedback into the system. These infocentres also have the task of providing information in answer to enquiries and services such as printouts, data carriers, fax, email and telephone, and of assisting clients in using computers, the Internet and email. They take an active part in evaluating and upgrading system performance.