Bridging Digital Divides

There is an increasing unemployment situation, marginalization, and social exclusion of most citizens especially, the dis-empowered poor, youth, girls, and women, in Uganda. One of the critical solutions is the bridge the current digital divide or information gaps by promoting unfettered access to vital information by use of internet or ICT for socio-economic, environment, and political opportunities. If globally scaled, this solution has the potential to strengthen the current low prospects of partnerships or collaboration, information and knowledge or skills sharing, social inclusion and empowerment, and universal equal access to vital resources, benefits, or opportunities as a basic human right issue globally.It will employ community engaged research scholarship approach to develop digital technology innovations for community information society where everyone in the household or local community can afford to adopt early at will to access any vital information instantly.

Social inclusion enables unfettered access to vital resources, community or institutional assets, access to means of transport, tolerance of diversity, housing, personal safety, livelihood, health and disability, and education and skills. Multiple forces that shape social exclusion include barriers to the job market; limited support networks; special difficulties in negotiating social provisions; children without education system; and community alienation. Hence, social exclusion occurs when some individuals, groups, or communities are not able to normally participate in economic, social, political, legal, environmental, and cultural activities. The notion of social exclusion equally includes non-material conditions like gender specific discrimination, race, disabled,  employment, family members, or non-participation in benefits or opportunities. On the contrary, social inclusion allows individuals, families, or groups to gain access to material resources, income to acquire the resources, or fair participation in welfare, literacy, ICT, personal association, and personal safety. But social exclusion describes processes by which people (individuals, groups) are denied opportunities to fully participate in social and economic activities they wish to. The process of social exclusion is characterized by unemployment or joblessness, low or negative incomes or finances, deprivation of materials or possessions, education, skills, health, housing, social security, and basic human needs for a livelihood.

The project proposes community ICT readiness to help identify, slow down, arrest, and reverse the current social exclusion phenomena such as: unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime environments, poor health, failed families, isolation from economic, socio-cultural, environmental, political, and daily life. To clarify the idea, social exclusion is equated to poverty due to: lack of income or valuable resources for sustainable livelihoods; hunger, or malnutrition; ill health; limited or lack of access to education, basic services; increased morbidity, alarming maternal and child mortality rates; homelessness (acute shortage of housing); unsafe and degraded environment, gender discrimination, non- participation in policy, and decision-making in all spheres of life with a focus on the marginalized unemployed communities. Rapid adoption of universal access to ICT innovations for all ages. It is imperative to design and deliver a communication strategy for internal and external public will be developed and implemented; open or transparent communication will be practiced with extensive use of internet and other ICTs; specific communication activities and schedules will be highlighted and displayed; an interactive website as well as other interpersonal communication methods are employed with a focus on SDGs, social innovations, good practice, and lesson learned.

The target population will cover: e Learning school children; rural community ICT leadership; harnessing skills, information, and knowledge for youth engagement; rural women’s ICT capacity building for self-reliance; e Learning information society network; and educational software with multi-lingual and multimedia software like dictionaries.  The proposed research project will be a model for local capacity building to fight against social exclusion, ICT illiteracy and rural-urban digital gaps/divides, elusive and pervasive poverty, functional illiteracy, gender discrimination, and violence against women, child-abuse, youth drug and alcoholic abuse and unemployment, and human rights abuses through international excellence, regional, local, and global networking. ICT for inclusion will train and organize exchange visits to share best practices. The specific objectives are to plan, design, launch, manage, demonstrate, disseminate, and evaluate pilot:rural e-schools for learning and social inclusion;rural ICT network for technical leadership for social inclusion; rural girls’ and women’s ICT capacity building network for self-reliance and empowerment; rural youth ICT network for e-learning, information, and knowledge sharing;ICT networks for community media system; provide audio-visual information products and services for enhanced rural information society with a focus on community media advocacy communication campaign for  capacity building; research, policy process, and the diffusion innovations.

The project targets multiple stakeholders using with a focus on the most vulnerable groups based on stakeholder analysis results. All social public-private-community partners will be contracted through participatory community assessment of set demographic targets and actions; identify emerging and cross-cutting issues, obtain stakeholders’ perspectives, and pilot test social inclusion digital networks. It targets most vulnerable groups, individuals, institutions, or communities will engage micro businesses, unemployed, girls and women, youths, aged, PWDs, poor, homeless, retirees,  refugees, substance abusers, school drop-outs, community leaders, resource deprived local community schools, civil society organisations like CSOs and CBOs or media using citizen science strategy. 

The proposed research project proposal will be planned and managed to establish ICT for e-learning and e-education research to strengthen ICT literacy for social inclusion in Uganda as a unique model for Africa. The ultimate objective is to strengthen project management, human resource training, infrastructural upgrades, south-south, and north-south collaboration. It offers a robust platform for convergence of research experts, research users, industrialists while promoting local leadership and multi-disciplinary interaction. We contend that, a socially inclusive society is a place where everyone feels wanted, accepted, valued, respected, involved, hopeful, safe, well, supported, and active in social, economic, political, environmental, and legal activities alongside the rest of the members of the same community. Thus, it includes promoting and enhancing: community inclusion, social glue, normalcy, gender equality, integration, and global citizenship with a focus on community engaged  research scholarship approach. It is driven and inspired interdisciplinary and collaborative North-South/South-South research networking. The project is proposed to establish and address the current digital divide or gaps; pervasive poverty, gender discrimination, violent conflicts, homelessness, rough sleeping, youth dominated drug or substance abuse; high unemployment, lack of community media policy, vague policy awareness, and poor civic education

Internet is the focus of the ICT-led digital technology media that is proposed to address the issue of digital exclusion. ICT adoption and diffusion will establish various digital media channels or formats to include radio, phone, internet, multiple social media, email, tele-conference or video-conference system- Zoom meeting, television, publications, computer/laptop, and camera for social inclusion. In addition, a deluge of news items on cases of digital exclusion across multiple media channels; it will show government actions on policies on exclusion; sensitizing local actors who can prevent digital exclusion; one of them is improved understanding and higher sensitization-levels of the police, judiciary, youths and lawmakers against violence against digital exclusion; increased number of police reports submitted by victims against the perpetrators of digital exclusion;. Improved policies enacted to reduce digital exclusion; also more legal cases filed against the perpetrators of digital exclusion; and empower vulnerable groups with ICT literacy, awareness, and knowledge. It will reduce incidents of digital exclusion in communities. Digital literacy enhances social innovations for social entrepreneurs for self esteem, confidence, and awareness by women and girls to be assertive with the right attitudes, skills, and good practice ICT literacy promotes better understanding of basic human rights and h their abuses. It enhances micro-entrepreneurs,t empowers the youth as the agents of societal change and strengthens the participation of women and girls in socio-economic, environment, and political empowerment against violence against women and girls. For example,#Me Too apps will be developed and employed.

Information communication technology (ICT) like internet, phone, satellite, radio, teletext, printer, camera, scanner, television, or publication has been adopted in Uganda and relevant regulatory institutions and business models are already operational in the country. The critical challenge is access and use by the bulk of the citizens of Uganda and worst of all, the rural population. In a response, the project will develop and implement inclusive internet awareness with a focus on ICT adoption and diffusion guided by specific communication activities and schedules. interactive website as well as other interpersonal communication methods will be employed; regular press releases and press kits will be encouraged on regular basis; the concept of strategic communication will be employed to guide the research project; the notion of community media (such as radio, phone, television, word of mouth, or publications) models or approaches will be explored and evaluated.Public communication campaign strategy (practice, model, and theory) will be the main framework (to create measurable public awareness of the research issues, attitudinal, practice, or behaviour change). Digital inclusion issues will show the percentage of ICT service providers or users, digital dialogues, community media (radio)networks; digital village and community networks, e-learning, youth ICT network, girls’ and women’s  ICT networks, media coverage of ICT activities, ICT knowledge, awareness, and practice with a focus on community ICT readiness indicators. ICT use informs knowledge or understanding,emotion,belief, norm,attitude, and intention,skills or practices; self image, influence, engagement, empowerment, equity, social cohesion; and  norms. 

The project planning and management will be guided by work packages, deliverables, and milestones,management structure, and procedures, project team as a whole, and the matching resources to be committed as appropriate. First, the proposed project planning and management process will be managed through a secretariat coordinated by the Gender Equality and Climate Change Advocacy Centre, Kyambogo University and supported by steering and project implementation committees. The implementation structure constitutes (the six eLearning and social inclusion committees) and a training committee, each coordinated by a leading centre of excellence in the region. By the end of first funding period/phase (as agreed) of the grant, the consortium will report all implementations achievements of its approved work plan activities. This will include effective monitoring strategy for quality research for pilot projects and demonstrations, conducting baseline surveys, registered undergraduate and graduate university students, hundreds of trainees on cross-cutting courses, electronic learning in primary education, youth engagements, women in ICT for empowerment training, hosting of the project team or overseer committee meetings, workshops, and conferences, owning functional websites (with links to key sites), and strategic communication strategy involving both interpersonal and mass media approaches. The project will network with local, community, district, national, regional, and international in its objectives and activities. The network will disseminate information through multiple media channels. Work plan (Work Packages, deliverables, and milestones): the approved research activities will be documented in: a national three-year master work plan with a gantt chart; detailed annual work plan with gantt chart); pilot project community and component specific  work plans with gantt charts; and matching 4-column project planning matrix’ logical frameworks for each work plan. The outputs will include a well developed curriculum for the rural network ICT leadership programmes published and launched; leverage the individuals’ experiences and capacities of young promising mid-career potential leaders in district communities to spearhead the rural pilot  ICT skills for learning and social inclusion; disseminate ICT knowledge and skills to identify and use vast opportunities for  information society; and at least 500 participants from each of the project communities, completing annual ICT skills leadership training for more effects. 

None.15,000

ICT literacy capacity building for women and girls will engage at least 1500 rural women or girls per year for digital inclusive societal transformation with skills for micro-entrepreneurs. They will have a website designed, developed, hosted, and maintained with ICT users’ manuals  (guide books) published  and circulated among rural, urban, and peri-urban women in addition to the website postings. There will be ICT networking among the with a focus on the civil society organisations like CSOs and CBOs as well community radio networks.There will be digital capacity building for women’s CBOs in the project communities to bridge the current wide gender inequality digital divide in Uganda and Africa. Meanwhile, performance indicators will focus on rural women’s capacity building networks in local communities. The initial 1500 rural women and girls who had gained digital literacy skills, will be assessed to identify trainer of trainers who will be the first stock ToTs for rural, urban, or peri-urban communities trained in the use relevant ICT applications. Training manuals or guidebooks will be produced and translated into local languages where necessary for hands on training for sustainable household income for a livelihood . It is expected that the initial direct 1500 annual beneficiaries of the project will provide talented trainer of trainers who will then produce multiplier effects in their own local communities. It is hoped that, in the third year, the project will have reached a cruising speed to be able to double or tripple the annual number of 1500 direct beneficiaries. 

The project will network with multiple community, district, national, sub-regional, regional, and international institutions from African, Asia, American, and European countries. These institutions collaborate with northern partners such as universities, media organisations, training institutes, professional associations and networks, human rights and gender equality advocates, research and education bodies. Future collaboration will be open to more countries/partners. We have planned to network with other model networks of excellence in Africa and other ICT for learning and inclusive capacity building initiatives.Social exclusion describes processes by which people (individuals, groups) are denied opportunities to fully participate in social and economic activities they wish to. The following domains characterize the process of social exclusion (inclusion): employment and work, income (social and economic and financial resources), material resources, education, skills, health, housing, and personal safety. The concept of social exclusion/exclusion will guide the participatory research approaches along with other theories like: the diffusion of innovations, appreciative inquiry, community media (communication), and mass communication theories (e.g. agenda setting, priming, and framing) to guide the research process. The research approach will be participatory. The following components will form the pilot rural platform for ICT for learning and social inclusion research main components:

• Rural e-school ICT for learning and social inclusion
• Rural youth ICT network for learning and social inclusion
• Rural women’s ICT centres for learning and social inclusion
• E-Learning community media network for learning and social inclusion
• Educational software, multi-lingual, and multimedia dictionaries (cross-cutting)

 

In Uganda, the concepts social exclusion and digital divides are very much a live and rife in aspects rural, urban and peri-urban community socio-economic demographics and they embody vulnerable individuals or groups, households or families, institutions in the society. The groups that are at high risk of exclusion include teen-age mothers, early school drop-outs, PWDs; suicidal tendencies, aged, wizards, loners, witches (night dancers), abused children, drug abusers, single parents, and  deviants. At the same time, most people are excluded from secure livelihoods; political security, gainful employment; sources of incomes; ownership property, credit or land; housing; the minimal or prevailing consumption level; basic education, life  skills, and cultural heritage; social inclusion benefits; citizenship, equality before the law; participation in the democratic process; public goods; constitutional and human rights; family security, self-esteem, and personal dignity; humane treatment, respect, self-actualization, and basic needs. On the other hand, social exclusion is associated with poor or no homes, poor incomes, high crime rates, diseases (illnesses), tribalism, witchcraft, and gender violence. The key challenge is that the enormity of social and digital exclusion in the society undermines the citizens’ physical security; health; education; standard of living; productive activities; individual, family, and social life; participation, influence, and voice; identity, expression and self-respect; social and legal security).  Moreover, inclusion indicators may manifest in the following six main domains: poverty among children; poverty among adults; inequalities in income and pay; health inequalities; minimum literacy and educational achievements and exclusion by institutions such as banks. 

The digital inclusion research team will employ consultation process with both the internal and external stakeholders. The key activities (inputs) will focus on hands-on training in social and digital inclusion, zero-poverty and hunger,gender equality mainstreaming, equal opportunity and empowerment, minority rights, knowldege economy, climate change adaptation and mitigation, north-south partnerships, culture and tradition; functional and media literacy, digital literacy, environmental sustainability, healthcare and clean energy for al ages, ICT readiness, and information society technology awareness, public information services, productive full employment, citizen journalism, biodiversy conservation, sustainable agriculture and food security, human rights, community media, and social entrepreneurship skills. The process of consultation will include: identifying the key stakeholders; efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery; use of open, transparent, and direct democratic communication (strategic communication); improvising in the event of lack of community facilities; participatory and transparent project planning, implementation. The gist of the research activities will be guided by the anticipated community challenges such as: lack of quality housing; lack of access to quality services by the aged; rural transport and communication; policy and legal awareness; public awareness of the civic rights education; child rights and women’s rights issues; awareness of social inclusion and exclusion policies and national plans; women and girls as well as the youth empowerment, and self-reliance career development skills for gainfull employments.The intervention will be participatory in sinc with the community engaged researrch scholarship to ensure:  best practice for social and digital community outreach research for productive and gainfull employment opportunities in the country.

Not applicable.

Not applicable because this is the first initiative being developed with a focus on adopting the existing technology in the country and globally.

Our interdisciplinary team of academics are university lecturers and professors or faculties with specialized professional and practical experience in the following areas as well as official responsibilities and experiences:

We have  experience with inter-university collaborative research coordinated by Inter-University Council for East African Universities, other research grants by SIDA/SAREC, JICA, UNESCO, AICAD, EU, African Union, short-term consultancies with the EDI of the World Bank, and they have been educated or trained  in Uganda and foreign countries like  USA, UK, Sweden, Norway, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Finland, and the Netherlands, among others.

Our team members have work experience of at least 12 years at the university at PhD levels and we also work with teaching and research assistants.We all hold important responsibilities in the nonprofit as volunteer program coordinators as well as in the university teaching positions. 4.Our members have participatedd in or organizing international interdisciplinary research conferences. We have presented conference papers, published articles in proceedings, peer reviewed journals, books, and book chapter in addition to reviewing for other journals.We mentor and supervise undergraduate and graduate students including PhD scholars.

Our members belong to multiple networks snd some are listed in directories of  scientists or experts in Africa. We have also participated in other collaborative activities with USAID, UNICEF, ERASMUS. UNECA, or UNDP. Our is gender equal with four women and four men.Our disciplines include: communications, education,development studies, HRs, entrepreneurship, engineering, vocational training, health and nutrition.

We are a new  nonprofit organization formed by university academics. Our partnerships are still at a formative stage. It is being developed with Kyambogo University, Kampala; Makerere University, Kampala; Uganda Science Journalists Association; Uganda Christian University, Uganda; Uganda local and central governments; civil society organisations especially NGOs, CBOs, faith-based organisations, Uganda students' and teachers' associations, cultural organisations, and local businesses.

We have not yet yet developed a professional business model to showcase. We provide pubic information communication services.Our full services are still being developed with a focus on community outreach research, education, training, and public policy advocacy communication. We have not started receiving revenues as we are investing our voluntary resources.

Not yet figured out at this point neither have we started to develop any professional revenue model hitherto.