Value of the Internet
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Source: AFRIK-IT@LISTSERV.HEA.IE
Greetings!
A recurring theme in my interviews with scientists in African na-
tional agricultural research systems has to do with the value of par-
ticipation in international conversations.
I am interested in assessing the value of the Internet to individual
users in Africa. Because it is so easy to quantify and to understand,
we generally focus on how the Internet, particularly electronic mail,
permits us to do old things cheaper.
We can easily quantify how much cheaper it is to send an email rather
than a fax, or an email rather than a courier. It is generally enough
to focus on these cost savings to justify limited interventions to
assist individuals in obtaining access to the Internet.
Somewhat more difficult to quantify, but I suspect more important, is
how the Internet, particularly electronic mail, permits us to do new
things that were not previously possible.
How do we quantify the value of this:
An international agency learns of an opportunity to submit a proposal
for research funding, but the deadline is near. The agency would like
to involve regional scientists in Africa. Without email, there would
be no time. With email, African scientists have the opportunity to
participate in the preparation of the proposal, assuring that the re-
gion's interests are considered in the process.
I've had one full day of interviews so far, and each person inter-
viewed has provided me a variation on the story above. The suggestion
is that it is the ability to participate actively in international
discussions of direct concern to Africa that is the greatest value
added by the Internet.
I wonder how we might begin to assess this value. Any ideas?
Cheers!
Jeff
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Jeff Cochrane
1111 North 19th Street, Suite 210
Arlington, VA 22209, USA
Tel: +1-703-235-5415
Fax: +1-703-235-3805
e-mail:AfricaLink@usaid.gov
http://www.info.usaid.gov/alnk
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