This study considers the use and usefulness of e-readiness assessments, based on an in-depth evaluation of the e-readiness assessment initiative of the World Bank Information for Development Program (infoDev). Top-down, international initiatives waste money and effort on poorly conceived and under-supported e-readiness assessment programs and can be better targeted toward concrete development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals. The focus needs to move from “how much bandwidth?” to “how much bandwidth is needed for remote diagnosis to reduce child mortality?” Even before this report made it to final publication, the infoDev e-readiness initiative was retired and many of the statements made in this report are now taken as a given.

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Table of contents

Executive summary
Acknowledgements
Acronyms used in this report
1 Introduction
2 Background

2.1 E-readiness assessment as a tool for ICT-based development

2.1.1 What do e-readiness assessments actually do?
2.1.2 E-readiness assessment: who’s done what, where, and how?

2.2 About the infoDev e-readiness initiative

2.2.1 E-readiness assessment grants
2.2.2 E-readiness resources: Facilitation Center, toolkit, and guide

2.3 Overview of the Millennium Development Goals

2.3.1 The role for ICT in MDG strategies

3 Study of the INFODEV e-readiness initiative
4 Findings of the study

4.1 Overview of infoDev-supported assessment reports

4.1.1 Who assessed what: authors and objectives
4.1.2 How assessments were conducted: tools and methodologies used

4.2 Key findings and recommendations of the infoDev-supported assessments

4.2.1 Measuring physical access to ICT
4.2.2 Considering whether ICT is appropriate to local conditions
4.2.3 Gauging the affordability of ICT in the local context
4.2.4 Determining whether ICT capacity and training is available
4.2.5 Checking availability of locally relevant content and services
4.2.6 Determining whether ICT is integrated into peoples’ lives
4.2.7 Considering socio-cultural factors that affect ICT use
4.2.8 Examining the legal and regulatory environment for ICT use
4.2.9 Looking at security and whether people trust ICT
4.2.10 Examining the use of ICT in business
4.2.11 Understanding the macroeconomic environment affecting ICT use
4.2.12 Gauging the government's role in driving e-readiness

4.3 Outcomes from the infoDev-supported assessment processes
4.4 Key external challenges faced in the assessments
4.5 Overall project management and implementation of assessments

5 Analysis and discussion

5.1 Use of e-readiness assessments: content and measurements
5.2 Usefulness of e-readiness assessments: outputs and benefits
5.3 The assessment process: management and implementation
5.4 Linking e-readiness strategies and the MDGs: opportunities and obstacles

6 Concluding remarks
Annex 1. Case studies on grantee countries’ e-readiness assessment processes

Case study: Belarus
Case study: Bulgaria
Case study: Costa Rica
Case study: Estonia
Case study: Jamaica
Case study: Kenya
Case study: Panama
Case study: Philippines
Case study: Romania
Case study: Russia
Case study: Tanzania
Case study: Trinidad and Tobago
Case study: Uganda

Annex 2. Overview of the e-readiness assessment process
Annex 3. Comparison of e-readiness assessment tools Comparing e-readiness assessment tools: which is best and why? The main e-readiness assessment tools currently used e-Readiness tools comparison tables
Annex 4. Beyond e-readiness: digital divide assessments
Annex 5. E-readiness assessments: Who’s done what, and where?
Annex 6. Background on Y2K and e-readiness
Annex 7. RFP for infoDev e-readiness assessment grants
Annex 8. RFP for the infoDev e-readiness Facilitation Center
Annex 9. Study questionnaire for grantee countries
Annex 10. Study interview questions and discussion points
Annex 11. MDG targets and indicators
Annex 12. List of references on e-readiness and MDGs

Acknowledgements

This report was prepared for and funded by a grant from infoDev. Like all of our work, this report was a collaborative effort that drew on many members of the bridges.org team in various roles. We would especially like to recognise the contributions of Ewan McPhie, Jennifer Huesler, Ntombi Masakazi, Anthony Mugeere, Joy Olivier, Philipp Schmidt, Karin Silk, Liam Smit, and Leonie Vlachos.

We would like to thank the e-readiness assessment teams in the countries that participated in the study, including the many academics, Ministers and other civil servants, and the staff of the various organizations and departments who took time out of their busy schedules to provide information for this report. We especially appreciate the input received from the organizations and departments visited, including: The Applied Research and Communications (ARC) Fund, Bulgaria; PRAXIS center for policy studies, Estonia; the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Romania; the Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH); Ministry of Works, Housing and Communications, Uganda and the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Kenya. Finally, we would like to thank the infoDev staff members who assisted with the research process and provided input to this report.