Empowering the Rural Areas through Community Centers under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Program
This project aims to reduce poverty, empower communities, and improve the quality of life in rural areas in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal through increased information and communication technology (ICT) connectivity and accessibility. The project, which will be implemented as part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program, aims to create an enabling environment for community e-centers (CeCs). CeCs provide shared facilities for the public to use basic telecommunications services, access the internet, and use ICT applications for socioeconomic activities.
| PROJECT DETAILS | ||
|
Commitment Date Funding Type Country Sector Status Total Cost |
5 Jul 2005 Grant Regional ICT Closed $1 million | |
| KEY OUTPUTS |
Establish at least 20 pilot community e-centers (five each in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal) whose financial sustainability is ensured after 3 years of operation Increase community productivity and profitability by at least 10% by applying various ICT applications to socioeconomic activities Improve the capacity of the local government and communities to manage and use ICT by ensuring at least 50% of the ICT-illiterate population is able to use ICT Develop at least two ICT applications for farming and government public service, and at least three types of local content for community information, employment information, and social service information, based on the information needs and characteristics of communities Launch a website to share experiences and lessons learned |
| FINANCING |
$1 million (Japan Fund for Information and Communication Technology) |
