This thesis is concerned with the role of new information and communication technologies (lCTs) in community development. Bhalla and James (1988) have stated, 'The rapidly advancing scientific and technological frontier will inevitably have monumental consequences for the Third World ... Equally predictable, however, is that modem technologies will be deployed in developing countries ... ' With this in mind, questions central to the current research are asked: Is Africa being left behind in the new information revolution? Will the new ICTs aid deVelopment in African countries, and in particular, are local communities going to be empowered or marginalized? Is there room for optimism? To address these questions and investigate the potential of ICTs to aid community development, the author outlines the importance of community development, particularly the role played by small enterprises and women in development (Chapter Two). Further, the chapter looks at the information needs of these economic sectors and the intermediary bodies that have been formed to assist them. Chapter Three seeks to show the importance of technology within the development process, and in particular, the importance of local capacities and local technologies. These are deemed necessary for technology blending which adapts new technologies to local circumstances. In Chapter Four, the author reviews the growth ofICTs and related institutions identifying constraints that have been encountered and how they are being addressed. Significant is the discovery that African telecommunications generate higher profits than those in other parts of the world; this should allow efficiency gains which should permit major expansion in ICTs within current investment levels. Reports on field research carried out in Kenya and South Africa are given in Chapter Five. In both countries, small enterprises and women's development were identified as key players in community development. To this end, intermediary organizations involved in these two areas were identified for study: the Women's Bureau and the Kenya Industrial Estates in Kenya; and the Women's National Coalition, the Small Businesses Advisory Bureau, BRIDGES and Mamelodi in South Africa. Whilst all the organizations were providing benefits to target communities, the South African organizations showed greater capacity for delivering assistance. All demonstrated high management skills and exploited the new opportunities provided through a sound infrastructure and a political will, to extend assistance to local communities in various ways. The final Chapter draws reasoned conclusions pointing out three necessary success factors: infrastructure, management skills and political will. With these three critical factors in mind, the author makes recommendations to government, commerce and industry, agencies serving local communities, international agencies and to researchers. To this end, the thesis makes a contribution of value to all potential stakeholders. It also provides guidance to future researchers into African development.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves : [50]-54).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-111). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 1997. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (PhD)--AUT University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references. Also held in print ([15], 222 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.) in the Archive at the City Campus (T 303.4833082 HAM)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-111). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [331]-354).

This study discusses the strategies and lessons learned by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in targeting rice research toward poor women.The strategies include socio-economic research on gender issues;technology development for women-specific tasks through participatory research; collaborative research with national agricultural research systems (NARS) and networks; research-oriented training on gender analysis; organization of conferences and workshops on gender issues; recognition of female rice scientists; gender audit of research projects and appointment of a social scientist to coordinate gender-related activities.A revised conceptual framework of farming systems research and gender analysis was used to better understand the complex interrelationship between the environment (physical, socio-economic, cultural), and intra-household dynamics, particularly men and women's roles and responsibilities in rice-based farming systems.Case studies were conducted in the Philippines and eastern India.Improved seed management and adoption of improved glutinous rice varieties showed potential for increasing yields and income.Women's narratives were interwoven within the quantitative analysis to make their voices heard in the story.The most important lesson learned from the author's experience is that targeting research toward poor rural women can be an effective strategy in providing them with choices, opportunities and abilities to enhance their role as food producers. This will hopefully help improve their social and economic status / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Generally, rural women have lesser access to technologies that are vital in progressing with their tasks due to gender dimensions linked to patriarchy that were perpetuated by apartheid, which promoted male migration and created female subordination. This created invisibility of women's major role as food producers. Although South Africa is democratic, rural households are still far behind in terms of development. Norms and values in most traditional societies sideline women and increase the burden of work that they normally have. Duties performed by rural women demand physical energy and is generally time consuming Access to appropriate technologies might assist in reducing energy and lime spent unwisely. Traditional norms encourage male superiority and sociocultural barriers give women limited access to certain assets such as livestock, land, credit and their decision making power is very little compared to male counterparts. This has serious implications on women's lives because these aspects are most important in meeting life challenges they face on a daily basis. Women's involvement in both productive and reproductive tasks shows that they are concerned about the lives of their families together with the community in which they live. They modify used objects in order to produce subsistence. Surplus obtained from their yields plays a vital role in generating income to sustain their livelihoods. Access to technologies might reduce time spent on reproductive tasks and diverted to produce more. This study is intended to contribute to a greater understanding and the recognition of the linkages between women's roles, responsibilities, knowledge and their participation in rural economic development, particularly looking at their use of technology. A critical concern raised in this study is whether women's knowledge of and experience with technology are adequately incorporated in development debates and initiatives, especially in an environment where the decision-makers tend to he male. The main findings of the study are that rural women utilize a range of technologies, they are involved in innovating and adapting technologies and they experience a variety of problems in relation to accessing, maintaining and using technologies at the household and community levels. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2004.

This thesis has a three-fold goal: (1) it aims to contribute to studies which analyze the gender dimension in social shaping studies of technology; (2) in its emphasis on the Internet and the new information infrastructure it is a complement to the literature in communication studies on the gendering of communication technologies; and (3) it adds to emergent theories of virtual communities by positing how gendered practices and gender-related activities have influenced the emergence of social policy mores in the evolving information infrastructure. / In emphasizing the social factors that shape technological change the thesis departs from dominant approaches towards technology that typically study the "affects" or "impact" of technology on society. This thesis similarly responds to the gender-perspective gap that exists in sociotechnical studies, and enlarges the scope of gender studies through its consideration of emergent information and communication technologies, notably the Internet. How the social mores of virtual communities have been influenced and affected by and through a consideration of gender and gendered practices on the Internet forms a core component of the thesis, based upon case studies. / As this thesis argues, new information and communication technologies must be considered in relation to other communication technologies, as well as in relation to the social context in which they are designed, developed and used, including the often unarticulated social assumptions of various groups, and the unanticipated consequences of the new information infrastructure. In this sense, social scientists are now at a key turning point in their explorations of new information and communication technologies. / This thesis should be of significance to communication scholars interested in the history and theory of gender and communication technologies; social historians of technology, and feminist scholars, with an interest in a gendered perspective on new communication technologies; and public policy officials interested in how different groups of individuals will interact with, influence, and be affected by new communication and information technologies.