The present paper aims to argue the case for Civil Society Organisation (CSO) led policy influence through the multi-stakeholder approach to scale up telecentres or Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs), which are ICT empowered public access spaces where the community can appropriate value added information or ‘knowledge’ without any discrimination. It is based on the hypothesis that uninhibited access to knowledge through conventional (radio, television) as well as emerging Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) (computer, Internet) is critical for holistic community development, especially in the present ‘information age’ since technology has tremendous potential to overcome the barriers of time and space and its denial has further widened the existing divide between the poor and the rich.

1. The Multi- Stakeholder Approach to
Policy Influence for Inclusive Growth
Dr. Basheerhamad Shadrach
Ms. Shipra Sharma
8th Annual Symposium on Poverty Research in Sri
Lanka
Communicating research and influencing change
29-30 November 2007
An initiative by Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/47932902/Communicating-Research-Influencing-C
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2. Objectives of the Paper
 The present paper aims to analyze the strategy
adopted by Mission 2007 to influence public and
private sector policies and practices to scale up
Village Knowledge Centre program. Key
features include:
 CSO led multi-stakeholder engagement

People centric approach
 Leveraging upon appropriate opportunities to channel
its mission
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3. The Hypothesis
 The prerequisites for ICT4D scale up are multi-
faceted, requiring collaboration of various
sectors including Government.
 It also requires a paradigm shift in government
and private sector policies and practices.
 The strategy to achieve this has to be flexible
and dynamic, capitalizing on proper utilization of
existing and emerging opportunities.
 Enough scope for different actors to lead at
different times and at various levels.
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4. The Process: generic model…
 Vision statement
 Mapping the requirements for scale-up.
 Identification of appropriate stakeholders and
mapping their core competency, skills and
resources.
 Partnership formed on the basis of
transparency, accountability and mutual sharing
of responsibilities, risks, and benefits.
 Networking to achieve the goals.
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5. The Process: Indian case study
 Scale up conceived on the basis of lessons
learnt while implementing Information Village
Research Project in 1998 (IDRC & MSSRF
initiative).
 Sharing of learnings with stakeholders in 2003
and launching Mission 2007 in 2004.
 Identification of prerequisites for national scale
up, i.e., 5Cs for creating Mission 2007
ecosystem.
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6. The 5Cs
Foundation Stones of Mission 2007
Connectivity
& Access
Devices
Content &
Coordination
Services
Mission
2007
Ecosystem
Care &
Capacity
Managemen
Building
t
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7. Mission 2007 Scale up Strategy:
Multi-Stakeholder Partnership…
 CSO led MSP platform.
 Firm/ unchanging focus on objectives.
 Flexible and evolutionary partnership platform.
 Convergence and synergy between ongoing
CSO, Private and Public sector initiatives.
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8. Mission 2007 Scale up Strategy:
Multi-Stakeholder Partnership
 ‘Community’ as key stakeholder, not mere
beneficiary.
 Indian Government as an important stakeholder.
 Vertical and horizontal partnerships across
various levels.
 Informal/ non institutional organizational
structure.
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9. Mission 2007 Scale up Strategy:
Policy Influence Approach
 People centric and bottom up approach
 Non-antagonistic
 Creating more space for dialogue than debate
 Paradigm shift in government approach towards
IT and ICTs
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10. Mission 2007 Scale up Strategy:
Operational Mechanisms…
 Mainstreaming Mission 2007 views through
appropriate government channels.
 Endorsement by government functionaries at
Union and State levels.
 Endorsement by union/ national commissions.

Influencing National e-Governance Plan.
 Ensuring financial commitment from the Union
Government.
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11. Mission 2007 Scale up Strategy:
Operational Mechanisms
 Influencing academia for content creation and
expert advice.
 Attracting mainstream media to highlight
grassroots development successes and
challenges.
 Influencing private sector practices.
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12. Mission 2007 Achievements…
 Infusing partnership based approach to the
National e-Governance Plan
 CSCs as front end delivery channels for e-
governance and private services.
 Broadband Policy
 Government acceptance of Farmers’
Commission’s recommendations.
 Right to Information Act
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13. Mission 2007 Achievements
 Inclusion of knowledge connectivity in Bharat
Nirman document.
 Indian community radio policy.
 Support from private sector and international
community.
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14. THANK YOU
Contact details:
bshadrach@idrc.org.in
ssharma@idrc.org.in
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