A Framework to Guide Development Through ICTs in Rural Areas in South Africa

The purpose of this paper is to produce a framework to help guide the contribution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to the development of rural areas. Researchers argue that Information and Communication for Development (ICT4D) projects have a high failure rate and seldom meet their expectations. However, research also shows that billions worth of funds have been spent on ICT4D projects in developing countries. Studies suggest that the reason for failure is largely because of the lack of frameworks to guide development through ICT in developing countries. This study presents the findings of a case study research project evaluating two rural ICT cases to determine how the success rate of ICT4D projects can be improved. The researcher interviewed individuals who have participated in ICT4D projects in Alice and Dwesa; both projects were based in rural areas in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The output of this study is a framework that can help guide the contribution of ICTs to development.