e-Ready - How?
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The idea of the power of information and communications technology (ICT) for development is becoming a cornerstone for the growth of developing nations. Much talk about this is related to e-Readiness and closing the gap in the digital divide.

E-readiness is the ability to use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to develop the economy and to foster welfare and it can be applied to either regions/countries (macro) or communities/organisations (micro).

For a country (macro level) it is includes the infrastructure available to connect to the Internet, access to networks and electricity, provision of basic literacy, policies to name but a few factors. For a NGO (micro level) it entails looking at what technology is available to improve productivity and delivery and what is needed to operate even more effectively. This includes hardware and software as well as the provision of training to operate and maintain computers and networks for instance. The process of evaluation is an on-going one since technology is always improving and there are new better ways of doing almost anything.

• How e-ready are you?
  
  The process of evaluation includes assessment, planning and implementation of a technology strategy in your organisation. Over the next couple of months we will provide you with a toolkit that will help access your e-readiness and suggest ways of raising your NGO step by step as you develop and become more tech-savvy and efficient.
  Many guides are available to access your organisation and find out how e-ready you are.  Most guides are written for the e-commerce market and we have not come across one that is particularly applicable to NGOs. 
  
  Such a guide would provide self assessment methods that will help you assess the current situation of your e-readiness or the lack thereof.  NGOConnect Africa is in the process of commissioning a guide specifically written for the NGO sector in South Africa. One that takes into account the challenges of being situated remotely and working with donated hardware and/or software for instance.  A guide that will not only provide practical step-by-step information on how to access your organisation but also how to plan and implement a strategic technology plan.  It will guide you in acquiring skills either directly from this site or offline whilst putting you in touch with resources that can support the technology you already have, or acquire as a result of your assessments, through the NTAP programme.  We also aim to set up a mentorship programme where more sophisticated NGOs help and mentor those that are less tech savvy. 
  
  
• Planning Phase
  
  Once you have completed your assessment and discovered what needs to be done, you will be able to figure out how you plan to meet all your goals. Your finding may indicate that a wireless connection will work better at your location or that employees need more training on updated software packages or that you need updated software packages! This is when you plan how, where and when you will do all of this.
  
  
• Implementation Phase
  
  Now you will be ready to test your plan. The implementation phase does not mean that you are done and are e-Ready. Remember, technology evolves with new ways of using it being invented all the time.
  
  Your organisation needs to try to keep up to date with these changes by completing this cycle over and over again. NGOs play a huge role in making a difference in the lives of citizens everywhere, but internally their own infrastructure is overlooked. This process will assist you to always know what your needs are; and allows you to be in a position where you decide what steps need to be taken to help your organisation and how to take them.

Watch this space regularly to find out how you can participate or benefit from this project and please send us any requirements or comments you might have in the meantime.