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EReadiness:Introduction
From NGOPedia
| EReadiness:Self Assessment Tool for NGOs |
Introduction
| “ | ICT enables, equalises and is a strategic tool for advancement and progress. | ” |
This self-assessment tool is intended to be used by NGOs in Africa to help you check your organisation’s level of maturity in the use of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies). Our understanding is that the appropriate use of ICTs can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of your NGO, can help bridge the digital divide and can act as a springboard to enable you to do things which would be impossible without this technology.
We have identified four maturity levels:
- Non-existent computer infrastructure
- Early stages
- Intermediate
- Advanced
We have applied these to each of the following areas:
- The technological infrastructure: this includes computer architecture, network infrastructure, telecoms and internet access. Required resources: these include human resources, management and finances and external support
- The level or sophistication of the use of computers within your organisation is of primary importance.
- NGOs utilise skills and resources to carry out operational processes linked to:
- Applications
- Stakeholder communications
- Web utilisation
It is important to note that all these resources and skills need to be at a compatible maturity level in order to achieve the required ICT capability for the NGO’s operations. Because NGOs are very different in terms of size, nature and location, this document is of necessity generic and somewhat superficial.
How to use this tool
1. Start with the questions for each area. The answers which apply to your situation will give an indication of your current maturity level. This is more fully described later in the document. It may be useful and instructive to read the description of the other levels as well.
(tick all that apply)
| Answers/Scenarios |
Level | Yes |
|---|---|---|
| Our NGO does not have any computers. | 1 | |
| We have only one computer which is used by one or two people. | 2 | X |
2. Once you have gone through all of the areas, decide which areas you want to improve. This could be done as a group exercise within your NGO. The idea is to pick the ‘lowest hanging fruit first’ i.e. improve those areas where the most benefit is gained with the least effort. The “Move to the Next Level” sections give information about the type of steps you should consider, especially for moving up the lower levels. These are in the form of brief and general hints.
| Actions | Not Possible (give a reason why) | Possible (tick where applicable) | ||
| Short Term | Medium Term | Long Term | ||
| Take an inventory of the computers you have and what applications they are being used for. | X | |||
| Make a note of their limitations in terms of potential uses as well as time and resources which are lost due to breakdowns, incompatibilities or software issues. | X | |||
| If you have not yet created a trusting relationship with one (or two) preferred vendors, now is the time We already signed a 2 year contract to do it (trade their initial guidance and suggestions with a vendor for your loyalty in terms of future purchases). | We already signed a 2 year contract with a vendor | |||
3. You should follow up on the information sources given and obtain further help or information.
We have provided additional information boxes as well as explanations of the technical terms used in each section. Remember that you are not expected to aspire to attain level 4 in every area. For example, a small NGO in a deep rural area without electricity and telephone lines should not need an ‘always-on’ high-bandwidth internet connection. It is possible for an average user in most rural areas, to manage ICT processes using a cell phone link on a laptop computer in order to: communicate telephonically (VoIP), send and receive e-mails and faxes, carry out some banking processes and share electronic documents and information.
EReadiness:Acknowledgements | EReadiness:Technology Infrastructure 
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