Networked Intelligence for Development

Principles & approach

There are three underlying principles which determine NID's approach to development work:

As much as is possible, we collaborate closely with partner organizations on the ground, to establish local ownership, local priorities and local best practices;

We apply a `rightstreaming' approach to all gender and development consulting work. This means incorporating gender analysis across the many layers of institutional capacity and across sectors, and working holistically with a cross section of stakeholders around common goals;

We treat ICTs as a set of tools and applications that can be applied at different levels and adapted to the specific needs and priorities of different groups towards their development goals.

These principles ensure that we:

build capacity at local levels through facilitating the exchange of information, advice, training and other skills;

design and adapt our training modules with local partners to suit different needs and contexts;

interface with cutting edge research and thinking in real-life initiatives;

change ways in which knowledge and information is shared to optimize personal growth and skills.

Training

We design, customize and deliver a broad spectrum of training packages customized to adult learners in the field. Our methodology is highly participatory and combines an understanding of policy contexts with hands-on, technical or on-site training. Our clientele have included a wide spectrum of interest groups from senior staff in multilateral agencies including the World Bank, to telecom regulatory officers in Swaziland and Mozambique, to micro entrepreneur women's groups in Cameroon, Tanzania, the Caribbean region and the Baltic States.

Research & policy analysis

We have conducted a range of economic and social evaluations of institutions, of technical assistance programs, of gender content and policy mainstreaming, training and technical assistance, and of website design. Our understanding and experience working on the economic, social and legal rights of women in developed and developing countries combined with an intimate understanding of media and the evolving information and communication technologies and its linkages with international development inform the kinds of research and analysis that NID executes.

Building private sector involvement & social investment

We promote dialogue between community organizations and other key actors in the Internet economy to identify mutual interests and concerns. We bring in private sector entities to support training and capacity building of local enterprise at national and regional levels.