COL has helped launch open and distance learning (ODL) programmes and projects, Commonwealth-wide, for almost 15 years, particularly encouraging innovative development initiatives that significantly integrate the use of information and communications technology (ICT). Although undoubtedly courant, the emphasis on innovative uses of ICT to build rural capacity is more about delivering long term, cost-effective, quality initiatives than about staying in vogue. Through COL-PROTEIN, COL broadens its potential outreach by inviting not-for-profit government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) throughout the developing Commonwealth - many operating just under the radar - to submit proposals on ICT-friendly development projects that reflect their circumstances and concerns, for collaborative partnership with COL.
An average of three projects participate in the COL-PROTEIN programme per year, selected by a COL team directed by Dr. Krishna Alluri, COL education specialist in food security and environment. NGOs with a proven track record are welcome to submit proposals that specify objectives reflective of COL's mandate and goals. A potentially successful proposal would include a high level of inter-institutional collaboration, significant ICT use, and innovative, well-researched ODL and content design that focuses on the rural poor - as suggested by the programme's title. Successful bidding institutions determine a set of agreed outcomes in consultation with COL, and submit evaluation and progress reports over the course of the yearlong programme. COL contributes expertise in ODL and limited seed funding, disbursed in installments, over the one-year period.
The COL-PROTEIN concept underwent six months of in-house consultation, as well as feedback with COL's known partners, before being informally floated in discussion groups at the 2002 Second Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF2, www.col.org/pcf2 ) in Durban, South Africa. After a positive reception from PCF2 delegates, COL-PROTEIN announced its first offering in early 2003. Offerings are tendered via email to COL's mailing list, relayed through several other organisations and posted on COL's website, from which interested parties can view further information and download the detailed application form.
Selected from a field of 46 proposals, the COL-PROTEIN projects for 2003 were "Coping with Drought: A computer-based distance learning module for villagers in India," a collaboration between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAU) in India, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihood Project (APRLP), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), National Academy for Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Agri-Science Knowledge Group (ASK), and Adarsha Welfare Society (AWS); "Tuned in to Farmers: Linking Agricultural Research and Rural Radio in Three African Commonwealth Nations," from the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) and partners the Developing Countries Farm Radio Network (DCFRN), Canada, and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO); as well as the Stockholm Challenge-nominated SSS Bangladesh mobile Internet environmental support project.
In 2004, COL-PROTEIN projects included "‛Rocks For Crops' multimedia learning materials on rock phosphates for sustainable agriculture," a collaboration between the University of Guelph, Canada, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia; "An Experiential Learning Approach for Poverty Alleviation," from Siddhi Trust, India; and "Online Learning: A peer to peer exchange for development through radio," from DCFRN, Canada.
The quality of submitted proposals and the volume of response to COL-PROTEIN have been encouragingly high. COL expects COL-PROTEIN to be an annual offering, and is exploring the possibility of applying a similar model in its other active development sectors. COL is committed to an ongoing evaluative and results-oriented process for the programme, and application criteria for COL-PROTEIN are e-evaluated each year against currently assessed needs as well as the programme's administrative requirements.
Going forward with a revised, longer-term approach to fostering healthy development initiatives and goals, as endorsed in COL's latest Three-year Plan 2003-2006, COL-PROTEIN's infusion of expertise, supervised planning and funding support is a potentially potent supplement for innovators wanting to kick-start a sustainable development project.
- Grace Chin
(COL Clippings article - June 2004)
