Coping with drought in India
This project was a collaboration between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) 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).
Drought has left large sections of the population in Andhra Pradesh, India without any means of livelihood. BRAOU piloted a computer-based distance learning module for residents of a vulnerable village coping with drought. Two interactive training modules and print materials were developed in the Telugu language. Twenty-five small groups of three to seven learners, led by a local computer-literate volunteer, took part in the training, which focussed on increasing the productivity and sustainability of farming.
Linking agricultural research and rural radio in Africa
The International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) led this project, in partnership with the Developing Countries Farm Radio Network (DCFRN), Canada, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and radio broadcasters from Cameroon, Ghana and Uganda. The focus was to help farmers improve their livelihoods by building linkages between agricultural researchers, extension workers, non-governmental organisations and rural radio broadcasters. Eight teams of researchers, extension workers and broadcasters developed programmes on subjects such as revitalising plantain production, improved tomato production technologies and malaria prevention. The programmes were broadcast on government, community and privately owned radio stations whose audiences consisted mainly of resource-poor farmers.
Mobile boat school and library in Bangladesh
Mobile Internet-Educational Unit on Boats (MIEUB) in Bangladesh is an innovative projected developed by the voluntary NGO Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangsta. The boats travel to rural areas of Bangladesh, collecting students from different riverside areas and then anchoring at the side of the river. Using solar energy to power technical equipment such as computers and projectors, the boats provide learning related to literacy, micro-enterprise development and education for farmers. In addition to improving literacy and livelihood conditions, the programme is encouraging students to stay in school, increasing agricultural productivity and income, and improving the human rights status of women and children living in these isolated villages.
Among its many international awards, MIEUB received a $1 million award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project was also named a finalist in the Environment category of the 2004 Stockholm Challenge awards recognising use of ICTs to improve living conditions in developing countries, the Global Junior Challenge Award, a Tech Museum Award and a 2007 Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy in Education and Welfare.
