Russel Southwood, the editor of the excellent Balancing Act – Africa, newsletter has written an article challenging some of the assumptions that drive the ICT for development process.

Balancing Act News Update – African internet developments

This is easily the best article I have read on this subject in a long time. It’s concise, critical without being abject, and very sober.

It is often said in Hollywood that there are only a few stories in the world: for example, boy meets girl, revenge and so on. So it is with digital divide initiatives: there are perhaps five basic assumptions and the time has come to look at whether they are working or not.

It should be required reading for all of us who have or are venturing into this difficult area, and believe we can do better at it.