Information Flow

Properly designed community information systems not only allow community members to access key information from important authorities, such as policy information from the government, or health information from medical professionals, but they should send information back up the pipe as well. Those who have some influence over the community should be able to gather necessary data from those they seek to aid or influence, to engage in the most well informed decision-making. In Uganda, for example, the government views rural CTC’s as

“Potential mechanisms of agricultural technology extension and market information centers, education centers and institutions that will play a central role in improving governance and health service delivery at community level.” (source)

This two-way information flow is key for a local community to not ony take advantage of larger policies, but to have some influence in the policy-making process.

Allan Friedman
January, 2002