7.0 Developing a Capacity Building Framework

7.1 Evolving a Capacity Building Framework:
There is a large scope for the application of ICT tools to better service delivery processes, and open up new vistas for village-level entrepreneurship and generation of local wealth. The key issue that emerges is how to build capacities for various stakeholders to achieve the ultimate vision of an ‘eVillage’ which would enable more inclusive decision-making, support more sustainable life-styles, and provide continuous access to all - VLEs, SCAs, private sector, planners, development experts, politicians, educationists, health workers, agriculturists, artisans, panchayat officials, transport and utility service providers and rural citizens.


7.2 Capacity Needs and Gaps
The entire capacity building initiative needs to be focused on gearing up the systemic, organizational and human resource capacities towards conceptualizing, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the functional constituents of an ‘eVillage’. As a first step towards this end, it is important to map the existing ‘skill sets’ to the ‘where we want to be’ situation and determine the ‘knowledge/skill gaps’ as presented in Exhibit 33:


Exhibit 33: The Skill Gaps

Exhibit 33: The Skill Gaps    

Potential Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLE)
SCAs – Activists/Promoters
Government Agencies– Enablers/Regulators

· Awareness with respect to growing and diversified livelihood opportunities in rural areas

· Appreciation of advancements in ICT and the potential influence it could have on the rural economy in terms of employment and business generation

· Exposure to local and national best practices 

· Exposure to Government Programmes, Institutions and Community Organizations

· Understanding of local demography, socio-economic parameters, development issues 

· Business acumen, administration, financial management, and marketing skills

· Ability to recognize & seize new business opportunities 

· Prior experience of handling a PC or other ICT gadgets 

· Lack of basic level computation skills

· Motivation, communication skills

· Organizational skills
· Appreciation of advancements in ICT and the potential influence it could have on the rural economy in terms of employment and business generation

· Understanding of PPP Frameworks as applied to Rural ICT initiatives

· Exposure to local, national and international best practices 

· Exposure to rural entrepreneurship concepts and practices

· Researching and documentation skills

· Scope to innovate or experiment new e-Governance initiatives due to lack of financial and manpower resources

· Advanced IT skills

· Networking skills

· Business planning and business development skills 

· Capacities for monitoring, mentoring and risk assessment in a business situation

· Channel management skills
· Appreciation of the potential of ICT in bettering local governance, service delivery and catalyzing rural development

· Understanding of PPP Frameworks as applied to Rural ICT initiatives 

· Exposure to Local, National and International best practices

· Interface with other players such as the Corporate, NGOs, CBOs, etc.

· Attitudinal and Change Management Issues

· Requisite IT skills

 

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7.3 Taking Learnings from Contemporary Training Interventions:
7.3.1 The focus of existing programmes: There are a number of Government , private or NGO-based institutions undertaking rural focused training programmes. The target groups in the case of Government interventions are predominantly Government officials. The focus is on the knowledge and skill sets relating to the effective implementation of various rural development schemes. 

Training interventions by private/professional institutions focus on a relatively educated target group comprising representatives from cooperatives, NGOs, public sector undertakings, and the Government. No major efforts have been made so far to diffuse the same to the rural populace in an easily comprehendible language and style. 

Training interventions by NGOs and CBOs generally relate to specific areas such as education, agriculture, and micro-credit. Training in the realm of rural entrepreneurship is limited and in most cases takes on the form of on-the-job-training, where the villager is recruited and trained only if he/she satisfies the criteria prescribed by the NGO.



7.3.2 Developing a customized program: IL&FS Education and Technology Services Ltd. (IETS), an affiliate of IL&FS, is in the process of designing and implementing a comprehensive countrywide capacity building programme that would leverage upon a national network of training institutions and bring upon convergence of efforts resulting in maximum impact. The overall objective of IETS’s endeavour is to help create a nation-wide critical mass of rural entrepreneurs, who could be capable VLEs


7.4 Implementing the Training:
Training programmes would need to be implemented across all States/UTs in a phased manner – these are expected to start by August 2006. Training rollout needs to be carried out in parallel batches. An ideal batch size of 25 participants is deemed appropriate. Duration of the training programme could range from 8-15 days wherein 12-14 modules could be covered. 

The training fee charged to the participant for the entire training programme could range between Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 2500/-. An end-of-training evaluation would need to be conducted for the participants and a state-wise database of meritorious participants created and maintained for ready reference by state level implementing agencies in the CSC Scheme and SCAs. It is also envisaged that an appropriate certification mechanism be worked out for all the participants. The participation in the training programmes is envisaged to be on a voluntary and payment-basis. This implies the need to make concerted efforts to generate awareness and mobilize participation from the grassroots. A national network of training partners has to be formed to facilitate the grassroots level training.