Evaluating D-Net's Pallytathya Kendra Project An Ethnographic Approach

Abstract

This paper outlines a method to observe and evaluate the services of D-Net's Community based Technology Centre (CTC), a Microsoft Unlimited Potential Project in Bangladesh. This evaluation problem is not that of monitoring the work done in a centre, but that of understanding how the intended beneficiaries make use of, and benefit from the information and communications made accessible through that centre. if ICT is to have an impact on development, it needs to be assessed from the perspective of the beneficiaries, as opposed to the routine monitoring carried out for NGOs and funders. Ethnographic fieldwork was conducted to develop an understanding about some crucial information needs of rural Bangladeshi farmers and to explore evaluation methodology for potential and current interaction between the CTC (also known as Pallytathya Kendra) and farmer community.