MITRA provides its services to develoment organizations in a number of ways .The four major areas in which the organization works is providing Content, developing Applications and doing Capacity-building.The organization also wants to take up the role of advocacy and policy-influnece of ICTs for socio-econmic development.

CONTENT

The litmus test of any ICT application is the extent of its usability, which is determined by content. ICT's capability to achieve development goals will not be effectively leveraged without content that is responsive to user needs and local conditions, in a language that is commonly understood, and with

technical specifications that are sensitive to the actual use and working environment of users. This will be one of MITRAs priority area - to develop content according to the user profile and local language.

 

APPLICATIONS

There is a need to build applications that are focused on achieving development goals. These could range from those that enhance e-government and e-governance processes, to those that apply ICT to specific development goals, including health, education, empowerment ,environmental

sustainability and support of employment and enterprise creation. It could be building customized application for planning, monitoring and control of development projects, undertaking research on new technologies, providing last mile connectivity in rural areas, etc.

 

CAPACITY BUILDING

MITRA wants to streamline ICTs into the working of development organizations and that cannot be done without a continuous effort in building capabilities at the NGO level. As technology in its holistic sense, consists of humanware, technoware, orgaware and infoware, capacity building would include inputs in each of these areas so that the organizational processes of an NGO are fine-tuned to effective functioning.

For this, MITRA shall develop training modules, conduct training programmes and organize workshops for the NGOs, government agencies and individuals working in the field of development sector.

INFLUENCING POLICIES

Significant developments cannot be achieved without making policy-level changes. The need for a greater degree has to be reflected in the laws and policies of Development Organizations

MITRA would proactively do the work of lobbying, action research, and exploratory studies to bring public and media attention to relevant issues and create an overall environment conducive for appropriating the benefits of ICT for development purpose. This will also include influencing policies at various levels and forums in order to suit application of IT for development.

1