The United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UN-APCICT/ESCAP), a regional institute of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, is pleased to present the first two editions of its new ICTD Case Study Series. Titled ICT Human Capacity Building for Development and ICT for Disaster Risk Reduction, the publications provide analysis and compilation of best practices and case studies on different aspects of ICTD and ICT capacity building in the Asia Pacific region.

ICTD Case Study 1, ICT Human Capacity Building for Development, discusses the experiences of ICTD practitioners who have partnered with APCICT to roll-out the “Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders” (Academy). The Academy, APCICT’s flagship programme, is designed to equip government officials and policymakers with the necessary skills and knowledge to leverage ICT solutions for socio-economic development. Case Study 1 shares the lessons learned by Academy partners in rolling-out the Academy in their own countries, including Afghanistan, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and the Pacific Island Countries. Case Study 1 Link: http://unapcict.org/ecohub/ict-human-capacity-building-for-developm...

ICTD Case Study 2, ICT for Disaster Risk Reduction, discusses the ways in which ICT has positively impacted the various phases of disaster management. Noting the use of ICT during and in the immediate aftermath of disasters like the Indian Ocean Tsunami, and most recently the Haiti Earthquake, the case studies examine the important role ICTs play in disaster preparedness, response and mitigation. Case Study 2 shares the lessons learned by those disaster management practitioners who have deployed ICT in response to disasters in countries like Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, and Haiti. Case Study 2 Link: http://unapcict.org/ecohub/ict-for-disaster-risk-reduction-1

In addition to the links noted about, the Case Study editions can also be found on the e-Collaborative Hub - http://unapcict.org/ecohub - APCICT’s freely accessible online repository of ICTD resources.

APCICT hopes that these Case Study editions and those that will follow, are intended to help institutions and individuals in the quest for finding relevant solutions to local problems, and enable more informed design and management of ICTD policies and programmes based on the cumulative experiences of various partners in the ICTD community.