A Collaborative Approach to Creating ICT-based Sustainable Development

A large number of ICT-based development projects don’t survive beyond the initial implementation stage and fail to deliver the promised outcome. This report addresses the critical research question of how to create sustainable development through the use of ICT. Using a case study research method, we investigate a telemedicine project implemented by OTTET, a non-governmental organization, to deliver healthcare to the rural poor. OTTET Telemedicine showcases the benefits of the public private partnership (PPP) model in implementing ICT-based sustainable development. OTTET leveraged this partnership to successfully implement a comprehensive strategy that combined IT implementation with development of skilled human resources at the local level, and poverty alleviation through stimulation of micro-entrepreneurship. Effective collaboration between the state government and OTTET is a key to the success of OTTET Telemedicine. Lessons learned from the telemedicine project are presented and their implications for implementing ICT-based projects for sustainable development are discussed