International Development Issues

ICT4D: Global Views and Practices

noreply@blogger.com (Kakistos Firipin) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:23:00 PDT

There is no denying the fact that information and communication technologies have immense impact on virtually all aspects of life. As the conference overview stated, these technologies can be a powerful tool for increasing productivity, generating economic growth, creating jobs and improving the quality of life.

ICT for Development projects, I understand, are intended to combat poverty. In short, the projects target the poor sector of society.

If I am poor or simply a person below the poverty line, what can ICT do for me to improve my status.

First, I need a job that will pay me enough to feed my family. ICT could provide a tool for me to find the right job. Therefore, there should be somebody who will provide the right content in the Internet for me to find a job. That is, there must be a government agency or an NGO who will gather information on available jobs and provide the information in the Internet so that people like me can find the right job. Contents in the web targeting the poor sector of society should be the business of people who wants to improve the status of people like me.

Or if I already have a job, say a fisherman, how can ICT help me maximize what I can get from my daily catch. Well, ICT through the Internet can provide me with information on which market I can get a higher price for the fish I caught. Again, somebody should gather the information and post them in the net so that I can query them every time I came back from fishing.

My point is that for ICT to be useful to the poor, there must be somebody who will provide content in the net. Content targeting the poor sector of society. The only entities who can provide this content are government agencies and NGO’s because you cannot expect the private sector to get into this because basically you do not expect to get profit from these activities. This is because the clients are people who cannot afford to pay.

Another aspect is access by the poor to the technology. The technology will be useless unless it is accessible to the poor. Even if all the contents are provided, if I cannot afford to access them then the technology is useless. Hence, efforts should be concentrated on making the technology accessible to the poor sector of society.

The projects may provide me with access to the technology but this would again bring the question of sustainability. We know that the technology changes very fast. When the machine becomes obsolete can I afford to replace it (assuming the project is already gone). Who will pay the recurring cost of connection and the training that I need in order to use the technology.

My next point is that the technology will cost something. Efforts therefore should be on alleviating my status so that I can have a sustained access to the technology. Unless my status is alleviated so that I can afford to pay the cost of the technology, then only then will I have a sustained access to the technology.

In short, if the poor can access the technology and if there is something useful to be access from it, then there is a possibility that the life of the poor may be alleviated. I am sure that if these two issues I raised are provided, then we can say that ICT indeed will have a positive impact on the lives of the poor sector of society.

Reaction of Dr. Eliezer A. Albacea to the Paper
“ICT4D: Global Views and Practices”

Solar-Powered Mobile Phone Base

noreply@blogger.com (Angel G. Barnes) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:59:00 PST

We're the next billion mobile users.

We don't live in cities. We may not spend $75 a month on phone services. But together, we're worth hundreds of millions to the operators who reach us. VNL makes a solar powered GSM system that helps operators reach us profitably.

Welcome to the microtelecom revolution.

Introducing WorldGSM, the first solar powered mobile network designed from the ground up to serve rural populations in developing economies " and do it profitably.

"To the astonishment of the industry, people living on a few dollars a day have proven avid phone users."

- Business Week
September 2007

A WorldGSMâ„¢ network draws no power from the electricity grid. Because there is no electricity grid.The Base Stations are erected in days by non-engineers and powered by the sun.

This is microtelecom. And it's about to take the mobile industry by storm.

Indian company to launch low-cost, solar base station targeted at African operators

This week sees the launch by Indian company VNL of a low-cost, solar-powered base station that it says it will target African mobile operators. Although oil prices have abated a little, the continuing cost of diesel fuel to power double generators across many networks' base stations will continue to be a factor that eats away at profit margins. Russell Southwood spoke to Anil Raj, CEO of VNL when he passed through London.

VNL's business strategy is to tackle the cost base of Africa's mobile operators in a number of different ways. It will produce a solar-powered base station that will function at a lower cost than its diesel-powered equivalent. It has types of base stations, all of which are considerably cheaper than existing base stations. Lastly, the base station unit has been simplified so that the unit's can be supplied to franchisees who will be able to set them up out of the box. According to Anil Raj, CEO of VNL:"The BTS will be able to be used out of the box and will have only two connectors, one green that goes into the power socket and one red that goes into the antennae. After that it performs a self-installing routine."

Unlike other solar powered base stations, Roy claims that VNL's will be the first production run units whilst have largely been produced on an experimental basis. As the CAPEX to produce solar power is not cheap, VNL has looked at ways of reducing the power and feature specification. The photo-voltaics are 50% of the overall CAPEX and the addition of batteries pushes that number up again. It has made the assumption that more marginal markets will not use things like GPRS and EDGE.

It has used different components to reduce power requirements but still produced a base station with a capacity of 10,000 subscribers. The standard base station requires 3,000 Watts but VNL's operate on 35W and 100W. As a result, its solar panels need only be 6-8 sq metres as opposed to 200 sq metres for the current type of base station.

The first phone call was made to a unit a year ago and since then it has been subjected to 2 million test calls. The first units will be deployed in Q3, 08 with Indian tower infrastructure operator Quippo Telecom Infrastructure Ltd, who will lease out both space on its towers and the new base stations, enabling it to move up the equipment supply value chain. In its first year of production, it anticipatesbuilding 10,000 units. Volume deliveries will start early next year and the company is already in discussion with several major African operators. It will seek to work with African partners who will install and run the base stations.

Two examples of costs of its base stations illustrate how they could help attack mobile operator costs. The first base station is a village roof-top model which costs US$3,000: this is designed for a one storey brick-built style of building that might support a water tank. The unit weighs 100 kilos. The second base station is the 2TRX which is for a hub site: it costs US$15,000 which with US$5,000 for civil works, produces a base station for US$20,000. The base stations are designed to last eight years. Even if the figures are optimistic this has to produce some saving on the US$90,000-120, 000 which seems to be the costs for an equivalent base station using existing equipment.

And what if the sun doesn't shine? Anyone who knows Africa knows that there have been problems with solar power because although it's hot, there is often not sunlight for periods of time. The base station is designed to have battery back-up that will last for 72 hours and the base station can both power itself and do a recharge of its battery at the same time.

VNL envisages mobile operators offering franchises to individuals (as Celtel is already doing with conventional base stations in Nigeria) who would be trained to look after the base station, do first-line maintenance under telephone instruction and distribute SIM cards. Alternatively 2009 may be the year that trusted infrastructure sharing operators start to offer mobile operators jointly operated towers along with leased base stations. With the dual pressure of escalating costs and lower prices from increased competition, this has to be something Africa's mobile operators will take a look at.

THE TRUTH HURTS. A MUST READ FOR ALL FILIPINOS

noreply@blogger.com (Kakistos Firipin) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:30:00 PST

THE TRUTH HURTS. A MUST READ FOR ALL FILIPINOS
'The Philippines is a nation of star struck ignoramuses'

by Dero Pedero Of Philippine Star

Last July 23, I wrote about Nasty (short for Anastacio), a balikbayan from Los Angeles, who, while vacationing in Manila, had nothing to say but negative comments about the Philippines and the Filipinos. The article elicited a deluge of comments from our readers. Though some agreed with his curt observations, most were enraged at the repulsive way he acted and whined.

For me, he was the classic epitome of the 'crow perched on a carabao,' thinking and acting nauseatingly superior just because he has become an American citizen, inequitably comparing everything here to how they are in the first world. I was particularly irked by his repulsive 'know it all' attitude and peeved no end by his irritating Waray-American twang.

Those who have not read that article may access philstar.com and click archives, then select July 23 and click Life_style_. The article is en_title_d 'Little Brown Americans.'

As a backgrounder, here is an excerpt:

The next day, I took them on a little city tour and accompanied them to do extra shopping at the duty-free shop. They were to leave two days later for their respective provinces (Randy is from Pampanga, Nasty, from Samar).

'God, ang dilem-dilem naman ditow (it is so dark here)!' screamed Nasty in his characteristic Taglish slang, 'At ang inet-inet pa (and so warm)! * * *

All throughout the day, Nasty complained about everything. He griped that all Filipinos he encountered were dense and inefficient (I hope that didn't include me!); that the traffic was horrendous and drivers 'drove like they were late for their funerals'; that the pollution from the smoke-belching vehicles was irritating his dainty, surgically-pinched nose. He was disgusted that water closets didn't work; horrified that there was no toilet paper in public toilets ('God, how do you people do it?' he bewailed); petrified by street children begging while soaking wet in the rain ('Where are the parents of these kids?' he nagged).

He moaned about the proliferation of slums, people crossing the superhighways ('There should be underground or overhead walkways for pedestrians! 'he demanded), the potholes on the streets, the disgusting garbage and filth all over the city, and the annoying floods! And all these he observed in just one day!

Weeks after the publication of the article, I took Nasty's silence to mean that of contempt and anger. I must admit that I didn't care because I was really turned off by his arrogance. The good news is, Nasty has finally decided to break his silence and give us his side, loaded with a big piece of his mind. The bad news is, he hits more sensitive chords and it stings...........................

Nasty's E-Mail:

Dear Dero,

My Zen master says, 'Never fight fire with fire.' So, I sat in a lotus position, imbibed the ethereal qualities of cool mountain water and stoically resisted the temptation of answering back to defend myself in rebuttal of your article. I kept quiet while you and your readers had a charlatan holiday, dissecting and fanning sarcasm on my every comment about your country and your people.

I am not mad at you for writing that piece. I was never upset at any point, even after your readers from all over the world e-mailed in their two-cents' worth. In fact, I found it rather amusing and carnival-like. I even felt happy that people still came to the defense of your Philippines!

If you noticed, I now refer to the Philippines and Filipinos as your country and your people. Every time I went back there for vacation, my Filipino-ness always took the better of me (blame those damn green mangoes smothered with bagoong!) and made me forget that I am, in all reality, what you aptly called a 'Little Brown American.' I have come to terms with my own identity- I am, after all, an American citizen carrying an American passport!

What precipitated my quick decision to sever my ties with your country (aside from your ***** of an article) were the Abu Sayyaf abductions (que barbaridad!), the Payatas-like downslide of the peso (eat your hearts out, I earn sweet American dollars!), the 'devoid of conscience' graft and corruption in your government (this has gone on for the longest time-how shameful!), and lately, the stupid 'Jueteng gate' and juicy but enraging 'Boracay' mansion gossips. With all these, who would be proud to be a Filipino? Besides, to tell you frankly, those Erap jokes are no longer funny- they are passe and leave a bad taste in the mouth and heart.

No Apology If I sounded brash and insensitive with the way I threw my comments, well, I cannot do anything about that because that is the way I am, and I offer no apology. Here, in America, you have to tell it like it is or you'll never be taken seriously. I have learned to drop my 'Pinoy sugarcoating' because out here, you get nothing done if you are meek and sweet and pa-api. Hindi puwedeng mag-Anita Linda dito!

When I commented about your pollution, street children mendicants, slums, potholes, toilets that don't work, garbage, floods, and most of all, the Pinoys' chronic lack of discipline, I was merely putting into words what I saw. I can't blame your being blind about your country's situation. My Zen 2 master says, 'One cannot easily see the dirt in one's eye.'

I am sure though that you are aware of those sordid details, but have grown accustomed to them (like most Manilenos have). All the complaints I aired may have hurt your pride but what I wanted you to realize is this: The things I pointed out are all symptoms of a failing, falling nation!

Suffering a National Karma?

Could yours be a country cursed with a huge national karmic debt? It could be payback time, you know. Look back into your history, look deep inside your hearts-what could you have done as a nation to deserve this fiasco you are in today?

What you are faced with didn't just happen overnight-it developed and grew into a monster in the course of time. Deeply imbedded in the psyche of the Filipino is the amalgamation of the characters and events that have impacted your lives - Dona Victorina, Dona Concepcion, poor Sisa as well the other hilarious and tragic characters of Dr. Jose Rizal.

Stonehill... the notorious gangsters immortalized by your Filipino movies like Asiong Salonga (hmmm!), et al...the killers in your (I thought they'd never end!) massacre movies...those cheap, appalling titles of your movies...those staged 'religious miracles' that your naive masses believed...family men with pushy queridas (mistresses) ...your crooked politicians, undependable police officers and greedy customs collectors.. .your bribe-hungry court judges...Imeldific, gloriously smiling and crying at the same time, bejeweled. (How very Fellini!)

What you are is the sum total of your history, your heritage and culture, your education, the crap that your press sensationalizes, the bad icons that your movies glorify, the artificial values your advertising extols, the bad examples your leaders and role models project. What you feed your country's mind is what it becomes. You have become the ugly monster that you've created. You are now crying all the tears your sickeningly sentimental movies wailed out for years and years!

Your Biggest Fault

If there is one thing that comes to mind, I think your biggest fault would be your individual greed. 'Ako muna!' seems to be the national mantra. The trouble is, very few people think for the common good in a deplorable 'to each his own kurakot' festival. Coupled by your crab mentality of pushing down others, this can be fatal. You think barangay, not national. Hello, everybody else around the world is thinking global! Europe is unshackling her national boundaries while you are building fences around your nipa huts.

Do yourselves a favor and look at your nation as a ship. All of you are in it and it is sinking! Realize your oneness-what hurts your brother hurts you, too. Think about the future of your children and the succeeding generations, and do something about it quick before your poor little banca plunges forever into the irretrievable depths of despair.

Star-Struck Nation

You are a nation of star-struck ignoramuses. You are easily awed by your movie stars who are usually nothing but uneducated, aquiline- nosed and light-skinned ******** picked up from some gutter somewhere. I have seen what these artistas illusionadas can get away with. They just flash their capped-tooth smiles and policemen let them get away with traffic violations; they bat their false eyelashes and customs officers impose no duty on their suspicious balikbayan boxes.

Worst of all, with the Filipino movie industry taking a nosedive, hordes of actors and show personalities went into politics. It is, as they say, the next best 'racket'-there is more money to be made in the politicking business than in show business! (And what is this I hear that in the coming elections, more are jumping into the arena? Mag-hara-kiri na kayo!) How can you expect these comedians and actors, who only know how to take directions from their directors, to direct your nation? For them, politics will just be an 'act'. No big surprise here, for they are mere actors with no original scripts to speak, no original visions to share. So what can you expect but a government that is a comedy of errors. Serves you and your star- struck nation right!

My Zen master says, 'Give unto Caesar what is due to Caesar, but keep Charlie Chaplin on the silver screen to make us laugh.' To survive, you must teach your citizenry to say no to three things - no to drugs, no to stealing and graft and corruption, and no to artistas in politics. I hope you've learned your lesson by now. (Yours is the only country where Mexican soap stars are received like royalty in the presidential palace. How shoddy! God forbid-Fernando Carrillo might end up being your next president. At least he has great abs and doesn't wobble like a penguin when he walks!)

For those artistas who honestly believe that they can make a positive difference in the Filipino masses' life, they must first study law, business and public administration, and immerse themselves in the life and passion of Mother Teresa. Politics is not an art for dilettante artistas to dabble in. It is called 'Political Science,' hello?!

Educate Your Masses

Educate the masses - especially your electorate. What you need is an intelligent vote aside from, of course, intelligent candidates. The University of San Carlos in Cebu City , founded in 1595, and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila , established in 1611, are the oldest universities in Asia , and are even older than Harvard. But the standard of Pinoy education has deteriorated so much that the Philippines ranks among the poorest in the educational hierarchy of Asia . Education, education, education â¤" that' s what you need in this age of information, information, information.

If all your social, religious and political sectors don't sit down now and decide to take the Right Way, the Philippines and your children's children will be grand losers in the worldwide rush to the future. Education is one sure way to salvation. Teach what is right, good, beautiful and beneficial. Downplay all negativity if you cannot eliminate it altogether.

The Ideal President

I've got news for you. (As if you didn't already know.) No matter whom you put up there as your leader or president, it will be the same banana. Even a holy man can turn into another J.E. (Judas Escariot) for a few pieces of silver. Kumpares, alalays, relatives and cronies will encrust like flies and maggots on his cordon sanitaire. And it will be the same despicable 'Sa amin na 'to!' hullabaloo all over again.

Take an advice from Aling Epang: 'Pumili ng matanda, mayaman, mabait, at madaling mamatay.' Get a president who is old - so that he is full of wisdom, rich - so he won't need to steal more money, goodhearted - so he will render heartfelt service to his people, and is in the sunset of his life - so that he will think of nothing but gaining good points to present when he meets his Creator. And may I add: At iisa lang ang pamilya! This is, of course, asking for the moon. Just pray fervently for an intelligent leader with a pure heart who genuinely loves the common tao!

Magpakatotoo Kayo! Wake up and look at the real you. Enough with looking at your reflection in glorious, self-embellishing mirrors. The tropical sun can play tricks, you know. Do not wait for darkness to fall before you take that much-needed long, hard look at your real situation.

Magpakatotoo kayo, ano? This isn't a wake-up call - it is the final alarm!

Save the ship while you still can. Don't wait till your people have no more dreams left to hang on to, no more hope to sustain their broken spirits. I came home, spent my penny-pinched savings so that even in the minutest way I could help your bruised economy. Your politicians sit on their fat, farting butts and get balatos (kuno!) in the millions. Receivers are as guilty as the givers. Now, tell me, who is really nasty?

I Have Made My Decision; So Should You. My Zen master says, 'Life is all about decisions, not choices.' I have made a decision which I know will be very hard for me to keep- You will never hear from me again (not in this vein) and I will not even think of visiting or buwisiting your Manila ever. This is my way of letting you know that I have given up on you. Bahala na kayo! Only you can help yourselves because at the stage you are in, nobody would want to help you. My Zen master says, 'You have to fall to learn to rise again.'

How much lower do you want to go? Anyway, regarding the Philippines as a tourist destination, you have a lot of cleaning up and face-lifting to do before foreigners would dare go to your islands again. The Abu Sayyaf episode has done your tourism industry more damage than you could ever imagine, and it will take a long time before the world forgets. (By the way, your tourism projects are lusterless and have no global impact. If you want real business, spruce up your infrastructure and do aggressive marketing on the World Wide Web!)

Of course, I would gladly reverse my decision if someone offered me exclusive lordship over lotto, bingo, jueteng, pintakasi and the jai alai. Think about it: this will be to your advantage because I never give tong or blood commission to anyone! (If only your president used the millions he received from those gambling lords to build homes for the masses, you wouldn't have any more squatters. Huling hirit: defrost those Marcos billions, pay off some debt, place the rest in high-yield investments, feed your hungry, and spread bounty and joy to every Filipino! Are you stupid or what? - That's your money sucked from the blood of your people!)

My Zen master says, 'Vox populi is not always the voice of God.' Come over to L.A and I'll show you a great time!

Our friend Randy says hello! We will be going to Vancouver to feast our eyes on the colors of autumn. Wish you could join us.

The new Miss America, Angela Perez Baraquio, is of Filipino ancestry. Dero, her parents hail from Pangasinan just like you! But keep in mind that she is an American (in case some wise fools over there claim her to be Filipino like they always do whenever someone becomes successful). Wait for the girl to say it don't put words in her mouth! Mabuhay kayo (SANA)! Sa totoo lang, MAG USA KAYONG LAHAT! (Don't you just love my Waray-Kano accent?) He-he-he!

I have made my decision, now make yours. I would hate for the day to come when I'd have to say, 'I told you so!' Good luck! (You need it.)

An ex-Filipino
J. Anastasio
'Nasty'

Appropriate Technology to Reduce Poverty

noreply@blogger.com (Angel G. Barnes) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:25:00 PDT

Appropriate Technology, technology designed to be suitable to the needs and resources of a particular group of people. Appropriate technology relies on local skills and resources that fit into the local situation economically and culturally, and that do not harm the environment. A wider approach takes into account the processes of the development of technologies—the skills and knowledge that go into them. An explanation of appropriate technology and of the related idea intermediate technology requires a brief survey of the historical context in which these terms arose.

The last 250 years of human history have been marked by extraordinary advances in the achievements of technology and science. By the end of the 19th century there was a mood of great optimism that technology and science would shortly provide the solutions to almost all human problems, particularly those associated with poverty.

This mood of optimism possibly reached its zenith in the 1960s, owing partly to the achievements of space travel and partly to the development of nuclear energy, which seemed to promise a future in which the world's energy needs would be met by inexpensive electricity.

However, these optimistic expectations had already begun to be undermined in the 1930s. One growing concern was the impact on the natural environment of technological activities—pollution, waste, and overconsumption of natural, and especially nonrenewable, resources. These made possible and were themselves driven by the rich nations' way of life, based on high consumption and ever-increasing economic growth.

A second area of concern arose in the context of attempts to alleviate poverty in developing countries. It was initially thought that the best way to do this was to facilitate in these countries the kind of technology that had led to such prosperity in the richer countries. However, as time passed, a number of economists, in particular the German-born British economist E. F. Schumacher, argued that advanced technology of wealthy nations was rarely appropriate to the situation of people in developing countries, and that an alternative technology was needed.
A classic example of inappropriate technology is that of tractors provided for agriculture in Africa. The necessary infrastructure and specialized skills to keep the tractors maintained were largely lacking, so that after a short period the tractors became heaps of rusting material. A second example is a project that introduced an automated factory to produce plastic sandals. The traditional sandal makers were put out of work, the raw material had to be imported, and, though economic growth according to conventional measurements occurred, poverty increased.

This led Schumacher to formulate the concept of intermediate technology, something, as he said, “between the sickle and the combine harvester.” He proposed ways “to find out what people are doing, and help them to do it better,” rather than wrecking local cultures and communities by the intrusion of technologies that ignore local materials and render local skills obsolete.
Schumacher also argued forcefully that the model of development that the wealthier nations practice is environmentally unsustainable. He said that “the earth cannot afford the ‘Modern World.’ It requires too much and accomplishes too little.” The capital-intensive technology of developed nations was itself inappropriate, not only to developing countries, but to the planet as a whole. Schumacher was convinced that wealthier nations must adapt their way of life to be more local and more sustainable, thus prompting them to look at appropriate technologies.

Examples of successful appropriate technologies are small-scale hydroelectric facilities in Nepal, Wales, and Peru. Energy-efficient cooking stoves in Kenya and Sri Lanka provide employment for the producers, and save time and money for the users; food-processing courses in Bangladesh include not only the technical aspects of food processing, but the packaging and marketing of products.
Today there is a fierce contest between the proponents of high technology and those who increasingly support the appropriate technology approach. Advocates of appropriate technology argue that the high-consumption way of life of the richer countries must be abandoned, and appropriate technologies must be adopted in place of those that increase unemployment and damage the environment.

Farmers’ Information and Technology Services Center (FITS – Techno Pinoy)

noreply@blogger.com (Kakistos Firipin) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:39:00 PDT

Farmers’ Information and Technology Services
Center (FITS – Techno Pinoy)
“Bringing technologies closer to the farmers”

I. PBSP – CRTD

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) is a corporate-led NGO established in 1970 by Filipino businessmen as an expression of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). With agricultural technology development and dissemination as key development interventions to poverty alleviation, PBSP is working on improving the access of poor agricultural communities to information and technology. Established in 1979, the Center for Rural Technology Development (CRTD) in Calauan, Laguna anchors the foundation’s Technology Management Program (TMP). CRTD is mandated to test, develop and disseminate appropriate technologies for different resource bases, enhancing these technologies to improve agricultural production and increase farm incomes.

The 4.0-ha. training and farm complex of PBSP – CRTD in Calauan, Laguna, test and disseminate lowland-irrigated and rainfed technologies. It serves as a venue in developing and validating new and intensive methods of farming before they are disseminated and adopted in PBSP – assisted communities throughout the country.

II. PBSP-CRTD FITS Center (Techno Pinoy)

Launched in May 2001, the PBSP-CRTD FITS Center serves as a component of PBSP-CRTD’s training and extension desk and program support to poverty alleviation. It is the foundation’s modality to ensure the provision of information, training and technology services (in the form of on-site technical assistance and consultancy services) to PBSP development partners and non-PBSP clients nationwide. Manned by a pool of CRTD Technical Staff and experts, the FITS Center provides information and technology services in agriculture specifically in areas of commodity-based Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) development and management. Through the CRTD website (http://asia.geocities.com/pbspcrtd) and internet, it fast tracks the retrieval and exchange of information, technologies and services.

A. FITS Services

1. Information Services

The PBSP-CRTD FITS Center provides technology information in print, audio/video tapes and CDs. Photo Exhibits, reproduction and dissemination of information, education and communication materials, and intra/internet access also form part of the FITS services. At present, three (3) FSD Technology and Training Manuals and sixty four (64) Technology Brochures have been packaged and reproduced by CRTD for its FITS Center. Fifty four (54) VHS Tapes (Entre Pinoy) were also sourced from the Office of Sen. Sergio Osmeña III in 2002, on top of other technology materials provided by DOST, PCARRD, STARRDEC, UPLB and other resource centers and PBSP – CRTD partners.

The center is equipped with computers and peripherals (with internet access via the crtd@laguna.net), photocopier, TV, VHS, VCD/DVD Players, Overhead projector and sound system. CRTD’s Training Center can accommodate over 60 farmer-trainees, complete with fixtures and other amenities --- conference room, dormitories and a cafeteria.

2. Technology Services

CRTD provides training, technical assistance and consultancy services to PBSP development partners and non-PBSP clients nationwide. Through its pool of training and technical staff (who also act as trainers) with varying skills and expertise, CRTD develops technology training curricula and manages trainings both in CRTD Calauan and on – field. The center has also conducted Technology Caravans in Liliw, Laguna, Cebu City, Samal Island and Cagayan de Oro City.

The 4.0 – ha. farm of CRTD showcases its five (5) commodity-based IFS Model Farms and other agricultural technologies developed by CRTD, its partners and by other technology resource centers. The farm serves as a laboratory and practicum area during trainings.

III. Technology Development for FITS Center

CRTD develops and models commodity-based integrated farming systems and semi-commercial agricultural technologies and enterprises for its FITS Center. CRTD also adopts and makes available in its FITS Center, matured and developed technologies of its partners, and integrates them to develop and showcase farming systems for farm lots of varied sizes to increase yield and income. Farm lots and Model Farms ranging from 0.32 ha to 0.78 ha. are currently being demonstrated in CRTD to find the right and most appropriate commodity-mixes that will provide optimum income. Aside from enhancing and increasing agricultural productivity, CRTD also incorporates managerial skills into the different farming systems development (FSD) models.

CRTD’s Commodity-Based FSD Model Farms include, (1) 0.36-ha. Livestock- Based FSD, (2) 0.56-ha. Aqua-Based FSD, (3) 0.32-ha. Vermi-Based FSD, (4) 0.78-ha. Lowland Agroforestry Production System, and (5) 1.54-ha. Tilapia Production and Hatchery Project.

These integrated farming systems (IFS) are continuously being enhanced with the cooperation of several major agricultural institutions and technology resource centers such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD), University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB), Department of Agriculture – National Dairy Administration (DA-NDA), Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI), and the Southern Tagalog Agricultural Resources Research and Development Consortium (STARRDEC).

IV. CRTD FITS Center for Technology Dissemination and Promotion

Results of CRTD’s on-field researches and technology validation are packaged and disseminated. Technology and information materials such as manuals, technology brochures and newsletters are also published and housed in the CRTD FITS Center.

CRTD disseminates agricultural technologies mainly through the FITS Center, conduct and management of technology training courses, management of farm visits and orientation for PBSP-assisted farmers and other clients. CRTD demonstrates and showcases, on its 4.0 – ha. farm, the five (5) commodity-based IFS models and other technologies it has developed through the years. CRTD technologies in its IFS Model Farms include : (1) Dairy Cattle Production, (2) Swine Production and Breeding, (3) Bio-Gas Digester, (4) Vermiculture and Vermicomposting, (5) Fruit Crops Production (Durian, Sinta Papaya, Rambutan-GR5, Tissue-Cultured Banana, Guapple and Ubod), (6) HVC (Lettuce and other Vegetables), and (7) Tilapia Production and Hatchery (CNT, FAST Breeders).

As a core function of CRTD, the center directly manages the agri-based technology programs and projects for PBSP’s operations throughout the Philippines. The center can be tapped to provide on-site technical assistance and consultancy services needed by NGOs, farmers and farming communities. It also provides and offers technical information, resources, and/or links to other technology resource centers. These services are open to other private institutions, individuals, NGOs, Peoples’ Organizations, and Government Agencies (GA).

The CRTD FITS Center is also complemented by the Farmer – Scientist Bureau (FSB) or the Magsasaka – Siyentista (MS) initiative --- with acknowledged farmer-scientist (in the person of Mr. Jaime Goyena – known as the “Rambutan King of the Philippines”). Mr. Goyena collaborates with PBSP – CRTD in demonstrating, experimenting and promoting technologies in fruit crops production --- being an integral component in CRTD’s IFS Demo Farms. For the CRTD FITS Center, Mr. Goyena has the following roles and functions : (1) acts as Resource Person (RP) during CRTD Technology Trainings, (2) provides technical assistance and hands-on training and shares insights and experiences to CRTD visitors, (3) devotes his nursery farm in Brgy. Lamot, Calauan, Laguna for cross-farm visits and (4) influences other farmers in adopting his outstanding farm practices (especially on asexual propagation techniques) by sharing information, experiences, resources and ideas.

IV. Financial Sustainability

The PBSP-CRTD FITS and Training Center generates revenues and income from the management of technology trainings, sales of FSD Manuals and Technology Brochures, VHS Tapes, fees from Internet accessing, photocopying and from institutional consulting contracts and engagements.

Accomplishments in terms of number of training courses, participants, organizations trained, materials development/technology packaging and management of visits and Financial Performance of the CRTD FITS Center over a four (4) – year period (2001 – 2004) are presented in Tables 1 and 2.

V. Problems and Actions Being Taken

For over three (3) years of operation, the CRTD FITS Center has been an integral component of CRTD’s Training and Technology Dissemination program. Though it has encountered several problems at the program and project levels – generally in areas of :

1. Electronic connectivity amongst the different FITS Center --- though an ideal set-up, the CRTD FITS Center just coordinates with the STARRDEC and other resource centers and surf via the internet on specific technologies which are not part of the local and internal FITS technologies.

2. Timely retrieval, replenishment, inventory and updating of information materials from the different resource centers and partners, on top of CRTD – developed technologies --- with the limited space, there is a need for an effective mechanism to sort, store and prioritize technologies specific to CRTD FITS Center’s technology focus, needs and requirements--- which is Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) and Farming Systems Development (FSD).

3. Financial Sustainability relies heavily on resource mobilization for technology trainings --- thus CRTD continues to develop and package training proposals with the FITS Center serving as grounds on information and technology services.

VI. Plans

Since the CRTD FITS Center serves as PBSP’s IT support program on poverty alleviation --- providing services to PBSP development partners nationwide, it serves as the ‘center’ and seat of technology information and services, specifically in areas of IFS and FSDs and related technologies. As such, the CRTD Training and FITS Center had included in its plans and priorities, the following :

1. Inclusion of the CRTD FITS Center in the PBSP Web Page (pbsp.org.ph) to expand its reach.

2. Develop an internal database of all technologies developed by CRTD and PBSP development partners (beneficiaries) nationwide.

3. Assessment on the need for FITS Centers in the PBSP Regional Operations and priority areas not yet covered by the regional consortia (i.e. Catbalogan, Western Samar, Cebu City, Negros Occidental, Bohol (San Miguel) and Tawi-Tawi), and project development, establishment and build their technical capabilities on FITS Center management, if necessary. This is in line with PBSP’s plan of “regionalizing” the CRTD FITS to be more cost-efficient and effective at the regional level of operations.

4. Continue to identify, build and strengthen institutional partnerships (linkaging and networking) with other technology resource centers for technology retrieval, updating and databanking, and availing of their technical expertise.

5. Maintain and sustain the operations of the CRTD FITS Center through income generation, program promotions and marketing, and pro-active fund sourcing and resource mobilization (i.e. development, submission and approval of proposals by other donors and funding agencies).

Rolando S. Corpuz
Philippine Business for Social Progress
Center for Rural Technology Development(PBSP – CRTD)

Why Is The Philippines Poor?

noreply@blogger.com (Kakistos Firipin) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:14:00 PDT

THE DIFFERENCE

The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the
age of the country:

This can be shown by countries like India & Egypt , that are more than
2000 years old, but are poor.

On the other hand, Canada , Australia & New Zealand , that 150 years
ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries, and are rich.

The difference between poor & rich countries does not reside in the
available natural resources.

Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate for
agriculture & cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The
country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials
from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.

Another example is Switzerland , which does not plant cocoa but has
the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory they raise
animals and plant the soil during 4 months per year. Not enough, they
produce dairy products of the best quality! It is a small country that
transmits an image of security, order & labor, which made it the
world's strongest, safest place.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts
in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual
difference.

Race or skin color are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy in
their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European
countries.

What is the difference then? The difference is the attitude of the
people, framed along the years by the education & the culture & flawed
tradition.

On analyzing the behavior of the people in rich & developed countries,
we find that the great majority follow the following principles in
their lives:

1. Ethics, as a basic principle.
2. Integrity.
3. Responsibility.
4. Respect to the laws & rules.
5. Respect to the rights of other citizens.
6. Work loving.
7. Strive for savings & investment.
8. Will of super action.
9. Punctuality.
10. and of course...Discipline

In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in
their daily life.

The Philippines is not poor because we lack natural resources or
because nature was cruel to us. In fact, we are supposedly rich in
natural resources.

We are poor because we lack the correct attitude. We lack the will to
comply with and teach these functional principles of rich & developed
societies.

If you do not forward this message nothing will happen to you. Your
pet will not die, you will not be fired, you will not have bad luck
for seven years, and also, you will not get sick or go hungry.

But those may happen because of your lack of discipline & laziness,
your love for intrigue and politics, your indifference to saving for
the future, your stubborn attitude.

If you love your country, let this message circulate so that many
Filipinos could reflect about this & CHANGE, ACT!

Author:
Dr. Arsenio Martin of Fort Arthur, Texas.

Confessions of the President’s Youngest Appointee

noreply@blogger.com (Angel G. Barnes) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:02:00 PDT

It was only a month after my college graduation as an Advertising major from Cebu’s University of San Carlos when I made an ambitious, determined, and life-changing decision to apply for a government position where I felt I could make some difference as a young Filipino. Armed with unwavering idealism, support from fellow leaders from the youth, the Cebu government, the Church, and the private sector—along with experience as an active student leader and volunteer—I applied as Commissioner- at-Large of the National Youth Commission (NYC). Having been a volunteer of the NYC for several years, I was encouraged to see so many young people who shared my passion for the future; I thought that a job at the NYC would ensure that all the energy and ideas that came with my youth would be put to good use.

I was told that it was going to be difficult applying for a position that was highly coveted especially by sons and daughters of politicians. But I knew that I was up for the challenge; even before I was sure to receive my appointment, I was already so convinced by a personal belief that it isn’t always true that when one is in government, one has no choice but to be corrupt. Wanting to prove this has consumed me and has framed my actions and decisions ever since.

Today, two years after being appointed as Commissioner of the NYC by President Macapagal-Arroyo, I have to admit that while I am pleased by my personal and professional accomplishments so far, there have been factors that I underestimated and miscalculated. There were external variables—events beyond my control—that threatened my idealism and faith that things will get better. The scandals that have rocked this government are both serious and shocking, to say the least. It isn’t easy to hold your head up high when what you see in the news convinces you to do just the opposite. Indeed, these are difficult times to be in government. (Note that the operative word is difficult—not impossible.)

While other people rally in the streets asking for the President to step down, other government agencies such as the National Youth Commission suffer from having leaderships that also warrant our attention and collective action. Those who think that replacing the President will answer all our problems are missing the point. After all, it’s not just the presidency that makes up this government or any other government—it’ s every department, appointee, local government unit, legislator, and employee.

Look at the young leaders, too

After two years of relying on my vote and voice in the Commission, I have become so frustrated, desperate. The National Youth Commission is the sole national policy-making and coordinating body on youth affairs. It is a relatively small national government agency, but its potential is great and its role critical. In my opinion, the answer to the deeply-rooted, multi-faceted problems our country is facing is investing in a long-term solution, and not just focusing all our energies on a President who would be stepping down in 24 months. This can be done through investing in human capital with the most potential to create lasting change—this means nurturing in our youth and children the values and the morals that are scarce in today’s Philippine society. The good economist that we have for a President would know how critical it is for our government to invest in agriculture to ensure food security, as it is even more crucial to invest in human capital, particularly the dynamic and supposedly productive youth sector. Doing so would ensure that we would have a good supply of leaders in our future to make the right decisions and to inspire citizens to do their share. This helps end the vicious cycle of underdevelopment that has plagued us for decades. Sure, the NYC might be too small to be able to address all the concerns of the youth and empower them to become globally competitive and value- centered Filipinos, but this isn’t reason for us to just disregard altogether the central role it is mandated to play in Philippine youth development.

But what happens when the agency that’s supposed to look after the youth is the first to alienate and ostracize them? The youth become more frustrated and start shifting their energies from productive efforts to finding ways to put in their proper place the “public servants” who have done a travesty by trampling on the youth’s rights and convictions. What a waste of energy that could otherwise be put to good use! The last thing we need in our country is a frustrated youth. I join the countless young people in their frustration; but, being in government, I take my frustration as something positive—it only means that I have kept my idealism despite the many challenges. Apathy would be more alarming because it means resigning to the fact that nothing more can be done.

I have come to realize that we are at war—one that is not fought with guns or bullets, but one that is fought with integrity, conviction and hope.

Sham after sham

I am proud to report to the Filipino people to whom I am accountable that no pressure from my colleagues has allowed me to conform to what I would describe as a highly degenerate National Youth Commission. (Presidential appointees always say they serve at the pleasure of the President, but in truth we serve the greater interest of our people). This is the same Youth Commission that has bullied the alumni association of the SSEAYP (Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program), an organization of passionate and dedicated alumni of the Japanese Government’s SSEAYP program. (The NYC is mandate by law to implement the SSEAYP). The NYC Leadership insisted on the creation of a different alumni association to divide the current SSEAYP leadership in the Philippines, apparently to get back at them because the group pressed charges against the Officials of the Commission. These charges emanated from the Commission’s self-interested decision to choose one of our own as National Leader of last year’s SSEAYP delegation (the first time its ever happened) to a two-month all-expense paid cultural cruise across Japan and the ASEAN region. Worse, the Commission still opened the search to other applicants even if the NYC’s Leadership already promised this concession to the interested Commissioner, all the while creating a semblance that the process was still being followed. So what initially was just an issue of delicadeza became an issue of deception, a betrayal of public trust.

Genuine leadership seeks to unite, not divide the efforts and convictions of young people. When it does, it's apparent that it is for no other reason but to perpetuate one's stay in power or to secure an otherwise insecure position in society or government.

This is also the same Youth Commission whose Leadership has cases at the Ombudsman, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) and the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC), along with a severely damaged reputation as evidenced by complaints circulating around various youth circuits and e-groups across the country and abroad. This Youth Commission has ganged up on me for my opposition, insisting that we are a collegial body and should therefore be united and agree on everything. But I believe in unity in diversity (there was a reason why the NYC was created to have several commissioners) and upholding truth and justice over everything else. They do not understand that I oppose only those decisions that I know will tarnish our individual and collective reputations, ultimately affecting the credibility and integrity of our agency. They do not understand that we each represent the NYC and our government, and our actions can and will affect the credibility and integrity of the Office we represent. Our credibility, I believe, is the best gift I could give our country and our fellow young Filipinos.

Many youth leaders across the country are mad at the NYC for its many abuses. To the officials of the NYC, every crisis in the Arroyo Presidency is yet another opportunity to “kiss ass”. This has lead to the moro-moro and incompetent management of our international programs. Slots for foreign trips, scholarships, and exchange programs are given to friends of the officials, with an unwritten, internal arrangement that only those who are pro-administration will be chosen. Take the SSEAYP for instance: its guidelines, which have been in place for several years, were changed last year to accommodate an alleged relative of the President. In fairness to the President, I do not think that she is aware of these happenings, nor has she given such order. The irony is that the alleged relative did not apply last year, but the damage has already been done against the integrity of the SSEAYP selection process. And all this after we require applicants of our programs to accomplish so many difficult requirements and submit long essays. It really is a sham, a travesty! Kawawa ‘yung mga bata, trusting and submitting themselves to a process at babastusin lang pala sila. These officials have no respect for the efforts of the young people whose interests we all swore to uphold and protect.

We’ve all heard about issues concerning our national procurement law, discussed in length at the Senate’s hearings on the NBN-ZTE issue. Unfortunately, corruption in the bidding process is nothing new—not even to the NYC. In the middle of 2006, during an Executive Session in our Regular Commissioners’ Meeting, and in the presence of our previous legal officer, I was so shocked when two of our Commissioners started accusing each other of securing kickbacks from their management of the agency’s BAC (Bids and Awards Committee). Mukhang gusto pa yata mag-agawan! The NYC Leadership did not even conduct a formal investigation on the matter. It was just so cheap that these officials would compromise their principles for several hundred thousand pesos. It’s dangerous if these people get away with illegal acts like this, since who knows how many millions of pesos or dollars they will be stealing from the public in the future?

The NYC Leadership also put the agency’s reputation at a terrible risk when he ordered for the delivery of computer units despite the advice from our Admin and Finance Division (AFD) that the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) had already denied the release of funds for the project. The project was supposed to be funded by the Presidential Social Fund, but Malacañang denied the release of funds after discovering that there were violations in the bidding process that the NYC leadership approved. For over a year, the supplier of the computer units were not paid and they almost resorted to legal action had it not been for the actions taken by our AFD Division. That could’ve been another case added to the long list of cases filed against the NYC. (I hope the NYC Leadership did not use the computers for an election bid as president of an association of law students, the computers having been distributed to the law school beneficiaries before the association’s election. It’s too much, really, to sacrifice the agency’s reputation for that.)

Look who’s talking

There is a long litany of issues (Yes, there are more) that I hope can be resolved in the proper forum. While there is an ongoing debate for the abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan, what about looking at the activities of the National Youth Commission and the apparent failure of its officials to protect its credibility, having been embroiled in scandal after scandal? How can the SKs look up to the NYC as a guide when the Commission has lost the moral ascendancy to lead them or to even propose reforms in the SK?

To whom much is given, much is also expected. But how can the NYC live up to the high standards young people expect of them when some of its officials have even engaged in scandalous sexual and amoral behavior in some of the NYC’s official programs? Sobra na. Masyado na! Our young people are talking about these debauched activities of a highly decadent Youth Commission, an agency that could have been considered the final frontier, the bastion of integrity and righteousness in the government. Nakakadiri at nakakalungkot.

The Officials of the National Youth Commission have miserably failed our country’s youth, demoralizing like never before the hardworking staff of the agency. (The agency’s staff’s turnover rate in the past year is the highest in the NYC’s history) In this battle, I have been wounded. I am ashamed of speaking on behalf of a Youth Commission that has not done its job. I cannot lie any longer to my fellow youth that everything is alright.

A war for integrity

As I said earlier, we are at war—and we are hope warriors and we’d like to fight the good fight. As a great American leader once said: If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness. This is the reason why, despite my frustration—and though I’ve contemplated on quitting many times—I refuse to resign from government and would stay for so long as I must, for so long as I can. I gather strength from other young people, from those without any position to make them even care. They are in a serious battle to see a better NYC, one that the youth deserve, because they know that however little their efforts, it will change things for the better.

Even if I have been able to prove that one can serve in government without compromising his principles, character, and integrity, this isn’t about me. This is a cause larger than myself, larger than ourselves. Can you blame me if after two years of having a vote that’s rarely enough and a voice that always falls on deaf ears I have finally decided to give up on our Commissioners’ Meetings as a venue to address the issues and to prevent future ones from arising? Democracy has reared its ugly side in the NYC. I belong to a Commission that has connived to scratch each others back, one which has succeeded in ostracizing me. I heard that even the newly elected SK National President, who sits as Ex-Officio Commissioner, is being pressured since the NYC Leadership seems to want control over the office of the SK National Federation (One wonders why). I’ve decided to explore other channels afforded to us by our democracy before things get worse. Ang kapal ng mukha ng mga kasama ko and I think exposing their shenanigans is the only way to catch their attention and make them stop.

If, indeed, we Filipinos have a good grasp of right and wrong, then we must also choose what is right. I am sure the President, having publicly declared (repeatedly) her quest to curb corruption and abuse in her government, would appreciate it when people come out and fight to right the wrong that they see.

I call on the President to act and act fast. She should know how the acts of her people affect her government and her image among the youth. Yes, the cases are in the courts but it has been almost a year since the cases have been filed and things are getting worse and more damage is done by the day. What are we to do? Surely there is a more expeditious way to address the issues—NOW—before it is too late, before nothing is left of whatever little credibility the NYC still has.

If it means having to give up the one year that’s left of my term for the President to realize how important this is for the youth of our country, than so be it. If that’s what it takes para mapalitan lahat ang dapat mapalitan, palitan na lang rin niya ako—because we are no longer effective and we cannot exist only for ourselves. We have come to a sad and sorry state where the NYC needs to go through fire to be purified. This exposé needs to be made and heads surely have to roll to send a strong message that these abuses will not be tolerated. More importantly, we need to restore the faith and the trust of the youth in the NYC. It is imperative.

I also call on my fellow youth—the student council leaders, the SKs, the youth organizations from all over the country—to join in this war. This Independence Day, we commemorate the youth-led revolution of 1898, when young Filipinos succeeded in passing on to us the freedoms we enjoy today. In every revolution thereafter, young people have always played a central role in their success. But it doesn’t always have to be a revolution against foreign aggression or an oppressive regime—let the Youth Revolution of 2008 be one that is fought by Hope Warriors, young people who will take matters into our own hands so we can send a message, loud and clear, that whether you are President of the Republic or Chairman of the National Youth Commission, we will not tolerate any abuse of authority.

I also call on other concerned sectors of society, the Church, our schools, the Senate and Congress, and the Media, to help protect the integrity of young people, their hopes and dreams and their convictions towards helping our country. To the Senate and Congress, after more than a decade since the establishment of the NYC, maybe it is high time we revisit R.A. 8044 (the Youth in Nation-building Act; the law that created the NYC) and evaluate how effective, or ineffective, it has been in developing the Filipino youth.

The stakes are too high to waver. I am ready to fight this battle. It’s terribly difficult but I know this a defining moment for all of us. Like in any war, the risk of getting wounded in battle is ever- present. Am I afraid? Sure. Uncertainty almost always guarantees fear. But like a friend and mentor once taught me, courage is not the absence of fear, but it is the knowledge that there is something more important than fear itself.

I would rather go down with my integrity intact and my head held up high, than keep up the pretense of integrity where there is none. And I call upon each young Filipino to help me wage this war. Mayday, mayday… I need back up. Let us seize this moment , fight the good fight, and define our generation - and we will soon discover that for our country, and ourselves - the best is yet to come.

* * *
Author:
____________ _________ __
Michael “Mike” Francis Acebedo Lopez, 24, is a proud Cebuano youth leader who, after starting purely as a volunteer of the NYC, has gone a long way as its Commissioner- at-Large of National Youth Commission.

Must read UN survey

noreply@blogger.com (Kakistos Firipin) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:39:00 PDT

Last month, a worldwide survey was conducted by the UN.

The only question asked was:

'Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the
Food shortage in the rest of the world?'

The survey was a huge failure because....:

In Africa they didn't know what 'food' means.

In Eastern Europe they didn't know what 'honest' means.

In Western Europe they didn't know what 'shortage' means.

In China they didn't know what 'opinion' means.

In the Middle East and Sri Lanka they didn't know what 'solution' means.

In South America they didn't know what 'please' means.

In the USA they didn't know what 'the rest of the world' means.

Mobilizing Talent for Global Development

noreply@blogger.com (Angel G. Barnes) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:02:00 PST

The generation of new ideas and their application for productive uses is an important engine for growth and development. This is an area in which developing countries usually lag behind developed countries and is where development gaps are more evident. Behind the generation of ideas, innovations, and new technologies there is ‘human talent’: an inner capacity of individuals to develop ideas and objects, some of them with a high economic value. The ‘human factor’ is critical to the success or failure of many endeavours. Several countries, particularly China and India, followed by Russia, Poland, and some Latin American countries, are becoming an important source of talented people with PhDs and degrees in science, engineering, and other areas that can lead to change in the international patterns of comparative advantages and reduce development gaps. Part of the new talent formed in developing countries goes to live and work to developed countries, typically the USA, UK, and other OECD nations. At the same time multinational corporations are outsourcing several of their productive and service activities, including research and development, to developing countries (China and India are main destinations) to take advantage of the (less expensive) talent being developed there. Today, therefore, we see a double movement of talent and capital around the globe: on the one hand talent from developing countries is moving north seeking better opportunities where people are equipped with more capital, technologies, and effective organizations. On the hand capital from the north pursues talent in the south; a process largely led by multinational corporations.

Talented individuals such as students, professionals, information technology experts, entrepreneurs, cultural workers, and others are now more internationally mobile in the world economy as a response to new opportunities (and risks) that are offered by globalization. This trend has been reinforced by the now greater information flows on economic opportunities and life-styles in different cities and countries across the globe and by lower transportation costs. The story is now of Indian and Chinese nationals that after graduating in the US became successful host country entrepreneurs (e.g. in Silicon Valley) and who are uniquely positioned to serve as bridges between Asian and American markets given their contacts and access to technology and capital in both markets and societies. In the 1990s and early 2000s these entrepreneurs also started new productive ventures in their home countries, transferring technology and market knowledge. In the Latin American context, Chilean, Mexican, and Bolivian entrepreneurs are making successful inroads in biotechnology and cellular phone companies in North America, though the flows of ‘return investment’ are still to arrive in their home countries. Beyond the most positive story of entrepreneurs and engineers moving north to south a particularly dramatic case is the massive and persistent emigration of medical doctors, nurses, and other workers in the health sector from poor nations to developed countries that weaken the health sector in the home country.

Why Types of Talent Move

There are three broad types or groups of talent mobility in terms of their motivation and development impact, namely, the mobility of:

1. entrepreneurs, technical talent, technology innovators, and business creators

2. scientific and academic talent and international students

3. health professionals and cultural workers. The first group of talent has a more directly productive impact through business creation and application of new technologies on host and source countries, particularly in this era of the information technology. The second group is related to the production of science and knowledge in general, although their productive applications for industry, the service sector, and government are more indirect. The third group is related to the provision of a critical social service, such as health services, with some complex impacts on the source countries; the mobility of cultural talent, in turn, reflects both an aesthetic value as well as the manifestation of creativity that can be highly valued by individuals and markets.

The Impact on Development

The production and transfer of knowledge, productivity growth, international competitiveness, fiscal revenues, and the size of the middle class, among others, are all developmental effects of the international mobility of talent. Analytically, the emigration of human capital reduces the stock of human capital and output in the source country and increases it in the receiving one. In addition, there can be a loss of welfare for the remaining population in the home country because of externalities due to a loss of scarce skills. The externality occurs when the social marginal product of a highly skilled emigrant is greater than their private marginal product. Usually this is due to spill-over effects from knowledge to labour and capital productivity. From a global perspective, world income should be higher with more mobile human capital (talent), as the marginal productivity of human capital in the world economy increases when talent moves from countries with lower marginal productivity to countries with higher marginal productivity. As a result, there is global efficiency gains associated with an increased international mobility of talent. This analysis, however, has to be qualified as it does not consider the international distributional impact of the costs and benefits of such migration flows between sending and receiving nations. The gains and losses from the mobility of talent for sending and receiving countries depend on whether the international flow of people is temporary or more permanent, and on other factors. When the ‘brightest and the best’ go abroad ‘for good’ (permanent migration) the outflow of talent can retard economic development in sending nations by adversely affecting the development of local science and knowledge thereby affecting productivity, comparative advantages, and growth. In turn, the receiving countries can benefit from increased knowledge gained from the immigration of talent, creating a virtuous circle in which foreign talent combines with domestic talent and capital, strengthening the overall human capital base in the host country. For example, the US benefited greatly through the twentieth century with the development of science (and then technologies) by the inflows of foreign talent in the 1930s and 1940s from leading scientists coming from Europe to escape Nazism and war, and later from talent coming from developing countries and other nations.

Who Stays, or Returns

However, a permanent emigration of the highly qualified may amplify international disparities in the endowments of human resources capabilities between source and receiving countries. In fact, the evidence suggests a considerable concentration of the world stock of qualified human resources, measured as people with tertiary education, in a few high per capita income countries, chiefly the USA followed by the UK, Australia, Canada, and other OECD nations. The OECD is the main destination region for talent such as information technology experts, health professionals, scientists, students, and others coming from developing countries. The emigration of talent can also have positive effects for the source countries in terms of remittances flows, mobilization of fresh capital accumulated by emigrants, exposure to new technologies and managerial techniques, contacts abroad, and so on, brought by return migrants and by the general transfer of technology and the general flows of ideas. The return migration of ‘technology entrepreneurs’, in which successful expatriate entrepreneurs born in developing countries but who studied and established companies in the north expand their business reach to their home countries, brings capital, technology, and market knowledge. For the case of scientists, international students, and scholars we see a movement south–north, but then not all who study in the north (North America is the largest recipientthere after graduation. The evidence shows large cross country variation in the return rates of PhDs graduated in the US: high for students coming from countries such as Indonesia, Korea, Brazil, and Chile, but low for Chinese and Indian students who tend to stay in the USA after graduation. Regarding medical doctors and nurses the negative side effect of the mobility of health professionals is the weakening of the health sector in the source countries. This is particularly serious in the case of some Caribbean countries in which a high percentage of their health professionals reside abroad. Another serious case is sub-Saharan Africa where AIDS, malaria, and other diseases impair the development of international students, scientists, and other foreign professionals) remain potential and cause great loss of human lives. Cultural workers are a segment of significant international mobility. This is a heterogeneous group that ranges from high-pay, winners-takes-all artists from developing countries, to artisans, handicraft workers, and other lower earning cultural workers.

Economic Growth in Receiving Countries

The relation between growth and international migration of talent in the country that receives the migrants can reflect a mutual causality: rapid growth, expanding opportunities, technological discoveries, and land/natural resource availability in the host country generates a capacity for unskilled labour and for talent as the domestic supply of those human resources may be insufficient to meet the increased demand. Then, growth and opportunities may precede the mobility of talent. Historically this was the case of Argentina, the USA, Canada, Australia, and other countries of the New World at the end of the nineteenth century, which received large contingents of European migration; both of workers but also of people with entrepreneurial capacities. Argentina experienced rapid rates of output growth and net immigration, mainly from Spain and Italy. Much expansion was financed, largely, with foreign capital from England. In turn, massive immigration allowed the mobilization of the large natural resources of the receiving countries and was the key engine in their growth process, sustaining and reinforcing the dynamics of growth and prosperity. Thus, the immigration of people with entrepreneurial capacities and a favourable attitude towards risktaking contributed to business creation, resource mobilization, colonization, and innovation – all factors that supported rapid economic growth – in the countries of the New World in the first era of globalization (pre-1914). More recently, in the 1990s, entrepreneurial immigrants from India, Taiwan, and China in to Silicon Valley in the US have provided a valuable human resource in the creation of high technology industries, both in hardware and software in the receiving country. They have engaged in business creation and output growth in the high-tech sector contributing to economy-wide growth. And their return migration has helped to drive the acceleration in growth in recent years in some of these countries.

Economic Effects in Source Countries

In the source countries an outflow of entrepreneurs may depress innovation and growth. Likewise an outflow of people with high educational levels also reduces the stock of human capital with a potentially negative effect on domestic growth. This is the traditional brain drain effect. However, this is not the end of the story as emigration raises the returns on investment in human capital (under decreasing returns as the stock of human capital is lower) thereby inviting more investment in education with future positive growth effects. In this case, the ‘brain drain effect’ of emigration of talent has to be counter-balanced with the ‘brain gain effect’. At the same time, if emigration follows a cycle and the emigrant returns home bringing fresh capital, contacts, and knowledge we have a positive development effect for the home country. In Taiwan in the 1980s and 1990s, the formation and development of the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park (HSIP) benefited greatly from return immigrant Taiwanese entrepreneurs and engineers from Silicon Valley. In fact, several successful Indians and Taiwanese in the high-tech industry in the US also set up hardware and software companies in their home countries contributing to growth in the source countries.

A Policy Research Agenda

From the previous discussion we can identify the following elements of a policy and research agenda on talent mobility for global development:

1. First, we need better numbers on the size and direction of the mobility of qualified people and in timely fashion. Filling the information gap, particularly in developing countries, on the magnitude and characteristics of talent mobility is a priority. Many developing countries simply do not know how many scientists, technology experts, physicians, university professors, entrepreneurs, and artists are abroad. In developed countries the statistical base on human resources mobility is better. For example the OECD has developed a system of recording and of building a statistical and analytical base of the Human Resources devoted to Science and Technology (HSHR) within their region. Developing countries need to strengthen their statistical capabilities on the mobility of highly skilled and educated individuals.

2. To add to the development agenda the topic of talent mobility, it is necessary to recognize that the increased mobility of high-skill individuals often implies that developing countries are exporting talent (unless in certain phases of their development process) and that part of their most qualified stock of human wealth is beyond their national borders. As with financial capital, human capital emigrates when the incentives structure at home are distorted and the value of talent is not properly recognized. Future research on the topic should identify sound policies to attract talent to the developing countries.

3. To enable talent circulation for global development may require action on several fronts. As mentioned, countries such as India, Taiwan, and others have been successful in starting to build a domestic high tech industry that is internationally competitive, helped by the critical contribution of expatriate entrepreneurs and technology experts who have been successful in the US, UK, and in other developed economies. Increasing the connectivity among expatriate entrepreneurs, engineers, and scientists with their home country can increase the international circulation and mobility of capital, knowledge, technology, and managerial capacities. To attract human and financial capital back home, it may be necessary for some favourable tax treatment in the initial stage. Land grants for setting up new companies and other subsidies of a temporary, performance-based nature can also be helpful. For scientists and researchers, increased connections among universities and research institutes at home and abroad is needed. This may involve cooperation in research projects, organization of joint conferences, institutional agreements, fellowships programmes, and other measures.

a.) In the cultural sector, international initiatives such as concerts, exhibitions, shows, and cultural exchanges can also promote cooperation and enhance the circulation of talent.

b) A more general point is the need for developing countries to reassess their rewards structure for talent. Poor remuneration, lack of recognition, the absence of professional tracks in public administration, and obstacles for business creation and innovation are all factors that lead to talent outflows and the brain drain from north to south.

c) National tax systems also affect the international mobility of talent as international net income differentials may reflect differences in personal or corporate income tax rates across countries.

d) The relation between education and talent and its effects on the international mobility of professionals needs further study. From a practical point of view, that mobility is affected by the (lack of ) international compatibility and recognition of university degrees and professional titles earned in various universities around the world. The integration of higher education would need some common framework that enables the comparability of diverse national education systems (like for instance the ‘Bologna process’ in the European Union).

e) The international mobility of health professionals from poor to rich countries requires an adequate and cooperative policy response that balances the human resources needs of the source countries and of the receiving countries, and cknowledges the individual roles of the health professionals. Ethical standards for recruitment and compensation schemes are possible tools to deal with this phenomenon.

Recognition, Rewards, and Restructuring

In the 1960s and 1970s the discussion on talent mobility was dominated by concerns about the brain drain. The dominant view at the time was that the permanent emigration of talent from developing countries had adverse consequences for national development and autonomous policymaking. In the early twenty-first century, the international circulation of talent has increased significantly; a cause and product of greater economic interdependence and lower transportation costs. The direction of this talent circulation is multiple: south–north, south–south, north– north, and north–south; although, as the substantial difference in the levels of development between rich and poor countries remains, the ‘south–north migration’ of talent predominates. Still, an interesting trend is the movement of capital from north to south in search for local talent in the later, a trend that can change the comparative advantages towards high-tech goods in certain developing countries. Individuals with talent move from country to country in response to economic incentives, and clusters of expertise and capital that concentrate in certain locations. This talent may eventually return home if the appropriate conditions for work and investment exist in their source country. International investment and talent mobility can also be a complementary rather than a substitute processes. The causes of the outflow of certain types of talent often reflect failures in rewarding talent in source (developing) countries as well as superior pay structures and better work opportunities in receiving (developed) economies. A particularly relevant case is that of health sector professionals. Distortions of reward structures that gear against innovation and productive activities may produce a sub-allocation of talent in growth oriented activities and/or in an outflow of talent to another country that provides better opportunities for wealth creation. Rent-seeking, patronage, and the politicizing of professional appointees in national and international public administration is another deterrent for talent interested in pursuing public policy. To tackle these issues, we have considered items for an agenda whereby the international mobilization of talent can promote global development.

Policy Brief written by Andrés Solimano
Licensed under the Creative Commons Deed “Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerives 2.5”
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