By Nancy Schwartz
Vietnam's non-governmental organizations, known as NGOs and similar to U.S. nonprofits, welcome technology tools that can make a difference. As NGOs in Vietnam begin to apply Internet tools to their communications and program work, they are meeting opportunities and challenges shared by the nonprofit sector in the U.S.
Most NGOs in Vietnam work with community-based projects, many of which are in rural areas. Frequent communication is vital for successful relationships and projects. For four years, NGOs have been using e-mail to communicate with constituencies, home offices and colleague organizations. E-mail is now viewed as a crucial, cost-effective medium and a timely option among those who have it.
Other recent developments in Vietnam include the Web, which was introduced just a few months ago. Although limited by government censorship and encumbered by expensive access charges, the Web is recognized as an effective vehicle for information exchange. Because many NGOs are based in other parts of the world and have had access to and training in technology, NGOs are on par with private and government sectors in strategic use of these tools.
Interviews with international and Vietnamese NGOs confirm excitement about the Internet and its future for NGO work in Vietnam. As NGOs begin to experiment with the Web, opportunities beyond information dissemination are clarified, discussed and fine-tuned.
Projects of note are the German Technical Cooperation's Web database of resources to support micro-enterprise development and the Swiss Association for Development and Cooperation's use of networks to build and manage its Social Forestry Project.
The NGO sector is sharing information on what works and what doesn't, helping to accelerate NGO and community capacity in technology. Case studies are evolving and being adapted to meet specific needs. This evolution is reminiscent of what the U.S. nonprofit sector experienced when entering the world of the Internet.
In addition, familiar guidelines in effective use of technology are cropping up in the NGO community in Vietnam. They include using technology tools to replace, rather than add to current tasks; developing realistic work plans and goals; ensuring proper training; and understanding that the successful use of technology must be driven by community need.
Universal access will perhaps provide the greatest challenge for NGOs in Vietnam. Infrastructure issues are only part of the problem: as cellular networks begin to eclipse the limited wiring network, improvement is anticipated. But inconsistent power and telecommunications remain concerns for all NGOs and the communities they serve. The "last mile" barrier runs around the world.
Access barriers extend to resource limitation, such as the universal service challenge. What's intriguing is that NGOs in Vietnam are supplementing limited resources with innovation, much as do U.S. nonprofits. Power challenges are addressed, at least partially, by high-grade power protectors and other equipment.
Resource challenges are met by using technology to maximize resources. Villagers in Catdang, 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Hanoi, are being trained to use personal computers by teachers who have recently been trained themselves. The Catdang Basket Cooperative uses e-mail to expedite its lacquered basket export business and is experimenting with selling baskets over the Web.
Many of the same cultural and generational barriers that we face in the U.S. are mirrored in Vietnam. Vietnam is not a technological environment, and it is just beginning to be industrialized. The introduction of personal computers is a jarring change, but a minor one compared to the concept of instantaneous access to colleagues and information throughout the world.
We've learned so much in our use of the Internet over the past few years. And we continue to learn. As our colleagues throughout the world embark on their own explorations of the Internet and other technologies, the transformative opportunity is enormous. We share many opportunities and challenges, while others are unique to each locale or culture. The potential for global learning is enormous. Let's take advantage of our networks - personal and technological - to do so. We will all benefit.
Nancy Schwartz is the president of e-Communications Strategies and works closely with nonprofits and foundations on technology issues. You can reach her at
nancys@ecstrategies.com
