Community perspectives as an essential element of resilience thinking: Resilience from a view of inequality

Abstract

Resilience is a popular concept in development studies, particularly in research and development on how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be used to improve livelihoods. As much as the primary focus is on using ICTs to deliver services in sectors that operate in resource constrained environments, the question of inequality remains a key consideration. One of the challenges that faces the future of the ICT-related development of communities is the perspectives and perceptions of researchers on communities, particularly in developing countries with remote rural areas. Taking a resilience view on community without addressing the question of inequality leads to biased resilience strategies in the rural communities of developing countries. This paper presents thinking from an ongoing research study that aims to develop a resilience framework and guidelines for the introduction and use of mobile technologies in South African rural schools.