Does the type of local governance influence the implementation of ICTs for rural development initiatives?

Abstract

The external factors that influence the implementation of ICTs for rural development initiatives have not been widely surveyed. This paper will attempt to present a novel spectrum of research, examining the role of the type of local governance in implementing ICTs for rural development initiatives within agriculture, choosing mobile phones as the type of technology for examination. Comparing Bolivia and Armenia, the paper finds that though often overlooked by the central government and other stakeholders, the local administration indeed possesses a role in how these ICT initiatives are structured and implemented. However, given the multisided layers of such activities, its significance to be defined in isolation remains challenging.