World Dialogue on Regulation

For the second research cycle, the WDR research network examined the role of the regulator in stimulating investment in network development. This time the research network was much more international and the final report was Stimulating Investment in Network Development: Roles for Regulators, a 380 page book with contributions from twenty authors from Africa, Asia and Europe. The research was also greatly enriched by the discussions at three WDR Expert Meetings, one each in Africa, Asia and Europe.

During the third research cycle, which examined the theme Diversifying Participation in Network Development, the network continues to grow with the addition of Research ICT Africa! (RIA!) the Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI), a group of Latin American researchers. The report from that cycle, another book of more than 350 pages, is currently in production.

As WDR continues its mandate to inform and promote dialogue on ICT regulation, supported by the LIRNE network centres, we have become increasingly concerned with the centrality of indicators. Indeed, all regulatory research depends on indicators, deriving from a variety of sources: national governments, international agencies, the private sector, advocacy groups – all of whom have their own motivations for collecting this information. 

The theme for the World Dialogue on Regulation’s fourth research and dialogue cycle is Indicators and Benchmarks of Performance in ICT Development. Cross-cutting research and analysis will be achieved by considering this area from a variety of perspectives. These include projects that devise, collect and apply ICT indicators as well as research that considers indicators as an object of analysis per se, and will reflect on the historical, political and strategic issues surrounding the field of indicator use and development. The identified subthemes include:

1. Measuring ICT: Devising and collecting indicators – with the recognition of the importance of ICTs to local, national and global economies, and with the complexity of network access, more sophisticated indicators are needed to inform policy, business and consumer decisions. Read more...
   
2. Indicators in support of network development – working towards clarity on enabling factors, e.g.: access to ICTs including affordability; ability to use ICTs; actual use of ICTs; or the impact of using ICTs. This subtheme highlights the role of ICTs in achieving development goals, for which it is important to be able to measure progress in adoption as well as factors that indicate their effective use. Read more...
   
3. Benchmarking national e-readiness and propoor progress – comparable indicators organized around specific categories of ICT deployment, access and use. Assessing coordination around efforts to promote ICT adoption at local and national levels. Read more...
   
4. Methodologies – Identification and dialogue around practical strategies for approaching indicator design, collection and application; and identifying strategies such as secondary use of datasets. Read more...
   
5. Meta Themes about Indicators – because indicators are not value free, this area of investigation seeks to identify historical and current biases inherent in indicator design and use. For example, we will examine issues around indicator “ownership” and data access. Read more...

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