A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION OF CAPABILITY APPROACH IN THE ICT4D STUDIES

The applicability of the Capability approach (CA) continue to be a lingering problem in the Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) studies. The aim of this systematic literature review (SLR) is to review the use of the CA and its application in the ICT4D studies. The study synthesized literature from Three ICT4D journals: The Information Technologies & International Development (ITID), Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC) and Information Technology for Development (ITD). We reviewed articles published between January 2004 to January 2019. The study reveals a mismatch and misalignment on the understanding of some of the concepts of the CA such as development/empowerment, especially when people and information technology are incorporated in the studies. Thus, there seems to be dearth consensual knowledge of CA when particularized to people with disability when they adopt mobile phone as a source of development and/or empowerment in the ICT4D domain. This calls for a further examination and contextualisation of the concepts of the CA in line with mobile phone use, people with disability and empowerment in the ICT4D domain

Human-computer interaction for development (HCI4D):the Southern African landscape

Human-Computer interaction for development (HCI4D) research aims to maximise the usability of interfaces for interacting with technologies designed specifically for under-served, under-resourced, and under-represented populations. In this paper we provide a snapshot of the Southern African HCI4D research against the background of the global HCI4D research landscape.We commenced with a systematic literature review of HCI4D (2010-2017) then surveyed Southern African researchers working in the area. The contribution is to highlight the context- specific themes and challenges that emerged from our investigation

Explaining trust in large biometric infrastructures: A critical realist case study of India's Aadhaar project

The need for formulation of solid explanatory theories is heightened in information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) by the high incidence of failure, which involves substantial costs for the countries affected. A core argument of this paper is that a critical realist ontology offers intellectual tools that can ground the formulation of causal theory in ICT4D. The paper illustrates such potential through the case study of India's Unique Identity Project (Aadhaar), which Indian states are increasingly using within their anti-poverty programmes. Following a critical realist retroductive methodology, the paper seeks to explain the incorporation of Aadhaar into India's main food security system, the Public Distribution System; an incorporation somewhat paradoxical given the mistrust often associated with biometric infrastructures in social protection. Critical realism allows construction of a theory of trust-building in Aadhaar, based on mechanisms of institutionalisation (state governments framing Aadhaar as a core institutional means to receive benefits) and image formation (authorities systemically associating Aadhaar with an image of effective pro-poor reform). Based on primary and secondary data collected over the course of six years, this paper contributes a theoretical explanation of an important phenomenon in Indian development, and illustrates how a critical realist philosophy is instrumental in building the type of causal theory that is needed in ICT4D

Towards a People's Social Epidemiology: Envisioning a More Inclusive and Equitable Future for Social Epi Research and Practice in the 21st Century.

Social epidemiology has made critical contributions to understanding population health. However, translation of social epidemiology science into action remains a challenge, raising concerns about the impacts of the field beyond academia. With so much focus on issues related to social position, discrimination, racism, power, and privilege, there has been surprisingly little deliberation about the extent and value of social inclusion and equity within the field itself. Indeed, the challenge of translation/action might be more readily met through re-envisioning the role of the people within the research/practice enterprise-reimagining what "social" could, or even should, mean for the future of the field. A potential path forward rests at the nexus of social epidemiology, community-based participatory research (CBPR), and information and communication technology (ICT). Here, we draw from social epidemiology, CBPR, and ICT literatures to introduce A People's Social Epi-a multi-tiered framework for guiding social epidemiology in becoming more inclusive, equitable, and actionable for 21st century practice. In presenting this framework, we suggest the value of taking participatory, collaborative approaches anchored in CBPR and ICT principles and technological affordances-especially within the context of place-based and environmental research. We believe that such approaches present opportunities to create a social epidemiology that is of, with, and by the people-not simply about them. In this spirit, we suggest 10 ICT tools to "socialize" social epidemiology and outline 10 ways to move towards A People's Social Epi in practice

ICT in Developing Context(s)

This paper seeks to develop a theoretical contribution to studies in the areas of ICT in developing contexts by reviewing how the notion of context has been understood to date, before offering a rethinking of how it is handled in the IS and development studies literature. To do this we draw a case study of M-PESA a mobile banking initiative in Kenya, on science and technology studies ideas and specifically Cooper and Law’s (1995) distal and proximal perspectives, to argue that we need to better attend to the multiplicity of practices which take place within development arenas, and also to better consider the processes by which context is represented. The paper concludes by addressing some of the implications for information systems research and development

ICT4D Research in Developing Countries: A Call for Pragmatism Approach

Today, Information Systems research and in particular in the area of ICT4D in developing nations is dominated by positivism and interpretivism paradigms.  Information systems contributions are influenced by historical, cultural, and political contexts in which it is done. Researchers in this area question the appropriateness of positivism and interpretivism philosophical foundations to conduct ICT4D research.  This paper explores the use of pragmatism as an alternative research paradigm to that can be employed to understand the state of the ICT4D research. Research drawing explicitly on pragmatism is still relatively rare. The paper reviews the pragmatism in terms of its ontology, epistemology, axiology and methodology and its value in the ICT4D research discipline. As a new paradigm, pragmatism disrupts the assumptions of older approaches based on the philosophy of knowledge, while providing promising new directions for conducting and understanding the nature of research in the area of ICT4D in developing countries. It is anticipated the readers of the article to make a more informed choice for themselves on whether or not to pursue the path ofpragmatism their own research. KeywordAxiology, epistemology, ICT4D, methodology, ontology, pragmatism, research paradigm

Beyond Bourdieu, Foucault and Habermas: Review and Assessment of Critical Information Systems Research

This paper presents a literature review of critical information systems (IS) research. Specifically, it focuses on how IS researchers have responded to Myers and Klein’s (2011) call to consider critical approaches and theorists in addition Bourdieu, Foucault and Habermas. The review identifies and discusses three types of critical IS research “beyond Bourdieu, Foucault and Habermas”: work based on a) (other) critical grand social theories, b) postcolonialism and c) data-focused critical methods (i.e., Capabilities Approach, Critical Discourse Analysis, Critical Heuristics and Design, Frame Analysis and Phronetic Enquiry). Based on the literature review, the paper maps the landscape of critical approaches and theories and identify their origins. This analysis is helpful for IS researchers interested in conducting critical IS research by charting the range of critical research approaches beyond Bourdieu, Foucault and Haberma

The use of Sen’s capability approach in ICT4D: an exploratory review

This paper reviews the use of Sen’s capability approach (CA) in the field of Information and Communication Technology for development (ICT4D). While ICT4D scholars have a high regard for Sen’s CA, there is an apparent lack of knowledge on how to practically apply the CA in ICT4D. This paper investigates the gap between the theory of the CA and its application in ICT4D. It does so by identifying frameworks developed by scholars to operationalise the CA, and thereafter searching through journals with a prominent ICT4D focus to see how the CA has been used in practice. The study reveals four frameworks that have sought to operationalise the CA; however there seems to be a lack of usage of these frameworks where the CA is applied in ICT4D. This calls for further investigation as to why this mismatch exists