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

The Impact of ICT Projects on Developing Economies: The Case of People with Physical Disabilities in Nigeria

This study investigates the use of computers by People with Disabilities (PWDs) and whether it improves capability and human development in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on a case study’s findings and interviews with PWDs, we build on the Technology-Augment Capability Approach to show how computers as technical objects and caregivers as non-technical objects facilitate four key capabilities for PWDs, namely (1) Capability to education, (2) Capability to socio-economic activities, (3) Capability to social relations, (4) Informational capabilities and capability to employment. However, PWDs’ ability to convert the use of computers into capabilities is influenced by conversion factors, such as personal, social, environmental, technological, choice, and agency. Furthermore, our findings show also that there are enabling factors, such as accessibility, technological know-how, computer features, and Internet connectivity which facilitate PWDs’ achieved functionings