Basic infrastructure such as electrical reticulation and communications, essential pillars for economic growth, have not even been planned for many deep rural communities in South Africa. Geographic location should not place limitations on access to the Internet and World Wide Web which are considered vital to the promotion of learning, training and business development in developing communities.

The CSIR, icomtek projects aim to develop and implement an innovative communications infrastructure that is independent of the state power and telecommunication utility companies and to develop capacity within the Community, with appropriate information content (health, agriculture, education) to support sustainable development in rural areas and contribute to an overall improvement in the quality of life for all people involved.

The communities will benefit from the ICT revolution by accessing information that is of specific relevance to their daily lives, their overall development process and their small business development programmes. In addition, the projects provide the basis for the transfer of IT solutions for development in rural communities in South Africa.

• Research, develop and deploy a viable, alternative communications infrastructure and delivery platform utilising renewable energy
  
• Provide a communications platform for the delivery of local content (such as education, health, agricultural, tourism, SMME's, etc.), Government and private sector information services as well as for health and education applications.
  
• Develop human capacity in the rural environment following specific career paths.
  
• Identify and implement businesses opportunities in order to achieve sustainable, integrated rural development.
  
• Develop an assessment methodology for monitoring and evaluation of ICT's.
  
• Develop a replication model for the sustainability of Multi Purpose Community Centres as well as for health, education and agricultural ICT applications.

• Demonstrate the use of integrated wireless, satellite and GSM technologies utilising renewable energy;
  
• Installation of appropriate information and communications delivery platforms;
  
• The creation of local content according to community needs and in support of rural development initiatives; web-based content; telehealth applications at the clinic; CBT at schools; agricultural content transfer;
  
• Skills transfer and training (ICT technical skills, business skills, content development skills and project management skills);
  
• Monitoring, evaluation, and development of models for replication in other parts of the country, including the SADC region and Africa.

This integrated approach will be the basis for ongoing research, monitoring and evaluation into the application of ICT's in a rural environment. The lessons learned from the project will be captured and a business plan, based on the cost/benefit of ICT's, will be developed for the community. This will form the basis for future replication models.

What makes this project unique is its approach to community empowerment and sustainability. Our experience in this field has led to the development of a framework that stresses the need for the integration of four key factors all contributing to local economic development, namely:

• Community participation
  
• Innovative technologies
  
• Applications related to community needs
  
• Sustainability

Community participation is critical. With established community structures, a management forum and strong leadership the community quickly moves from being a passive beneficiary to an active partner. Community members are appointed as social facilitator and project co-ordinator in order to drive the project.

Innovative technologies are often required due to the lack of existing infrastructure such as electrical power and telephone lines. This requires customized solutions according to prevailing conditions and technology alternatives. The setting up of an ICT infrastructure using renewable solar and wind energy by CSIR icomtek's Connectivity Programme, has made it possible to train and assist members of the Lubisi Dam Development Forum to be instrumental in addressing local economic development needs.

Lubisi does not have telephones but recently enjoys good cell phone coverage resulting in the development of an e-mail system utilizing a GSM technology. The community members now enjoy their own web site www.lubisi.cda.co.za and e-mail addresses. (e.g. mpcc@lubisi.cda.co.za)

• A Multi Purpose Community Centre (MPCC) providing telecentre, desk-top publishing services, training and business skills facilitation
  
• A guest house specially constructed from technology enhanced local building methods and skills utilizing mud blocks and thatch
  
• A soil/cement block-making enterprise
  
• A sewing project

Only after the training has been completed is the technology rolled-out. This allows time for the community to get exposed to the benefits of information technology and provides the opportunity for income generating activities to take place. Once this has occurred wireless technologies can then be implemented to link other nearby facilities.

This has created the opportunity for distance education to nearby schools and simple "tele-health" applications to rural clinics.

Some of the community leaders have displayed a very enthusiastic response. The impact of the project has promoted the partnership between the Lubisi Dam Development Forum and the CSIR and Consortium to explore new projects in the area.

Sustainability is the "acid test" for such projects and the HSRC are responsible for the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the project. This is essential to gather the "learning" and provides an alternative way for the community to provide inputs into the project.

This framework implies an integrated approach to rural development and the