Information and Communication Technologies for Social Development: a Methodological Proposal

Most efforts to promote human development through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have focused on increasing infrastructure and digital literacy among vulnerable sectors of the population. This article proposes to expand the scope through a methodology for an organizational level. The objective is to share the theoretical principles, the design and the results of the implementation of a participatory communication methodology for the appropriation of ICTs in organizations with social purposes. The theoretical framework was based on Amartya Sen's human development perspective regarding ICTs for development and social change. The methodology was generated through a collaborative workshop between the academy and organizations dedicated to youth development in different regions of Mexico. The results show that the appropriation of ICTs must transcend its instrumental use and be based on a reflection on its social mission, its context and the needs of the population they serve, to solve their communication problems, but above all to strengthen their capacity to support human and social development.