CIDEV - Sponsoring creative ideas at community level

If Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is applied in community-based approaches and is sharply focused and customized to the needs of the respective community it can play an increasingly important and promising role in development efforts.

As one of ICTAD’s major subcomponents, the Community Information and Communication Development (CIDEV) Program promotes the deployment of appropriate ICT to help ongoing development activities of health, educational and agricultural institutions and community service providers. CIDEV assists communities to have increased access to ICT-assisted public and private services and to use these more effectively in order to improve their livelihood, increase their income, have better access to markets and participate in local decision-making.

CIDEV is committed to connect communities’ undertakings with the aim of expanding knowledge and know-how, accessing local and global information, sharing information and thus cross-learning between communities. It therefore particularly focuses on communities determining their own needs and development priorities and seeking support or funding from ICTAD.

The CIDEV Program provides competitive access to grants for the introduction of innovative, community-oriented ICT applications in development activities.

For CIDEV Grant Guidelines click here:

For CIDEV Grant Application Form click here:

More than 500 different communities, from various parts of Ethiopia, have so far submitted their project proposals. Until now, ICTAD has approved 20 community projects, which will receive funds, advice and technical support within the next 12 months. Among them are 12 information/ ICT centres for different communities across the country, 5 community radios in the regions of Afar, Oromia and SNNPR, 1 support initiative for a public library in the Afar region, 1 connectivity-project with the Addis Ababa Youth Association, and the funding of research on ICT-needs for people with disability.