Promising Solutions to reach the last mileThe use of ICTs to bridge the knowledge divide
Practical Answers Sri Lanka (PASL) Where knowledge blends with a difference
Practical Answers Sri Lanka
• Development information service of Janathakshan
• Partner of Practical Answers group of Practical Action
• 25 years history on providing development information
Our VisionRight knowledge at right time to make the worldeco-friendly, poverty free and sustainable
Our MissionTo contribute to the improvement of lives and livelihoods,by providing knowledge relevant to development andpoverty eradication
Paradigm Shift: sustainable social enterprise by 2018
Hybrid Business Model
Knowledge Services Business Unit
Essentials of an effective information service
• Asses the demand
• Generate and collect
• Compile, process, develop, quality assurance
• Organize and store
• Distribution, promotion, marketing
• Develop and strengthen the pool of expertise
• Build partnership and networks
•
Practical Use of ICTs
Web Portal: www.practicalanswers.lk
Digital Repository: www.library.practicalanswers.lk
Face book:www.facebook.com/practicalanswerssrilanka
Twitter & You Tubehttps://twitter.com/practicalasl
https://www.youtube.com/user/janathakshanvideos
Blog & Slide Sharehttp://practicalanswerssrilanka.blogspot.comhttp://www.slideshare.net/practicalanswerss
Television & Radio
Use of digital media tools and devices
• Desktops, laptops, tabs, fax machines, scanners, voice recorders, digital camera
• Skype and vidyo• Internet, wify• Sharepoint• Village information centres
Mobile Applications
Why ICTs & Digital Media Tools• To create innovative and user friendly contact formats
• To disseminate and share the knowledge and information
• Free and open access to knowledge materials
• Provide a gateway to connect with the service
• To strengthen the knowledge base by gathering knowledge and information
• To create a platform to directly interact with each other
• To create development discussions
Why ICTs & Digital Media Tools • To build communities and networks
• To lobbying and advocacy
• To showcase the impact
• To ensure the effective communication with internal and global team
• To share learning
• To market and promote the service
• To establish the brand presence and enhance the brand reputation
Wider reach
258 676 380 506
2816 32003800
010002000300040005000• 30 % growth of enquiry
numbers• 150 000 page views and
downloads• 171 new partnerships
initiatives: cooperate, public, development organizations
• 1.5 million beneficiaries
Growth of income
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
Q1-2013 Q2-2013 Q3-2013 Q4-2013 Q1-2014 Q2-2014
Inco
me
(LK
R)
Quarter of the year
• LKR 1 430 000.00 during Q1 and Q2 vs annual target of 3 000 000.00
• LKR 900 000.00 via online resources
Continued support
• Replicable business model to the Practical Answers group
• Positioning PASL within Janathakshan as their official information service and public interface
• Interest of private sector partners for join investments
National Recognition
E-Swabhimani award as the National Best e-content for livelihood development by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) in 2010
Practical Future
• Regional digital repository for open access
• Knowledge Avenue: green technology demonstrations, non-
traditional resource library which provides a space to play, share and learn with and access to ICTs, provision of business services
• Online business platform
• Digital literacy improvement campaign
We are available @
PRACTICAL ANSWERS - Sri Lanka
No 05, Lionel Edirisinghe Mw, Colombo 05TELEPHONE: 94-11-28 29412FAX: 94–285 6188E MAIL: [email protected]: www.practicalanswers.lkREPOSITORY: www.library.practicalanswers.lkFB: facebook.com/practicalanswerssrilankaTWITTER: @practicalaslYOU TUBE: janthakshanvideo
Thank You