Chapter 9: A Case for the use of E-Collaboration tools for Research, Development, and Professional Service

The need to create an equitable and just social order has never been felt more deeply as it is in today’s global society. Increased levels of poverty, hunger, unemployment, lack of access to education, and instances of violence and war resulting from ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and/or religious differences have created a sense of urgency to understand and address the issues of exclusion and social justice. On February 20, 2009, World Day of Social Justice was celebrated for the first time “to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment” (UN News Centre, 2007, para. 1). The purpose was to bring a revival to the commitments of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development for the creation of an egalitarian society. The summit’s objectives as well as other United Nations declarations have emphasized the importance of access to appropriate ICT for eradication of poverty and to create a level playing field. Access to ICT and connectivity are, thus, considered important drivers of social and economic development. The perceived wide-spread availability of ICT has created a sense that increased opportunities are available for economic, educational and social development, and collaboration for all segments of society (Paulus, 2005). However, there is greater recognition that the benefits of technologies are not equally distributed or available to all. In fact, in many parts of the world, the introduction of ICT has worsened conditions by allowing greater access for the elite enabling them to improve the quality of their lives whereas the poorer segments of society have remained deprived of such benefits (Heeks, 1999, Sayed, 2003). The poverty cycle thus continues, creating further inequities.