Features ASSESSING COMMUNITY TELECENTRES Guidelines for Researchers Anne Whyte ETHICS AND THE INTERNET IN WEST AFRICA Toward an Ethical Model of Integration Patrick Brunet, Oumarou Tiemtoré, and Marie-Claude Vettraino-Soulard

The idea of Acacia emerged at the 1996 Information Society and Development Conference, the first event of its kind held in a developing country, South Africa, and was thus closely associated from the outset with efforts by developing countries, particularly in Africa, to ensure that their voices would help shape the Global Information Society.In March, 1997, the Board of Governors of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC)approved Acacia which was aimed at establishing the potential of Information and Communications Technologies to empower poor African communities. Acacia sets out with the determination to:

• demonstrate how ICTs can enable communities to solve their development problems in ways that build firmly on local goals, cultures, strengths, and processes;
• build a body of knowledge capable of identifying the policies, technologies, approaches, and methodologies instrumental in promoting the affordable and effective use of ICTs by marginalized communities, such as women.