What is Eriding?

Eriding is a model for providing technology support for the civil society sector. eRiders are a shared resource among a group of NGO's, individuals who provide technology assistance. eRiders help each organization to develop and implement information and communications technology (ICT) to support its projects. Their advice and support is unique to each organisations aims, needs and context. Because they work with a group of NGO's they also help to connect their work and share experiences.

eRiding is based on the idea that technology support can be best delivered to NGOs by a technologist who is knowledgeable of the NGO sector and its resource limitations. If such technology support is delivered by someone working within the NGOs movement, this can in turn increase trust as well as reduce accessibility issues. The eRider model is designed to deliver personal, reliable and flexible expertise at a relatively low cost to the NGO.

Services are provided by roving consultants with a wide range of technical as well as practical NGO skills and with experience in training and technology troubleshooting. An eRider may work in a team or individually, and may service up to twenty NGOs and/or activists per year, depending on the level and depth of service needed as well as their geographical proximity.

Because eRiders are local consultants (from the country, region or city, or ethnic group with which they are working) who ideally have both NGO experience and substantial technical expertise, they are aware of the NGOs cultural and resource context and therefore better able to give appropriate advice. They are also more reliable than visiting consultants, for example if training is provided, then the eRider is available for trouble shooting and follow-up after the workshop or training session is over.

Although much eRider work is technology related, eRiders are encouraged to be aware of management, fundraising, accounting and personnel problems and how they may effect an organisations ability to undertake technology projects. The exact nature of services they provide as well as their structure (how many people, with what expertise and so on) depends on how the project is established and the intended impact of the eRiders interventions.

The ultimate aim of eRiders is to raise the NGOs level of knowledge and expertise to a point where the organisation does not have to rely on the eRider to maintain its technology needs. As one organisation begins to 'graduate' from the eRiders services, the eRider may then move on to work with a new organization.