A smart village is a rural, often off-the-grid community that uses modern technological-based solutions to achieve an increased standard of living. The concept of smart villages represents a modern approach to revitalizing impoverished communities around the world; the objective of the concept is to assist policy makers, donors and socio-economic planners in providing essential services to rural communities worldwide. The concept has received significant attention in the context of Asian and African countries, although it has also been implemented in other parts of the world. Smart villages typically combat barriers to energy access in rural areas through the introduction and use of renewable resources in place of fossil fuels, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries.
Off-grid communities
The term "off-grid" broadly refers to energy independence from a centralized electrical grid. Villages with off-grid systems typically have semi-autonomous or autonomous means of satisfying electricity demand through the on-site generation of renewable energy. Off-grid communities are classified as micro-grid, nano-grid and pico-grid based on size and energy generation thresholds. Access to un-interrupted and low-cost electricity is an important requirement for the sustainable development of rural communities. In 2015, Adnan Z. Amin, director of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), estimated that 60% of the additional electricity generation needed for "universal energy access" must come from off-grid solutions, and pointed to the rapid development of solar energy systems in Bangladesh as a positive example of providing electricity access. Roughly 80% of the world's population lives in rural areas, a majority of which do not have consistent access to electricity. Due to underemployment, residents of rural areas often migrate to urban localities, where employment opportunities are more easily available due to robust industrial infrastructure and consistent availability of electricity. Low-cost, IRENA-sponsored power generation projects based on renewable energy present an attractive option for off-grid electrification of rural areas in Asian countries.
ICT Village Model The ICT Village is a smart village concept that aims to eradicate poverty in villages through sustainable development and the introduction of information and communications technology. Replicas of the model have been launched in several developing countries. In 2009, the United States Strategic Command's Global Innovation and Strategy Center published a framework based on the ICT Village model for manufacturing and deplopying a "Village Infrastructure in a Kit" (VIKA). The stated purpose of the kit was to provide "power, a water production and purification system, and telecommunications capabilities" for underserved populations living in isolated, medium-sized villages. Solar Village The first ICT village project was launched in Honduras in 1999, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch. With the support of UNESCO, Infopoverty, and the Organization of American States (OEA), two independent solar villages were implemented in the communities of San Ramon and San Francisco. Each community was provided with solar panels and internet access provided by a SATNET satellite. As a result, over 30,000 people in the previously isolated communities were provided with E-learning and telemedicine services, and were able to connect to the rest of the world through e-commerce and e-government initiatives. Borji Ettouil In November 2003, the implementation of the ICT Village model in the Tunisian village of Borji Ettouil was proposed during the World Summit on the Information Society, with the support of the Government of Tunisia. The model was supported by the National Solidarity Fund and implemented successfully, leading to its replication in several other developing countries. The village was subsequently visited by numerous government delegations and personalities. Meiss al-Jabal
The village of Meiss al-Jabal in southern Lebanon was proposed as the site of an ICT Village project by United Nations official Staffan de Mistura. In order to support the refugee communities living in the village, it was provided with two digitized classrooms, a dedicated satellite connection and specialized devices for remote consultation and assistance services. Rapid development of the students' professional skills was observed following the start of the project. However, the project was halted following the village's near-total destruction during the 2006 Lebanon War. Navajo Nation In 2005, John Shirley, the president of the Navajo Nation, announced the creation of the Navajo Nation Portal at the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis. The project was launched with the aim of facilitating increased digitalization in indigenous populations, and saw the construction of several access and training centers in pueblos within the Navajo Nation reservation. Sambaina The "Millenium Village Project", an ICT smart village project, was launched in 2008 in the village of Sambaina, with the support of Madagascar president Marc Ravalomanana. The project introduced telemedicine to the village via the establishment of a new digitized health unit, and was able to achieve a reduction in pre-postpartum and early childhood mortality. A separate e-learning initative saw the outfitting of classrooms with computers and other digital devices, as well as the provision of central internet access to the village population.
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