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In
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ICTD within the framework of the MDGs
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Science and technology for development: The new paradigm of ICT
Source:
UNCTAD
According to the United Nations, there is still a lot to do in order to eliminate the digital gap. The conclusion of the Information Economy Report 2007-2008, presented by the UNCTAD, is that developing countries are very much behind developed countries regarding the adoption of the ICTs and how they are used by enterprises. April 2008.[see more]
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At the present time, there is broad consensus on the impact Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have at different levels of society. ICTs come into being as new instruments for which a wide variety of uses is thus generated, being one of the main conditions that they should operate as efficient tools for development. This correlation between ICTs and development has been thoroughly studied and researched and, in general, it is believed that a positive association exists between both variables, so that investment in TICs is considered as an important dimension for the successful achievement of development projects. In spite of this, there is still a long road ahead before such technologies are included in the development agendas, given the fact that Southern countries do not usually give priority to investment in these areas.
The interaction ICTs-development takes a new approach as of the adoption by the UN of the so called "Millennium Development Goals" (MDGs) in the year 2000, within the framework of the Millennium Summit. Such goals set targets to be met by the year 2015 which concisely refer to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, strengthening of gender equity, improvement of sanitary conditions, promotion of environmental sustainability and, in general terms, the promotion of development in poorer countries. One of the issues included in the latter goal is precisely referred to ensuring that the benefits provided by new technologies, particularly ICTs, are made available to all people.
From the moment of their formulation, MDGs have been adopted as reference framework for the evaluation of progress and regressions in the quality of life of people in those regions facing a critical socio-economic situation. In this way, the virtuous interaction ICTs-development is currently conceptualised in terms of the categories included in such goals. Thus, for example, a large number of studies have been carried out with regards to the contribution of ICTs to the processes of local development through the consumption and production of ICTs (examples of these are the creation of jobs, improvement in the quality of public services, increase in private sector productivity, etc.).
The participation of civil society in the elaboration of programmes aimed at implementing this type of projects has been acknowledged as an essential factor for the successful fulfilment of MDGs. Likewise, among those studies carried out, emphasis is laid on the need to set a universal system of indicators that may allow to measure the impact of the above-mentioned technologies on the fulfilment of MDGs as well as to enable the comparability of such incidence in different regions. In effect, this will be one the essential issues to be dealt with at the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
However, one of the recurrent problems that reverberates on the possibilities of investing in ICTs as instruments for the fulfilment of MDGs is that which refers to the lack of financing mechanisms for such investments, either at private, public or private-public level; and also to the secondary role ICTs are allocated by governments within public programmes or services.
Finally, although the relationship ICTs-development is not generally placed in doubt, the existence of proposals that, from a critical point of view, suggest a revision with regards to the current relevance of MDGs and their idyllic relationship with ICTs, cannot be avoided. In these cases, it is mainly claimed that such goals arise from a hierarchical and paternalist vision of Northern countries towards the South, which lack the necessary flexibility to face the changes experienced by Southern societies and fail to adequately address their specific realities.
Versión
en español
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News |
| Up-to-date current affairs information. |
Tue May 23 2006
New Delhi: Report on workshop on ICT indicators
Wed May 03 2006
MDGs Dashboard
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In-depth
reports |
| Detailed
reports on key issues |
Rural access to ICTs
A rural ICT access model that combines community-owned ICT enterprises with wireless technologies can create more empowering and sustainable initiatives.
World Summit on the Information Society - WSIS
An opportunity to build an equitable information society.
Millennium Development Goals - MDGs
A comprehensive list of resources from the United Nations and civil society organizations.
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Campaigns |
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The Millennium Campaign
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NGOs |
| NGO web sites |
Social Watch
International network of citizens’ organizations struggling to eradicate poverty and the causes of poverty, to ensure an equitable distribution of wealth and the realization of human rights.
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ICT role in achieving the MDGs |
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Mainstreaming ICT in national development experiences |
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Mainstreaming ICT for the achievement of the MDG
Source: UNICTTF (United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force)
This report argues that the MDG challenge demands an unprecedented response at the global as well as at national level. Scaling and replication of ICT efforts will require aggregation of knowledge and resources across markets, and innovative breakthrough approaches to meet key price points and economies of scale for MDG delivery. Develop and Promote Global ICT & MDG Initiatives in sectors where the scaling and replication of ICT interventions will prove of most benefit to the achievement of the MDG, including economic opportunity for poverty eradication, health and HIV/AIDS, education and training, gender and youth empowerment, and public administration. PDF Format.
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Mainstreaming ICT
Source: Oneworld SouthAsia
The basic aim of this bi-monthly publication is to create a platform for critical debate on the role, scope and experience of mainstreaming ICT in development interventions, especially in South Asia countries. It also seeks to address the concerns of policy-makers, government and non-government agencies and donors who are skeptical of ICT as tools for enhancing human development.
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Why national strategies are needed for ICT-enabled development
Source: Development Gateway
Nagy K. Hana
This paper explores the need for national strategies for ICT-enabled development. It aims to improve understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the ICT revolution, and their implications for development policy and strategies. The paper concludes by outlining the rationale for designing national strategies for e-development and options, objectives and major thrust for such strategies in support of economic growth, poverty reduction and the MDGs. PDF Format.
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Science, technology and innovation: their significant role in development strategies
Source: UN Millennium Project
This report underscores the critical importance of science, technology and innovation for achieving the MDG. Responding to challenges in areas such as economic productivity, education, gender inequity, health, sanitation, environment and participation in the global economy will require increased use of scientific and technical knowledge. Technological innovation must be, therefore, at the centre of any development strategy. Of particular interest is Chapter 2: "How science and technology can contribute to achieving the goals". PDF Format.
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Donor ICT strategies matrix
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC
This OECD-DAC Donor Information and Communication Technologies Strategies Matrix presents the latest information on how bilateral and multilateral donors have mainstreamed information and communication technologies (ICT) in their development assistance programmes in order to more effectively and efficiently achieve development goals, particularly the MDGs.
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Measuring the impact of ICT in meeting the MDGs |
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New cooperation paradigms for ICTD |
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ICT-based development strategies |
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ICT - MDG linkage at regional and national level |
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MDGs & WSIS |
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