ICT4D Connecting People for a Better World

This book seeks to address how information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as computers, mobile phones, radio, TV, video and the Internet can help empower people, reduce poverty and improve lives. The book is intended as a resource for individuals including leading CEOs, top-level government leaders and grass-roots practitioners.

The chapters in Part II and the synthesis in Part I seek to provide an introduction to those who are not ICT specialists and to give an up-to-date overview to others involved with ICT for development. Part I provides an overview with an emphasis on the development and poverty reduction perspective; Part II is organised by these themes: Innovating for equitable access; Fostering policy and implementation; Enhancing human capacity and empowerment; Capacity building; Strengthening communications for development; Promoting local content and knowledge;and Cross-cutting themes.

Each theme is preceded by a section called Key Findings, which is briefly summarised under these headings: Lessons Learned; Trends and Innovations; Priorities / Potential for Action; amd Burning Questions. The book seeks to answer questions such as: are ICT deepening existing inequalities and divisions in the world? Are ICTs helping individuals in developing countries?