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Tarek
Joined: Oct 15, 2003
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Country: Tunisia
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ICTs In under-developed countries
November 4, 2003 - 04:23 AM
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It could be argued that: the emerging information age characterized by information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the extraordinary increase in the spread of knowledge has given birth to a new era: that of knowledge and information. These technologies are offering even less developed countries like some african and asian ones, the opportunity to transform their economies and accelerate their socio-economic development process towards an information and knowledge-based economy .
There is no doubt that the information and knowledge-based economy is the economy of the future and the challenge facing these countries relate to how they should go about formulating and implementing appropriated integrated ICT-led socio-economic development policies and plans that could aid the process of moving their countries to the other side of the digital divide.
The digital divide no doubt constitutes a serious socio-economic development threat to under developed countries. As an example, the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) initiated by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is one of the bold attempts aimed at addressing this threat. This serves as a framework within which African countries are being assisted to develop and implement their integrated ICT-led socio-economic development policies and plans to facilitate the radical transformation of their respective economies and societies within the context of the challenges of globalization and the information age.
Tarek Belghith - Tunisia
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alberto
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Re: ICTs In under-developed countries
November 4, 2003 - 05:01 AM
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Hey - Tarek thanks for your wonderful post!
I would like to add two thoughts... the first that the Digital Divide before being a socio-economic divide is a divide between people that are excluded from the benfits and endless opportunities of the information society.
In this context ICTs are to be seen as a tool and not exclusively as an aim, and when defining programmes, project or more broadley the information and knowledge society we need to keep in mind people with names and faces, people that live in slums, that don't have the right to express an opinion, don't have access to potable water, live in slums, can't go to school or die before reaching the age of 5...
ICTs can lead to information and knowledge which is the greatest resource in eradicating poverty as it means empowerment, understanding, resources and endless opportunities...
But we need to keep all these pivotal points firm in our minds...
All this also links to the other discussion on ICTs and MDGs... where ICTs are not to be interpreted as a solution but as a tool in reaching these targets, creating awareness, understanding, spreading information and providing resources to people to be able to grow into adulthood as individuals that are empowered to choose their destiny.
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Roentgen
Joined: Feb 25, 2003
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Re: ICTs In under-developed countries
November 6, 2003 - 06:30 AM
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Digital divide is not only an important international issue but also a domestic one, happening within borders. It is important that ICT programs especially those initiated by the government promote inclusion, in the process, helping create an information society which is more participatory. Some governments have initiated thrusts which are affirmative and which initially were widely viewed as drastic if not unviable, options. For example, the franchising of mobile companies in the Philippines also carried with it the provision that there should be parallel investments in rural areas, which are not served by telephone companies. These communities therefore, became 'part' of the networked society - enhancing the growth of enterprises and commerce, in general, facilitating trade and communications - giving the people more opportunities and widening their choices. While the short-term return is not easily perceivable, it is always wise to invest in rural areas. Even if the government would require the private sector to do it.
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