[WSIS CS-Plenary] WSISPapers Newsletter No.8 - ICTD within the framework of the MDGs

[WSISPapers]

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  WSIS Papers Newsletter - May 2005 No. 8
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In this issue: ICTD WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE MDGs

Content:

- ICT role in achieving the MDGs
- Mainstreaming ICT in national development strategies
- Measuring the impact of ICT in meeting the MDGs
- New cooperation paradigms for ICTD
- ICT-based development strategies
- ICT - MDG linkage at regional and national level
- MDGs & WSIS
- Related Choike's in-depth reports

Available online at:

      http://wsispapers.choike.org/

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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.

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 ICT role in achieving the MDGs
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* ICT applied to the MDG
John Daly
Source: Development Gateway
This series of essays, treating the role of information and communications
technologies (ICT) in meeting the MDG, were prepared as a contribution to
the deliberations of the Geneva Phase of the WSIS. It has been written to
illustrate the enormous number of ICT innovations taking place around the
world, and the complexity of the diffusion of those innovations. Ultimately,
these essays are about encouraging patterns of innovation and technological
diffusion that would better allocate scarce ICT resources
-->
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/ict/sdm/previewDocument.do~activeDocume
ntId=840982

* Innovation and Investment: ICT and the MDG
Source: UN ICT Task Force (UNICTF)
The intersection of ICTS and the MDGS forms a critical nexus for the future
of sustainable human development and poverty eradication. This paper argues
that while the means to meet the challenge for scaling up innovation and
investment in ICT for Development are actually close at hand, the so-called
"digital divide" has shifted perilously in recent years to the detriment of
the poorest and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), with major missed
opportunities for the achievement of the MDG.
--> http://www.unicttaskforce.org/perl/documents.pl?id=1519

* ICT & MDG: a multisectorial approach
Source: UNDP
This article recognises the importance of a holistic and multi-sectoral
framework and partnership approach that can more effectively harness the
role of development (ICT-D) both as an enabler of development as well as an
enhancer of capacity development at the individual, community,
organisational, systemic and societal levels. In its development strategy,
there is a focus on mainstreaming ICT to effectively contribute to
achievement of the MDG, particularly those related to income poverty
reduction, education, health, environment and gender equity. PDF Format.
--> http://wsispapers.choike.org/ict_dev_mdg.pdf

* ICT, Poverty Reduction Strategies Programmes (PRSPs) and the MDG
Source: UNDP - Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (ADPIP)
Tariq Banuri
This paper analyzes the benefits of technology to human development. The
author focuses on the role of ICT to the various MDG as subscribed by the
international community. A discussion is introduced on how ICT at large can
help or facilitate human development and reduce poverty. Paper presented at
the Asian Forum on Information and Communication Technology Policies and
e-Strategies, 20-22 October 2003, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. PDF Format.
--> http://www.apdip.net/projects/2003/asian-forum/docs/papers/session1.pdf

* A global overview of e-strategies - making the link with poverty and the
Millennium Development Goals
Kate Wild
Source: UNICTTF (United Nations ICT Task Force)
A discussion paper for the 5th Session of the United Nations ICT Task Force
in Geneva, September 12 and 13, 2003. This paper is about the connection
between strategies to reduce poverty and strategies to maximize ICT benefit.
It reviews the evolution of ICT strategies region by region and analyses the
connection between e-strategies and poverty reduction strategies.
--> http://www.unicttaskforce.org/perl/documents.pl?id=1192

* Up-scaling pro-poor ICT policies & practices
Richard Gerster and Sonja Zimmermann
Source: MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) & Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation (SDC)
ICT can make a difference in reducing poverty and reaching the MDG. This
potential contrasts, however, with the relatively modest pro-poor ICT
implementation level. What key barriers impede the implementation of
declarations? How can we multiply, upscale and replicate successful pilot
projects? This study provides answers to such pertinent questions and
contributes to a multi-dimensional poverty reduction agenda for the
implementation of the WSIS Principles and Action Plan to be closely linked
to of the MDG. PDF Format.
--> http://www.globalknowledge.org/gkps_portal/view_file.cfm?fileid=2927

* Science and technology promotion - Advice and application for the
achievement of the MDGs
Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
This report argues that achieving the MDG requires a clear political
commitment to make science and technologies top priorities in the national
development agendas. It is focused on three sub themes: infrastructure
building as a foundation for science and technological development, the
mutual interaction and dependency of Science and Technology Education with
Research and Development; and the promotion of gainful employment and
enterprise development through the use of new technologies, with a special
focus on ICT and biotechnology. PDF Format.
--> http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ecn162005d2&c1_en.pdf

* A critical view of the linkage ICT-MDG
Richard Heeks
Source: University of Manchester
This article proposes a revision of the relevance of the Millennium
Development Goals, as well as the incidence of the ICT in the achievement of
those goals, and argues that some different priorities should be considered
to make most effective use of the opportunities that new technology affords.
PDF Format.
--> http://wsispapers.choike.org/ict_mdg.pdf

* Networking development: ICT for MDG
Frederick S. Tipson
Source: InterAction
The author states that using ICT to achieve the MDG is not only a matter of
technology or funding, but also involves global and national policies and
networking activities. PDF Format.
--> http://wsispapers.choike.org/networking_dev.pdf

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 Mainstreaming ICT in national development strategies
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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.
--> http://www.apdip.net/documents/mdg/analysis/unict18112004.pdf

* 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.
--> http://southasia.oneworld.net/section/southasia/mict

* Why national strategies are needed for ICT-enabled development
Nagy K. Hana
Source: Development Gateway
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.
--> http://wsispapers.choike.org/national_strategies.pdf

* 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.
--> http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/Science-complete.pdf

* 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.
--> http://www1.oecd.org/dac/ictcd/htm/matrix.htm

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 Measuring the impact of ICT in meeting the MDG
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* Create ICT indicators as a tool for measuring the progress in the
realization of the MDG
Source: UNICTTF (United Nations Information and Communication Technologies
Task Force)
Article from UN ICT Task Force meeting, held in November 2004, in Berlin.
This meeting included a working party on ICT Indicators and MDG Mapping to
discuss what progress has been made in mainstreaming ICT into the
development agenda and, secondly, to analyze what effective measurement and
monitoring tools are needed for capturing the effects of ICT on the
Millennium Development Goals.
--> http://www.unicttaskforce.org/perl/showdoc.pl?area=mdgm

* Tools for development: Using ICT to achieve the MDG
Source: UNICTTF (United Nations Information and Communication Technologies
Task Force)
The overall objective of this paper is to map the role of ICT in helping to
achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG), building on the global
development objectives and indicators already developed by the United
Nations. PDF Format.
--> http://www.researchictafrica.net/images/upload/mdg.pdf

* Measuring and Enhancing the Impact of ICTs on the MDGs
Source: Development Gateway
Kate Wild
Discussion paper for the 4th Session of the United Nations ICT Task Force,
Geneva, February 21 and 22, 2003. This paper explores the feasibility of
creating tools for documenting ICT projects, evaluating their results and
measuring their impact. The paper provides "an assessment of the
quantitative (indicators of national e-readiness) and qualitative (case
studies and stories) components of the knowledge base on ICTs for
development; and a very selective review of ICT experience relevant to the
poverty reduction, education, health and sustainable development goals."
--> http://topics.developmentgateway.org/evaluation/rc/ItemDetail.do~367419

* ICT Development Indices 2004 and ICT policies analysis
Source: UNCTAD
This report presents analytical work on ICT policies and their
implementation, and researches and seeks to inform policy making and
enlighten decision-makers in their attempts to promote ICT development,
especially in developing countries. It contains, also, a wide variety of ICT
development indices for the year 2004 and descriptions about successful ICT
based development projects in different parts of Africa. This report
represents part of UNCTAD's (United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development) contribution to the World Summit on the Information Society.
PDF Format.
--> http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/iteipc20054_en.pdf

* The impact of ICT in the MDG
Source : ITU
The "World Telecommunication Development Report 2003: Access Indicators for
the Information Society" provides both a tool kit for measuring access to
information and communication technologies (ICT) and a synopsis of the
current state of readiness for the information society. While the entire
book is relevant to the Partnership goal of the MDG, Chapter 4 is devoted
specifically to ICT and the MDG. PDF Format.
--> http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/publications/wtdr_03/

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 New cooperation paradigms for ICTD
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* Multistakehoder partnerships as a new paradigm on ICT based development
projects
Source: GKP (Global Knowledge Partnership)
GKP understands that it is necessary to change the current paradigms of
development intervention in order to meet the MDG. This publication is part
of the "Knowledge For Development Series", an overall effort to increase the
availability of information and knowledge on various issues in the area of
ICT4D. It is an attempt to help mainstream understanding about MSPs, how
they work, how they can be effectively formed and sustained, and their
potential and actual contribution to the global effort to bridge the digital
divide, deliver digital dividends and realise the MDG.
--> http://www.globalknowledge.org/gkps_portal/index.cfm?menuid=178

* Global Alliance for ICTD: A multisectorial approach in ICT policy-making,
in order to a meet the MDG
Source: Digital Opportunity
Realising internet's role in democratisation and good governance, developed
nations, especially countries in Europe and North America, have been
exploiting this media to enable their citizens participate in governance and
policy-making processes The recent proposal of setting up a "Global Alliance
for ICT Policy and Development", as the successor of the United Nations
Information and Communication Technologies task Force (UN ICT TF) can be
seen as the corollary of such approaches adopted at various regional and
national levels. Global Alliance can function as the common platform for
ICT-led development efforts as outlined in two global policy discourses -
MDG and WSIS, catalysing the mutisectorial efforts in meeting this goals.
Discussions are already underway as to see how the Alliance proposal can
further be institutionalised in the upcoming MDG +5 Summit in September and
WSIS II in November.
--> http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/view/110161/1

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 ICT-based development experiences
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* ICT based development projects- bridge the global digital divide.
Source: ITU
This site is designed to highlight some of the ongoing and successful ICT
development projects taking place around the world. It provides insights
into some of the many ways in which ICT can help marginalized societies to
bridge the digital divide and transition into knowledge-based societies.
--> http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/wsis-themes/ict_stories/index.html

* Creating a development dynamic
Source: Digital Opportunity Initiative
This report of the Digital Opportunity Initiative contains descriptions
about successful ICT based development projects and information on the
inclusion of ICT in developing countries development programmes, as well as
an interesting analysis about national ICT policies implementation.
--> http://www.opt-init.org/framework/onepage/onepage.html#2-2-html

* ICT for development contributing to the MDG
John Daly
Source: Development Gateway
This report contains lessons learned from seventeen projects funded by
infoDev out of a portfolio of more than 400 projects. All projects funded by
infoDev are intended to facilitate the application of ICT to meet the MDG.
These seventeen projects were selected not as the most successful, but as
those likely to offer the best lessons and knowledge about how to use ICT
for development purposes. An independent team analyzed them in terms of the
MDG, and extract those lessons.
--> http://topics.developmentgateway.org/ict/rc/ItemDetail.do~367988

* ICT for development success stories
Source: Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP)
This publication by the GKP highlights initiatives that are using
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to make a real and
meaningful difference in communities around the world, no matter how
disadvantaged or isolated they may be. These stories on Youth, Poverty and
Gender are snapshots of the learning process that accompanies the
introduction and implementation of ICT in a community development project.
-->
http://www.globalknowledge.org/gkps_portal/index.cfm?menuid=201&parentid=179

* ICT and MDG: a World Bank Group perspective
Source: World Bank
This report illustrates the opportunities ICT offers policy makers and
practitioners in their efforts to achieve the MDG and highlight some World
Bank Group funded projects utilizing ICT to accelerate development.
 -->
http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/ict/projects.nsf/WebPages/3F67A7E75AF851D58525
6DEF007706DD?OpenDocument#ictDev

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 ICT - MDG linkage at regional and national level
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* Eastern Europe: Knowledge Building in ICTD
Source: UNDP's Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS (RBEC)
The UNDP Knowledge Building in ICTD initiative provides capacitation in
designing and implementation of partnerships-based ICTD initiatives. In 2005
a major focus is being made on the delivery of the ICTD Workplan Output:
"Increasingly knowledgeable Country Offices' colleagues capable to design
and implement partnerships-based ICT-for-MDG initiatives". One of the
planned activities, e-MDG (ICT-for-MDG), aims at developing and delivering
training and advisory services to UN Country Teams in mainstreaming of ICTD
knowledge services to support MDG-related programming.
--> http://europeandcis.undp.org/?wspc=practice-14_h_7

* A Primer: Africa, ICT for development and the MDG
Source: The Commonwealth Government & Business Guide to Information and
Communication Technology (CTO-ICT)
Paul Hamilton
The author analyzes the relevance of the MDG and WSIS targets for
policy-makers and practitioners in Africa. He states that, by 2015, African
Commonwealth countries may well be able to tick all of the ICT boxes
contained in the MDG, and at least some of the WSIS targets, but questions
if this will this help achieve the overall development strategy envisaged by
the goals.
--> http://www.ictdevagenda.org/frame.php?dir=07&sd=10&sid=2&id=561

* Africa, ICT policy and the MDGs
'Gbenga Sesan
Africa's active participation in the Information Society informs the need
for each of the constituent nation to develop and implement national ICT
policies (and strategies), with special consideration for meeting the goals
of the MDG. This article aims to inform about the progresses made in the
development and implementation of these kinds of policies in the African
nations.
--> http://wsispapers.choike.org/africa_ict_mdg.pdf

* Promoting ICT for human development in Asia - Realizing the MDG
Source: UNDP
This study aims to review progress made by countries in harnessing the
potential  of ICT for reducing poverty and enhancing human development,
identify gaps and constraints of implementation of ICT strategies and,
finally, tries to identify specify policy prescriptions that aim to enhance
social equity.
--> http://www.sdnp.undp.org/it4dev/gpm/presentations/day3/Final/shahid.ppt

* Albania on the road to fulfilling MDG using ICTD
Source: ICTD Project/UNDP Albania
Gent Strazimiri, Yevgeny Korneevand, Melanie Reimer
UNDP Albania was one of the first UNDP offices world -wide to develop an
overall national MDG programme and to re-engineer its portfolio to ensure
that every component of its work in Albania is linked to the MDG agenda. New
information and communications technologies are viewed as important for
achieving virtually all goals and targets, through deployment of technolo
gical tools and the creation of enabling the environment, particularly in
fields such as health, education, employment, HIV/AIDS, gender and poverty.
PDF Format.
-->
http://intra.undp.org.al/ext/elib/download/?id=553&name=Albania%20on%20the%2
0road%20to%20fulfilling%20MDG%20using%20ICTD%2Epdf

* ICT and MDG in Bangladesh
Fuente: MDG Portal in Bangladesh, Sustainable Development Networking
Programme (SDNP)
The Bangladesh Government recognises the importance of implementing the MDG
vision as explained in the National Action Plan on ICT, which emphasises
among others the development of contents for Internet and Internet in
Bangla. This web portal, created and maintained by SDNP, includes a section
on ICT & MDG. It is stated there that "ICT provides developing nations with
an unprecedented opportunity to meet vital development goals".
--> http://www.mdgbangla.org/ict_mdg/index.htm

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 MDG & WSIS
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* ICT - MDG relation in the WSIS context
Source: ITU
This site by the ITU contains links related to the role that ICT play in
helping to achieve the MDG in the context of the Tunis phase of the WSIS.
--> http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/wsis-themes/UNMDG/index.html

* GKP publication for Millennium+5 and WSIS processes
Source: Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP)
This publication, in preparation by the GKP for the Millennium+5 and WSIS
summits, aims to build linkages between ICT and social participation, good
governance and good government, and, in general terms, development process
and specific development goals. This publication will form the thematic
backbone of GKP's advocacy positions in these two summits.
--> http://www.globalknowledge.org/gkps_portal/index.cfm?menuid=519

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 Related Choike's in-depth reports
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* World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
--> http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/703.html

* Millennium Development Goals - MDGs
--> http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/302.html


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- "WSIS Papers" and "Choike" are projects of the
Instituto del Tercer Mundo (ITeM) -  Third World Institute

- "WSIS Papers" is supported by the
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) / PanAmericas
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