Information and communication technology, poverty, and development in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

The objectives of the paper are: to examine patterns of utilization, ownership, and affordability of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia; to discuss applications of ICTs to the poor by the private sector, the Government, and external donors; and to suggest ways in which ICTs can best be used in poverty alleviation strategies. The paper finds that SSA and South Asia have the lowest access to ICTs resources. There are critical access gaps between urban and rural areas, and between the poorest and the richest. Evidence indicate that in a sufficiently competitive and liberalized market the private sector is most effective in providing commercially viable communications services, even in rural or less viable areas. The paper proposes some principles for using ICTs in poverty alleviation strategies: 1) Tnformation is a dynamic process of acquisition and use. 2) The effective use of information by the poor may be constrained by lack of skills, financial resources, and the existence of urban/rural, gender inequities. 3) The effectiveness of ICTs must be assessed along with existing information systems. 4) ICTs must focus on areas where complementary investment has already been built and encourage the participation of the communities and of the poor. 5) Long term strategies for ICT diffusion must be centered around integrating ICTs into wider educational programs.