CLICK HERE FOR THE SESSION SUMMARY
CLICK HERE FOR THE SESSION PHOTOS
The conference provided a forum for researchers, practitioners and all those with interests in the use of information and communication technologies in development practice to meet to discuss the latest research advances in the field.
UNCTAD was a partner in this event and organized a session at ICTD 2010 on
ICTs, ENTERPRISES AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Monday 13 December 2010, 14:30-16:00
Management Lecture Theatre
Royal Holloway, University of London
The session featured an interactive discussion among experts and practitioners on how to take advantage of the recent significant improvements in connectivity in ways that bring benefits to the poor. Participants in the session will receive a free copy of the Information Economy Report 2010 (IER 2010): ICTs, Enterprises and Poverty Alleviation. The session discussed the need for the continued improvement of ICT data availability, particularly in the poorest countries, as official statistics are important to guide policymaking. CLICK HERE FOR THE SUMMARY
Alleviating poverty is one of the greatest global challenges. Even if the MDG target of cutting the 1995 global poverty in half by 2015 is met, some 1 billion people are likely to remain in extreme poverty. Against this background every avenue towards poverty alleviation needs to be re-examined. With UNCTAD’s IER 2010 as a starting point, this interactive session will highlight the possibilities for ICTs to help people in low-income countries improve their livelihoods.
The session focused on the interface between ICTs, enterprises and poverty alleviation, noting at least two ways in which ICTs in enterprises can benefit the poor: by using or producing ICTs. First, ICTs can be used in enterprises of direct relevance to the poor. For example, farmers, fishermen and other micro-enterprises in low-income countries are already adopting mobile phones as a key business tool. Secondly, many poor are earning a living in the ICT producing sector. We need to expand our knowledge base to identify new opportunities as well as potential pitfalls associated with the new ICT landscape, and to develop an adequate policy response.
Speakers
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Richard Duncombe, IDPM, The University of Manchester
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Torbjörn Fredriksson, UNCTAD
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Alison Gillwald, Research ICT Africa
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Ilari Lindy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland
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Harsha de Silva, LirneAsia, Member of Parliament, Sri Lanka
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David Souter, ICT Development Associates
For more information, please contact Mr. Torbjörn Fredriksson (torbjorn.fredriksson@unctad.org)
or check:
http://www.ictd2010.org/