Key Theme: Poverty

It is widely believed—at least amongst Aid organisations and many researchers—that information and communication technologies are powerful tools for empowerment and income generation.

What evidence is there that the diffusion of knowledge via modern technologies such as radio, telephones and the Internet, does in fact reduce poverty in Africa? This question is central to the Acacia conference deliberations.

 Studies of the role played by ICTs in poverty reduction are producing positive, but limited, results. A World Bank paper on The Costs And Benefits of ICTs for Direct Poverty Alleviation (PDF) finds that the cost-effectiveness of ICT programmes varies. The paper looks at radio, telephone and the Internet as tools of direct poverty-alleviation and concludes radio has further potential to be used as a development tool, telephone is important and expanding, but the Internets' use as a development tool remains limited because of poor access.

For useful background briefings, read:

Summary of the Literature Review on Poverty and ICTs

Two important issues emerge in this literature review on ICTs and poverty. They are the conceptual senses of ICTs and poverty and the linkage, if any, between ICTs and development.  Related to these issues is the problematic argument of whether ICTs create a digital divide of an increasingly broader nature between the developed and developing nations.

Français : Les TIC dans le développement communautaire en Afrique

La recherche menée depuis quatre ans dans le cadre du programme Acacia montre que les TIC, en offrant des opportunités réelles, diversifiées et durables, peuvent contribuer significativement au développement économique et sociale des communautés africaines. Toutefois, des défis importants se posent pour leur appropriation sociale.

Tools to fight poverty in Africa

This brief highlights key results from various research projects, supported by the IDRC Acacia Programme, on the introduction of ICTs in rural, urban and peri-urban communities of four African countries. It includes recommendations for decision-makers, development bodies and researchers on how ICTs can become efficient development tools in Africa.

Globalisation and Poverty Online Debate
In May 2000, Panos co-moderated a public electronic conference with the World Bank Institute on the possible effects of globalisation on world poverty. Click the title to view a report, including a summary and excerpts from the debate.
 

Reducing Poverty: Is the World Bank's Strategy Working?

Three years ago the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) introduced their Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) approach as the latest template for the world’s poorest countries to get out of poverty. This new Panos report, published for their annual meetings (September 25-29), examines the progress so far and the arguments about whether PRS can succeed. Click the title to download the report.