Abstract
The increased uptake of information and communication technology (ICT) has enabled people to access information, make informed decisions and co-create solutions to address their individual problems, contributing to poverty eradication. Despite increasing Internet access and mobile services, less than 10 % of all communication carried out is related to business or developmental issues. Access is still limited in most developing countries, particularly in remote areas. ICT for development cannot be measured based on the spread of technology alone. People’s ability to use these technologies is pivotal. ICTs are raising the demand for new e-skills where multi-stakeholder involvement is crucial. With over 15 years of experience, IICD has gained valuable insight into how organisations and individuals can benefit from ICT and overcome key challenges: accessibility, affordability, acceptability, availability, adaptability, accountability and ability. This chapter explores how ICTs can foster new forms of innovative development that are more inclusive, participative and just.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
Human development report 2010—20th anniversary edition. The real wealth of nations: Pathways to human development (p. 46). (2010). UNDP, New York.
- 2.
Measuring the information society. (2010/2012). ITU.
- 3.
Global mobile penetration—subscribers versus connections. (2012, October). GSMA Research.
- 4.
- 5.
Phills, Jr J. A., Deiglmeier, K., & Miller, D. T. (2008, Fall). Rediscovering social innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review.
- 6.
Murray, R., Caulier-Grice, J., & Mulgan, G. (2010, March). Open book of social innovation. The young foundation—NESTA.
- 7.
IICD. (2013, January). From need to sustainability: empowering people to use ICT for their development.
- 8.
Population Reference Bureau. (2011). 2011 world population data sheet.
- 9.
IFAD. (2012, September). Policy on gender equality and women’s empowerment and FAO’s State of food and agriculture 2010–2011, women in agriculture, closing the gender gap for development.
- 10.
Information Economy Report 2010: ‘ICTs, Enterprises and Poverty Alleviation.’ United Nations Publication. UNCTAD. New York and Geneva, 2010.
- 11.
Information Economy Report 2010: ICTs, Enterprises and Poverty Alleviation. (2010). United Nations Publication. UNCTAD. New York and Geneva.
- 12.
Kleine, D. Technologies of Choice? ICTs, development, and the capabilities approach.
- 13.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank all of our IICD colleagues—present and former—and our partners in the field. Without their dedicated work and the results they have achieved throughout the years, writing this chapter would have been impossible. All examples presented in this chapter can be found on our website and in the various IICD publications (www.iicd.org).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Figuères, C.M., Eugelink, H. (2014). The Role of ICTs in Poverty Eradication: More Than 15 Years’ Experience from the Field. In: Kaur, H., Tao, X. (eds) ICTs and the Millennium Development Goals. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7439-6_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7439-6_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-7438-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7439-6
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)