Poverty reduction is a neglected avenue in the ICT-debate. NGO-led global advocacy campaigns undoubtedly have a poverty reducing impact. But what about the poverty impact of community radio, telecentres, the internet, or regulatory frameworks for ICTs? Some preliminary lessons learnt are presented by the authors in view of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva from 10-14 December, 2003.
Poverty reduction is a neglected avenue in the ICT-debate. NGO-led global advocacy campaigns undoubtedly have a poverty reducing impact. But what about the poverty impact of community radio, telecentres, the internet, or regulatory frameworks for ICTs? Some preliminary lessons learnt are presented by the authors in view of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva from 10-14 December, 2003.
There can hardly be any doubts about the poverty reducing impact of NGO-led global advocacy campaigns. The impact of civil society as a countervailing power and the changing perceptions of poverty in the North may be less obvious. But the global campaigns, the upsurge of civil society as well as poverty perceptions are "children" of the Internet age and as such deeply influenced and stimulated by the medium of the Internet.
Recommendations for SDC's way ahead regarding international cooperation involving ICTs:
- SDC should intensify the stock taking exercise to identify ICT components in the current bilateral and multilateral programmes.
- based on the experience gained, SDC should start giving mainstream attention to the information and communication components of poverty and the appropriate use of ICTs in the bilateral operations;
- in policy dialogue with partner countries, SDC may consider insisting on an enabling environment (overall and ICT specific, including Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, PRSPs) in view of pro-poor outcomes;
- beyond mainstreaming, SDC should continue to strengthen the voices of those in poverty in the international arena (multilateral negotiations, NGO advocacy, media) and to support the empowerment of local institutions and networks;
- in the framework of the World Summit on the Information Society, WSIS, and other multilateral negotiations, Switzerland should enhance multilateral rules empowering developing and transition countries as well as people in poverty, strengthening their self determination and enhancing their opportunities.
