Post by Philroy Hinds on Aug 23, 2013 7:40:37 GMT -5
Information and Communication Technology Strategy
for Third World Countries
Rapporteur, Working Group on Development, Environment, Agriculture, Governance & Democracy
Walter Chidiebere Anyanwu*
Global Issues Department
International Youth Council (IYC), USA
Introduction
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can become highly effective in socio-economic
development if policies and strategies designed to implement them are properly crafted in the
broader context of social and economic goals, implemented in support of all the components of
education, agriculture, research and development, health management, manufacturing, disaster/
emergency management, communication and security systems, all aligned to the vision of global
development.
The obnoxious problem of under-development in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia, SouthernEastern Asia, Eastern Asia (China), Latin America and the Caribbean, West Asia and Northern Africa,
(characterized by huge challenge to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals - MDGs), has
a knowledge imperative, and the need for structured ICT infrastructure capacity in these regions.
Today, Information has become a strategic resource, a commodity and foundation of every activity.
The emergence and convergence of ICTs have emerged as the nucleus and catalyst for global
socio-economic transformation. If properly implemented, these technologies could eliminate the
imbalance between rich and poor, and the powerful and marginalized.
Presently, the world is experiencing a major shift from an economy and society based on mass
production towards knowledge creation by 2020 (Sha. 2012). This shift has significant implications to
the development of human resources and for changes in all components of the global development
system, not just the use of ICTs alone. Within this context, the drive-questions that frame ICT policy
are;
• What is the global vision of how core sectors can support economic, social and political
progress?
• What are the potential roles of ICT in supporting these core sectors, transforming same to
reflect UN Millennium Development Goals?
This recommendation is based on the results of work developed by the Working Group on
Development, Environment, Agriculture, Governance and Democracy at the Global Issues
Department of the International Youth Council (IYC), USA.
Finally, the recommendation has been designed in a malleable manner, as a strategy, which
countries can easily adopt or embed into existing ICT policies. Also, the aim here is to demonstrate
the efficacy of ICTs as a powerful tool for invoking sustainable socio-economic development in third
world countries.
for Third World Countries
Rapporteur, Working Group on Development, Environment, Agriculture, Governance & Democracy
Walter Chidiebere Anyanwu*
Global Issues Department
International Youth Council (IYC), USA
Introduction
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can become highly effective in socio-economic
development if policies and strategies designed to implement them are properly crafted in the
broader context of social and economic goals, implemented in support of all the components of
education, agriculture, research and development, health management, manufacturing, disaster/
emergency management, communication and security systems, all aligned to the vision of global
development.
The obnoxious problem of under-development in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia, SouthernEastern Asia, Eastern Asia (China), Latin America and the Caribbean, West Asia and Northern Africa,
(characterized by huge challenge to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals - MDGs), has
a knowledge imperative, and the need for structured ICT infrastructure capacity in these regions.
Today, Information has become a strategic resource, a commodity and foundation of every activity.
The emergence and convergence of ICTs have emerged as the nucleus and catalyst for global
socio-economic transformation. If properly implemented, these technologies could eliminate the
imbalance between rich and poor, and the powerful and marginalized.
Presently, the world is experiencing a major shift from an economy and society based on mass
production towards knowledge creation by 2020 (Sha. 2012). This shift has significant implications to
the development of human resources and for changes in all components of the global development
system, not just the use of ICTs alone. Within this context, the drive-questions that frame ICT policy
are;
• What is the global vision of how core sectors can support economic, social and political
progress?
• What are the potential roles of ICT in supporting these core sectors, transforming same to
reflect UN Millennium Development Goals?
This recommendation is based on the results of work developed by the Working Group on
Development, Environment, Agriculture, Governance and Democracy at the Global Issues
Department of the International Youth Council (IYC), USA.
Finally, the recommendation has been designed in a malleable manner, as a strategy, which
countries can easily adopt or embed into existing ICT policies. Also, the aim here is to demonstrate
the efficacy of ICTs as a powerful tool for invoking sustainable socio-economic development in third
world countries.