digital divide: challenge of leadership? presentation by dr. gillian m marcelle, principal...

Digital Divide: Challenge of Leadership?

Presentation by Dr. Gillian M Marcelle, Principal Consultant, Technology for Development and Bureau Member UN ICT TASK FORCE“Opportunities for All: Bridging the Digital Gap"ITU High Level Dialogue, World Summit on the Information SocietyTuesday December 9, 2003

Gillian Marcelle © TfDev2

Outline This presentation discusses the challenges of

closing the digital gap It takes the view that the existing “digital gap” in

levels of access and usage mirrors economic, social and political global realities and is not a phenomenon that can be explained in isolation

From this perspective, my recommendations suggest that leadership at all levels is required ….

to ensure that ICTs serve development needs.


Development Challenges Poverty Unequal wealth distribution Unequal power relations Unfair international trading system Health pandemics and access to social

services Illiteracy and access to education Environmental sustainability


What are ICTs? ICTs are a range of information and

communication technologies and applications used for information sharing, networking and communication.

ICTs include telephones, mobile phones, computers, radio, TV, the Internet and other new digital media

ICTs are used as end products and as intermediates


ICTs and DevelopmentAccess and control of ICTs can provide people with Increased access to markets and information about

market opportunities More flexible access to employment and incomes Reduced social isolation Increased confidence Easier access to information about legal protection and

human rights Mechanisms for political organisation across social and

national boundaries Improved access to government services including social

welfare grants


Equitable Access to ICTs

What is the main challenge in providing equitable access to ICTs for the poor?

What is the main challenge in closing the digital gap?

Why are we failing? What needs to be done? An agenda for change


North – South Divides Distribution of wealth, knowledge, power and

opportunity are mirrored in the ICT sector – Concentration on research and development– Intellectual property regime that limits public flow of

information – Fundamental principles in the ICT sector are not pro-

poor and pro-development


Income Divides

Rural and urban poor are not well serviced– Majority of people in developing countries live in

rural settings ( for sub Saharan Africa 70.5%)– women make up the majority of rural populations – rural population not well served by access to ICTs

even when they can afford– Persons in shantytowns and informal settlements

who do not have access to basic amenities


Gender Divides rural women’s

communications needs not well understood

female poverty exacerbates affordability issues

lack of relevant information content in ICT applications

English language dominance

problems in accessing communications facilities

problems in accessing training necessary to use ICT services


Why are we failing to align ICTs with development?

This is a classic case of market failure

social benefits >>>private benefits


What Can Be Done? – Widespread use of ICT applications– Design relevant applications– Globalise production of ICT equipment and

services– Provide cost-effective ICT enabled social

services (health, education, political participation, community management)

– Ensure greater participation in decision making

– Make public investment in the public interest– Balance diverse interests


What Should Be Avoided?

The latest fads of ICT policy Over-reliance on outside perspectives, home

grown strategies and needed ICT enclaves ICT equipment and services only for the elite


Who takes the lead?

Public interest requires public leadership Leadership of the ICT and development

agenda is too important to be left to a single stakeholder

Governments are accountable to and require the involvement of private sector, NGOs, academic and research institutions and international agencies


What can we do?

Design and implementation solutions with Design and implementation solutions with creative creative

public sector leadershippublic sector leadership


Who makes decisions on equitable access?Public decision makersTechnology suppliersFinanciers and donors


Public SectorPublic sector actors should

– Provide incentives for private and public increased provision of rural access and to urban poor through licensing, universal service funds, and other mechanisms

– Provide public access ICT facilities (community radio, telecentres etc.)

– Facilitate development of community owned and run ICT facilities – Assess the social benefits of increased access and control of ICTs

and disseminate these findings and best practice– Avoid the traps of short-term maximisation of license fee revenues &

tax payments– Work in partnership with civil society and other stakeholders


Private SectorTechnology and service providers should

– Look beyond short term profit maximising– Undertake investment in learning & innovation in

rural applications– Investigate the specific needs of the urban poor

and design solutions to target these communities– Promote technology adaptation, for the specific

needs of rural women and the urban poor


Financial Sector and International

Financiers & donors should– Reduce the fragmentation and poor allocation of

funds – Avoid duplication and move beyond small scale

pilots– Set requirements for targeting rural women and

the urban poor when providing funding to national governments and NGOs

– Evaluate and measure the social benefits of ICTs projects over a sufficiently long time horizon


Global flagships ICT research centres and training institutes Good global links to knowledge and

production networks Provide an excellent human resource base Involve civil society Demonstrate benefits of active public sector Encourage private sector participation Stimulate and promote innovation


Leadership Agenda for WSIS Take explicit account of burden of

structural inequality in access and control of ICTs

Use access to ICTs to promote development

Support regional co-operation and multilateralism including in problem solving

Align ICTs to the MDGs

digital divide: challenge of leadership? presentation by dr. gillian m marcelle, principal...

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