Akhtar BadshahExecutive Director, Digital Partners Institute

OECD Global Forum on the Knowledge Based EconomyBrasilia 16-17 September, 2002

Akhtar BadshahAkhtar BadshahExecutive Director, Digital Partners InstituteExecutive Director, Digital Partners Institute

OECD Global Forum on the Knowledge Based EconomyOECD Global Forum on the Knowledge Based EconomyBrasilia 16-17 September, 2002Brasilia 16-17 September, 2002

Taking the Expansive View:Effectively Utilizing the

Knowledge–Based Economy toEmpower the Poor

Taking the Expansive View:Taking the Expansive View:Effectively Utilizing theEffectively Utilizing the

Knowledge–Based Economy toKnowledge–Based Economy toEmpower the PoorEmpower the Poor

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ll Technology is not an end itself.Technology is not an end itself.

ll Focus on applying technology to achieveFocus on applying technology to achievemeaningful improvements in the standard of livingmeaningful improvements in the standard of livingof families who are now struggling to rise from theof families who are now struggling to rise from thebottom of our economy.bottom of our economy.

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ll Support investments in IT in order to leverage opportunitiesSupport investments in IT in order to leverage opportunitiesto to serve traditionally bypassed communitiesserve traditionally bypassed communities..

ll Invest in technology that can Invest in technology that can promise real outcomespromise real outcomes..

ll Develop programs based onDevelop programs based on people’s need and prioritiespeople’s need and priorities..

ll Invest with a realistic Invest with a realistic appreciation for the challengesappreciation for the challenges low- low-income communities face.income communities face.

ll Invest to Invest to produce real improvementsproduce real improvements in people’s lives. in people’s lives.

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ll Telecom Access Remains LowTelecom Access Remains Low

–– 20%20% of world’s population enjoys of world’s population enjoys 83%83%of the world’s resourcesof the world’s resources

–– In Developing Countries – In Developing Countries – 3.9%3.9% have a have atelephone line, telephone line, 0.7%0.7% have a computer, have a computer,0.05%0.05% have access to the Internet have access to the Internet

������������������������ll Enhanced Enhanced access to informationaccess to information and communication and communication

across large distancesacross large distances

ll Improved Improved access to governmental and quasi-access to governmental and quasi-governmental resourcesgovernmental resources and services and services

ll Opportunities to Opportunities to trade or bank onlinetrade or bank online

ll Opportunities to Opportunities to design, manufacture, and marketdesign, manufacture, and marketproductsproducts through internet or intranet systems through internet or intranet systems

ll Education about/through computersEducation about/through computers

ll Superior local Superior local medical advice, diagnosis ormedical advice, diagnosis orknowledgeknowledge

ll Opportunities to Opportunities to earn a better livingearn a better living by learning a new by learning a newskill in the knowledge based economyskill in the knowledge based economy

ll Improved Improved Agricultural productivityAgricultural productivity

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ll The New GridThe New Grid

ll The New VillageThe New Village

ll The New GovernmentThe New Government

ll The New SchoolThe New School

ll The New Language of EmpowermentThe New Language of Empowerment

ll The New Economic EmpowermentThe New Economic Empowerment

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ll TeNet – Local Wireless LoopTeNet – Local Wireless Loop((nLoguenLogue))

ll Grameen PhoneGrameen Phone

ll SimputerSimputer

ll MediaSolvMediaSolv

New Ways of Getting ConnectedNew Ways of Getting Connected

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ll Drishtee – IndiaDrishtee – India

ll TARAhaat – IndiaTARAhaat – India

ll TACC – EgyptTACC – Egypt

Internet KiosksInternet Kiosks

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ll GyandootGyandoot

ll AP-ITAP-IT

ll BhoomiBhoomi

ll DirctivaDirctiva -- Columbia -- Columbia

Radical TransparencyRadical Transparency

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ll Global ClassmatesGlobal Classmates

ll School NetSchool NetIndia/AfricaIndia/Africa

ll World LinksWorld Links

ll Schools OnlineSchools Online

Preparing all Students for the FuturePreparing all Students for the Future

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ll CDICDI

ll SEWASEWA

ll Riding the CrestRiding the Crest

Teaching IT LiteracyTeaching IT Literacy

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ll SKSSKS

ll HP’sHP’s eInclusioneInclusion

ll Intel ResearchIntel Research

ll MicrosoftMicrosoft

New Ways to Generate IncomeNew Ways to Generate Income

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ll Focus on Focus on Narrowing the Social – Not DigitalNarrowing the Social – Not DigitalDividesDivides

ll Concentrate on Achieving Concentrate on Achieving Concrete OutcomesConcrete Outcomes

ll Work Through Work Through Trusted Leaders in theTrusted Leaders in theCommunityCommunity

ll Support Efforts by Communities to Support Efforts by Communities to StrengthenStrengthenTheir CapacityTheir Capacity

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ll Apply Technology to Apply Technology to Help Build CapacityHelp Build Capacity

ll Make Make Major Changes in Public PolicyMajor Changes in Public Policy

ll Dramatically Dramatically Expand the Availability of CapitalExpand the Availability of Capital

ll Dramatically Dramatically Broaden the Scope of EffortsBroaden the Scope of Efforts

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ll Tapping the Tapping the power of the digital economypower of the digital economy to develop to developmarket-based solutionsmarket-based solutions that directly benefit the world that directly benefit the world’’s poor.s poor.

ll Building a Building a global leadership movementglobal leadership movement in which market- in which market-development acumen of IT entrepreneurs is linked withdevelopment acumen of IT entrepreneurs is linked withpoverty-alleviation activities of social entrepreneurs, NGOs,poverty-alleviation activities of social entrepreneurs, NGOs,foundations and development institutions.foundations and development institutions.

ll Creating a new “Creating a new “Social Venture FundSocial Venture Fund” that invests and” that invests andincubates new initiatives.incubates new initiatives.

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Akhtar BadshahAkhtar Badshah

206-770-9355206-770-9355 or or abadshah@digitalpartners.orgabadshah@digitalpartners.orgwww.digitalpartners.orgwww.digitalpartners.org

Copyright 2002Digital Partners