Poverty Reduction

The Partnership for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Human Development
 

Information that builds

Checking for better prices

Indonesia is facing diverse social needs and increasing integration to the global economy, information and communication technology has a great potential in national development. While ICT is the engine of growth in some countries, its potential contribution for human development should not be overlooked. The ability to telephone in a time of emergency, the sense of empowerment that comes with checking market prices for crops, the educational capacities of the Internet-- each case demonstrates the ways information can drive human development.

By devising policy that links the drive toward improved ICT with the efforts to achieve human development goals, Indonesia can significantly and more effectively improve the lives of people in need. As innovative ideas to provide information to the poor can improve the lives of the poor, ICT for human development is a key growth resource for the future, one that UNDP is actively promoting.

To best achieve this aim together with national partners, UNDP is implementing the Preparatory Assistance project for ICT for Human Development. This one-year project is to form a broad-based national partnership, develop a national strategy for using ICT for human development, especially poverty reduction and convert the national strategy into future projects.

Based on the national consultation process with key stakeholders from varied sector, the project narrowed the focus to poverty reduction seeking for concerted efforts for the national development priority. Therefore, the project is focusing on future initiatives that serve to the poor directly with information required to improve their lives by most appropriate technology. Examples include the promotion of radio backed by strong information service in rural communities, farmer access to the Internet for national and international market information, and web-based eco-tourism promotion for remote villages.

The national ICT strategy will coordinate with and provide inputs to overall Poverty Reduction Strategy since the ultimate goal of both strategies is same. The project also looks at other existing or future UNDP programmes to encourage the effective and innovative use of ICT in their practice areas and to seek for synergy in UNDP programming.

Seeing is Believing

The concept of ICT for the poor does not seem widely accepted by the policy makers, and this is illustrated by few such initiatives in Indonesia. The project was designed to raise the awareness and national consensus not only through advocacy and policy dialogue but also by demonstrating the use of ICT for the poor and tangible impact from such use. During the one-year period, two pilot projects will be developed to convert emerging ICT policy into working projects that bring ICT to struggling communities. One such project will be internally developed within the project team, while the other will be determined through a national competition.

In all, the project seeks to realize the potential of ICT for the poor by working directly with the poor and bring the experiences and lessons to policy dialogue. With the support of UNDP and its partners, increased numbers of communities will have access to useful information made available and accessible through ICT.

Further Information

• Download the Fact Sheet of Partnership for e-Prosperty for the Poor - 2006 (PDF 245 KB)