Home : About MDG Portal : About SDNP : Contact Us

“Recent developments in the fields of communications and information technology are indeed revolutionary in nature. Information and knowle

dge are expanding in quantity and accessibility. In many fields future decision-makers will be presented with unprecedented new tools for development. In such fields as agriculture, health, education, human resources and environmental management, or transport and business development, the consequences could be really quite revolutionary. Communications and information technology have enormous potential, especially for developing countries, and in furthering sustainable development.”
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan (1997:1)

Promoting ICT for Human Development in Asia
Realizing the Millenium Development Goals
(An initiative of Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme, the Asia Pacific Regional HDR Initiative, and Human Development Resource Centre, New Delhi)

OVERVIEW

These words of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan underline in no uncertain terms the critical role that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can play in furthering and enhancing sustainable development. Everywhere in the developing world, especially in Asia, governments are launching ambitious ICT infrastructure initiatives, radically changing their communications policy frameworks and situating ICT at the heart of their development programmes and strategy.

ICT has become an indispensable tool in the fight against world poverty. ICT provides developing nations with an unprecedented opportunity to meet vital development goals such as poverty reduction, basic healthcare, and education, far more effectively than before. Those nations that succeed in harnessing the potential of ICT can look forward to greatly expanded economic growth, dramatically improved human welfare and stronger forms of democratic governance.

Many developing countries, businesses and citizens’ groups are touting ICT as a means to transcend structural and historical weaknesses of developing nations in the economic, political, and social spheres. They argue that ICTs offer the developing world the opportunity to ‘leapfrog’ several stages of their development and join the industrialized nations in the information age. The term “leapfrogging” essentially implies a quantum leap from the traditional stages and cycles of progress to the information society: “The entire development process which encompassed three centuries in the industrial nations must be telescoped into a few decades. The gains achieved through an evolutionary process elsewhere must be obtained within one generation, and there are several stages to planning” (Reddi, 1986:85).

In this regard, however, government may sometimes veer out of the foundational basis of ICTs: i.e. knowledge and information as key ingredients to this process as opposed to the tools, infrastructure and other more physical aspects. “Information Communications Technologies,” (here with a particular emphasis on the “information” dimension) will require that governments reassess preconditions: regulations (direct or indirect), levels of democracy, idea formulation and other aspects that will develop the process of knowledge and information exchange.

ICTs have therefore brought about a new hope for the developing world. Many of these countries continue to labour in the agricultural age and their economic development is thus restricted and unable to move on and catch up with the developed world. Most developing nations have also been unable to industrialize their economies leading to greater impoverishment and dependence. In this context, the very prospect of ‘leapfrogging’ the traditional stages and cycles of progress, is seen as revolutionary. Telemedicine, distance education, wireless applications, the use of the Internet for a wide variety of critical information dissemination tasks – hold the promise of overcoming fundamental barriers of infrastructure which have plagued the developing world.

BACKGROUND

In examining the use of ICTs for development between 1995-1997 conducted by the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD), the Working Group on IT and Development noted that despite the positive impacts experienced in the industrialized countries and certain sectors of many developing countries, evidence showed that there were many people, especially in the least developed countries whose lives had been barely touched by ICTs.

There were also many whose lives were being negatively affected by their exclusion from the global information society or by the social or economic dislocations that can accompany the impact of these technologies (Mansell and Wehn, 1998). Notwithstanding the evident positive impact of ICTs on developing societies, the critical imperative overlooked in national information planning policy is the extent to which they address real development concerns across nations.

In this context, Mansell and Wehn (1998: 6) raise some crucial questions, which need to be urgently addressed by the political leaders and citizens of the developing world: “Are the benefits of the increasingly widespread, albeit uneven, diffusion and application of these technologies outweighing the risks for developing countries? Are the stakeholders in developing countries taking appropriate measures to minimize the risks of social and economic exclusion that could be associated with these revolutionary technologies?”

The United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD) Working Group on IT and Development carried out in-depth studies of the use of ICTs for Development between 1995-1997 (Mansell and Wehn, 1998). The findings of these studies not only provide some interesting and useful insights into the problems of access and use of information technology by developing countries but also call for caution and careful planning and implementation of ICTs if they are to be harnessed for genuine development objectives and goals.

The Working Group on IT and Development found in its study that while there were positive impacts which were being experienced in the industrialized countries and certain sectors of many developing countries, there was not sufficient evidence to suggest that the positive impact of these technologies on developing economies and societies were as pervasive as the debate about the benefits of the global information society made it appear.

The UNCSTD Working Group reached two principal conclusions (Mansell and  Wehn, 1998: 7):

1. “Although the costs of using ICTs to build national information infrastructures which can contribute to innovative ‘knowledge societies’ are high, the costs of not doing so are likely to be much higher.

2. Developing countries are at very different starting positions in the task of building innovative and distinctive ‘knowledge societies’ and in using their national information infrastructures to support their development objectives.”

ICT has changed the course of development in the Asia-Pacific region. It has, however, not progressed at the same pace of change and progress across all countries. Connectivity, infrastructure, human capacity and knowledge creation and exchange, underpinned by cohesive national e-strategies fed into national development plans remain a daunting challenge, with some countries seizing the opportunities for enhanced development provided by ICT, better than others. Efforts are needed to level playing fields and encourage strategic and effective use of ICT to further human development and help eradicate poverty.

The choices guiding ICT initiatives in Asia are essentially driven by economic and commercial (self?) interest and as Mody (1999:7) argues “the gloss around the technology does not deal with the social choices about how to computerize (or communicate) and the ways in which different forms of computerization (or communication) advance different values”. The guiding of ICT initiatives in Asia are also driven by governmental agendas, such as social policy, military security, etc. Where then does all this leave development? As we have argued, it is urgent to reinstate development at the core of ICT initiatives in the developing world to avert the "digital capitalism's" further marginalization of large sections of the populations in the developing world.
 

OBJECTIVES

The principal objective of this project is to reinstate human development at the heart of ICT deployment and initiatives. The project seeks to examine the following questions: how best can ICTs be used to bring about social transformation and development? What are the ways in which ICTs can be harnessed to best address the key critical concerns and sectors of human development - poverty eradication, healthcare, education, human resources and environmental management and economic development.

Essentially, this proposal aims to review and assess progress made by countries in the Asian region, in drafting and implementing their national e-policies and -strategies for harnessing the potential of ICTs for reducing poverty and enhancing human development. It will identify gaps and constraints to implementation of ICT strategies, document best practices, and in general provide a practical knowledge-sharing instrument for encouraging and facilitating greater South-South and North-South cooperation for ICT for Development. The countries that will be covered by the project will be based on a mix of their Technology Achievement Index, including leaders, potential leaders, dynamic adopters and marginalized countries. Nine countries have been selected for this research project: China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Specifically the research will:

• Identify specific policy prescriptions undertaken by countries illustrating the application of ICT tools and strategies for income generation and human poverty eradication, enhancing economic opportunities and reducing the gap in social equity.

• Examine the success of implementation strategies in resolving cross-thematic, cross linkages between ICT and poverty, ICT and governance, ICT and gender and other areas of development.

• Document cross-country comparative best practices in developing and institutionalizing e-policies and e-strategies across participating countries.

• Identify infrastructure and human capacity constraints to applying ICT for Development strategies.

• Document best practices and success stories in facilitating, institutionalizing and leveraging public-private partnerships for implementing nationally owned ICT strategies.

The rationale for undertaking such a comparative assessment of progress is twofold. First, to date, no such comparative study has been undertaken that seeks to concretely assess progress of ICT for Development efforts in the Asia region. Second, by focusing on the lens of human development, this proposal fully meets UNDP’s mandate in the area of ICT for Development by concretely linking what is still traditionally advocated as technology issue with the organization’s most recognized and primary core business focus - promoting human development and eradicating poverty. Human Development Reports, for example, have for many years served as an effective policy advocacy tool, and it is expected that a focus on ICT for Development through a HD len will provide an immediate benefit and learning tool for both countries within the region and beyond.

The final report that will be published at the end of this research project also has a strong potential to contribute to the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) to be held in December 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland. As this research project focuses on human development, which is one of the central concerns of the information society, it could contribute significantly to deliberations in the WSIS by presenting an in-depth analysis of the role and impact of ICTs on human development. The research will therefore be positioned with the WSIS process in mind and attempt to provide as many useful insights and experiences as possible in order to contribute significantly to the WSIS summit in 2003.

METHODOLOGY

In order to attain these above-mentioned objectives, it is essential to clearly define a methodological approach to undertake this research. The success of such an endeavour greatly relies on the clarity and applicability of an organized and coherent methodology. Various ideological approaches conceptualize human development in different ways with varied emphasis on critical factors. A coherent methodology is also required to ensure continuity and consistency in the respective country analyses.

To begin with, as the central objective of this project is to reinstate human development at the heart of ICT initiatives, planning and deployment, it is necessary to have a clear definition of human development followed by an overarching conceptual and methodological framework, which will be used as a benchmark to characterize human development.

At this point it would be useful to return to the concept of development itself, which is said to constitute the raison d’etre of these ICT initiatives. Since the Second World War and after two of the most devastating and destructive periods of human existence, the concept of development essentially referred to a process of economic growth and consolidation. For the developing countries, most of which had recently attained independence and nationhood, development came to be synonymous with increases in per capita income, Gross National Product or GNP growth, and attaining a standard of living equivalent to the industrialized world.

The concept of development also came to signify industrialization, technological progress and modernization. Integral to this process of development were goals such as national unity, cultural sovereignty and identity as well as the development of social infrastructure covering key areas including education, health, transportation and communication. It is, however, important to note that many developing countries have gradually taken up a very institutional view of development which focuses essentially on infrastructure and economic development and which is measured essentially in terms of per capita income, GNP, GDP, investments, exports and other such indicators.

From the perspective of laissez-faire theory -- from Adam Smith to Kenichi Ohmae (1996) -- to remain relevant and compete effectively in the borderless world, countries must learn the rudiments of the open marketplace and free trade. But the hard reality is different regions and countries being differently structured politically, physically, economically and culturally are either better or worse prepared to respond to the transnational challenges which all confront.

ICTs cannot possibly be viewed only on the economic globalized marketing level as its impact weaves through the cultural, psychological, political, sociological dimensions -- the intangible and nonmaterial dimensions of human/social existence -- to our spiritual and cultural values. The critical influence on a nation's responsiveness to change probably is its social attitudes, religious beliefs, and culture. The question is: are some generational and cultural values naturally hindrant to change and new developments - for instance, a distaste for industry and manufacturing, a suspicion of trade and enterprise as reflected in the spate of protests against the G8 world economic forum; an ideological/religious opposition to Western, capitalist mores, power structures?

In recent times, the capitalist concept of development has been repudiated for eschewing the non-material aspirations of the people. There are calls for an alternative perception of development as a process which leads to an “..evolution of shared perceptions of what humanity is and should be, and of devising the means of advancing, both individually and collectively, towards putting those values in practice” (Bezanson and Sagasti, 1995: 9).

A refreshing alternative framework for conceptualizing development comes from the Nobel laureate in economics, Amartya Sen (1999) whose analysis of contemporary economic development from the perspective of human freedom posits that real development consists of the removal of various types of unfreedoms (poverty as well as tyranny, poor economic opportunities as well as systematic social deprivation, neglect of public facilities as well as intolerance or overactivity of repressive states) that leave people with little choice and little opportunity of exercising their reasoned agency.

Sen (1999) views development essentially as a process of expanding human freedoms. His main argument is that if the overarching objective of development is human freedom, then public policy should above all concentrate on achieving this central objective rather than on some particular means or some chosen list of instruments. He also goes on to identify the rights and opportunities that characterize human freedom and elaborates his perspective by classifying these interconnected instrumental freedoms in five categories (1999: 38-40): political freedoms, economic facilities, social opportunities, transparency guarantees, and protective security.

Sen’s perspective locates human beings at the centre of the development process. Human development resumes its centrality and freedom becomes the principal means and ends of development. If one were to apply Sen's paradigm to the development process, it would become essential to "develop and support a plurality of institutions, including democratic systems, legal mechanisms, market structures, educational and health provisions, media and other communication facilities…’ (Sen, 1999: 53). Sen’s perspective offers us a new insight and framework to reinstate ‘freedom’ at the core of human development initiatives. However, Sen’s model tends to highlight general areas and sectors of concern rather than specific goals and targets for human development efforts and therefore it is difficult to operationalize in terms of research.

If we were to successfully operationalize a conceptual framework and methodology in order to assess the role and impact of ICTs on human development, it would be of critical significance to establish clear targets and goals of human development as measuring success and failure would be relatively easier. In this context, there are perhaps no better criteria or indicators of human development than the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Millennium Development Goals or MDGs consist of global targets that the world’s leaders set at the Millennium summit in September 2000.

The central focus and objective of the MDGs is to reduce poverty as well as its causes and manifestations. The Millennium Development Goals offer us a comprehensive framework to identify the objectives of human development as set by the UN and its member states. The Millennium Development Goals are highlighted as follows:

• eradication of poverty;
• universal primary education;
• gender equality and empowerment of women
• reduction of child mortality
• improvement of maternal health
• the fight against major diseases such as AIDS and malaria
• the promotion of sustainable environment
• the development of a global partnership for development

Progress towards the goals has been mixed. Some countries are on track for some goals but none of the goals are likely to be reached at the current rate of global progress. The reasons are many, but they often include insufficient and inefficient public spending, crippling debt burdens, inadequate market access in developed countries, and declining official development assistance.

These critical human development goals will form the overarching criteria for assessing the success of ICT initiatives in various nations. However, the MDG framework highlights long-term human development goals, few of which are practically achievable in the immediate future. Therefore, numerous other instruments and indicators of human development will also be relied upon to ensure the applicability of the MDGs in a study of this kind. Moreover, this application also requires some retooling for it to be effective as an operational research methodology. Herein lies the main challenge of this research project. We propose to operationalize the MDGs as a conceptual framework and a methodological tool in the following manner. Each of the goals set out by the MDG model can be specified to cover certain key areas and core concerns of human development. The research project will therefore attempt to assess the exact use and impact of ICTs on these eight key spheres and goals of human development.

This operationalization will result in a methodological approach, which will be applied by all the researchers in question covering the different countries. Three levels of research will have to be undertaken:

i) At the general level, each researcher will compile and discuss the key statistical indicators of their respective countries in the socio-economic landscape. The Human Development Reports and the resources of the UNDP would provide a wealth of information at this level of secondary research:

• general economic situation of the country: apart from general indicators such as GDP, GNP etc, the researchers will also examine economic disparities, poverty levels and indicators, demographics and other socio-economic factors and their relation to economic status;

• general social context: ethnic, religious and social structure of the society; social infrastructure and opportunity predominantly in the field of education and health including public and private infrastructure, the quality of services and the issue of access to these services;

ii) At the specific and ICT level of the research, each country expert will be expected to discuss and examine the role and impact of ICTs on human development and the eight goals outlined by this research framework on distinct levels:

• National ICT Policy, Strategy, and Action Plans and their governance mechanisms: the main thrust and orientation of these national policies and plans, the priority areas of ICT use as well as the key flagship applications that are targeted to further human development;

• National ICT infrastructure and services deployment: going into specific details of ICT infrastructure deployment, issues of access, issues of quality of access, programmes for promoting greater access and the necessary training to reap the full benefits of ICT usage; and

• Private and industry-led initiatives

iii) The core of this study will consist of a detailed and systematic assessment of the impact and implications of ICTs on human development: this is the critical research focus where each researcher will assess the actual programmes and their relevance to human development goals based on the MDGs; documentation of successes and failures as far as the real implication of ICTs on the key critical human development objectives and parameters. The key objective in this segment of the study will be to examine to what extent national ICT policies and deployment have succeeded in furthering human development in the eight key areas identified by the Millennium Development Goals. Best practices will be examined while at the same time the study will attempt to highlight the insufficiencies and weaknesses of national ICT initiatives in situating human development at their core.

This central part of the study would be structured to cover the following key issues in ICT policy and deployment:

• Assessing the role and impact of ICTs in the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger;

• Assessing the role and impact of ICTs in achieving universal primary education;

• Assessing the role and impact of ICTs in promoting gender equality and empowering women;

• Assessing the role and impact of ICTs in the reduction of child mortality;

• Assessing the role and impact of ICTs in improving maternal health;

• Assessing the role and impact of ICTs in combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;

• Assessing the role and impact of ICTS in ensuring environmental sustainability;

• Assessing the role and impact of ICTs in developing a global partnership for development.

(Note: Detailed methodological instruments and indicators for analysis will be developed by the entire research team at the outset, once it is constituted. Meanwhile, a proposed chapter outline is attached.)

This methodological approach would ensure a comprehensive analysis while at the same time looking at specific policies, strategies and deployment within each country with a clear focus on human development and the eight goals set by the MDGs. The comparative regional study will examine existing National ICT Strategies and Action Plans, and their governance mechanisms. The studies will document and demonstrate ICT’s contribution to development outcomes and impacts in core ICT strategic areas of focus at the national level. The studies will also identify the combination of external factors, capacities and management decisions that led to a significant impact and draw lessons.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The project is expected to result in the following:

• A detailed technical report of the research findings.

• Up to six Policy Briefs (8-12 pages each) on specific topics and issues arising out of this analysis and study, and directed primarily at policy-makers and governments.
  The Policy Briefs will come from summaries of policy actions identified in each country study. The Policy Briefs would highlight issues that are cross-cutting and relevant to most, if not all, nine countries selected for the study. The preparation of the Policy Briefs will be assigned to the Lead Researchers and the overall Research Coordinator.

• A Roundtable discussion on ICT and Human Development: Realizing the Millennium Development Goals will be organized around the upcoming World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), scheduled to be held in Geneva in December 2003.

• Tabling of the report at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva in December 2003, to assist the WSIS process, and to serve as a guide to other regions of the world interested in conducting similar research to assess the potential of ICT for reducing poverty and enhancing human development within their respective regions.
  A structured event (eg. a panel discussion) for release of the final report and accompanying Policy Briefs, will be planned at WSIS.

• National, one-day conferences in each country participating country in the study to disseminate the final research results; the conferences will be organized by the UNDP Country Offices and the primary presentations will be made by the national Lead Researcher and his research team, assisted by the Research Coordinator.

IMPLEMENTATION MODALITIES

• An Advisory Panel will be set up for this study, which will communicate virtually through an e-discussion list. The Panel members will be requested to guide the preparation of the final outputs, including the Policy Briefs. The Panel, which will consist of 8-10 members, will comprise high-level resource people.

• A Technical Support Group may also be set up alongside the Advisory Panel. This Group would offer more issue-based feedback on the working drafts of the ICT study. This Group could comprise approximately 8-10 members.

• UNDP’s NHDRnet, SURF-it net, and RRnet will be used to receive feedback on various drafts of the study.

• An overall Research Coordinator will assist with the drafting of a common research methodology to be adopted by each national research team. The draft research methodology, along with the methodological instruments and indicators, will be discussed virtually by all research teams prior to their finalization. The Research Coordinator will also produce an overview chapter for the final publication that will highlight all the cross linkages between countries, the cross-country best practices , as well as comparative analysis and assessment of e-policies and e-strategies in the region.

• Commissioning country papers: A Lead Researcher/Author, assisted by two researchers, will constitute the national research team in each country participating in the study.

• UNDP’s Kuala Lumpur-based Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP, and the New Delhi-based Human Development Resource Centre (HDRC, will provide overall guidance and direction for this study.

• UNDP’s Human Development Report Office in New York, whose 2001 and 2002 Human Development Report’s focused on “new technologies” and “deepening democracy” respectively, will also provide guidance and support in this effort.

• The draft national studies prepared by each national team will be tabled for discussion at a national stakeholders workshop. The second draft of each national study will be discussed at a workshop involving all the Lead Researchers, the Research Coordinator, APDIP, and HDRC.

TIMELINE

The research is expected to commence in January 2003 and be completed by October 2003; the project itself will end by 31 December, 2003.

Weeks (2003)

1 – 4   Nomination/Appointment of national research teams.
3   Initiate discussion and agreement of project research methodology, timelines, outputs etc. by all concerned.
3   Tabling of study at WSIS Asia-Pacific Conference, Tokyo.
4   Workshop I of all Lead Researchers/Authors to discuss and finalize research methodology, timelines, outputs, etc., Kuala Lumpur
4 – 15 National data collection, research, analysis, drafting of country study; participation in WSIS PrepCom in Geneva.
14   Submission of all national studies to Research Coordinator / APDIP / HDRC.
15   Comments by Research Coordinator / APDIP / HDRC on draft reports to national teams.
16   Tabling of draft national studies at national stakeholders workshops for feedback and input.
16 - 19 Research Coordinator to start drafting Overview chapter based on draft national studies.
19   Second draft of all national studies submitted to Research Coordinator / APDIP / HDRC, based on feedback received at national workshops.
20  Workshop II involving all Lead Researches, the Research Coordinator, APDIP, HDRC and HDRO staff, and staff of interested UNDP Country Offices in selected countries, to peer review final drafts of all national studies and discussion on draft annotated outline of Overview Chapter, Kuala Lumpur.
20   Identification of topics and issues for Policy Briefs and identification of authors from among entire project research team at peer review meeting
(Workshop II). 20 - 27  Production of all final chapters, including overview chapter, and Policy Briefs.
27 - 29  Circulation of draft overview chapter for feedback by all involved.
27 - 29 Circulation of draft Policy Briefs for feedback by all concerned.
30 - 31 Finalization of overview chapter and Policy Briefs.
28 - 35 Publication of final report and Policy Briefs.
38 - 45  Preparation for BBC/TVE Roundtable on ICT and Human Development
40 Submission of final report to WSIS with report of high-level consultation.
40-48  National Conferences in all countries participating in the study, to disseminate the final report, including all research results and Policy Briefs.
50  Participation and presentation of study and outcomes at BBC/TVE Roundtable on ICT and Human Development at WSIS, Geneva

DRAFT CHAPTER OUTLINE

(Note: This draft outline is intended for all contributing Lead Researchers/Authors participating in this study. The draft outline will be discussed in detail at the initial meeting of all Lead Researchers and the Research Coordinator at the outset, and modified as necessary.)

1. SCOPE
Your national research and study should review and assess progress made in drafting and implementing national ICT policies and strategies for harnessing the full potential of ICTs for reducing poverty and enhancing human development. Your national report chapter will identify the gaps and constraints to implementation of ICT strategies, document best practices, and in general provide a practical knowledge-sharing instrument for encouraging and facilitating greater South-South and North-South cooperation for harnessing ICTs for human development.

Our definition of human development is based on the eight key objectives of human development as defined by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These key human development goals are as follows:

· Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger;
· Achieving universal primary education;
· Promoting gender equality and empowering women;
· Reducing child mortality;
· Improving maternal health;
· Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
· Ensuring environmental sustainability;
· Developing a global partnership for development.

2. FOCUS
Our research will emphasize the use of ICTs in promoting social and economic development and change within Asia. The research aims to reinstate human development at the core of ICT strategies and deployment. Our central focus is thus on human development, including the attainment of greater substantive freedoms in human life and society. These will cover the effective use of ICTs for achieving human development as defined by the MDGs.

3. CHAPTER OUTLINE
The structure below is being proposed for research and writing of each national report so as to contribute to the ultimate regional report or publication, which is a compilation of 8 individual chapters written by you and your fellow contributing authors.

3.1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC OVERVIEW
A socio-economic overview of the respective countries covered by the research. This would provide a much-needed contextualization, which would then permit us to examine the role of ICTs in enhancing human development, in these key areas. This review should provide a clear overview of the socio-economic situation in the country in question. Each researcher should provide a snapshot view of the general economic situation of the country, including key statistical indicators on the structure of the economy, economic output, productivity, poverty, distribution of wealth and resources within diverse sections of the population as well as in the urban-rural locations. The researcher must also present a statistical and general profile of key social indicators with specific reference to sectors such as education, healthcare, employment, gender relations and their influence on social status and activity.

3.2 OVERVIEW OF NATIONAL ICT MASTER PLAN, POLICY AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
It is essential that each chapter clearly outline the state of the ICT policy and regulatory environments in each country. This is in order to understand the specific national initiatives as well as to examine whether the state and its institutions have created an enabling environment for ICT deployment. Such a discussion would also be critical in examining to what extent each country has included human development concerns and goals within their ICT initiatives. Best practices could also then be documented and weaknesses highlighted in order to enable the harnessing of ICTs for human development. This overview should cover the following:
· 3.2.1 National ICT vision and master plan: the goals set by each country in terms of the strategic deployment of ICTs and the priority areas set by the policy agenda;
· 3.2.2 Key acts and regulations in the ICT sector: you should provide a clear but brief overview of the key regulatory instruments in the print, broadcast, telecommunications, and Internet sectors;
· 3.2.3 Key regulatory instruments covering the digital media: electronic transactions, cyber crimes, privacy and security regulations among others;
· 3.2.4 National ICT infrastructure and access covering the technological characteristics of the infrastructure, ICT penetration, quality of access, affordability and connectivity. This profile of the infrastructure will cover wired, wireless and direct to user satellite based services.
· 3.2.5 National ICT industries and services covering hardware manufacturing and assembly, software production and key services such as call centers, transcription services, etc.

3.3 ICT IMPACT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - ERADICATION OF POVERTY AND HUNGER
This section will assess the role and impact of ICTs in the eradication of hunger and poverty in the country. This part of the research will cover the actual ICT programmes, uses and applications launched by all the social actors, including the state, the NGOs and the private sector in attempting to fight the eradication of poverty and hunger within the country. Best practices will be highlighted and failures identified. The objective here will be to examine the contribution of the ICT sector in economic development through revenue generation and its contribution to the national economic output, employment and service provision. The success, extent of reach and popularity of e-commerce initiatives in the country will also be addressed. On the other hand, the role and impact of the ICT sector as critical inputs for driving economic growth in a whole range of sectors through digital information creation, storage, retrieval and dissemination will also be assessed. Essentially, this section of the study aims to see to what extent the poorest sections of the population have and can benefit from ICT deployment. At the same time, the chapter will also explore ways in which ICTs can or have been harnessed to reduce economic disparities between the diverse sections of the population.

3.4 ICT IMPACT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - FACING THE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE
This section will assess the role and impact of ICTs on the provision of primary education within each country. However, the chapter will also discuss the impact of ICTs in secondary, tertiary, and university education. The focus of the chapter will be on ICT use in the educational sector in order to assess its key contributions to the sector. This will cover connectivity issues and access, informatization programmes in educational institutions, distance education and e-learning initiatives, and their reach and success. The chapter will also examine ways in which ICTs can enhance the educational process through multimedia, interactive communication packages. Best practices will be documented and weaknesses highlighted within each country.

3.5 ICT IMPACT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
This chapter will assess the role and impact of ICTs in the empowerment of women and gender equality on the whole. Have ICTs created a more level playing field for women? Are ICTs offering more opportunities to women to advance their cause through the creation of employment, through their representation, and through the creation of greater awareness about the plight of women? The chapter will document best practices and examine websites and resources that focus on bringing about gender equality. The constitution of gender communities and the role of NGOs in utilizing ICTs for the empowerment of women will also be examined. Where possible, the study will highlight areas where greater efforts have to be made to harness the potential of ICTs for gender equality and the empowerment of women.

3.6 ICT IMPACT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - THE REDUCTION OF CHILD MORTALITY
This chapter will attempt to focus on the issue of child mortality and examine ways in which ICTs have helped in the dissemination of information on this problem. It will also study specific programs, websites and other resources as well as campaigns that have been launched in the given country to tackle the problem of child mortality. Best practices will be documented and recommendation will be made on ways in which the full potential of ICTs can be harnessed to address this serious issue in the developing world.

3.7 ICT IMPACT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - IMPROVING MATERNAL HEALTH
Maternal mortality ratios remain very high in the developing world. Although much progress has been achieved, maternal health remains a critical issue. This chapter will focus on ways in which ICTs have been used for improving maternal health. Specific programs, resources and campaigns in the maternal health sector will be discussed and the role of ICTs in this area of concern will be examined. Best practices will be documented and the use of ICTs by the health sector and the NGOs will be assessed. Useful recommendations will be provided in order to ensure greater and more effective use of ICTs for improving maternal health.

3.8 ICT IMPACT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - COMBATTING HIV/AIDS, MALARIA AND OTHER MAJOR DISEASES
One of the main problems in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases has been the lack of awareness, information and education. Timely and effective dissemination of information is the key to overcoming these diseases. In this context, ICTs can have a very powerful impact in overcoming the major diseases that plague the developing world and hampering socio-economic development. This chapter will document the use and impact of ICTs in combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other major diseases. Successful campaigns, programmes and activities organized by the health sector as well as the NGOs will be discussed in relation to strategic ICT use.

3.9 ICT IMPACT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - ENSURING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
This chapter will assess the role and impact of ICTs on ensuring environmental sustainability. By examining the key issues of sustainability and examining the role of ICTs in tackling these issues, the chapter will highlight the potential and effective harnessing of ICTs in the struggle against environmental degradation and damage. ICTs not only provide critical and timely information about environmental problems and concerns but also constitute a sector of economic activity, which minimizes pollution and resource utilization. This chapter will aim to highlight best practices and means by which ICTs are being used to ensure environmental sustainability. It will also provide recommendations for optimizing the use of ICTs in this area.

4.0 ICT IMPACT ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - DEVELOPING A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
This chapter will provide a critical overview on ways in which ICTs have and can be harnessed for developing a global partnership for sustainable development. Through global information sharing and the creation of shared interest communities, ICTs can play a catalyzing role in developing a global partnership to tackle the most critical development issues including good governance, development and poverty reduction.

4.1 ICT FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter will provide a critical assessment of the role and impact of ICTs on human development by giving an overall assessment of the performance of country in question in the eight categories or MDGs. This will constitute a summary where the country’s overall strengths and weaknesses will be discussed. After this overview assessment, recommendations on each of the areas covered by the study will be drafted.

ANNEXES/APPENDIX
Each country expert will provide a series of statistics and data on each of the key areas covered by the study. These statistical indicators and data will provide as accurate a profile as possible of the key areas of the study.

REFERENCES

Annan, K., (1997) Secretary General Stresses International Community’s Objective of Harnessing Informatics Revolution for Benefit of Mankind’in United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development Ínter-Agency Project on Universal Access to Basic Communication and Information Services’, 3rd Session, Geneva, 12 May, E/CN.16/1997/Misc.3.

Bezanson, K., and Sagasti, F. (1995) ‘The Elusive Search: Development and Progress in the Transition to a New Century’, Ottawa, Canada: International Development Research Centre and Lima, Peru: GRADE, mimeo.

Mansell, R., and Wehn, U., (Eds.) (1998) Knowledge Societies: Information Technology for Sustainable Development, New York: Oxford University Press.

Mody, B., (1999) ‘The Internet in Developing Countries’, Paper presented at the ASIAPAC - 21, UNESCO-UKM Conference, April 26 – 29, 1999, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia.

Ohmae, Kenichi (1996) The End of the Nation State - The Rise of Regional Economies, New York: Free Press Paperbacks.

Reddi, U.V., (1986), “Leapfrogging the Industrial Revolution”, in Michael Traber (Ed.) The Myth of the Information Revolution: Social and Ethical Implications of Communication Technology, London: Sage.

Sen, A., (1999) Development As Freedom, New York: Knopf.