Title: Digital India: A Call for Action
Pages: 24 pp.
Publisher: Internet and Mobile Association of India
Date (published): 07/10/2009
Date (accessed): 12/04/2010
Type of information: strategy paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
With the number of internet users set to touch 50 million and the number of mobile users already over 400 million, India is on the verge of a Second Information Technology Revolution led by connectivity or the Digital Revolution. This revolution is about reaching the benefits of technology to the people of India.
...
Why are we then not able to achieve the benefits of a digital revolution in India? Why is that countries lagging behind or travelling with us as late as three years ago have gone far ahead and are reaping the benefits of connectivity? The answers are complicated and but not far to seek: we as a nation have no agreement on the benefits of connectivity, we as a nation are happy to have islands of excellence in the vast sea of mediocrity, we as a nation are not aware of the economic and social costs of lack of connectivity to our developmental goals.
What needs to be done to unleash the digital revolution? Not an easy question to answer. But certainly what we need to do is to take a few steps to enable access, make it affordable, allow for an environment for development of applications and encourage people to adopt internet – and hope that this will lead to a self sustaining process which will allow us as individuals, communities and a nation to reap the benefits of leveraging internet to our benefit.

Title: Bangladesh takes experts to the village, via internet
Author: Mark Dummett
Source: BBC News
Publisher: BBC
Date (published): 12/03/2010
Date (accessed): 07/04/2010
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
The government of Bangladesh has begun work on an ambitious new scheme to tackle poverty with the help of the internet. It plans to improve schools, hospitals, businesses and government services by linking them to the web by 2021.
At the moment, most villages - and even some communities in the capital Dhaka - do not even have access to electricity.
But the rapid spread of mobile phones to even the most remote and impoverished parts of the country in recent years, has shown what is possible.
"This will be a digitised nation depending on information technology, for information, for services, for all kinds of activities that individuals can do," the finance minister, Abdul Muhith, told the BBC.
"This is a simple dream, and is really workable.
"It is the ideal solution for Bangladesh's various problems. I'm sure that by 2021 the largest sector in Bangladesh is going to be information technology, not textiles and garments."

Title: Towards an Information Society in Botswana: ICT4D Country Report
Authors: Balulwami Grand, Stephen M Mutula, Peter M. Sebina, Saul Zulu
Pages: 86 pp.
Source: Botswana Thetha ICT Discussion Forum
Publisher: Department of Library and Information Studies University of Botswana and Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT)
Date (published): 08/03/2010
Date (accessed): 10/03/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
The Thetha - Regional ICT Discussion Forum Project is an initiative of SANGONeT aimed at tracking ICT4D initiatives in SADC member states and facilitating networking and dialogue among civil society organisations, academia, government organisations, corporate sector and development agencies to share information and experiences of the different countries in this regard. The Thetha project is funded by the Embassy of Finland (South Africa) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), and is administered by SANGONeT.
The Botswana Thetha - Regional ICT Discussion Forum is organised through the partnership of the Department of Library and Information Studies (University of Botswana) and SANGONeT. A similar event was co-hosted by BOCONGO and SANGONeT - dubbed the Botswana ICT Discussion Forum - in Gaborone from 5-6 October 2006. The Forum at that time sought to provide a platform for discussing the Maitlamo ICT policy which was at that stage a draft document. The policy was subsequently enacted by Parliament in 2007 and is the foundation upon which ICT4D initiatives are being undertaken in Botswana. The policy, for example, aims at creating an enabling environment for the growth of an ICT industry in Botswana, the provision of universal service and access to information and communication facilities and making Botswana an ICT hub for the region. It is therefore timely to review again what progress has been achieved not only after the enactment of the 'Maitlamo' policy but also with regard to WSIS, AISI, the SADC IT protocol and Vision 2016.

Title: Information for All Programme: Information Society Policies. Annual World Report 2009
Editor: Árpád Rab
Pages: 61 pp.
Publisher: UNESCO
Date (published): 22/02/2010
Date (accessed): 28/02/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Assistance to UNESCO Member States in the formulation of national information policy frameworks has been the main focus of the Information for All Programme (IFAP) in 2008-2009. The IFAP Annual World Report 2009 offers an overview of major international and national policy documents and highlights the most important trends of the information society during the last year.
Information Society Policies. Annual World Report 2009 was written by researchers from the Information Society Research Institute of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. According to their analysis, the most important effect of the information society is probably the fact that it eliminates several historical divides. Social differences caused by the unequal distribution of ICT tools are being eliminated by the same tools, which causes a paradoxical situation.

The Report outlines cultural and geographical aspects of the digital divide and highlights solutions offered by the information society, such as broadband Internet and mobile technology. It also analyses the link between social and technological changes, which vary from country to country. Among the most significant trends introduced in the Report are some important technical achievements that are likely to change people’s lives in several aspects.

Information society strategies increasingly focus on e-government, which is becoming more and more socially oriented. The authors of the World Report examine the e-government aspects that proved to be the most important last year: the breakthrough of social networking, the increasing importance of open source software and of the green IT. No information society strategy today can disregard these trends.

The last section provides an overview of the worldwide penetration of ICT tools, both globally and regionally, showing the social and policy challenges faced by particular regions.

Title: National Information Society Policy: A Template
Author Editor:
Pages: 143 pp.
Publisher: UNESCO, Information for All Programme
Date (published): 21/11/2009
Date (accessed): 29/11/2009
Type of information: strategy guide
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, 1,8 mb)
Abstract:
It is an established objective of UNESCO to assist in the formulation of national information policy frameworks, in particular within the framework of the Information for All Programme (IFAP). The Tunis Agenda for the Information Society contains a direct appeal for the development of such frameworks:
Taking into consideration the leading role of governments in partnership with other stakeholders in implementing the WSIS outcomes (including the Geneva Plan of Action) at the national level, we encourage those governments that have not yet done so to elaborate, as appropriate, comprehensive, forward-looking and sustainable national e-strategies, including ICT strategies and sectoral e-strategies as appropriate , as an integral part of national development plans and poverty reduction strategies, as soon as possible and before 2010. The present Template is designed to assist in the development of such policies and
strategies.

Title: Information Society Statistical Profiles 2009 – Americas 2009
Pages: 92 pp.
Publisher: International Telecommunication Union
Date (published): September 2009
Date (accessed): 21/10/2009
Type of information: statistical report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
This report is the third of a series of regional statistical profiles on the information
society prepared by ITU in 2009, as an input to the regional preparatory meetings
(RPMs) for the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference 2010
(WTDC-10). The third RPM – for the Americas region – takes place on 9-11 September
2009 and is hosted by the Government of Colombia.

See also:
Spanish language edition

Title: Capital, Power, and the Next Step in Decentralization
Author: Yochai Benkler
Source: Publius Project
Publisher: Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
Date (published): 16/09/2009
Date (accessed): 28/09/2009
Type of information: essay
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
As we think of ICTs for development, we must understand that the challenge is a focus on widespread distribution of high-capacity devices, in the hands of a highly skilled population, over open networks running simple and non-proprietary standards. Devices must be cheap enough to be widely distributed as basic background features, owned by individuals in a pattern uncorrelated with pre-existing power relations. Devices must be accompanied with skills training in the use of the device and the open network, so that the difficulty of use does not continue to drive people to the simpler devices that deliver the more predictable, controlled, and “safe” applications. In the near future, this may mean programs focused on women, much as micro-lending has been, or youths and children. In the longer term, it must mean an emphasis on cheap computers from the lineage of the personal computer, not souped-up mobile phones. Or, in the alternative, it means that we need a heavier focus on regulatory interventions that will require mobile phones and phone networks to be more open and flexible—although this is a harder row to hoe. And in all events it means devices coupled with training.

Title: A Response to "A Dialogue on ICTs, Human Development, Growth and Poverty Reduction"
Author: Onno Purbo
Source: Publius Project
Publisher: Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
Date (published): 21/09/2009
Date (accessed): 28/09/2009
Type of information: essay
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Unfortunately, in practice in the grassroots, a knowledge-based society is not about the concepts or terms “universal access”, “openness”, and “innovation”. It is more about *how* to create a movement within the society / community to get universal access, to embed openness in a culture, to help innovation flourish among the 240 million Indonesians. Unlike most western countries, we Indonesians cannot rely on the government too heavily. Create a self-financed, sustainable, self-propelled movement within such large number of people with minimal support from the government is an art in itself.

Title: Broadening the Agenda for ICT for Poverty Reduction
Author: Ophelia Mascarenhas
Source: Publius Project
Publisher: Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
Date (published): 21/09/2009
Date (accessed): 28/09/2009
Type of information: essay
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Six years down the line the debate still continues. In the developing countries the explosive increase in the use of ICTs has not been matched with a tremendous decline in poverty or socio-economic inequalities. Have financial resources for the BOP been lured and diverted to mobiles instead of other needs? Could the outflow of capital directly in terms of airtime tariffs and purchases of equipment and indirectly through the construction of massive billboards, TV slots and promotional campaigns been better used to reduce poverty?

Title: Reflecting on Social and Gender Injustice In The Context of Human Development, Poverty and ICTs
Author: Ineke Buskens
Source: Publius Project
Publisher: Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
Date (published): 17/09/2009
Date (accessed): 28/09/2009
Type of information: essay
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
In concerning ourselves about the role of ICTs for human development and poverty reduction, we take a position grounded in a sense of social justice, and we look through the lens of human agency at the economic potential of ICTs.

The concept of human development is grounded in social justice. A commitment to social justice in a gendered world means commitment to the practical application of gender justice. Social and gender issues are inextricably intertwined, yet gender justice is an end in itself. Women have the right to experience their being-ness for themselves, to perceive themselves as the most important reason for their own existence, and not to be defined mainly by what they mean to others: husbands, children and parents.
...
I thus want to tell a story that was one of the case studies in the GRACE Africa Research Network’s First Phase, contextualize it with insights gained within the wider research quest in which this particular research took place (Buskens & Webb), and respond to it from my own theoretical, methodological and normative positions. This allows me to speak to the relationship between ICTs, human development and poverty reduction, while becoming transparent as a “constructor of knowledge”.