2. 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 Society Tuesday December 9, 2003

3. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 2 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.

4. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 3 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

5. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 4 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

6. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 5 ICTs and Development Access 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

7. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 6 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

8. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 7 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

9. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 8 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

10. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 9 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

11. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 10 Why are we failing to align ICTs with development? This is a classic case of market failure social benefits >>>private benefits

12. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 11 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

13. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 12 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

14. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 13 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

15. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 14 What can we do? Design and implementation solutions with creative public sector leadership

16. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 15 Who makes decisions on equitable access? Public decision makers Technology suppliers Financiers and donors

17. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 16 Public Sector Public 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

18. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 17 Private Sector Technology 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

19. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 18 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

20. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 19 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

21. Gillian Marcelle © TfDev 20 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