Information and Communication Technologies for Development

Information and Communication Technologies for Development

From its creation in 1970, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has been committed to advancing the role of information in development. A tradition of innovation that began with an emphasis on building databases and information systems has evolved into a focus on the transformative nature of information and communications technologies (ICTs).

IDRC was one of the first development agencies to embrace ICTs as a key means to foster development and alleviate poverty.

* Acacia Initiative
Communities and the Information Society in Africa Program Initiative increases the capacity of African communities to apply Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to their own social and economic development.

* ICT4D Conferences and Events

* Connectivity Africa
Connectivity Africa program has been closed as of February 2008.

* ICT4D in the Americas

* ICT4D in Middle East Project
A new corporate project that covers five countries in the Middle East: Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.

* Pan Asia Networking
Studying the impacts of ICTs on people, culture, the economy, and society in order to strengthen ICT uses that promote sustainable development.

* Exploring the impact of public access to ICT
A corporate project that aims to build research capacity and increase the understanding of social and economic impact of public access to ICT.

* telecentre.org
An initiative aimed at helping community telecentres around the world increase their capacity and promote digital development.



News

African Universities Need Affordable and Reliable Broadband 2009-10
Most universities in Africa pay about 100 times as much for the Internet as do those in Canada. IDRC is working to help solve this problem.

Multimedia

Map of "Teleaccess : Inside Africa"
Learn everything about the status of Teleaccess in Africa


IDRC_Teleaccess_small.gif

Open and Closed Skies: Satellite Access in Africa
Africa’s vast inaccessible terrain and insufficient energy infrastructure makes it difficult and costly to roll out wire-line networks and fibre optic links in heartland areas. Low-cost satellite-based Internet therefore responds to the access crisis in the region, and provides a potentially affordable opportunity for connectivity.


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Document(s)

ICTs, Human Development, Growth and Poverty Reduction: A Background Paper (2009) 2009-04-28
Open file

Open ICT4D 2008-11-19
A working paper that explores the relevance and significance of Openness for ICT4D. Open file

telecentre.org Brochure 2005-11
Click on the file below to read about telecentre.org. Open file

Form(s)

ICT4D Project Directory

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