Knowledge Showcases
Highlights
Leveraging Information and Communication Technology for Development
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Information and communication technology (ICT) has grown into one of the most powerful forces shaping the 21st century. But, its digital dividends are unevenly distributed because many are left out of one of the greatest revolutions in history.
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ICT for Development (ICTD) springs from the desire to leverage ICT to propel economic and social progress and enhance its effects in developing countries, where over 3 billion people subsist on less than $2.50 a day. In these less-fortunate environments, countries that harness ICT can leapfrog stages of development.
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In 2016, the ICTD Team in ADB's Thematic Advisory Service Cluster drew a work plan to ramp up ADB's role in ICTD in the short term, in appreciation also of how ICT can accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals.
October 2016 | Issue 69
Regional | ICT
ICT IN THE 21ST CENTURY Information and communication technology (ICT) are technologies that facilitate by electronic means the processing, transmission, and display of information.1 Ever faster and cheaper, ICT allows people to seek, acquire, and share expertise, ideas, services, and technologies locally, nationally, regionally, and around the world; boosts efficiency and productivity; reduces transaction costs and barriers to entry; provides the means for sweeping reorganization of business; and generally makes markets work better. ICT has already transformed the financial services, media, retail, and telecommunications sectors. Through the globalization it simultaneously feeds on and accelerates, it is reshaping societies, economies, and governments worldwide.2 The New Dimensions of ICT • Broadband • Mobile Devices • Next Generation Systems • Wireless Technology and Connectivity Optical Fibers
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Big Data Data Analytics Data Management Data Mining
Usage
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Cloud Computing Internet of Things Remote Sensing Sensor Technology
Structure
Support
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Applications Control Centers Helpdesks Information Technology Security
Source: ADB.
ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT ICT is so embedded in our lives we no longer realize it is at play. But, this is not yet the case everywhere: “ICT for Development” (ICTD) springs from the desire to leverage ICT
to propel economic and social progress and enhance its effects in developing countries, where over three billion people— almost half of the global population—subsist on less than $2.50 a day. For sure, in these less fortunate environments, countries that harness ICT can leapfrog stages of development by • increasing avenues for economic and citizen engagement, • strengthening social networks, and • making public services more efficient. Without ICT, however, the efforts of developing countries to connect, innovate, and transform will be stymied, irrespective of income thresholds. Their endeavors to produce, diffuse, and use ICT require substantial investment—both public and private—in policy and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure (including connectivity), applications,3 and capacities and skills for ICT, with an eye also on standardization and information technology security.4 Because of its all-pervasive nature, ICTD is best understood in particular contexts such as, say, ICT in disaster risk management; education; energy; finance; health; industry and trade; public sector management; rural development and food security; transport; and urban development; not forgetting their subsectors and ICT infrastructure per se, all this at local, national, and regional levels.5 The proliferation of megacities and smaller settlements demands multisectoral interventions too. ICTD can introduce new opportunities to the poor and other under-represented groups, including women, so they may truly get ahead, or at least keep up. RAMPING UP ADB'S ROLE IN ICTD In Asia and the Pacific, ramping up ADB's role in ICTD is intrinsic to ADB's mandate, vision, and mission. ADB's value as a “finance++” partner means it can rise to the challenge by offering superior combinations of its own finance plus additional resources leveraged through public, private, and other partnerships plus knowledge derived from deep expertise across the many sectors and themes in which ICT finds applications and in which ADB is already involved. Notwithstanding needs for ICT financing, ADB's record of accomplishment in research and development, policy
___________________ ICT is an umbrella term for any communication device or application, e.g., computer and network hardware and software, radio, satellite systems, telephones, television, etc., as well as the various multidimensional services associated with them. Significantly, more than three-quarters of the world's population of 7.3 billion (2015) has a mobile phone, and the number of mobile-cellular subscriptions is close to 7 billion. 3 In information technology, an application program—“app” for short—is a computer program designed to help a user perform a specific activity (thus, it differs from an operating system, a utility, or a programming tool). 4 Information technology security, also known as computer security or cybersecurity, is the process of safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all information processed, stored, or transmitted using electronic resources. Since ICT directs most funds, there are serious implications for e-finance, to name one area of concern bisecting all sectors. 5 Reference is invited in particular to the manifold contributions space technology and geographic information systems applications can make by providing timely observation of land, ocean, and weather. To note, they provide unique and significant solutions in integrated disaster risk management and postdisaster response, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. 1
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Ramping Up ADB's Role in ICTD—Results Framework, 2016–2017
and advisory technical assistance, and capacity development summons it also to stimulate all-important upstream reforms in policy and regulatory frameworks for ICT and associated development of capacities and skills that few other organizations can advance. In 2014, the midterm review of Strategy 2020, ADB's long-term strategic framework, made a strong case for greater and more deliberate use of ICT in ADB's operations.6 Vitally, because ICT can help achieve the aspirational, transformational, and universal objectives of the post-2015 development agenda, four targets of the newly approved 17 Sustainable Development Goals make direct reference to it.7 The four related goals have to do with quality education (Goal 4); gender equality (Goal 5); industry, innovation, and infrastructure (Goal 9); and partnerships for the goals (Goal 17). Implicitly, Goal 17 recognizes ICT as essential to the effective achievement of the 2030 Agenda, which ADB is prepared to help its developing member countries achieve with customized approaches. In 2016, the ICTD Team situated in the Thematic Advisory Service Cluster of the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department in ADB drew a work plan to ramp up ADB's role in ICTD in the short term, 2016–2017.8 It will help ADB's five operations departments, 15 Sector and Thematic Groups, and the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department forge strong cross-functional partnerships for quick and tangible rewards, ultimately to the benefit of ADB's developing member countries. The work plan looks horizontally to lead organizational change, connect business processes, build portfolios, tender Ramping Up ADB's Role in ICTD—Strategic Thrusts, 2016–2017 Performance Identify ICT Options in ADB's Operations
Opportunity
Develop ADB's Capacity for ICT Operations
Diversify ICT Portfolios in ADB's Operations
Quality, Knowledge, and Innovation
Leverage Knowledge Partnerships in ICT
ADB = Asian Development Bank; ICT = information and communication technology. Source: ADB.
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Intermediate Outcomes and Contributing Actions/ Outputs
Indicator
Responsibility Center
Time Frame and Target
1. ICT Options in ADB's Operations are Identified 1.1 ICT issues in strategic and operational documents are peer-reviewed. 1.2 Country-level assessments of ICT options are conducted. 2. ICT Portfolios in ADB's Operations are Diversified 2.1 Technical assistance for high-priority ICT projects and capacity development is extended. 2.2 ICT is featured in CPSs and attendant COBPs in selected DMCs. 3. ADB's Capacity for ICT Operations is Developed 3.1 ICT skills of targeted staff are built. 3.2 Informal knowledge-sharing activities on ICT-related topics are conducted, leading to case studies of and briefings on, say, successful applications in key sectors and short-format publications. 4. Knowledge Partnerships in ICT are Leveraged 4.1 A regional knowledge network of centers of excellence in ICT is instituted. 4.2 The quality and quantity of knowledge capabilities in ICT are enriched by learning in strategic alliances. ADB = Asian Development Bank; COBP = country operations business plan; CPS = country partnership strategy; DMC = developing member country; ICT = information and communication technology. Source: ADB.
advisory services, and drive knowledge generation and sharing, this in anticipation also of the likely thrusts of ADB's next corporate strategy regarding the use of ICT.9 The envisaged outcomes of the work plan are enhanced policy and regulatory frameworks for ICT operations, strengthened capacity in developing member countries to utilize ICTD, and increased investments in ICT-led and ICT-enabled operations. The higher-level, longer-term impacts the work plan is aligned with are a narrowed digital divide and better, inclusive service delivery to the public through ICT.
Related Links • ADB. 2016. Ramping Up ADB's Role in Information and Communication Technology for Development—ICTD Team Work Plan, 2016–2017. Manila. • ADB. 2016. Road to 2030: Information and Communication Technology in ADB's Corporate Strategy and Operations. Manila. www.adb.org/projects/documents/helping-transform-asia-andpacific-support-for-adb-new-corporate-strategy-jul-2016-dpta
ADB. 2014. Midterm Review of Strategy 2020: Meeting the Challenges of a Transforming Asia and Pacific. Manila. www.adb.org/documents/midterm-review-strategy-2020-meeting-challengestransforming-asia-and-pacific-r-paper The 193-member United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the Sustainable Development Summit held in New York on 25–27 September 2015. The framework of 17 goals and 169 targets will influence national actions and development cooperation over the next 15 years. 8 ADB. 2016. Ramping Up ADB's Role in Information and Communication Technology for Development—ICTD Team Work Plan, 2016–2017. Manila. 9 On 2 October 2015, ADB President Takehiko Nakao approved regional policy and technical assistance to support the preparation of ADB's new long-term strategy. Looking ahead, a background report made clear that there will be strong demand from ADB's developing member countries for investments in ICT. The report proposed a gradual, judicious scaling up of ADB's ICT operations, positioning ADB so it might develop a reputation as a preferred partner for ICT in Asia, with a robust investment pipeline, in the medium to long term. ADB. 2016. Road to 2030: Information and Communication Technology in ADB's Corporate Strategy and Operations. Manila. www.adb.org/projects/documents/helping-transform-asia-andpacific-support-for-adb-new-corporate-strategy-jul-2016-dpta 6
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KNOWLEDGE CONTRIBUTOR Olivier Serrat (oserrat@adb.org) is a principal knowledge management specialist in ADB's Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department.
The Knowledge Showcases Series highlights good practices and innovative ideas from ADB technical assistance and other operations to promote further discussion and research. www.adb.org/knowledgeshowcases
ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of ADB or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent.
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO) © 2016 ADB. The CC license does not apply to non-ADB copyright materials in this publication. Corridenda to ADB publications may be found at http://www.adb.org/publications/corrigenda Publication Stock No. ARM168455-2 pubsmarketing@adb.org