Information and Communication Technology as the Indisputable Link in Poverty Reduction

Abstract

There is a debate as to whether information and communicationtechnologies (ICTs)' have a role to play in poverty reduction. Many argue that people need food not technology, a luxury they see as the domain of the rich. However ICTs now playa major role in all aspects of life and has revolutionised the way we live, work and interact. This is because information (the blood that runs through ICTs) leads to resources and opportunities that generate resources. It then goes without say that in an information society, the 'information poor' have also become the 'resource poor'. ICTs for development therefore have an increasingly vital role to play in the management of policies aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals, in data collection, creating networks, in informing greater numbers of people, ensuring greater accountability and in governance issues. ICTs can contribute to poverty reduction if specifically tailored to the needs of the poor. In a nutshell, the paper explores the relationship between ICTs and poverty, by looking at the ways in which lCTs can be used to help build local organising capacity, and to help the poor and marginalised people become visible, have a voice and gain access to information and knowledge that can improve their lives and livelihoods. It also outlines various factors that hinder the full utilisation ofICTs and provides recommendations as to how these constraints