Infopoverty World Conference Presented by Shashi Tharoor, Under Secretary of Communications and Public Information, United Nations Challenge and the Charge

The Challenge The ICT age has brought vast upgrades to the lives of millions of people. The ICT age has brought vast upgrades to the lives of millions of people. 70% of the world’s Internet users live in the 24 richest countries. 70% of the world’s Internet users live in the 24 richest countries. With these new tools, war can be waged on poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environment degradation and gender inequality. With these new tools, war can be waged on poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environment degradation and gender inequality.

The Challenge The digital divide remains one of the greatest non-tariff barriers to world trade among developed and developing countries alike. The digital divide remains one of the greatest non-tariff barriers to world trade among developed and developing countries alike. –Technological Divide –Content Divide –Gender Divide –Governance Divide

The Challenge Such gaps will not disappear on their own as technology spreads. Creating digital opportunities requires an act of will: sustained investment and commitment. Such gaps will not disappear on their own as technology spreads. Creating digital opportunities requires an act of will: sustained investment and commitment.

Leading the Charge Last December in Geneva, the first-ever global summit on the information society, organized by the UN, adopted by consensus a Declaration and a Plan of Action aimed at reducing the digital divide and creating a truly inclusive information society. Last December in Geneva, the first-ever global summit on the information society, organized by the UN, adopted by consensus a Declaration and a Plan of Action aimed at reducing the digital divide and creating a truly inclusive information society.

Leading the Charge The Plan of Action sets out concrete targets to be achieved by The Plan of Action sets out concrete targets to be achieved by –Connecting remote villages with ICT and establishing community access points. –Connecting all universities, secondary and primary schools, scientific and research centres, hospitals and health centres. –Bringing ICT within the reach of half the world’s inhabitants.

Leading the Charge A related target agreed at the Summit is to encourage the development of local content, and to put in place technical conditions that facilitate the use of all world languages on the Internet. A related target agreed at the Summit is to encourage the development of local content, and to put in place technical conditions that facilitate the use of all world languages on the Internet.

Leading the Charge Partnerships with the private sector announced at the Summit. Partnerships with the private sector announced at the Summit. –Microsoft, cash and software to bring ICT skills to poor communities. –Cisco, will open 20 more Internet Training Centres in developing countries. –Hewlett-Packard, provide low-cost products that will help overcome illiteracy barriers.

Leading the Charge The UN Development Programme is carrying out ICT projects all over the world. The UN Development Programme is carrying out ICT projects all over the world. –$3.5 million grant to provide computer to high schools in Ethiopia. –Provide ICT training to government officials in Syria. –Helping Albania’s Institutive of Statistics to set up an integrated database.

Leading the Charge The Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI) will connect through ICT schools and villages all over the developing would. The Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI) will connect through ICT schools and villages all over the developing would. –This joint initiative of the United Nations, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and Ireland reaches out to the 370 million school-aged children who lack education in the developing world.

Leading the Charge More than 360 other projects to achieve the Summit targets have been announced by governments, civil society, the private sector, the media and others. More than 360 other projects to achieve the Summit targets have been announced by governments, civil society, the private sector, the media and others. –List available at wsis-online at

Leading the Charge Aid to developing countries is a paltry $58 billion a year (in 2002). The World Bank estimates that 50 more billion a year are necessary for meeting by 2015 the internationally agreed development goals. Aid to developing countries is a paltry $58 billion a year (in 2002). The World Bank estimates that 50 more billion a year are necessary for meeting by 2015 the internationally agreed development goals. If this does not happen, much of the world will continued to be mired in abject poverty. If this does not happen, much of the world will continued to be mired in abject poverty.

Leading the Charge Technology is not the issue in connecting more people in more affordable ways. As technology progresses at dizzying speed and costs go down, the real issue is to convince political leaders throughout the world to enact the right policies. Technology is not the issue in connecting more people in more affordable ways. As technology progresses at dizzying speed and costs go down, the real issue is to convince political leaders throughout the world to enact the right policies.

Leading the Charge Information and communication technologies are not a panacea. But if, over the next decade, access to these technologies could be increased dramatically in the developing countries, the payoff would be substantial. Information and communication technologies are not a panacea. But if, over the next decade, access to these technologies could be increased dramatically in the developing countries, the payoff would be substantial. –Increase in knowledge and education would create jobs, adding new wealth to national coffers. –Trade would expand.

Leading the Charge Information and communication technologies are not a panacea. But if, over the next decade, access to these technologies could be increased dramatically in the developing countries, the payoff would be substantial. Information and communication technologies are not a panacea. But if, over the next decade, access to these technologies could be increased dramatically in the developing countries, the payoff would be substantial. –Preventive health would improve. –Just as significant, but hard to quantify, would be the dividends in freedom and democratic governance.