[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Report finds uneven progress in ICT for human development in Asia
Report finds uneven progress in ICT for human development in Asia
Thursday, 11 December 2003: A pioneering UNDP report that finds
varying progress in the use of information and communications
technology (ICT) for human development in nine Asian countries is
getting the attention of a panel at the World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) http://www.undp.org/wsis/ in Geneva today.
The Regional Human Development Report evaluates how China, India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet
Nam are harnessing ICT to reduce poverty and improve healthcare,
education, environmental management and economic development.
Entitled "Promoting ICT for Human Development in Asia 2004: Realizing
the Millennium Development Goals," the study examines several of the
world’s most populous countries, including some making great strides
in ICT and achieving the goals.
Researchers weighed many factors, such as the proportion of cell
phone subscribers, Internet users and personal computer owners, along
with the charges for Internet and phone service, Internet access in
schools, the proportion of women professional technical workers, and
competition among service providers.
Malaysia is highest on the report's ranking of ICT use for human
development (known as the ICTforHD Index), well ahead of China and
Thailand. The rankings of the next countries — India, Mongolia,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka — vary depending on the statistical method
used, while Indonesia ranks third from last and Viet Nam last.
"The Index could be a very useful tool for policy makers to help them
focus more sharply on those specific dimensions of ICT for human
development where there are weaknesses," said Anuradha Rajivan, the
report’s programme coordinator. The data includes indicators on the
extent that countries target some social sectors and rural groups,
which is a significant contribution to monitoring the digital divide,
he noted.
The Index's component elements show significant variations among
countries. Middle-ranking Sri Lanka placed high in terms of
efficiency and connection speed, for example, taking into account
usage costs, access, and IT training and education.
India ranked high in targeting vulnerable groups for its high
proportion of female professional and technical workers, public
Internet access, laws on ICT use and competition among service
providers. China, second overall, ranked sixth in this area.
The report is jointly prepared by the UNDP Asia-Pacific Development
Information Programme (APDIP) http://www.apdip.net/ and the Asia-
Pacific Regional Human Development Reports Initiative, Human
Development Resource Centre.
Click here http://www.undp.org/wsis/preview_event.html for more
information on the panel. For further information please contact
Anuradha Rajivan, Asia-Pacific Regional HDR Initiative, or Laura Ngo-
Fontaine, UNDP Geneva Office.
