1. BACKGROUND

The impact of ICT in rural areas and particularly on rural poverty is very limited despite its penetration into every corner of modern life. Although, experiences abound demonstrating that ICT can make a significant contribution to reduce rural poverty, the list of failed initiatives appears even longer. One of the major reasons for this mixed performance in rural areas is that its adaptation to the local needs was left either to the private sector or to non-governmental organizations. These organizations oftentimes operate without an official framework of policies and guidelines and a clear definition of tasks and responsibilities for the different “players”.

By its very nature, ICT development tends to increase income inequality within the country for several reasons: (i) it requires relatively good education and special skills to make full use of ICT for socio-economic gains, (ii) ICT infrastructure is more profitable and therefore easier to develop in urban areas, thus further broadening the gap between urban and rural access to ICT, (iii) those who developed widely used ICT applications are mainly from urban areas who could reap benefits from being first in tapping the ICT market in the country. Notwithstanding the inequality bias, ICT has potential to improve the livelihoods of low-income earners by enhancing delivery of socio-economic services, offering them opportunities to increase income and empowering them through participation in decision making processes.

Government leadership is a key element in making ICT work for the rural poor. Country studies in India, Malaysia and Thailand commissioned by the Rural Development Section of ESCAP’s Population, Rural and Urban Development Division found that governments have an important role in creating an enabling environment for ICT expansion in rural areas. These findings were echoed by Michael Rawding, vice-president of Microsoft Corporation at the ADB-sponsored seminar, “Unlocking the ICT Potential in Asia and the Pacific”, held in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China in May 2002, stating that partnership and government leadership are pre-conditions to the success of the promotion of ICT in poor areas. What is required and in most of the cases missing is a national ICT policy that puts poverty reduction at the centre and addresses the inequality bias of ICT development.

Development of national ICT strategies for rural poverty alleviation is a complex matter. There is no single solution or best ICT project to fit all rural situations, but a variety of approaches would be needed, particularly in the early stage of ICT expansion in rural areas.  Understanding how ICT can service specific development goals requires both knowledge of appropriate technologies and how these technologies could be operationalized to address socio-economic goals in rural areas. Key policy-makers need to make informed decisions to enact “enabling” policy frameworks appropriate for their contexts and needs.

During the Fourth Session of the Committee on Socio-economic Measures to alleviate Poverty in Rural and Urban Areas, held in Bangkok, in December 2001, high-level government representatives reiterated the lack of specific guidelines for governments to develop national ICT strategies for the rural poor.  Subsequently, the participants of the recently held seminar on “Information Technology Needs Assessment and Readiness in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)” recommended that governments should establish a national ICT master plan. The master plan should ensure citizens’ access to relevant ICT services, as well as creating an environment for the private sector to participate actively in ICT development. The seminar was organized by ESCAP in Bangkok from 23 to 25 April 2002.

ESCAP in the current reform of its programme structure is giving increased importance to the use of ICT in poverty reduction. It is ESCAP’s intention to establish “exchange mechanisms such as internet-based regional resource facilities so that Governments and other agencies can have easy access to information on issues related to urban and rural poverty alleviation.”

2. DATE AND VENUE

The workshop will be convened at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, on 28 and 29 January 2003.

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE EXPERT GROUP MEETING

The overall objective of the meeting would be to bring the benefits of the ICT revolution to the rural poor. The specific objectives would be to:

1. Promote the formulation of consistent national policies on ICT for rural poverty reduction and sensitize the need for government leadership in making ICT an effective tool for rural poverty reduction;

2. Encourage collaboration among governments, development organizations, NGOs and other stakeholders in finding solutions to the common problem of reducing rural poverty through application of appropriate ICT services in rural areas;

3. Develop a framework of national ICT policies for rural poverty reduction and recommendations for defining the role and limitation of government and other parties in developing ICT into an effective tool for rural poverty reduction, including services expected to be rendered by international organizations;

4. Assist in defining ESCAP’s role in promoting ICT policies for rural poverty reduction. and facilitating access to information on issues related to rural poverty reduction through the identification, analysis and dissemination of best practices.

4. PARTICIPATION

A selected number of experts on the application of ICT in rural areas will be invited to attend the meeting. They will be from central and local government agencies, community based rural organizations with practical experience of ICT application and the private sector with involvement in rural communication, communications research and with experience in local content development for effective programming of ICT uses in rural income generation.

In addition representatives from other organizations involved in ICT policy development and application for poverty reduction in the region will be invited to attend at their own expense. These organizations include the following.

International:

• Asia and Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) of UNDP.
• PAN Asia Networking Programme of IDRC.
• Bellanet of IDRC.
• Asia Pacific Telecommunity
• Pacific Forum Secretariat
• Asian Development Bank.
• Electronic Networking for Rural Asia/Pacific Projects (ENRAP) of IFAD.
• e-ASEAN Task Force of ASEAN.

National:

• India - Gyandoot.net 

• Bangladesh - Grameen Communications, Grameen Bank Group

• Thailand - National Information Technology Committee (NITC)

• Malaysia - National IT Council (NITC)

• Philippines - National College of Public Administration and Governance

• Sri Lanka - The Kothmale Community Internet Radio.

5. PROVISIONAL AGENDA

1. Opening session

2. Review of ICT services available in rural areas and their effectiveness in addressing poverty reduction and the role of various stakeholders

3. Review of existing ICT government policies and programmes including guidelines/instructions addressing ICT for rural poverty alleviation

4. The role of private sector in rural ICT development

5. Framework for formulation of national policies and legislations for successful ICT application in rural areas and bridging the digital divide and ESCAP’s role in promoting national ICT policies for rural poverty reduction

6. DOCUMENTATION TO BE PREPARED BY INVITED EXPERTS

Detailed terms of reference will be provided to the invited experts for items to be covered, including existing government policies, guidelines and instructions at central and local level. From the beneficiaries such policies, i.e., the end-users of ICT services a candid analysis of the successes/failures with regard to usefulness of such services is expected. The private sector is expected to describe the operative framework in which activities are taking place and what improvements/adjustments for enhanced private sector participation would be needed. An expert on communications research and contents development will be expected to identify areas of current shortcomings and recommend appropriate government policies and remedies.

The papers should not exceed ten standard typed pages, single spacing, and contain a half-page summary of salient points. The invited experts are requested to submit their papers to the organizers by 15 December 2002, either on floppy disk or as e-mail attachment. In addition they should bring 10 copies of the paper for distribution to other participants at the meeting.

Participants are encouraged to use computers, transparencies or slides for their presentations and are requested to inform ESCAP in advance of their requirements.

The outcome of the meeting will largely be measured by the results achieved in discussions and the recommendations made for ICT development guidelines aiming at rural poverty reduction. Active interaction with other experts, secretariat staff and representatives of other organizations will be essential for the success of the meeting.

7.  WORKING LANGUAGE

The official working language of the meeting will be English. As all documents will be available only in English, participants must have a good working knowledge of the English language.

8. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENT, VISA AND ACCOMMODATION

Participants to be funded by ESCAP will be provided with round trip air transportation following the most direct and economical route between the airport of departure in the participant’s home country to Bangkok, Thailand. Tickets will be issued through local UNDP offices. ESCAP will assist self-financing participants in hotel reservation at a reasonable United Nations rate as given below.

Participants of the workshop are expected to arrive one day in advance of the meeting, on 27 January 2003 and shall leave not later than one day after its conclusion. The accommodation for participants will be reserved at Thai Hotel (78 Prachatipatai Road, Bangkok 10200, Tel: 662-2822831-3, Fax: 662-2801299) for three nights subject to confirmation by the participants at least one week in advance. The current daily rate for single accommodation in the hotel is Thai Baht 900 (approximately US$ 22) for bed and breakfast. The hotel is located about one kilometre from the UNCC.

Participants should obtain appropriate entry visas to Thailand from a Thai diplomatic or consular mission at their point of origin or en route to Thailand.

9. FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

ESCAP will meet the cost of participation of some selected experts. They will provide the nominated with a daily subsistence allowance (DSA), covering boarding, lodging and incidentals in local currency at UN standard rates for the period of attendance of the meeting. One extra day of DSA will be paid as a contribution towards the incidental expenses to travel abroad, such as expenditure for passport, visa, medical examination, inoculations, and other such miscellaneous items as well as travel to and from airports. No additional claims will be considered.

10. ENQUIRIES

For further information on the Expert Group Meeting, kindly contact:

Mr Peter Hegenbarth
Economic Affairs Officer
Poverty Reduction Section
Poverty and Development Division
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Telephone: (662)288-1394
Fax: (662)288-1056, (662)288-1000
E-mail: hegenbarth.unescap@un.org