Information and communication technologies for rural development: Issues and options
October 2005
The World Bank
With recent advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs), the creation and dissemination of information and knowledge have dramatically increased in speed and outreach. The "knowledge revolution" has started to re-shape the global economy through greater competitiveness,
new economic growth and job creation, better access to services, and greater empowerment of local communities.
In poor isolated rural populations with limited skills and educational resources and difficult physical access, human development is particularly hampered by insufficient access to information and knowledge resources and communication facilities. ICT has been effectively applied in many rural development contexts world-wide. In the form of multimedia rural telecenters, ICTs have served as a nodal point for community connectivity, local capacity building, and serve as hubs for applications such as distance education, telemedicine, agricultural extension, support to SMEs, promotion of electronic commerce, environmental management, and the empowerment of women and youth.
The challenges facing the development of rural ICT in Indonesia are similar to those in other developing countries in the region – private sector neglect of rural areas, poor connectivity, weak rural infrastructure and low human resource capacity. Despite these hurdles, rural ICT initiatives have burgeoned in countries such as Thailand and India over the past five-eight years. The rural internet kiosks function as a communications hub, a virtual academy/training center, support center for rural entrepreneurship, trading outlet, center for financial and insurance services, etc. The projects are having a significant impact on youth, women, and children in indirect ways. With decentralization and the new political and institutional environment in Indonesia, it is possible to
envisage ICT for supporting rural development here too by enhancing the capability and effectiveness of local governments, and improving access to public services.
Keywords: ICT, rural development
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