Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are transforming the way governments, business and individuals learn, work and communicate with each other. If they are employed strategically within development programmes to promote access and sharing of relevant knowledge as well as fostering participation of the poor and marginalised in decision- making processes that affect their lives, ICTs help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

SDC focus

The focus of SDC from 2001 to 2008 was to support international mainstreaming efforts of ICTs in development processes, e.g. through supporting a series of targeted publications, thematic roundtables and particularly through strengthening to the development perspective and the multi-stakeholder process in the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS). In addition to a direct support to the WSIS process and the promotion of the active participation of Civil Society Organisations from the South and the East therein, SDC has directly participated in and supported a whole range of organisations and networks active in the area of ICT4D (see below).

Support for most of these organisations was phased out between 2008 and 2010. The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) is responsible for Switzerland’s commitments in this area, in collaboration with the ECOSOC Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The SDC is currently focusing on the integration of ICTs in its own projects and programmes (as a strategic instrument).

Background

ICTs encompass a full range of increasingly converging technologies, including traditional and emerging devices such as interactive community radios, television, mobile phones, computer and network hardware and software, the Internet, satellite systems, and podcasting. The effective use of Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) is not just a question of infrastructure and software. It also requires an appropriate institutional and regulatory framework and the development of human capacity and relevant content. Holistic and contextualised implementation of ICTs is complex as it depends considerably on the sector or theme in which they are employed as well as the overall socio-economic context (access and affordability of infrastructure, human capacity, cultural habits). Thus ICTs should not be seen as a panacea for all development problems but rather an important tool to be applied as part of a broader strategy for sustainable development.

ICTs can be employed fulfilling three partly overlapping functions:

  • Access: Using ICTs to facilitate access to and sharing of timely and relevant information and knowledge.
  • Voice and Communication: Using ICTs to strengthen the voice of poor, excluded and disadvantaged people in decision-making and self-expression of their culture.
  • Networking: Using ICTs for networking and human communication while fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve effects on a larger scale (up-scaling).

The transformative potential of ICTs as a tool can be particularly harnessed to

  • increase efficiency: reaching more people while reducing transaction costs.
  • increase effectiveness: in terms of process, ownership, participation, networking and improvement of governance and better delivery of basic services such as education agricultural extension, microfinance and health.
  • improve innovation and productivity: for example for micro, small and medium enterprises through better access to information, credit, markets and procurement using ICT tools in management, marketing and distribution channels.

Links

Documents

Connecting people for a better world
Are information and communication technologies (ICT) such as computers, TV or mobile phones effective instruments to empower people, reduce poverty and improve lives? This book offers new answers to these questions.
Publication ICT4D – Connecting people for a better world (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Up-scaling pro-poor ICT-policies and practices
a review of experience with emphasis on low income countries in Asia and Africa
[en] (PDF, 1.9 MB, English)

Building Bridges across Time and Space – Experience and Success of a Telemedicine Pilot Project in Mongolia
Asia Brief - May 2013
[en] (PDF, Number of pages 4, 413.9 kB, English)

Information and Communication Technologies and large-scale poverty reduction - SDC/Panos 2005
Lessons from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Edited by Kitty Warnock and Ravi Wickremasinghe in cooperation with John McGill and Gerolf Weigel. Published by Panos London.
[en] (PDF, 799.0 kB, English)

ICTs and Education – Public-Private Partnership to connect Schools to the Net
A National Model in Switzerland - Summary of the Final Report
[en] (PDF, Number of pages 11, 1.7 MB, English)

Deepening Participation and Improving Aid Effectiveness through Media and ICTs
A Practical Manual Translating Lessons Learned into Daily Practice – SDC Working Paper
[en] (PDF, Number of pages 25, 632.2 kB, English)

Un seul monde
No 4/03 - Société de l'information
[fr] (PDF, 1.5 MB, French)

Chennai Statement - on Up-scaling Pro-Poor ICT Policies
[en] (PDF, Number of pages 6, 143.3 kB, English)

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Poverty Reduction?
Discussion Paper - World Summit on Information Society WSIS 2003
[en] (PDF, Number of pages 71, 759.0 kB, English)

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Poverty Reduction
in Sub Saharan Africa - A learning Study (Synthesis)
[en] (PDF, 454.3 kB, English)

Current projects

Object 889 – 900 of 971

Platform Renewable Energies REPIC

01.04.2018 - 31.12.2022

REPIC is the platform of four offices of the Swiss Confederation (SECO, SDC, FOEN, SFOE). It supports projects for the transfer of Swiss know-how and technologies in developing countries and countries in transition with the aim of disseminating renewable energies and increasing the energy and ressource efficiency.


Programme for improved water services in provincial cities of Peru

01.04.2018 - 30.06.2022

The programme for improved water services in provincial cities of Peru aims to improve water supply for more than one million citizens of Trujillo and Huanuco. It will support the establishment of critical infrastructure combined with corporate development measures to improve quality of service delivery.


Swiss Sustainable Tourism and Competitiveness Project

01.04.2018 - 31.03.2022

In order to foster sustainable and inclusive growth in the tourism sector, SECO supports Vietnam with this Project at the micro, meso and macro level to strengthen international competitiveness, skills development and preparing favourable framework conditions.


Global Program for Intellectual Property Rights

01.03.2018 - 31.12.2024

Intellectual Property (IP) regimes are central to promoting innovation and the development of new goods, services and production methods. IP provides the incentive necessary to pursue further research and development, and creative works. Insofar, it is part of a sound foundation for a prosperous private sector and today's world trade system.


Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa

01.03.2018 - 31.12.2022

The Programme supports the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, the objective of which is to join public and private forces and promote sustainability in the cocoa value chain. Launched in 2017, the multistakeholder initiative is driven by chocolate manufacturers, traders, retailers, NGOs, research and the federal government represented by SECO.


Partnership for Action on Green Economy, Phase II

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) is a multi-year programme to support countries interested in pursuing green economy policies. It will deploy the joint expertise of four UN agencies, ILO, UNEP, UNIDO, and UNITAR, to assist a total of 20 countries in their efforts to embark on green economy pathways.


Skills for Competitiveness

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

S4C aims at strengthening the vocational education and training (VET) system in Indonesia, by linking selected Polytechnics with the private sector, thus tackling the lack of skilled workers (skills gap) in selected sectors of the indonesian economy.


Global Trade Helpdesk

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

Access to trade and market intelligence is critical to export success. Most of small and medium enterprises (SME) often lack the resources and skills to acquire and process trade-related information such as market requirements and trade procedures which places them at a disadvantage and prevent them from using trade opportunities.


IDB Aquafund - Multidonor Trustfund MTF

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

The multi-donor AquaFund of the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) provides Latin American and Carribean countries (LAC) non-reimbursable technical cooperation and pilot investment grants for the preparation of water and sanitation investment projects, institutional strengthening activities, knowledge products and innovative pilot projects.


Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2023

While it is uncontested that Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) methods are an important ingredient for a more sustainable and climate friendly way of production, their broad deployment and effective use has yet to happen.



Urban Water Security Project

01.01.2018 - 30.06.2022

The project seeks to increase climate resilience of urban water supply and to improve wastewater management with a special emphasis on skills development. It will focus on improving cooperation and establishing partnerships locally, regionally as well as between Peru and Switzerland/Germany. The project is implemented by the German GIZ.

Object 889 – 900 of 971