E-Development : From Excitement to Effectiveness

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly being recognized as essential tools of development--tools that can empower poor people, enhance skills, increase productivity and improve governance at all levels. The success of ICT-enabled development (or e-development) will thus not be measured by the diffusion of technology, but by advances in development itself: economic growth and, ultimately, achievement of the Millenium Development Goals. This volume examines a wide range of issues related to e-development, with a focus on the requirements and realities of using ICTs to advance development goals. The report does not attempt to present a comprehensive overview of e-development. Rather, it highlights key issues that have immediate relevance to policy makers in developing nations who make decisions on investments and development goals. It highlights two issues in particular, e-government and e-education, because ICT applications in these areas can lead to significant development outcomes and can also be successfully deployed through public-private partnerships, leveraging limited government funding to achieve greater impact.