commbox Poverty & Poverty Reduction

ICTs for Poverty Alleviation: Basic Tool and Enabling Sector

Alan Greenberg

Stockholm: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) (2005), 60 pp.

Community-Based Networks and Innovative Technologies: New Models to Serve and Empower the Poor

Seán O'Siochrú, Bruce Girard

New York: UNDP (2005), 183 pp.

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Up-Scaling Pro-Poor ICT-Policies and Practices: A Review of Experience with Emphasis on Low Income Countries in Asia and Africa

Richard Gerster, Sonja Zimmermann

Bern: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) (2005), 61 pp.

The TICBolivia Country Programme: The Impact of IICD Support for Poverty Reduction and Development Using ICTs, 2000-2004

The Hague: International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) (2005), 72 pp.

"Since it was launched in 2000, the Bolivia Country Programme known as TICBolivia has helped over 50,000 people, mainly small farmers, teachers, students, indigenous leaders and local officials, use ICTs to improve their lives and contribute to their country’s development. All the ICT activities g ... more

Information and Communication Technologies and Large-Scale Poverty Reduction: Lessons from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean

Kitty Warnock, Ravi Wickremasinghe (eds.)

London: Panos (2005), 48 pp.

"During the last decade, development partners around the globe have gained rich experience and knowledge about the application of ICT for poverty reduction and its value for reaching the Millennium Development Goals and the goals of Poverty Reduction Strategies. But scaling up the results of success ... more

La pobreza es noticia: Estudio sobre los noticieros centrales de la TV chilena

Santiago de Chile: Hogar de Cristo; Universidad Diego Portales, Facultad de Comunicación y Letras; Fundación Superación de la Pobreza (2005), 80 pp.

"¿Cómo se muestra la pobreza en los noticieros?, ¿Qué recursos periodísticos son utilizados en la construcción noticiosa?, ¿hablan técnicos o pobres?, ¿cuánto tiempo duran en promedio?, ¿qué temas específicos tratan? Son algunas de las interrogantes que se formularon al inicio de este e ... more

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Good Practice Paper on ICTs for Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction

Simon Batchelor, Nigel Scott

OECD (2005), 71 pp.

"This report aims to give an overview of what DAC members currently know about how Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use in developing economies can stimulate economic growth and poverty reduction. It draws attention to the cross-cutting applications of ICTs, to their role as tools, not ... more

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Research: ICT Innovations for Poverty Reduction

Don Slater, Jo Tacchi

New Delhi: UNESCO (2004), 91 pp.

Information and Communication Technologies for Poverty Alleviation

Roger W. Harris

Kuala Lumpur: UNDP, Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) (2004), 75 pp.

Pobre el que no cambia la mirada

Universidad Diego Portales, Facultad de Comunicación y Letras; Hogar de Cristo; Fundación Superación de la Pobreza (2004), 295 pp.

Los pobres y la televisión: Una consulta participativa

Alianza Comunicación y Pobreza (2004), 43 pp.

"Los resultados de la Consulta muestran que los pobres atendidos por el Hogar de Cristo y por el Servicio País perciben negativamente las modalidades en que son representados en la televisión abierta. Los participantes opinan que la televisión los vincula con categorías sociales estigmatizadas ( ... more

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Communication of Research for Poverty Reduction: A Literature Review

Ingie Hovland

London: Overseas Development Institute (ODI) (2003), 91 pp.

Hearing the Voices of the Poor: Encouraging Good Governance and Poverty Reduction Through Media Sector Support

Ann Hudock

Washington, DC: World Learning for International Development (2003), 7 pp.

"This paper argues that heightened media involvement in the PRSP (Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers) process could help build a stronger independent media sector while preparing citizens to take an active role in dialogues that will have a huge impact on their lives. Media involvement would help fra ... more

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Poverty Reduction?

Richard Gerster, Sonja Zimmermann

Berne; Richterswil: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); Gerster Consulting (2003), 35 pp.

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Livelihoods Approaches to Information and Communication in Support of Rural Poverty Elimination and Food Security

Robert Chapman, Tom Slaymaker, John Young

Overseas Development Institute (ODI); Department of International Development (DFID); FAO (2003), viii, 62 pp.

"It is widely acknowledged that a livelihoods approach provides a useful, logically consistent framework for thinking through the complex issues influencing the lives of the poor. In particular it draws attention to ways in which policies, institutions and decision-making processes influence resourc ... e access and ownership, and determine strategic livelihood options available to poor households. Information and communication systems are crucial in this regard, both in generating information required by the rural poor to make decisions on livelihood strategies, and in generating information required by institutions responsible for making decisions about policies and processes that affect those strategies. In each case, it is only through improved information that individuals and institutions can make informed choices about the opportunities and constraints associated with agriculture-based strategies. However, improved information alone is not sufficient for improved decision-making. Decision-making is a political process and promoting multi-stakeholder participation in decision-making processes is a key concern. Furthermore, different stakeholder groups each have specific information needs and delivery preferences. Highly differentiated information needs assessment is essential in order to effectively support decision-making at different levels. It is evident that effective promotion of poverty reduction and food security requires changes in institutions and attitudes, knowledge and information levels, processes and skills. Improved understanding of the capacity of decision-makers at different levels to make use of the information provided is key for the identification of appropriate systems and institutions for the delivery of relevant information. Enhancing the quality and quantity of information also relies on attention to the flow of information, such as the means of communication, format and content. Information can potentially have a catalytic role but much depends on its reliability and relevance to the needs of particular user groups. There is a necessary trade-off between the level of technical detail involved in information collection and analysis, and the practical usefulness of that information. Standardisation of techniques of information collection, storage and presentation is important, both to improve efficiency in information handling within agencies and also to ensure that information can be used externally by other agencies, thereby facilitating greater cross-sectoral communication and coordination. Equally important is developing effective means of prioritising information needs at different levels. Improved information can enable people to better defend their interests and articulate their needs; it increases their bargaining power and ability to influence decision-making processes which affect them. Transparency is equally important if information is to empower people to make better decisions. Improved communication systems can enable individuals to organise as groups and use information to hold institutions and authorities accountable." (Executive summary, page vi) more

IT for Poverty Reduction: Sample Cases from Thailand

Thaweesak Koanantakool, Direk Charoenphol, Chadamas Thuvasethakul (eds.)

Bangkok: National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NEC-TEC), 2nd ed. (2003), 50 pp.

Poverty Portrayals Performing Social Exclusion in Hungarian Factual Entertainment Television Programs

Ferenc Hammer

Central European University, Center for Policy Studies; Open Society Institute (2003), 13 pp.

"The objective of this document is to outline a framework for a communication policy (content regulation) that can tackle portrayal and representation issues. The main obstacle in the way to do sensible content regulation concerning stereotyped representations is that these portrayals perform their ... more