Do Governments Actually Believe that ICT Can Help Alleviate Poverty? A Perspective from Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs

In this e-Note, the author examines the
treatment of information and communication technology (ICT) in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers
(PRSPs) of Asia-Pacific countries. The note draws first on a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) which looked at the way in which ICTs were mentioned in the PRSPs
completed by 21 countries around the world. Second, the paper discusses a more
specific UNDP-APDIP study examining the PRSPs
completed by eight Asia-Pacific region countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal,
Pakistan, and Viet Nam.



The author argues that "There is a clear demonstration by governments that ICT can effectively help alleviate
poverty, although the manner in which it is used varies. All eight countries have plans
to develop ICT as a sector and use ICT as tools to achieve other PRSP goals in
education, health, employment, monitoring poverty, disseminating information,
facilitating government services, and disaster management."



At the more country-specific level the author notes that "Mongolia, Lao PDR, and
Cambodia have incorporated ICT in their poverty
alleviation strategies in the most concrete way, both as
a sector and as an enabling tool." Bhutan and Nepal, however, are noted for
providing little mention of specific actions for building on ICT initiatives for
poverty reduction. A chart is provided showing the ICT initiatives highlighted in PRSPs
from each country.