InfoDev
Encyclopedia
infoDev is a special program of the World Bank
and many other international development agencies focusing on how the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) can help to combat poverty and promote opportunity, empowerment and economic growth in developing countries, a field of activity often referred to as 'ICT for Development', or ICT4D
for short.
assessments and supported Y2K preparedness activities in many developing countries. It supports a network of business incubators in 45 countries to better understand the constraints and challenges facing entrepreneurs in developing countries who seek to start IT or IT related businesses. The program hosted prominent side events and symposia at both stages of the World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS).
issues. It has research and training programs related to telecom access and regulation issues; innovation and entrepreneurship; and how ICTs are used in sectors like education, health and rural development, with a special emphasis on how ICTs can be 'mainstreamed' in development projects to support the Millennium Development Goals
.
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and many other international development agencies focusing on how the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) can help to combat poverty and promote opportunity, empowerment and economic growth in developing countries, a field of activity often referred to as 'ICT for Development', or ICT4D
Information and Communication Technologies for Development
Information and Communication Technologies for Development is a general term referring to the application of Information and Communication Technologies within the fields of socioeconomic development, international development and human rights...
for short.
Pilot projects
The program, which began in 1996, has funded grants for hundreds of small pilot projects in a variety of sectors (health, education, connectivity, sustainable development, agriculture, small business, e-government) in over 50 developing countries that have used ICTs in innovative ways.Other initiatives
infoDev also funded a series of notable and influential country e-readinessE-readiness
E-Readiness is the ability to use information and communication technologies to develop one's economy and to foster one's welfare.There are several benchmarking indices at the macro level, e.g., those calculated by the UNPAN, World Bank, Economist Intelligence Unit etc.Because what appear on the...
assessments and supported Y2K preparedness activities in many developing countries. It supports a network of business incubators in 45 countries to better understand the constraints and challenges facing entrepreneurs in developing countries who seek to start IT or IT related businesses. The program hosted prominent side events and symposia at both stages of the World Summit on the Information Society
World Summit on the Information Society
The World Summit on the Information Society was a pair of United Nations-sponsored conferences about information, communication and, in broad terms, the information society that took place in 2003 in Geneva and in 2005 in Tunis...
(WSIS).
infoDev today
Beginning in 2004, the program changed to become more of a 'think tank' on ICT4DInformation and Communication Technologies for Development
Information and Communication Technologies for Development is a general term referring to the application of Information and Communication Technologies within the fields of socioeconomic development, international development and human rights...
issues. It has research and training programs related to telecom access and regulation issues; innovation and entrepreneurship; and how ICTs are used in sectors like education, health and rural development, with a special emphasis on how ICTs can be 'mainstreamed' in development projects to support the Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
.