Knowledge and information are key factors in economic competitiveness and
productivity, as well as in social and political development process. Access
to information and knowledge, other than strengthening civil society, contributes
to poverty reduction by allowing individuals and communities to expand their
choices.
Information
and Communication Technologies
offer new ways of providing access to information and knowledge, and thereby
create significant opportunities for learning; networking, social organization
and participation; and improving transparency and accountability. For example,
grass roots work by non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations
has greatly benefited from media such as the Internet. Thus ICTs will become
crucially important for sustainable development in developing countries. The
lack of access to these sources creates a divide which impacts opportunities
for developing countries' economic growth, wealth distribution, social empowerment,
and development. It is the digital divide which largely prevents the equal
sharing of knowledge worldwide between developed and developing countries,
between men and women, rich and poor, young and old, urban and rural, literate
and non-literate, etc. and leads to "information and knowledge poverty"
among certain groups.
If
only a select number of people reap the benefits of ICTs while others continue
to lag behind, the digital divide will continue to grow. Unless action is
taken there is a danger of exacerbating this disparity. It is for this reason
that concerted efforts must continue to be undertaken and integration of ICTs
into development programming to enhance the opportunities and maximize benefits
for individuals, communities, and nations to access information and knowledge
to promote socio-economic development, and to improve their overall well-being
is necessary.
