ICTs and poverty reduction : pre-market social investments to benefit the poor; a presentation to the OECD DAC, July 7, 2004

PowerPoint presentationThe presentation provides an overview of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) activities around the world (2004) including initiatives funded by IDRC. Integrated markets can significantly help the rural poor of developing nations, and ICTs, even in basic communications technologies, play a role in creating such markets as well as speeding innovation. The presentation shows the evidence of increased market access related to cell phone use in Africa (bypassing old infrastructure requirements), and the health benefits of handheld devices in health-care delivery worldwide