Information and communication technologies for development: assessing the potential and the risks

This article provides a review of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD) Working Group on ICTs and Development Report (Knowledge Societies: Information Technology for Sustainable Development, Oxford University Press, 1998). The author highlights key issues of ICTs in a development context; and summarizes the Report’s assessment of both potential and risks of ICTs for developing countries. A check-list derived from the Report provides guidelines for issues to consider in developing ICT policies and implementation strategies