Broad Partnership can Overcome the Digital Divide

by ADB External Relations Officer & NGO Liaison Bart W. Edes

In Asia and beyond, information communications technologies (ICTs) are permeating society, from businesses to classrooms. ICTs are improving the lives of the poorest communities, and the productively gains made possible by effective use of these tools is only now beginning to be seen. Yet sustaining these initiatives will require a concerted effort by governments, the private sector and NGOs, argues Anthony Wilhelm, Program Director, Benton Foundation.

Public-private partnership needed to address the digital divide: Anthony Wilhelm, Vice President for Programs, Benton Foundation

Wilhelm spoke in Shanghai at the ADB-sponsored seminar, "Unlocking the ICT Potential in Asia and the Pacific," on 10 May. He told the audience that "our mission is to help shape the use of information and communications technologies so they serve public purposes and not just private interests. We serve as a hub for government, corporate and nonprofit decision makers to work collectively on common problems."

The nonprofit group's sponsors including leading foundations and firms in the communications field, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Intel, AT&T, and AOL Time Warner.

The Benton Foundation coordinates the Digital Divide Network, which examines the causes and effects of the digital divide, and operates as a forum for the exchange of experience and information on how to bridge the gap between those who can effectively use new information and communication tools and those who cannot.

"By creating a 'learning community' of practitioners and policymakers," Wilhelm explained, "(the network) stimulates initiatives and documents best practices to accelerate opportunity in underserved communities." Although the network initially concentrated on North America, it has recently developed programs in Europe and South Asia.

Among its accomplishments has been the creation of a database on training centers, motivating young people and their caregivers, sharing best practices, informing the policy agenda, and shaping corporate and philanthropic investments. Looking forward, the network aims to deepen research on the digital divide, provide technical and educational assistance for decision makers, build demand for broadband, and convene public-private leadership through annual conferences.

Reflecting on the need to involve different partners, Wilhelm observed that the role of NGOs is often overlooked. NGOs, he said, can bring innovative solutions to the problem of uneven access to ICTs like the Internet. The network website provides resources for people who want to take action in their communities. The information and links provided on the site can help budget-conscious NGOs avoid duplicating the efforts of others and gain from the experience of others before launching new initiatives. A recent headline story on the site featured the work of Pradeep Lokhande, who is working towards taking computers to 28,000 villages in India.