Catalog

	Table of Contents
p. 9 of 23 BACK | NEXT Executive Summary I. Introduction II. The Information Revolution III. Need for an ADB Strategic Approach for ICT A. ADB and ICT B. Why a Strategic Approach? IV. Strategic Thrusts V. Proposed Action Plan VI. Implications for ADB

Toward E-Development in Asia and the Pacific: A Strategic Approach for Information and Communication Technology : III. Need for an ADB Strategic Approach for ICT

---

A. ADB and ICT

17. ADB’s Long-Term Strategic Framework recognizes the importance of supporting ICT to promote development and close the gap between the information-rich and information-poor¹⁵. ADB is thus positioning itself to effectively assist DMCs to have “increased access to information and allow the less privileged in society, and the less-developed parts of the region to have wider options and a greater role in determining their future.” Special emphasis will also be placed on regional cooperation in the context of regional sharing of knowledge and information through ICT, and learning from the experiences of other ICT key players and stakeholders.

18. A preliminary survey of ADB’s ICT-related activities, conducted in August 2000, shows that most ADB assistance provided over the past 5 years has focused on informatics or IT and telecommunications and not specifically on ICT. This is not surprising, as ICT is a relatively recent development. Some exceptions are found in the education sector activities and in projects such as the Grameenphone Telecommunications Project in Bangladesh (Box 2), the geographic information system-based approach to rural development project in the Philippines¹⁶, and the technical assistance for development of the Internet for Asian law¹⁷. Despite these ICT initiatives, much remains to be done in view of the rapid changes in ICT and its applications.

Back III. Need for an ADB Strategic Approach for ICT	Next B. Why a Strategic Approach?