Contents - Connect-World

Global Development
human resources to
the failures.
This is a dilemma
since many countries
implement ICTs precisely
to improve
their human
resources capacity.
Thus, the central
question becomes
what is the minimum
level of human
resource capacity
required by a country
to enable it to
leapfrog through the
use of ICTs.
During Indonesias
presidency of the
Economic and Social
Council of the United
Nations in 2000, we
promoted and concentrated on the
importance of ICTs for development.
This critical issue was put on the
agenda of the High-Level Segment of
the ECOSOC, where ministers
exchanged views and established a
common stance on the importance of
ICTs in the promotion of development
and the eradication of poverty.
The discussions could be described as
a warm-up session before the meeting
of Heads of State at the General
Assembly, which resulted in the
Millennium Declaration and the
Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs).
The outcome of deliberations and
consultations in the ECOSOC led to
the Ministerial Declaration on
Development and encouraged international
co-operation in the twentyfirst
century in the sphere of information
and communication technology,
especially within the context of the
knowledge-based global economy. In
the Declaration, the consensus is that
ICTs will provide unique opportunities
for economic growth and human
development.
Discussions in the ECOSOC and the
UN Secretary Generals subsequent
establishment of the UN-ICT Task
Force show that the issue is critical.
Unless there is sufficient preparation,
as well as willingness and understanding
on the part of technologically
advanced countries, the ideal
objective of creating an altogether
better world cannot be accomplished.
In this regard, the UN-ICT Task
Force can, through its objectives,
Figure 1: The main focus of encouraging the use of ICTs for development is not the technologies
themselves, but their impact on humanity.
contribute to human development. In
discussing the current dilemma facing
many developing countries, the
main strategy should be to invest in
education and training.
Without question, governments
should spearhead these efforts to
ensure proper implementation, while
engaging the private sectors.
In this context, the participation of
the private sector, particularly the
ICT industries, will indeed remain
crucial.
Despite uneven access to ICTs, also
known as the digital divide, ICT
industries can nevertheless still
bridge the gap for countries wanting
to reap the benefits of modern technology.
During the United Nations
Millennium Summit in 2000, a set of
quantifiable goals was agreed upon
the Millennium Development Goals
as a coherent framework from which
we could focus our efforts.
Under the Global Partnership
Development Plan, the private sector
has a role to play by ensuring that
everyone benefits from advancements
in technology, particularly
ICTs.
“Through education and
increased knowledge,
ICTs will offer tremendous
potential for development.”
The involvement of
private sectors will,
hopefully, allow
greater access to
training and not, on
the contrary, block
access to it.
In effect, training
should be demanddriven
to ensure that
user needs are reflected
and taken into
account and the
objectives they wish
to pursue are fulfilled.
Moreover, it should
be noted that education
and training cannot
be provided for
every individual, or
even country, simultaneously,
on the
same level and at the same pace.
In this regard, it is also important to
realise that human capacity can be
developed by tailoring individual
needs to the particularities of each
case.
With adequate training, individuals
can easily meet their future technological
needs. This is vital, given that
technology continues to evolve, so
people need to not only keep rapidly
up with the latest technological
advancements, but also learn to
utilise them properly.
The commitment and political will of
governments, especially those of
industrialised countries, as well as
that of ICT companies should prevail,
as they carry enormous power in
assuring the dream of a prosperous
and peaceful world. The most important
steps will be the commencement
and acceleration of the transfer of
technology.
At this point, it is worth noting that
ICTs potential contribution to
human development, which includes
elimination of gender disparities, is
currently compromised by the
unevenness in the pace and spread of
these technologies.
Urgent action is needed to ensure
that men and women participate
equally in the ICT sectors.
It is also critical that there should be
programmes designed to encourage
young people to access ICTs and that
employment is created to attract
them to stay, build and expand their
capabilities and help develop their
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