Can Information and Communication Technologies play a role in combating poverty?

"Progress in poverty reduction has been uneven," says UNCTAD expert, Scarlett Fondeur Gil, of the Division on Technology and Logistics, as she presents the findings of the Information Economy Report 2010. "In fact, even if the target of cutting global poverty in half by 2015 is met, almost 1 billion people are likely to remain in extreme poverty. Every avenue needs to be continuously re-examined."

In this multimedia teaching resource, Fondeur Gil takes a look at new possibilities for ICTs to help improve the livelihoods of people in low-income countries. An enormous difference can be made by ensuring that information many take for granted, is made available, she said.

Watch the video