ICT policy and poverty reduction in Africa

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to understand how policymakers in different African countries negotiate the complex relationship between information and communication technologies (ICTs) and poverty reduction. The authors adopt a novel perspective on this problem by considering how the broader policy discourse and associated mechanisms tend to address (or neglect) the multiple dimensions of poverty.Design/methodology/approach -A textual analysis was conducted on selected ICT and poverty reduction policy documents from Uganda, South Africa and Nigeria, between 2005 and 2012.Findings -The findings show that the focus of ICT policy interventions continues to be on increasing economic capabilities amongst the poor. There is recognition in all three cases that human, political and social capital are also important. The continued dominance of an economic focus within ICT policies is supported by a techno-deterministic policy discourse, which tends to downplay social factors. Meanwhile, poverty reduction strategies adopt a similarly techno-deterministic perspective on the role of ICTs in development. Practical implications -While there is negligible evidence of methods that could enable a more contested, discursive policy environment, there are signs in South Africa and Uganda of a strong but relatively high-level (and largely rhetorical) interest in participatory approaches to ICT implementation which may, if appropriated fully by policymakers and their agents, lead to a more contextually anchored approach to ICT-supported poverty reduction around a diverse mix of poverty dimensions.Originality/value -This paper has developed a novel framework for analysing the extent to which the multiple dimensions of poverty are being addressed within African ICT policy and whether the appropriate institutional arrangements and policy processes are being adopted to do this.

Diffusion of Innovations and Labor Market Challenges: A Multiple Case Study from Angola

“…In a general sense, economic development through ICT provisions is not automatically translated into higher levels of social progress, and the policies that promote growth through ICT have to be complemented with other policy measures to foster social inclusion (Osakwe & Moussa, 2017). One reason for this hard translation is that many ICT policy makers struggle to convert these nuanced concepts into practical policy interventions that should underpin development and betterment in the lives of the most disadvantaged (Diga et al, 2013). In many developing countries the government acts as the key facilitator of innovations; in Africa, governments have been connoted by a weak institutional relationship between public and private sector (Asheim, Coenen, Bugge, & Herstad, 2017;Biseswar et al, 2012).…”

“…Chen (2014) noted that part of these uncertainties are strongly related to the imbalances of technological advances especially in what refers to the creation of jobs and extensive use of capital-intensive technology. Yet, the literature on poverty and ICT in Africa suggested that key mechanism to support the adoption of innovations amid such uncertainties, lies in making ICT content, services, and infrastructure more accessible and suitable to low-literacy impoverished communities (Diga et al, 2013). Researchers, therefore, considered the demographic and socioeconomic profile of the people, such as income, gender, age, education, and so on, to make decisions to adopt technological innovations as long as these factors address their specific household needs (Tigabu, 2017).…”

“…Scholars reported challenges of rapid technology diffusion in Africa such as people's resistance to rapid changes and fear of the Internet being used for manipulation and propaganda (Pierskalla & Hollenbach, 2013). Fears have also been reported regarding potential negative impact of ICTs disclosure on the poor when modern ICTs such as communications systems are controlled by powerful groups and rapid integration into the global economy could result in exploitation (Diga et al, 2013;Njoh, 2018). While the key aspects of human capital is knowledge and skills embodied in people, researchers suggest that skilled individuals have the advantage of accelerating productivity with technological innovations (Danquah & Amankwah-Amoah, 2017).…”

“…The report also suggested that as the African core economics sectors deepen, policy and regulatory development tends to become more difficult due to the speed of technological change. Diga et al (2013) suggested that the first point of contact should be a top-down delivery of infrastructures that would lead to a positive impact on people's lives with economic benefits. Policy makers aligned with this approach would then have to favor the supplyside interventions focusing at maximizing the efficiency of technology roll-out and the capabilities of the ICTs being delivered, enabling the integration of poor people's communities into global trade networks.…”

National Ict, Economic Freedom and Human Development: A Cross-Country Dynamic Panel Data Analysis

“…For ICT's role in struggle with poverty see e.g. Weber, Kulkarni and Riggins (2012), Diga, Nwaiwu, and Plantinga (2013). For ICT's contribution to education domain, see e.g.…”