Foreword
This set of E-Primers on the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to development, is presented by UNDP for the benefit of participants to the World Summit on the Information Society. These E-Primers have been produced by UNDP’s regional project, the Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP), in association with the secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They cover a range of key topics of special interest to the ICT for Development field. Although produced mainly within and for the Asia-Pacific region, the Primers contain information and examples which pertain universally. • The Information Age • Nets, Webs and the Information Infrastructure • E-commerce and E-business • Legal and Regulatory Issues for the Information Economy • E-government • ICT and Education • ICT for Poverty Alleviation Additional titles will be added, and all can be found at http://www.eprimers.org and http://www.apdip.net.
Stephen Browne Group Leader ICT for Development United Nations Development Programme Bureau for Development Policy 304 E. 45th Street New York, NY 10017
Preface
One the many challenges facing developing countries today is preparing their societies and governments for globalization and the information and communication revolution. Policy-makers, business executives, NGO activists, academics, and ordinary citizens are increasingly concerned with the need to make their societies competitive in the emergent information economy. The e-ASEAN Task Force and the UNDP Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (UNDPAPDIP) share the belief that with enabling information and communication technologies (ICTs), countries can face the challenge of the information age. With ICTs they can leap forth to higher levels of social, economic and political development. We hope that in making this leap, policy and decisionmakers, planners, researchers, development