Reduction of Poverty Using ICT in SADC Region: A case Study

Poverty reduction is a prominent issue for both governments and international organisations. It is one of the millennium development goals of the UN. Developing countries have high poverty levels than developed ones. However the diffusion of basic information and communications technologies (ICTs) services have penetrated majority of developing countries. Using SADC (South African Development Community) region as a case study, this paper explores ways through which ICTs can help in poverty reduction. Data from Botswana is used to investigate how ICTs can be used in poverty reduction. Some Asian countries, India in particular have shown that it is possible for developing countries to position themselves and improve their economies using ICTs. Previous research on impact of ICTs concentrated more on issues of education, national economic development, social and cultural aspects and less on ICTs as a means to achieve poverty reduction in developing countries. ICT landscape within some SADC countries shows the realisation that ICT can leverage economic development. However, there is lack of concrete practical steps on making the necessary social and administrative adjustment to promote ICT use. Administrative operations in majority of these countries are still paper based. Commercial banks are far ahead of government institutions in innovative use of ICT for example major banks have embraced internet, telephone and mobile banking. Lack of cyber law in SADC is the major limiting factor for expanded application of ICT. The ability ICTs to allow working from “anywhere anytime” means that if well implemented ICTs can distribute employment opportunities within a country as well as reduce rural to urban migration which is the major cause of poverty in urban areas of developing countries.