Commission on Science and Technology for Development Measuring the Impact of Information and Communication Technologies for Development Report of the Secretary-general Executive Summary Introduction

The present report discusses the importance of measuring the impacts of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development, identifies key challenges and presents empirical evidence on the positive and negative impacts of ICTs in areas such as economic performance, health, education, employment and the environment. Several methodological approaches to measurement are discussed and compared. The report draws on findings and suggestions of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) 2010–2011 intersessional panel, which makes several calls to enhance the availability and quality of ICT data, with a view to measuring the impacts of these technologies on development. It calls for strengthened international efforts on measuring ICT impacts under the aegis of the CSTD and the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development. 1. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) hold the promise of fundamentally changing the lives of much of the world's population. In their various forms, ICTs affect many of the processes of business and government, how individuals live, work and interact, and the quality of the natural and built environment. The development of internationally comparable ICT statistics is essential for governments to be able to adequately design, implement, monitor and evaluate ICT policies. This need was emphasized in the Geneva Plan of Action adopted at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS): A realistic international performance evaluation and benchmarking (both qualitative and quantitative), through comparable statistical indicators and research results, should be developed to follow up the implementation of the objectives, goals and targets in the Plan of Action, taking into account different national circumstances. 2. While much progress has been made in measuring ICT infrastructure and use, measurement of the impact of ICTs presents a number of statistical challenges. At its thirteenth session, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) selected " Measuring the impact of information and communications technologies for development " as one of the priority themes for its 2010–2011 intersessional period. 3. In order to contribute to a further understanding of the issues, UNCTAD organized a panel 15–17 December 2010 in Geneva. The present report is based on the issues paper, findings of the panel, contributions by members of the CSTD and other relevant literature. A. WSIS outcomes 4. WSIS outcome documents reaffirm the potential contribution of ICTs to internationally agreed development goals, including those in the Millennium Declaration. 5. The Geneva Plan of Action includes 10 …