Development Connections Unveiling the Impact of New Information Technologies

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), established in 1959 to support the process of economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean, is the main source of multilateral financing in the region. The IDB Group provides solutions to development challenges by partnering with governments, companies and civil society organizations, thus reaching its clients ranging from central governments to city authorities and businesses. It also offers research, advice and technical assistance to support key areas including education, poverty reduction and agriculture as well as cross-border issues such as trade, infrastructure and energy.

“This book takes a refreshingly candid look at the role of Information and Communications Technology interventions for development.  It starts off with a simple yet unpopular premise: that a technology may sound cool, but that does not mean it alleviates poverty.  We need more than good intentions.  We need to measure the impact of interventions to know what works, what does not, and why. And in the case of Information and Communications Technologies, it is not hard to imagine that technology still needs humans, and good human intentions, in order to generate positive social change.”  —Dean Karlan, Professor of Economics, Yale University and President and Founder, Innovations for Poverty Action

“Computers, mobile phones, and the Internet are frequently touted as miracle-working tools in the battle against global poverty. This book brings a welcome dose of realism to these claims, through experimental case studies of several information and communication technology interventions in Latin America. The conclusion? While technology has great potential, its value emerges only with the proper institutional support. No amount of technology makes up for deficient political commitment, human capacity, or institutional integrity. A must-read for anyone considering ICTs for international development.” —Kentaro Toyama, Visiting Scholar, University of California, Berkeley and Co-Founder of the IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD)

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