IT and communication

Many now have access to mobile phones long before they get decent education, water supply, sanitation and many other services. By making the most of mobiles, the web, PCs and more traditional media such as radio, it's possible to reach large audiences – including those who suffered from isolation until now.

Harnessing the power of mobile phones

More than 5 billion mobile phone connections are now active in the world, 1 billion of which were added in a single, recent 18 month period. The poorest are profoundly affected by this expansion. It’s now possible for local services such as health clinics to communicate with patients via text message, managing appointments and the distribution of items such as medication. Communities can gather opinions and assess the effectiveness of local programmes - it helps people mobilise and can highlight inequality.

Skills development

Putting IT systems and training in place to work in concert is a critical opportunity.
Helping local people learn to seize the power of information technology and other communications tools can benefit many aspects of local life, including finance and credit, healthcare, agriculture, construction of local infrastructure, and the smooth functioning of local commerce.