Activities  
ICT - a Tool for Poverty Reduction?
Challenges for development cooperation

The Collegium for Development Studies at Uppsala University, in collaboration with the IT Virtual Faculty, Uppsala University, Sida, ideal/ICT4Africa and SPIDER, Kista with the support of the British Council, FUF and United Nations ICT Task Force, is pleased to invite you to the above conference.

Date: September 27, 2004

Venue: Missionskyrkan, S:t Olofsgatan 40, Uppsala

The demand for information and communications technology (ICT) in poor developing countries is increasing, and integration of ICTs in society in these countries is on its way. The new technologies have tremendous implications for technical and economic development, and they can serve as powerful tools in the quest for democracy, human rights, and poverty alleviation. ICTs give opportunities – but they can also widen the gaps between the haves and have-nots. The differences between rich and poor countries, between rich and poor within countries, and between genders may increase, if ICT is not integrated in all parts of society so that the power vested in ICT can be properly utilised.

The conference theme is ICT possibilities and challenges for development in poor countries, with a special focus on access. The aim is to problematise and critically review the role of ICT in developing countries, and define possibilities for change.

- What is needed to bridge the digital divide in a sustainable way?
- What measures must be taken to prevent a widening of the gender digital divide?
- How can ICT be used as a tool for democracy, poverty alleviation, and increased information and knowledge sharing?

The conference is a full day event with plenty of opportunities for discussion throughout the day, open to all interested.

Posters may be exhibited after consultation with conference organiser.

Programme

08.30-9.00 Registration

09.00 Opening of conference
The organisers
Carin Jämtin, Minister for Development Cooperation

9.45 Coffee

10.15 ICT access for all?
John Gage, Sun Microsystems
Group discussions

11.15 ICT in Brazilian urban slums: conceptual problems, empirical evidence and
policy making issues
Bernardo Sorj, Dept. of Sociology, Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Group discussions

12.15 Lunch

13.15 Women and ICT: examples from Uganda
Angela Nakafeero, WOUGNET, Uganda
Group discussions

14.10 SPIDER - a national programme for ICT in developing regions
Love Ekenberg, Dept. of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University and KTH, Kista

14.25 The Challenges and Opportunities for using ICTs as an Educational Tool in Latin America
Peter McFarren, Quipus Cultural Foundation, Bolivia
Group discussions

15.20 Coffee

15.45 ICT for development - a great opportunity or neocolonialism in disguise?
Patricia McFadden, SARIPS (Southern African Research Institute for Policy Studies), Zimbabwe
Group discussions

16.45 Final discussion

17.30 Closing of conference

For updates on the programme, please see this website.

Time: September 27, 08.30 – 17.30
Venue: Missionskyrkan, S:t Olofsgatan 40, Uppsala
Conference language: English
Lunch and coffee will be served free of charge.

Register no later than September 1, 2004 to mia.melin@kus.uu.se. The number of participants is limited to 150.

For information: Mia Melin, +46 (0)18 471 68 51 or Ingrid Karlsson, +46 (0)18 471 68 53.

WELCOME!