5 June 2007 | Washington, DC,
An intensive one-day workshop for World Bank staff in June 2007 focused on ways that a broad range of ICT can be used to promote sustainable rural livelihoods by improving agricultural incomes, enhancing the efficiency and transparency of key rural institutions, increasing information flows, strengthening access to finance and reducing vulnerabilities. The workshop also focused on identifying key remaining challenges in better understanding the impact of ICT on the rural economy, and in translating knowledge into operational guidance for country and project teams.
The Workshop included expert presentations on a range of subjects:
1. Using ICT to Support Rural Livelihoods: What do we know?
2. Critical Success Factors in Harnessing ICT in Agriculture & Rural Development Projects
3. Using ICT to Support Rural Livelihoods: Key Themes
A fourth session synthesized the lessons learned from the workshop and identified key issues still to be addressed. The Workshop Report captures these lessons and the key points from the presentations and discussions.
infoDev, the World Bank's Agriculture and Rural Development Department and the World Bank's Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Knowledge and Institutions (SASKI) Thematic Group co-sponsored the workshop, and are now exploring opportunities for follow-up work.