7 September 2008
(Page 3 of 3)
Accelerated progress requires more forceful national and global actions in a number of areas, including:
At the national level:
At the global level:
Access to new technologies
The MDG target that aims, in cooperation with the private sector, [to] make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications, has seen rapid progress in bridging the gap in the mobile phone sector, but large gaps remain in improving access to key technology (Internet with broadband access being a good example) that is essential to increasing productivity, sustaining economic growth and improving service delivery in such areas as health and education.
Part of the difficulty in assessing progress in this area is the lack of numerical targets regarding delivery on global commitments.
While there has been significant expansion of mobile telephony and computers in developing countries, the digital divide in the access to modern technology is widening between developed and developing countries. Deficits in complementary infrastructure, such as limited coverage of electricity supply in the low-income developing countries, are preventing faster penetration of information and communication technologies (ICT).
Recent emerging issues in development require stronger commitments and development cooperation. The recent food crisis and the challenges of climate change facing developing countries require more flexible approaches to accelerating the transfer of technology for agricultural development, improved access to essential medicines and adaptation to climate change.
Actions required to expand the access to technology for development include:
Formulating national ICT strategies aligned with broader development strategies;
Introducing more flexibility in relation to Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights to accelerate the diffusion of technology for development to developing countries, including that related to renewable energy and adaptation to climate change;
Increasing efforts to expand both basic infrastructure ( such as electricity supply) and ICT-facilitating infrastructure, especially in low-income countries;
Creating incentives for the private sector to develop technologies relevant to people in low-income countries, including those that address issues of climate change adaptation and renewable energy;
Applying more widespread differential pricing practices to reduce the costs of key technology in developing countries in order to make access affordable to all.
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