Technology, Globalization, and the Poor
JOIN THE ONLINE DISCUSSION
October 25 - November 19, 2004
"What is needed is a better approach.that involves sustainable win-win
scenarios where the poor are actively engaged and, at the same time, the
companies providing products and services to them are profitable."
-CK Prahalad
Technology and globalization: these seem to be key themes of the modern
era. But where do the poor fit into the equation? This discussion
focuses on the role of information and communications technologies (ICT)
in making globalization work for the poor. We will examine questions
that cross-cut sectors and industries: Can ICT and a business approach
create products and services that actually serve the poor? Does ICT open
new ways for all businesses to understand and serve local markets in
developing countries? Can ICT help entrepreneurs in poor countries enter
the global marketplace more effectively? Who wins and who loses when
businesses use ICT to penetrate the huge untapped market of the
worldwide poor?
The discussion leads up to the "Eradicating Poverty Through
Profits/Making Business Work for the Poor" Conference, sponsored by WRI
(San Francisco, December 12-14). Key messages from the discussion will
be presented at the Conference. In addition, a CD citing the cases,
projects, experience, success stories, and recommendations presented by
discussion members, along with summaries of the main discussion threads,
will be provided to all registrants of the conference and widely
circulated throughout the development community.
We seek concrete, specific cases, experience and recommendations that
business in all sectors, donors, NGOs, and governments can adopt. Join
the discussion and share information on:
* Cases of companies in all sectors using ICT and a business approach to
engage the poor in marketing, innovation and operations
* Successful business models that use ICT to reduce poverty
* Challenges for business attempting to serve the low-income market, and
ways ICT can help them create successful products, business models, and
metrics
* Risks when international corporations engage in pro-poor business
activities, and the use of ICT to address those risks
* Opportunities and challenges in using ICT to offer the poor new
business opportunities
* Partnerships of government, communities, businesses, NGOs, and the
poor to reduce poverty, and the role ICT can play in building those
partnerships
Agenda
Week 1: Can Technology and a Business Approach Make Globalization Work
for the Poor? (10/25 - 10/29) Week 2: Is Profitability Essential for
Sustainability? (11/1 - 11/5) Week 3: How Can ICT Create New Business
Partnerships? (11/8 - 11/12) Week 4: Tomorrow's Solutions: What New
Technologies and Business Models are on the Horizon? (11/15 - 11/19)
This discussion is sponsored by the USAID-funded DOT-COM Alliance and
World Resources Institute's Digital Dividend project, and hosted by GKD.
It will focus on "Technology, Globalization and the Poor" for one month,
October 25 - November 19, 2004. However, GKD is a major forum for
exchange of experience and knowledge on all aspects of ICT for
development, with thousands of members from over 100 countries. The
ongoing GKD forum will continue after this discussion topic.
***THE DOT-COM ALLIANCE***
This discussion is sponsored by the DOT-COM Alliance and World Resources
Institute. More information can be found at the DOT-COM Alliance website
cited below. DOT-COM is funded by the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID): (GDG-A-00-01-00009-00, dot-GOV;
GDG-A-00-01-00014-00, dot-ORG; GDG-A-00-01-00011-00, dot-EDU).
***WORLD WIDE WEB SITES FOR THE DISCUSSION***
For those who would prefer to follow the discussion on the Web, the
DOT-COM Archive (as of October 25) is available at:
http://www.dot-com-alliance.org/archive.html
The DOT-COM Alliance website provides information about this discussion
and other projects using ICT to support development:
http://www.dot-com-alliance.org
http://www.dot-com-alliance.com/events/discussiongroup.htm
The World Resources Institute's "Eradicating Poverty Through Profits"
Conference website provides more information about the Conference:
http://povertyprofit.wri.org/resources/virtual.html
For further information about the DOT-COM Alliance, please contact:
Barbara Fillip
<[log in to unmask]>
For further information about World Resources Institute, please contact:
Robert Katz
<[log in to unmask]>
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