MIDDLE EAST: Focus on contrasting fortunes with the "digital divide"

Helmi Noman is quoted in a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs about technology for development

© IRIN

Excerpts from the report:

Public policy-makers tend to limit the definition of ICT to computers and computer networks only," technology expert Helmi Noman told IRIN, in suggesting reasons for Yemen's poor progress. "There is a lack of a comprehensive vision of the value of ICT in the development context."

Generally, Noman said, "ICT is envisioned as part of either the service or production sector. However, the impact, usability, and sustainability of ICT in development are not strongly understood."

Because there is no "comprehensive vision of the value of ICT in development", Noman suggested, "there is no implementation plan that makes effective use of ICT to address the Millennium Development Goals."

Full report from UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs