Enhancing the Livelihoods of the Rural Poor through ICT - A Knowledge Map : Tanzania Country Study

Economic and Social Research Foundation

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: ACCESS TO EDUCATION;    ACCESS TO INFORMATION;    ACCESS TO RADIO;    ACCESS TO THE INTERNET;    ADVERTISEMENT;   

RP-ID  :  95378

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The major objective of the study was tocome up with illustrative success stories as well asfailures to give lessons on ICT interventions in the area ofrural livelihoods and their impact in Tanzania. The keyissues addressed in this study were: 1) common ICTs used bythe rural poor in Tanzania; 2) which ICTs are regarded asattractive by different groups and why; 3) the use of ICTsby different age cohorts as part of their livelihoodsstrategies; 4) the role of ICTs in influencing thelivelihoods of the poor; 5) what effects, if any, does useof these resources have on vulnerability, livelihoods andvalue of assets; and 6) whether or not ICT services can beimproved in relation to their usage and effects. The studyalso made a comparative analysis of the use of ICTs bydifferent groups based on age, location, gender andethnicity. This study was conducted for a period of fourmonths from October 2006 to January 2007, in three differentdistricts (Bagamoyo, Moshi Rural and Njombe). The findingsfrom this study reveal that ICTs commonly used by the ruralpoor in the selected districts are radio, mobile phone andTV. Development of ICTs is a result of a number ofinterventions by government, NGOs, development partners andthe private sector, and this has impacted on the livelihoodsof the rural poor. Survey results confirmed this byrevealing that ICTs contributed to improving rurallivelihoods through improved businesses (17%), increasedaccess to education (3%), ease of communications (50%) andincreased access to key information (30%). The output ofthis study is expected to inform policymakers as well asother stakeholders, such as development partners, civilsociety and the private sector, on how ICTs can be adaptedto help improve the livelihoods of poor individuals,families and communities in rural areas and increase theirincome opportunities and/or livelihood sources, therebyimproving their chances of escaping from persistent poverty.It also documents what has already been implemented inTanzania as far as ICTs and rural livelihoods are concerned,and the pertinent gaps in terms of improving the livelihoodsof the rural poor by using ICT tools.