Information and communication technologies (ICT) are facilitating efforts to reduce poverty in a variety of ways. Above all the global spread and falling costs of mobile phones have opened up new opportunities for communication to poorer people in rural areas of developing countries. The many different uses contribute to economic development and social integration. Other ICT technologies such as radio and the Internet also have an important role in rural development today.

Albrecht Wald
Consultant
Albrecht.wald_extern@kfw.de
 
Dr Reiner Koblo
KfW Banking Group
Frankfurt, Germany
Reiner.Koblo@kfw.de