Has the rapid growth of information technology in almost all sectors of society affected the work in development?
MWF: Yes and no. In most sectors, the application of technology, particularly e-solutions, has critically changed the way development can be approached. Development agencies are working with different realities in terms of accessibility, scalability, and transparency with the increasing availability of web-based approaches to learning and knowledge services, governance, decision making, and public procurement in areas such as education, health, private sector development, and infrastructure. The World Bank Group alone has provided more than US$3 billion in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) over the past five years – and that does not count ICT components of projects in many specific sectors. I am saying “no” because organizations and agencies working in development are often somewhat behind in using advanced eLearning and systems-based tools and applications that would make the provision of development assistance and advice more efficient and effective. Few
