United Nations Development Programme

Information and Communication Technology

Information and communications technology (ICT) has become an indispensable tool for development, providing developing nations with an unprecedented opportunity to meet vital sustainable human development goals such as poverty reduction, basic healthcare, and education far more effectively than before..

Particularly with the division of the West Bank and Gaza, enhanced ICT capabilities are also considered vital given the need for alternative ways of overcoming geographical barriers - something that can be facilitated by increased ICT capacity and penetration. In the Palestinian context, internet penetration is relatively low. Recent findings published by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) showed that over 26% of households in the occupied Palestinian territory owned computers, and only 3% have access to the internet. However, through a wide variety of programmes and projects, this looks set to change, as UNDP/PAPP promotes the diversification of ICT use.

UNDP/PAPP's Response
From projects carried out in the education system, such as connecting schools to the internet, promoting increased ICT training and supporting youth initiatives, to encouraging ICT diffusion in local government and contributing to the launch of the Palestine Digital Library, UNDP/PAPP continues to work extensively in the area of ICT.

UNDP/PAPP's work in this area has been focused on raising awareness; advising on policies to harness knowledge of information technology for development; promoting and building connectivity and the necessary infrastructure for access to information and development; building human and institutional capacities and providing training; empowering communities and disadvantaged groups; and creating new employment opportunities.

One of UNDP/PAPP's many ICT related projects has been the Academic Computer Network project, where the agency acted as the main hub for internet connections for all eight Palestinian universities, and provided each with a server, router, technical training, and technical assistance. Another is the Palestinian School Network that provides Palestinian schools with the infrastructure and technical assistance necessary to operate and maintain an ICT based school network.

The Palestinian Development Gateway (PDG) was also supported by UNDP/PAPP, aimed at bridging the digital divide between the oPt and the rest of the world. Established through support from UNDP/PAPP, the Institute for Development Studies (www.idsps.org) was honoured in 2005 with a Pan-Arab Web Award for outstanding contribution to web-design and innovation.

UNDP/PAPP was also involved in the establishment of the Palestinian National Data Bank - a mechanism to organize and make accessible Palestinian related information. In addition, UNDP/PAPP has worked extensively in enhancing the technical capacity of many Palestinian National Authority institutions, including the development of specific Management Information Systems (MIS).

UNDP/PAPP continues to work closely with organizations such as the Palestinian Information Technology Association (PITA) to encourage greater ICT integration in all sectors. UNDP/PAPP has also supported to the Palestinian non-governmental sector in this areas, through the provision of technical and financial assistance to improve their ICT capabilities.