SPOTLIGHT ON

ICT FOR
DEVELOPMENT

DIG ITA L

WO RK S

APRIL 2016

ADB
ASSISTANCE

Implementing ICT tools to improve data collection and management of national surveys in support
of the SDGs

The technical assistance will look at the use of ICT tools such as Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI)
to improve data collection methods of national statistics systems in selected developing member countries. It
aims to incorporate the usage of ICT tools in national-level surveys to provide quality and timely statistics for
tracking progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The technical assistance was
approved in December2015 and is expected to be implemented until January 2019.

Strengthening Regulatory Capacity for ICT Development in the Pacific

A regional technical assistance (TA) was implemented from 2011 to 2015 to support the delivery of ICT regulatory advisory services through the Pacific ICT Regulatory Resource Centre (PIRRC), established with World Bank
support and funding from the Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility in 2011. PIRRC is hosted through in-kind
contribution at the University of the South Pacific (USP). The TA was aimed at contributing to (i) frequent sharing of experiences and international best practices; (ii) strengthening the capacity of ICT regulatory bodies and
policymakers; (iii) providing demand driven advisory services; and (iv) raising broad-based awareness to demand
for better ICT regulations. The TA implementation was rated successful. The World Bank approved phase 2 funding in July 2014 which saw PIRRC established as part of USPs formal institutional structure as initially envisaged.
Read the TA completion report.

RECENT EVENTS

Forum on ICT for social protection delivery

The Forum was held 2-3 March in Nepal, where focal persons from the government, private sector partners,
ILO, UNICEF and World Bank participated in the policy discussions. Here are some of the presentations during
the event.
Aadhaar: ID Platform for Inclusive Development

T. Koshy, Ernst & Young LLP, India

Presentation on (a) Use of ICT for Development and Social Protection: Drivers, Constraints and Best Practice,
and (b) Identity Management, Cyber Security and Social Protection

Dr. John Ure, Director, TRPC Ltd, Singapore

ICT for Social Protection: Example in Nepal

Viplava Joshy, ADB Consultant

ICT for Social Protection: Examples in Mongolia and Viet Nam

Michelle Domingo, Senior Social Development Officer, ADB

Access to skills development and job opportunities through ICT

Henry Motte-Muoz, Edukasyon.ph founder, shared his experience in building the largest online database of
colleges, technical and vocational courses, scholarships, and jobs for Philippine high school students. Partners
include government, private sector, and volunteer organizations in making education information accessible to
students and parents in the Philippines and overseas. The presentation was organized by ADBs Education Sector
Group on 8 March in ADB.

Extending the reach of broadband access through use of power transmission lines
On 16 March, Clifford Beek, team leader for the Philippines Broadband Project, made a presentation in ADB
including case studies highlighting innovative ways of using power transmission lines to expand broadband
internet connectivity to the last mile in Asia.

Managing citizen identity in the digital era

Jrme Buchler, regional sales manager of Morpho, talked about the fundamentals of modern national ID
schemes, based on the experience of India Unique Identification Number. The seminar was organized by ADBs
Governance Thematic Group on 17 March in ADB. View the presentation.

Knowledge sharing session on satellite-based rainfall information

Yusuke Muraki of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency talked about his organizations satellite rainfall dataset
and other satellite datasets applicable to many activities in DMCs such as agriculture, climate change adaptation,
disaster risk management, and water resources management. Examples of actual applications and how these
can be applied in ADB operations were discussed. The event was organized by ADBs Sector Advisory Service
Division on 29 March at ADB HQ.

KNOWLEDGE
AND INSIGHTS

Unleashing the potential of the Internet in Central Asia and ASEAN

Peter Lovelock, Director, Technology Research Project Corporate (TRPC) is the main author of the Digital Economy
Study in Central and West Asia (Unleashing the Potential of the Internet in Central Asia, South Asia, the Caucasus
and Beyond). The report is a joint project of ADB, ESCAP, and the Internet Society to assess the status of internet
connectivity and identify key elements to transition from a basic internet economy to a thriving digital economy.
Mr. Lovelock presented the main findings of the report in ADB on 8 March.
A similar report for ASEAN economies, prepared by Internet Society and TRPC, is available online. The report takes
stock of the progress across 10 ASEAN member economies on internet connectivity, infrastructure and investments.

PIDS Policy Notes: Making digital dividends inclusive

This policy note presents a brief history of the Internet in the Philippines and examines trends in various ICT statistics. It also discusses issues confronting the ICT sector and provides some policy recommendations to make digital
dividends more inclusive. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Policy Notes are analyses prepared
by PIDS researchers on certain policy issues.

IBP Budget Brief No. 34: Digital Budgets: Improving How Fiscal Information is Disseminated Online
This brief examines emerging practices in publishing budget information online. It draws on research by Fundar, a
Mexican civil society organization, which examined websites and portals of 80 governments worldwide, proposing a framework through which to assess online disclosure of budget information. Findings of the research suggest that governments can improve their online disclosure practices by setting up a dedicated portal for budget
information. Read the full report.
The International Budget Partnership (IBP) was formed in 1997 to promote transparent and inclusive government
budget processes as a means to improve governance and service delivery.
The State of Broadband 2015: Broadband as a Foundation for Sustainable Development
This annual report of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development explores what constitutes an effective
National Broadband Plan to boost the deployment of broadband and maximize its impact as a crosssectoral driver
underpinning progress.
The Broadband Commission for Digital Development was established in May 2010 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in
response to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons call to step up efforts to meet the MDGs.

WHATS
COMING

Insight Thursday: Disruptive Innovation: Embracing Digital Tools and Technology for Sustainability
Meralco Chief Digital Officer Marthyn Cuan explains the evolution from innovation for growth to innovation for
sustainability as companies embrace digital to remain relevant for Insight Thursday, 7 April from 8:30-9:00 am at
ADBs k-Hub. Read more on Insight Thursday (ADB internal link).

Smart City and E-Governance

ASB is organizing a workshop, 22-27 May on Jeju island in the Republic of Korea (ROK), to provide learning opportunities for DMC officials and opportunities for ADB staff to discuss the ICT based development opportunities at
the city and local government level. Participants will obtain a broad understanding on e-Government and smart city
issues, and learn a number of successful e-Government systems and smart urban infrastructure adopted in ROK
under an integrated educational environment. The workshop will also introduce participants to new, smart technologies. The workshop is a joint collaboration of the National Information Society Agency of Korea, and the World eGovernments Organization of Cities and Local Governments (WeGO).

Financial Inclusion in the Digital Economy

The conference is being organized by ADB in collaboration with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)
and ADB Institute (ADBI), 24-25 May, at ADB HQ to discuss opportunities and challenges in digital finance and to
identify how multilateral development banks such as ADB can support in this development by financing digital
technology and transformation projects. View the agenda.

Digital Works is a monthly email alert prepared by the ICT Team based in the Social Development, Governance and Gender Division in the
Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department of the Asian Development Bank. It highlights projects, knowledge products,
events, and news on ICT for Development. The newsletter is prepared by Zarah Zafra for the ICT Team.
The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of ADB. By making any designation of, or reference to,
a particular territory of geographic area in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal of other status of any
territory or area.
SEND US AN EMAIL AT DIGITAL@ADB.ORG FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. WE WELCOME CONTRIBUTIONS AND
SUGGESTIONS.