Information, Communication, Poverty and Voice

Abstract

This chapter discusses the use of community-based media and information and communication technologies (ICTs) for poverty reduction, with a focus on issues of 'voice'. It explores and unpacks the notion of voice, considering the potential of such a concept to advance our thinking about the broader area of ICTs and poverty, particularly at the community level. Following an introduction which sets out the background to the discussion and interrogates voice as a useful concept for development, the author explores three aspects of ICTs and poverty from three different understandings of the potential role of voice: (1) local content creation and the implications for 'voice poverty' with respect to individual freedom, well-being and capabilities; (2) the significance of voice in terms of research methods, monitoring and evaluation, and impact assessment; and (3) issues of access and use, the benefits of mixing media, and the potential for advocacy, that is, having a voice and being heard