ICT

JICA believes that it is important to use IT not only for related projects but also for other kinds of projects to increase its effectiveness and efficiency.

At the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit of July 2000, Japan asserted its stance to help bridge the digital divide in developing countries through distance learning and other means.

The Japanese government also announced its plan to use ODA funds more effectively and establish IT bases in 30 locations. Through these actions, JICA has also tackled efforts to correct the digital divide in developing countries mainly in Asia.

JICA has formulated the following five strategic objectives to address the delayed introduction of IT in developing countries:

1. Improve IT policy-planning capabilities: Dispatch advisors to formulate IT policies in such areas as national strategy, electronic communication and promotion of industry.
2. Train skilled IT personnel: Implement a human resource development project to enhance the capabilities of technicians and policy planners in order to further spread IT usage. This step comprises a large proportion of JICA's IT support efforts.
3. Develop IT infrastructure: Formulate a plan to develop infrastructure for central and regional communication networks, and reinforce its maintenance and management systems.
4. Improve efficiency in different fields through IT: Increase business efficiency by adopting IT in government administrative departments and using IT to enhance educational, medical and commercial areas.
5. Improve efficiency in assistance through IT: Expand the use of JICA-Net operations to address the different issues of IT.

The Project for Construction of Information and Communication Technology Center (ICT) at the University of the South Pacific. Advancement of the ICT is essential for Pacific islandcountries to respond adequately to globalization.