"Policy, not charity, will determine whether new technologies become a tool for human development everywhere."

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is recognized as one of the driving tools of socio-economic developments in countries. However, their benefits and impacts are marginally understood by developing countries and their policy makers. In the Asia-Pacific region where almost one-third of world's population and about half of the world's poor live, any misunderstood policies and mishandled strategies could have severe impact on peoples' livelihood.

With the right policies supplemented by realistic strategies, ICT is known to have brought tremendous welfare to people in terms of better access to information, job creation, enhanced public services through efficient governance and the diversification of economic opportunities. The Digital Opportunity Initiative Framework (DOI) developed by UNDP in partnership with Andersen Consulting, the Markle Foundation and the World Bank is a very explicit and inter-related framework for such strategic interventions. It highlights the importance of infrastructure, human capacity, enterprise, content and above all policy in bringing out an effective compact for ICT to benefit people ultimately.

The Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP) draws on a formidable network of knowledge partnerships in the region to translate this strategic framework into a working tool for effective ICT policy-making in the region. Through the provision of advisory services, e-Readiness studies, seminars and workshops, policy research and awareness, network building, information and referral services, APDIP promotes national and regional ICT policy dialogue and development of respective e-Strategies across countries in the Asia-Pacific.

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