ICT for Development is a TEDxKabul Talk presentation presented on 11 Oct 2012 Kabul, Afghanistan. The Presentation describes the key areas of development in the ICT sector. It also describes the involvement of woman in the development on ICT.

1. Information and Communications Technology
ICT & Socio-economic
Development and Growth
Karen E. Black
Senior ICT Advisor, Deloitte
TED-ex Kabul
October 11, 2012

2. The Afghan ICT Sector
ICT Contribution to GIRoA Revenues in
• ICT is one of USD (Millions) 2002-2011
Afghanistan’s best 200 190.15
success stories 180 167.33
160
– Has attracted over 140 131
US$2B in investment 120
– Second biggest 100
100
85
90.93
contributor to treasury 80
66.28
– Employs over 110,000 60
people 40
19.37
– Pays among the highest 20
12.15
2.23
wages in the country 0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Source: ATRA

3. Afghan ICT Infrastructure
Fiber Infrastructure Mobile Coverage
• OFC 64% complete (2,017 of 3,100 km) • Six competitive MNOs
• Central and NE spurs to begin Jan 2013 • 18.8M subscribers
• Interconnected to five neighbors • 70% penetration; 88% coverage
Sources: MCIT, TAT, and LINREasia
• CAGR of and 77.95% since 2002

4. Internet = Income
3G Mobile Broadband In six developing countries, mobile
• Three 3G licenses awarded telephony increased GDP between
• 3G service in several cities 3.7% and 6.2%. Source: Deloitte
• Allows broadband Internet
access from smartphones
and web-enabled devices
• Ahead of Pakistan and Iran
Broadband Wireless Access
• Five spectrum permits to A 10% increase in broadband
be awarded to ISPs Internet penetration in developing
• Allows “last mile” access to countries is estimated to correspond
the Internet for enterprises to a 1.38% increase in GDP.
and institutions Source: The World Bank

5. Central Asian ICT Hub

6. ICT is an ENABLER
• Of legitimate governance
• Of socio-economic development and growth
• Of empowerment and equality

7. “80% of the benefits of ICT
come from its use …”
Source: Atkins
Mobile Money
- Salary payment
- Electronic wallet
- Loan repayment - SILK-Afghanistan
- Crop prices, spot market - Bill payment - AfREN/KREN
- Weather, news and trends
e-Finance
“ICTs play a catalytic role in
e-Agriculture creating opportunities for
ICT4EDU
people in every walk of
- Telemedicine
- MoPH HMIS ICT4Health ICT life, especially for those
- Mobile medical apps
among us who are vulnerable
Women and disadvantaged … while
AoS
providing the framework for
NIXA
- ITU Year of Women and Girls in ICT
long-term sustainable
- Etisalat mHawala Gender Program
- TechWomen Afghanistan
development.”
- Internet cafes for women and girls -- UN Secretary General
- Internet schools for girls
National Internet Exchange of
Dr. Hamadoun Touré
Afghanistan
- Local content Research and
- Local traffic innovation

8. What’s In Your Head?
What do all these items
have in common?
They were invented
BY WOMEN!

9. ICT = Empowerment
• Decrease Access to • Fundamental human right
discrimination, injustice, an • Absolutely critical to the
Information empowerment of women
d inequality
• Allow for innovation and
opportunity
• Create positive change
• Give women a voice Women are a Gender Equality
Afghan stabilizing Creates
Women and innovative force Stability and
Need ICT for Afghanistan Prosperity
and the world
• “Investing in women • “Equality is a socio-
results in substantial economic imperative”
returns.” ICT is a an • “Countries with greater
• Stronger women = Enabler equality have stronger
stronger communities economies.”

10. The Digital Gender Divide
• ICT can empower women ONLY IF
gender dimensions are identified,
understood, and addressed. (UNESCO, 2003)
• ICT can reinforce and reproduce
patterns of gender segregation. (ILO, 2001)
• Unless the digital gender divide is specifically
addressed, ICT may exacerbate existing inequalities
and create new ones. (Sandys, 2005)
• ICT policy must ensure women benefit from ICT. (UNESCO, 2003)
• Technologies should suit women rather than forcing
women to adapt to technology. (Rathgeber to UN, 2009)
• Access, training, and relevance are key. (UNESCO, 2003)

11. “We Can’t Afford to Ignore
Half the Population”
• Half the world’s seven billion people are female
• Women represent 40% of the workforce worldwide
• Over 50% of the world's university students are women
• Women face formal and Afghan Population by Age and Gender
informal barriers that 00-04
05-09
hinder their potential 10-14
15-19
20-24
• Women entrepreneurs 25-29
30-34
lack the skills, technology,
35-39
40-44
45-49
networks, and access to 50-54
55-59
Female Male
finance to be successful
60-64
65+
0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 3,000,000
Source: Afghan Central Statistics Organization
Source: Cherie Blair

12. What are You Missing?
According to the United Nations, if women were
given the opportunity to achieve their full
potential, the Asia-Pacific economy could earn
$89 billion annually.