Digital Development and Digital Inclusion
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The document discusses the role of digital development and inclusion in creating opportunities for citizens to access knowledge and contribute to the knowledge society. It outlines key findings regarding digital work in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the challenges faced by workers and the importance of various factors in enhancing digital economies. Recommendations are made for adopting a multi-faceted strategy to leverage digital adoption, build local brands, and ensure compliance with labor laws.
Digital Development and Digital Inclusion
- 1. Digital Development and Digital Inclusion 18th Session of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development May 6, 2015 Professor Mark Graham Oxford Internet Institute University of Oxford web: www.geospace.co.uk email: mark.graham@oii.ox.ac.uk twitter: @geoplace
- 2. Image: Copyright Roger Bamber
- 5. “…all the world’s citizens will have the potential to access unlimited knowledge, to express themselves freely, and to contribute to and enjoy the benefits of the knowledge society.” Dr. Hamadoun I. Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union. November 2012
- 9. Digital gold farming in Cambodia
- 10. METHODS - Transaction data from the world’s largest online work platform - Interviews with hundreds of digital workers in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa - Interviews with 80 managers in the Kenyan and Rwandan BPO sectors. - African innovation hubs
- 13. Geographic reach
- 14. Upgrading
- 15. Combination of those things
- 16. 1) Macro-level patterns 2) Firm-level findings 3) Worker-level findings
- 20. number of buyers per country
- 21. number of sellers per country
- 23. median wages
- 27. Skills
- 29. Factors that contribute to wage depression • Clients expect low rates • Clients decide on (low) rates • Workers have a lack of bargaining power due to competition • Platform policies influencing rate setting • Imperfect market information • Alienation and inability to upgrade • Discrimination • Feelings of powerlessness
- 30. Summary • The digital is an important enabler of a range of new connectivity-based businesses that can be done from anywhere. • But the digital is only one of many enablers that include: affordable and reliable power, easy and affordable access to requisite technology and capital goods, a supportive regulatory environment, programmes for skills development, and an ability to make trusted and verifiable payments.
- 31. Implications • The importance of skills, learning and combinations of local and global knowledge • Social connectivity and trust as necessary conditions for the digital to bridge distance • Domestic and regional markets as opportunities • Gateways and gatekeeping
- 32. Moving Forwards • Adopt a multi-pronged digital economy strategy. • Harness the critical mass of digital adoption. • Encourage knowledge spillovers from foreign BPO/ITES work. • Build the local digital brand. • Financially supporting local SMEs. • A need for relevant research and training. • Ensuring that digital work is not done outside of the scope of national labour laws and taxation regimes.
- 33. thank you (many of our outputs are available at geonet.oii.ox.ac.uk) Professor Mark Graham Oxford Internet Institute University of Oxford w: geospace.co.uk w: zerogeography.net e: mark@geospace.co.uk t: @geoplace