ICT4D and sustainability

Abstract

Sustainability is a systems concept, and ICT4D plays a vital role in a sustainable earth, as well as in sustainable communities. The concept of resilience is introduced since rapid change can push a system into another, possibly undesirable state. Resilience is the capacity of a system to absorb disturbance. ICTs play a key role in the decoupling of economic development from the use of natural resources, by reducing the energy use of economic processes. ICT4D has moved to the use of ICTs as a platform for transformative development. This development must start with human development, since technology is only a multiplier of human intent and capacity and cannot substitute for it. Human scale development strategies are discussed where self-reliant relationships are built via a network of aligned interests. These, in turn, are built from the bottom up and are supported via networks that span the local, regional and national levels.