The virtual Colombo plan: Implications for developing countries
| Date | 31 August 2004 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14779960480000251 |
| Published date | 31 August 2004 |
| Pages | 169-178 |
| Author | Emma Rooksby |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
The Virtual Colombo Plan:
Implications for Developing Countries
INTRODUCTION
In this paper I consider available documen-
tation on the Virtual Colombo Plan (or
VCP for short), launched by the World
Bank and the Australian Government in
2001. The Plan is one of the World Bank’s
key projects for encouraging greater use of
information and communications tech-
nologies (ICTs) in developing countries,
with a focus on the using ICTs for educa-
tion, as well as for economic benefits. I
argue that while the Virtual Colombo Plan
will use ICTs to provide educational as well
as economic benefits, its proposed uses for
ICTs are not targeted primarily at the poor,
and especially not at the very poor. Rather,
it would appear that private providers of
education services, particularly those based
in developed countries, are likely to be pri-
mary beneficiaries of the Plan. I begin with
a brief assessment of the current develop-
ment aims of the World Bank of which the
Virtual Colombo Plan is a representative
example. I then look in some detail at the
likely impact of two key trade-related pro-
visos mentioned in Virtual Colombo Plan
documentation.
The Virtual Colombo Plan can be seen as
part of the World Bank’s new ‘social devel-
opment’ agenda, a widening in scope from
its earlier economically-based development
agenda focusing on openness to trade, debt
repayment and economic restructuring.
The Bank is now using a range of develop-
ment strategies focused on improving
health, education and other social indica-
tors rather than on producing economic
growth alone.
That the Bank is increasingly focused on
social development is evident in changes in
its operations. For example, the yearly
World Bank Development Report now
focuses on social issues such as governance
Info, Comm & Ethics in Society (2004) 3: 169–178
©2004 Troubador Publishing Ltd.
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Virtual
Colombo Plan
Education
Digital divide
Australia
Wor ld B ank
Emma Rooksby
Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, Charles Sturt University, Australia
CCOOVVEERRAAGGEE
This paper considers the available documentation on the Virtual Colombo Plan (or VCP for short),
launched by the World Bank and the Australian Government in 2001. The Plan is one of the World
Bank’s key projects for encouraging greater use of information and communications technologies
(ICTs) in developing countries, with a focus on the using ICTs for education, as well as for economic
benefits.
ABSTRACT
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