ICT for Development: Overview

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is critical for enhancing the productivity of all sectors of the economy. It is an effective tool that can be used for reducing poverty, extending health services, expanding educational opportunities and generally improving the quality of life of the citizens of the region.

ICT for development (ICT4D) combines the ICT sector and initiatives with the social, environmental, economic and political objectives to fast-track international, regional and national initiatives;

The CARICOM Region has declared ICT as a priority and this is reflected in the Regional Strategic Plan 2019.   The CARICOM Lead Head of Government with responsibility for Science and Technology (including ICT) is the Prime Minister of Grenada.

ICT4D covers numerous areas, including to ICT applications, cyber security, e-commerce, e-education, e-government, e-health, open source software, policy development, statistics, youth and e-waste.

The ICT4D programme is part of the Directorate of Trade and Economic Integration (TEI). The main thrust for the programme is the implementation of the Single CARICOM ICT Space and the CARICOM Digital Agenda 2025.

The CARICOM  Secretariat continues to work with Member States and other  regional and international stakeholders States and a number of  regional and international  partners in designing, implementing and executing, policies, programmes and projects to accelerate the development of this sector. More specifically in the short term, to strengthen the regional framework for investment, employment, productions and exports of ICT services. 

Major activities  include:

Developing a roadmap for the creation of a single ICT space (as approved in the Strategy) in the CSME;
Undertaking an assessment of the economic contribution of the ICT sector to the CSME;