OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR POVERTY REDUCTION IN SOMALI REGIONAL STATE ETHIOPIA

Abstract

ICTs has a positive impact on the living conditions of rural and urban societies if it used in appropriate and utilize to the maximum extent. This study is, therefore, focused on exploration of opportunities and challenges in using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for poverty reduction. The objective of the study includes Identifying opportunities of using ICTs in poverty reduction in this region, Exploring challenges of using ICT in poverty reduction and Suggesting ways in which ICTs could be used in poverty alleviations. The methodology implemented to achieve the objectives was analysis of literature pertinent to ICT for poverty reduction using various literatures to cross check and ensure the trustworthiness of data. The study evidenced thatthe existing relationship between application of ICTs and poverty reduction looking for many aspects that has direct and indirect benefit with ICT. Despite the study addressed many challenges for using ICT in relation with poverty reduction, such as, electricity, literacy, education, and affordability because the ability to access new user technologies will depend on the level of growth that can be sustained within individual economies to raise incomes among consumers and generate the necessary investment. As a result, the effect of these interventions in addressing the opportunities for ICT in Somali region is very significant. Therefore, it recommends that policy adoption to develop ICT and use of serving the society in different perspectives. However, the study found the main challenges of using ICT I is literacy. in this regard, adult education and alternative basic educations in the region should be strengthened in order to lift out from poverty and allow them to use ICT for their daily activities, such as information sharing and marketing emphasising to introduce Somali language software’s for their mobiles that enable them for reading and writingit also recommends expansion of hydroelectric power across the region that will allow economic growth and creation of small scale enterprise to rise. That can be sustained within individual economies to raise incomes among consumers and generate the necessary investment public and private in national network