How ICT4D Research Fails the Poor

Research can improve development policies and practices and funders increasingly require of such socioeconomic impact from their investments. This article questions information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) research to the requirements for achieving socioeconomic impact. We report on a review of the impact of research in international development and a survey of 4D researchers who assessed the extent to which they follow practices for achieving impact. The findings suggest that while ICT4D researchers are interested in both practice and policy, they are less inclined toward the activities that would this happen, especially engaging with users of their research and communicating findings to a wider audience. Their institutions do not provide incentives for to adopt these practices. ICT4D researchers and their institutions should engage closely with the users of their research through more and better communications with public, especially through the use of information and communication technologies.