The University of Manchester's Brooks World Poverty

PhD Scholarships for ICTs & Poverty Research

The University of Manchester's Brooks World Poverty Institute announces a series
of scholarships for PhD study on poverty analysis starting in academic year
2007/8. This can include study on the relation between ICTs and poverty.

To be considered for these scholarships, candidates will need to apply to study
for a PhD via the normal University process
(see details at: http://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/bwpi/postgradchol/).
All components of the application must be completed by 31 January 2007.

Application needs to include a PhD proposal written by the candidate. This can
relate to any aspect of the relation between ICTs and poverty but must have a
strong poverty dimension. The topic areas shown below are for illustrative
purposes only.

Note that the competition for scholarships covers all areas of poverty research,
not just ICT-related. Competition is open to all for the four main
scholarships; there are two additional PhD scholarships intended for US and Sri
Lankan nationals.

Illustrative topic areas for research on the relation between ICTs and poverty:

- ICTs and poverty reduction: general research on the potential and actuality of
ICTs to deliver poverty-reducing projects; who actually benefits from such
projects?

- IT outsourcing to poor communities: implications of new business models that
are outsourcing IT-based work to individual and cooperative enterprises in poor
communities: who benefits? are these models sustainable and scalable?

- Technologies of connection and social inclusion/exclusion in poor, remote
communities: remote communities are often the seats of chronic poverty yet they
are gradually being penetrated by "technologies of connection" - roads; mobile
communications; wi-fi/Internet connectivity. Do these increase or reduce the
social exclusion of such communities?

- Mobile communications and poverty: understanding the poverty implications
posed by the growing penetration of mobile technologies into poor communities.

- ICT infrastructures and poverty: how are the particular needs and interests of
the poor included or excluded from policy-making and implementation about
information society infrastructures in developing countries?

- Technology, hope and empowerment: we have field and anecdotal evidence that
involvement with new technologies brings hope to the disempowered poor. Is
this true; is this a sustainable impact; and what poverty-affecting impact (if any)
does hope have?

- ICTs, poverty and capabilities: using the lens of Sen's capabilities approach,
how can we understand the potential of ICTs in impacting the livelihoods of the
poor?

- Using GIS and other information systems for poverty mapping and analysis: how
effective are these systems? can their use be linked to positive poverty
outcomes?

For further details, please see:
http://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/bwpi/postgradchol/

Successful candidates would join the University's twelve-strong Development
Informatics Group that researches, consults and teaches on a wide variety of
issues linking ICTs and socio-economic development. For specific enquiries
about PhD study on ICTs and poverty with the Development Informatics Group,
please contact Dr Richard Duncombe: richard.duncombe@manchester.ac.uk