Communication Policy and Development

“Are World Bank policy prescriptions in the

communications sector conducive to development?”

Shehab

Zahda

Introduction

Deconstruction World Bank Development and World Bank ethos World Bank projects WB Strategic Requirements Long term Foundation Are the policies conducive to

Development? UNESCO‟s paradigm Conclusion Bibliography

Deconstruction

o To answer...

World Bank

1

IBRD2

Bretton Woods Conference 1944

IBRD - IMF

World Bank

188 member states… Voting Power

Today WB’s main goal

is reduction of poverty

Neo-Liberal

Development & WB‟s ethos “Development is a specified state of

growth or advancement.”

(Oxford, 2013)

People’s rights to equality and to

communicate are protected and advanced

in the Universal Declaration on Human

Rights.

(Article 19)

Effectiveness in fighting poverty “WB’s

main priority” and meeting the other

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

World Bank has put forward few strategic

requirements and recommendations.

(Mefalopulos, 2008)

It highlights the need to harmonize

communication strategies and

approaches, as indicated by the 9th UN

Roundtable on Communication for

Development.

http://www.worldbank.org/projects/search?lang=en&searchTerm=&sector_ex

act=General%20information%20and%20communications%20sector

The right and opportunity

people have to participate in

the decision-making processes

that affect their lives

WB Strategic Requirements (Mefalopulos, 2008)

Creating opportunities

for sharing knowledge

and skills

WB Strategic Requirements (Mefalopulos, 2008)

WB Strategic Requirements (Mefalopulos, 2008)

The process of

dialogue, debate, and

engagement that builds

public policies that are

relevant, helpful. (Public

Sphere)

WB Strategic Requirements (Mefalopulos, 2008)

Communication trends

that are taking place at

local, national, and

international levels for

improved development

action.

WB Strategic Requirements (Mefalopulos, 2008)

Adopting an approach

that is contextualized

within cultures.

WB Strategic Requirements (Mefalopulos, 2008)

Empowering people to have

their say, to voice their

perspectives, and to

contribute and act on their

ideas for improving their

situation

Long-Term Foundation

Strengthening Citizenship

and Good Governance.

Deepening the communication

links and processes within

communities and societies

Are these policy prescriptions conducive to

Development?

The five principal media development

categories

1. A system of regulation conducive to

freedom of expression, pluralism and

diversity of the media.

2. Plurality and diversity of media, a level

economic playing field and

transparency of ownership.

3. Media as a platform for democratic

discourse.

4. Professional capacity building and

supporting institutions that underpins

freedom of expression, pluralism and

diversity.

5. Infrastructural capacity is sufficient to

support independent and pluralistic

media.(UNESCO, 2010)

The WB‟s prescriptions are meant to eradicate(reduce) poverty as a priority.

WB projects‟ aimed to progress and changeCommunication sector are secondary projects ininfrastructure and lending projects„sanitation, telecommunications, infrastructure‟..

Projects indirectly contribute to communicationsector but are not directly conducive todevelopment.

WB‟s publications do contribute to the theory ofdevelopment communication rather thancommunication sector itself in terms ofdevelopment.

WB policies work represents a top-downdevelopment paradigm “modernization theory”.

Conclusion and Thoughts

WB projects comes under MDGs scheme where

Communication Sector is not a priority in

itself, and MDGs .

WB projects do not deal with limestone themes

for development, like; cultural diversity, self-

determination of people, economic

pressures, environment, gender relations, and

political dynamics.

Conclusion and thoughts

Bibliography Allen, T. and Thomas, A., (2000). Poverty and Development in the 21st

Century. The Open University Press.

Erixon, F. (2005). Aid and Development: Will it work this time?.International Policy Network.

Hopper, P. (2012). Understanding Development: Issues and Debates.Cambridge: Polity Press.

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/development?q=development .

Mefalopulos, P. (2008). Development Communication Sourcebook:Broadening the Boundaries of Communication. Washington: The WorldBank.

Servaes, J. (1999). Communication for Development: OneWorld, Multiple Cultures. New Jersey: Hampton Press, Inc.

Sparks, C. (2007). Globalization, Development and the Mass Media.Sage Publications

UNESCO, (2010). Media Development Indicators: A framework forassessing media development. Paris: Baseline arts.

Wade, R. (2004). The World Bank and the Environment. In Boas, M. &McNeil D. (eds.) Global Institutions and Development: Framing theWorld?, pp.72-94. London: Routledge.

Any questions