Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication(BNNRC) on the way to translate in Bangla of Study on Global Justice 4.0: The Impacts of Digitization on the Global South for the following reasons;
The publication of Study Global Justice 4.0 discussed the challenges of digital technology; reduce poverty and social inequality as well as the process to co-opt with the challenges. The opportunities for social and economic participation open to disadvantaged people are also discussed in the publication.
The publication explores the limitations of digital solutions. It analyses the lessons to be learned from the digitalization of transnational supply chains not only boost up transparency but also increases value creation for workers.
The poorest and most marginalized are also more likely to suffer disproportionally from some of the darker aspects of Internet connectivity. An increasingly digitally marginalized and disenfranchised population is not only morally wrong, it is also a danger to the sustained economic growth that dominates national rhetoric on development.
Policymakers and development stakeholders also need to realize that the digital technology is not a shortcut to high-income status, even if it can be an enabler and perhaps an accelerator of development. Technology by itself can become a placebo, making us feel better in the short term, while delaying the deeper changes required solving the real underlying problems
It is highlighted the challenges of digital economy and e-commerce which should know by all levels of stakeholders. In addition, digitalization runs the risk of amplifying the existing inequality and discussed its challenges which will contribute the activists to work on the issue and raising their critical thinking for adaption. Translation and publication of Study Global Justice 4.0 can contribute to face the challenges of inequalities among the communities through its proper dissemination.
Digital technologies, and digitized modes of communication, have driven hugely transformative changes in the national economy. But most of the available evidence on digital economies remains focused on high-income economies, with relatively little known about the implications of the digital for those at the rural underserved.
The translation of publication will also contribute to know about the prospect of use of ICT to achieve the goals. Moreover, the publication will also contribute to academicians, researchers, government officials, media activists, policy makers including parliamentarians to understand critically about the impacts of digitalization in Bangladesh and region for building responsible knowledge societies capable of moving toward sustainability in the digital transformation.
Digital transformation impacts society at several levels. On the production side of the economy, digital transformation enables the automation of business operations, yielding operational efficiencies, such as reduction of transaction costs, with an impact on productivity. Similarly, digital transformation provides new business opportunities, impacting employment and entrepreneurship. Regarding the delivery of public services, digital transformation enhances the provision of health and education, while improving the way citizens interact with their governments. Finally, digital transformation has an impact on human relationships and individual behavior, facilitating social inclusion and communication. It should be noted, however, that digital transformation could also result in potential negative effects, such as workforce disruption, the disappearance of companies, cybercrime and social anomie.
Digital Dividends focuses on three areas where complementary improvements are necessary: (1) strengthening the business environment, especially competition policies to curb excessive concentration of market power in a handful of digital platforms but also in other ICT-enabled sectors; (2) improving skills development—not just ICT skills but, equally important, the “soft skills” that will not be easily replaced by computers; and (3) improving accountability in the public sector, so technology is deployed to empower the poor, not to strengthen control.
These are the foundations of economic development—the business climate, human capital, and governance—and though the digital transformation can help improve these foundations in many ways, new technologies are not a substitute.
The digital economy often inspires great hopes for the Global South. But unless it is regulated, digitalisation include several disadvantages – e.g., the risk of a digital colonialism. Our study shows the pitfalls and explains how we could make the digitalisation fair.
A weather app helps smallholder families get higher yields from their crops, cargo drones deliver vital medicines to people in remote areas and digital fingerprints make it easier for people in need to access basic services – digitalisation appears to unlock countless opportunities for the Global South. But are the great hopes for change being fulfilled?
The World Bank, one of the biggest promoters of information and communication technology in developing and emerging countries, admitted self-critically in its 2016 World Development Report Digital Dividends that digital change had lagged far behind its (self-imposed) expectations. Digitalisation, it said, was threatening to destroy jobs in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It was also increasing social inequality because it is often only the better-off who participate in digital change while others – perhaps because of poverty or illness – are excluded from in.
The publication Global Justice 4.0 – The impacts of digitalisation on the Global South discusses the extent to which digital technology can help tackle poverty and social inequality. Does it increase or restrict the opportunities for social and economic participation open to disadvantaged people?
Risk of a digital colonialism
In the beginning we analyse the history of e-commerce in the light of this question. We consider current developments in the world trade regime, because a new dynamic has developed in trade policy almost unnoticed. As the Digital Agenda adopted by the US government in 2000 shows, leading tech companies – principally those from Silicon Valley – are increasingly using commercial law to promote their own interests. This is no longer just about reducing tariffs on digital products such as software, or about uniform standards for telecommunications services. Patents on artificial intelligence and the (non-)regulation of data flows are now elements of commercial regulations and the subject of controversy in the World Trade Organization (WTO). For the countries of the Global South – but not only for them – there is a lot at stake, including the risk of a new, digital colonialism.
This publication explores the potentials and limits of digital solutions. It analyses the lessons to be learned from supposedly model projects such as the mobile payment system M-Pesa and the spread of cashless payment in India. The authors also examine whether the digitalisation of transnational supply chains not only boosts transparency but also increases value creation for workers on the coffee and soya plantations or in factories.
Make digitalisation fair
The question of how digitalisation can be organised so that it contributes to the welfare of everyone must focus on one issue in particular: how can disadvantaged population groups in the rural parts of Africa or the inhabitants of slums in the megacities obtain better access to work and basic services? What steps must be taken to minimise the risks of the digital transformation for people in Asia and Latin America and enhance its potential?
The study therefore concludes with a list of nine ideas that would help make digitalisation fair. Consider them as an invitation to engage in discussion of globally just and humane digitalisation.
https://info.brot-fuer-die-welt.de/sites/default/files/blog-downloads/global_justice_4.0.pdf
by: Sven Hilbig, Bread for the World, as a worldwide development work of the Protestant churches in Germany active in more than 90 countries around the world. Together with local partners we help poor and marginalized people to improve their living conditions on their own.
Dissemination
For dissemination of the publication day-long divisional workshops will be organized in eight divisions and the participants of the workshop will be reflected their gathered knowledge to their respective organization and community.
Target Audience for the book
- NGOs/CSOs/CBOs/Activists
- Academicians
- Policy makers/Parliamentarians/Ministries
- Media both print and electronic
- Broadcasters
- University teachers
- Development partners (INGOs)
How to reach them and where
- National level launching ceremony
- Arrange separate discussion meeting with target specific groups (mentioned in the report), like civil society, journalist, broadcaster, women group.
- A number of copies will provide to the bookstalls
- Organize eight divisional day long workshop.
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