Today, few will question the capacity of ICTs to serve as enablers of sustainable development that the world community has agreed to work towards by the target year 2030. However, although this capacity of ICTs as enablers has been recognized, there remains fuzziness about the linkage between ICTs and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This module addresses the SDGs through the prism of ICTs. It provides an overview of the intersections between ICTs and the SDGs, drawing attention to the various dimensions and sectors in which ICTs can provide valuable support through national governments’ plans and projects.

The module invites readers to explore the various dimensions of the linkage through case studies of ICT applications in key sectors of development in Asia-Pacific countries. The module also highlights key issues and decision points, from policy to implementation, in the use of ICTs to meet development needs.

The aim is to foster a better understanding of how ICTs can be used for social and economic development, and to equip policymakers and programme managers with a development-oriented framework for ICT-based and ICT-supported interventions in a range of social sectors.