We live in a rapidly changing world. But technological development is focussed on meeting the wants of rich consumers - scant attention is paid to the vital needs of people in the developing world. The arrival of new technologies often results in a wider gap between rich and the poor. Yet some innovations fail to be applied in developing countries where there is real need.

Our Responding to New Technologies programme aims to enable poor people to assess and respond to the challenges of new technologies, and to develop and adopt applications that improve their livelihoods. Through our programme work, we:

• Enable poor people to assess the opportunities and threats presented by new technologies
• Identify and test potential opportunities for poverty reduction presented by new technologies
• Ensure that policies, regulations and institutions are favourable to poor people and can be influenced by poor people themselves