Vietnam’s E-book Platform Aims to Tackle Information Poverty

In the sea of information brought by technological development, being able to obtain and utilize the right information is valuable. However, substantial gaps in knowledge and infrastructure still hinder the flow of information to those who need it most. In this light, the government of Vietnam has launched an e-book platform to tackle information poverty in the country.

Understanding Information Poverty

Nowadays, obtaining information can be as easy as flicking our fingers. The development of information technologies has allowed the stream of information to flow rapidly from one corner of the world to another. On the flip side, this development has also birthed negative sides, such as misinformation and disinformation.

The combination of the right information and the ability to understand and utilize it can be a powerful means to improve people’s lives. For example, essential information on how to treat minor medical emergencies at home can make all the difference. However, many are still deprived of valuable information and the knowledge to make sense of the information, also known as information poverty.

Professor Johannes J. Britz, in his paper, defines information poverty as “a situation in which individuals and communities, within a given context, do not have the requisite skills, abilities, or material means to obtain efficient access to information, interpret it, and apply it appropriately.” It is a highly multidimensional issue characterized by a digital divide. A lack of information infrastructure, including libraries, cell towers, and related policies, is also a big factor in causing information poverty.

Vietnam’s E-book Platform

In November 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam launched an e-book platform to reduce information poverty. The main goal is to provide easier access to essential information necessary to improve people’s lives, especially those in ethnic minority, remote, and disadvantaged areas.

There are as many as 202 e-books and 3,485 e-articles in various formats, such as multimedia and audiobooks, containing materials from agriculture know-how to government regulations. Citizens of Vietnam can access the platform through its website or mobile applications.

The e-book platform is part of a broader poverty reduction effort planned in the National Target Programme for Sustainable Poverty Reduction for 2021–2025. As of 2023, Vietnam still has over 1.58 million poor and near-poor households. The information gained through the platform is hoped to help people make informed decisions in their daily lives, eventually improving their welfare and wellbeing.

Information and Actions

Tackling information poverty is a necessary step in dealing with the multidimensional nature of poverty. Beyond the existence of information, bridging the information gap in society as an effort to eradicate poverty also requires the actual resources, infrastructures, and facilities to be accessible and usable by people who need them the most.

Ultimately, all these efforts must go together to create effective and efficient measures that leave no one behind.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

Kresentia Madina

Reporter at Green Network Asia | Website | + posts

Madina is the Assistant Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at Green Network Asia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Studies from Universitas Indonesia. As part of the GNA In-House Team, she supports the organization's multi-stakeholder engagement across international organizations, governments, businesses, civil society, and grassroots communities through digital publications, events, capacity building, and research.