The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified socio-economic inequalities across the globe, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and deepening poverty in many regions. The pandemic has revealed critical gaps in how poverty is communicated across different cultural contexts, particularly regarding economic recovery and empowerment. Cultural communication, how communities convey, interpret, and respond to economic challenges, is pivotal in shaping policy interventions and grassroots responses to poverty.

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become important tools for poverty alleviation and economic development. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, particularly in education, healthcare, and commerce, offering unprecedented opportunities to address economic issues. However, the role of ICT in poverty communication has not been adequately explored, especially in light of cultural differences. Recent studies (de Lanerolle et al., 2022; Müller & Slater, 2023) highlight that while ICT has potential, the digital divide and cultural barriers remain significant challenges. This Research Topic seeks to explore these intersections, addressing gaps in current scholarship on how ICT and communication intersect with cultural frameworks to tackle poverty in a post-pandemic world.

The Research Topic has three primary goals:

Firstly, it aims to investigate the role of ICT in communicating poverty-related issues within diverse cultural contexts. While digital technologies have the potential to empower communities by providing access to resources and information, their effectiveness is shaped by cultural dynamics that influence how these technologies are used. For instance, research by Chib et al. (2022) illustrates that cultural perceptions of poverty significantly affect how ICT-based interventions are received and utilized. This research will identify how ICT can be leveraged to address economic disparities more effectively in specific contexts.

Secondly, the Topic aims to highlight the gaps in existing literature concerning cultural communication and ICT’s role in poverty alleviation. Many studies focus on the technical aspects of ICT (Galperin & Leamer, 2023) but fail to address the cultural dimensions that affect its adoption and impact. By integrating insights from cultural studies and communication theory, this research will provide a more nuanced understanding of the intersection between technology and culture in poverty alleviation strategies.

Lastly, this article collection explores the policy implications of integrating cultural communication and ICT in addressing poverty. Policymakers often overlook the role of culture in economic interventions, resulting in initiatives that may fail to resonate at the grassroots level.

Contributors are encouraged to explore a range of themes at the intersection of ICT, cultural communication, and poverty alleviation in the post-pandemic context. Key themes may include the following:

• the influence of cultural frameworks on ICT adoption in poverty alleviation initiatives
• the digital divide impacts economic recovery efforts in different cultural settings
• the role of ICT in fostering community resilience and communication about poverty post-COVID-19
• gaps in scholarship regarding ICT, cultural communication, and poverty alleviation strategies post-pandemic
• policy implications for integrating cultural communication and ICT in addressing socio-economic disparities.

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Frontiers in Communication

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