Challenges and Partnerships - ITU · the digital revolution for economic growth, poverty...

A contribution of the United Nations Information and CommunicationTechnologies Task Force to the World Summit on the Information Society

ICT to the world

Challenges andPartnerships

Opening up

5 Foreword

Mr José Maria Figueres-Olsen, Chairman,

UN ICT Task Force

7 Welcome message

Mr Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary General, International

Telecommunication Union

9 Publisher’s welcome

10 Digital diaspora networks and the series on

Policy Awareness and Training in Information

Technology (PATIT)

United Nations Information and Communication

Technologies Task Force

12 Global digital divide initiative

World Economic Forum

14 Digital opportunities for all

Digital Opportunity Task Force

16 The dialogue of civilisations

UN ICT Task Force Regional Network for Europe and

Central Asia

18 eEurope: An information society for all

European Commission

20 Creating digital opportunity for developing

countries

Markle Foundation

24 Global focus on youth and education

Nokia

26 ICT – Transforming the world by transforming

universities

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

28 Closing the digital divide through education

and training

STMicroelectronics

29 The Abu-Ghazaleh Cambridge IT Skills Centre

Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International

Contents

Welcome to Challenges and Partnerships, a contribution of the United

Nations Information and Communication Technology Task Force to the World

Summit on the Information Society.

“Information technology... is apowerful force that can and must beharnessed to our global mission of peaceand development. This is a matter ofboth ethics and economics; over thelong term, the new economy can only beproductive and sustainable if it spreadsworldwide and responds to the needsand demands of all people. I urgeeveryone in a position to make adifference to add his or her energiesto this effort.” Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations

31 The World Bank Group: Fostering digital

opportunities

World Bank Group

32 Metapolicy for ICTs: The Digital Nations

Consortium

United Nations Information & Communication

Technology Task Force, Working Group 1

34 National & regional e-development strategies:

A blueprint for action



36 A road to universal broadband connectivity



38 Technology solutions advance

entrepreneurship in developing countries



41 ICT Policy Development and Implementation

seminar for Afghanistan

The Asia-Pacific Information Development Programme

42 APC: Internet and ICTs for social justice and

development

Association for Progressive Communications

44 Bridging the digital divide through the Cisco

Networking Academy Program

Cisco Systems Inc.

46 AME and the Cl@se initiative

Fundación Cisneros

48 Promoting ICT for development alongside

gender equality issues

WSIS-Gender Caucus

50 German initiatives

Federal Foreign Office, Government of Germany

52 e-Inclusion: Dikahotole Digital Village,

South Africa – rising out of a cycle of poverty

Hewlett-Packard

53-55 The First Latin American and Caribbean

Video Art Competition and Exhibition

DIGITALYART, an exhibition on technology in art

The Cultural Center of the Inter American

Development Bank

56-60 The Inter-American Development Bank

steps in to support ICT applications for small

businesses

The ALDEA Program: Digital strategies for the

Latin America and Caribbean Governments

Italian Trust Fund for Information and

Communication Technology for Development

Inter-American Development Bank Information and

Communication Technology for Development Division

61 The vital role of e-government and

e-governance

Ministry for Innovation and Technologies,

Government of Italy

62 Challenges and partnerships

International Telecommunication Union

64 Media Lab Asia:

Innovating for the next Five Billion

MIT and the World Bank Group

66 UNCTAD and e-commerce strategies for

development

United Nations Conference on Trade and

Development

68 The Information Society in Europe and

North America:

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

71 UNITeS: In partnership with universities

United Nations Information Technology Service

73 UNESCO’s international initiative for

community multimedia centres

UNESCO

75 UNFIP: Facilitating the Millennium

Development Goals

UNFIP

Contents

5CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS

Despite real progress on some

fronts, there remain dramatic

disparities in levels of human

development: the digital divide is

threatening to exacerbate the existing

social and economic inequalities between

countries and communities.

The principal objective of the Summit

should be identification of strategies and

actions that would mainstream ICT into

the work aimed at achieving the

Millennium Development Goals, which provide the wider social,

economic and political context.

One third of the world’s population has never made a telephone

call. Seventy percent of the world’s poorest live in rural and remote

areas, where access to information and communications technologies,

even to a telephone, is often scarce. Most of the information

exchanged over global networks such as the internet is in English, the

language of less than 10 percent of the world’s population.

In response to these growing concerns, in March 2001, the

United Nations Economic and Social Council requested the Secretary

General to establish an Information and Communication Technologies

(ICT) Task Force. The Council recognised the tremendous potential of

the digital revolution for economic growth, poverty eradication and

sustainable development. Countries in which most people do not

have access to the new technologies cannot play a full part in the

new global economy at a time when knowledge acquisition and

information are becoming pre-requisites for human development and

progress. And the longer they remain outside the global economy,

the harder and costlier it will be to catch up. The digital divide must

then be bridged before it is too late.

In order to spread information and communications technologies

and their benefits to the developing world, intensified cooperation

and strong commitment among the private and non-profit sectors

will be required.

The private sector – through innovation, risk taking and

investment – can help develop a country’s ICT infrastructure. The

private sector can contribute to achieving development goals with

investments that can produce a positive impact on social and

economic development outcomes. Companies can do well by doing

good. They can help devise ICT solutions

that are built to last. Secondly, they can

participate in public-private initiatives that

are driven by user demands, identified

and realised through direct participation

and ownership. Thirdly, such initiatives

should be sensitive to local conditions

and limitations. And finally, initiatives

should be explicit about their

development goals and how they will

directly impact the target population.

All these aspects suggest that ICT interventions focusing on

development goals must address a variety of interrelated

dimensions to secure an enduring impact. The potential impact of

ICT interventions would be far greater if they are conceived in

conjunction with private sector economies. There is no doubt that

the private sector could be a great asset to ICT initiatives in

developing countries.

Governments, on the other hand, can play a role in providing a

favourable policy and pro-competitive environments to ensure

market fairness and flexibility as well as exercising leadership

through strategic investments in ICT applications and content.

If public-private partnerships are built on complementarities

between the profit motive of the private sector and human

development goals, we can achieve sustainable results and the

harmonious development of a global networked society.

The United Nations ICT Task Force is helping to build

partnerships in key areas such as low-cost connectivity access,

human resources development and capacity building, and business

enterprise and entrepreneurship. It also provides a platform to

analyse how programmes for promoting education, combating

diseases, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of

women, and those targeting youth, the disabled and people living in

poverty in general can be leveraged and enhanced with ICT.

Our objective is to work towards an ambitious but achievable

agenda, in which progress would offer all human beings a chance of

achieving lifelong prosperity. We have begun to transform our

societies and together we can and must find our way towards a

universal and inclusive information society in which wealth creation

and social well being go hand-in-hand. ■

Mr José Maria Figueres-OlsenChairman, UN ICT Task Force

Foreword


While the basic needs of humankind havelong been food, clothing and shelter, the time

has come to add ‘information’ to that list“”

Information has the power to dispel ignorance and to empower

those who are oppressed. It has the power to bind the global

community and to spread the common ideals of peace and

tolerance, growth and development. While the basic needs of

humankind have long been food, clothing and shelter, the time has

come to add ‘information’ to that list.

We stand on the brink of a new era in which we must make

fundamental choices about what life in the information society will

be like. We may not be entirely able to predict how it will manifest

itself, but we must embrace it if we wish to ensure the basic

principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

and embraced by the Millennium Development Goals, are fulfilled.

Today, activities based around the creation, processing and

dissemination of information account for more than 80 percent of

employment in the developed world, while 1.5 million villages

worldwide remain unconnected to this information society. The

World Summit on the Information Society represents a unique

opportunity to help our political leaders, on either side of this digital

divide, to develop a common vision of how to turn the challenges

created by the Information Society into opportunities.

Now more than ever we must seek new and innovative ways of

mobilising and coordinating our efforts in this area, by seeking a

global perspective that ensures we maximise our collective

strengths, resources and skills. This publication provides an

excellent overview of the work that is being done to bridge the

digital divide and the hope that information and communication

technology can bring to people of the world.

It has been said that the best way to predict the future is to

invent it. Together, through the World Summit on the Information

Society, we can invent a future where the tools of communication

make the world a more equitable, peaceful and sustainable place for

all, not just for a privileged few. ■

Mr Yoshio Utsumi Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union

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GDS has been publishing journals for the

information and communication technologies

(ICTs) sector for many years, and still the

phenomenal speed of evolution and development

amazes me. New products, new services and new

ways of conducting business are created everyday

through an increasing convergence between

telecommunications, broadcasting multimedia and

traditional IT, then disseminated and implemented at

incredible speed using the same channels.

Meanwhile, modern business’ hunger for

information, ‘lean’ operations and connectivity – given

a solid platform by ICTs – is opening new markets to

competition, foreign investment and participation, and

is driving commercial and professional opportunities

in these markets.

We are living through a paradigm shift every bit as

far reaching as that of a century ago, when the world

pitched from an agrarian to an industrial base. Now

the industrial society that marked the 20th century is

giving way to the information society of the 21st

century, and the changes are coming thick and fast:

how people live, how they learn and work, and how

governments interact with civil society. Information

has become the most powerful tool for economic and

social development.

To benefit the world community fully, this new

dynamic needs global attention. We need to close the

gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ of access to

the global information and communication network: to

bridge the ‘digital divide’. And, as Kofi Annan,

Secretary-General of the United Nations has said:

“Governments themselves are acknowledging that

they cannot successfully pursue development on their

own. Thus there is unprecedented scope for public-

private partnerships that match real investment

opportunities with the real needs of the poor...”

The digital divide has the potential to give rise to

a new form of illiteracy by promoting information and

knowledge poverty and limiting the opportunities for

economic growth and wealth distribution. Mr Annan:

“If all countries are to benefit, we need more and

better strategic public-private partnerships. That is

one of the primary functions of the United Nations

Information and Communication Technologies Task

Force, which brings together CEOs, government

officials, nongovernmental organisations, technical

experts and other information industry leaders.”

ICTs can create economic and social networks,

allowing diverse groups around the world to access

and exchange information and knowledge crucial for

their socio-economic development. The benefits to

business are obvious, less obvious are the benefits to

basic health and education services delivery, and to

marginalized and isolated people who can now have a

voice in the world community, regardless of their

gender or where they live.

To this end, of course, there is the World Summit

on Information Society.

I would like to wish everyone a successful

Prepcom and hope you find ‘Challenges and

Partnerships’ a useful and interesting contribution. ■

Mr Spencer Green Chairman, GDS Publishing Ltd

Welcome message

Editor Adam Burns [email protected] Assistant editors Jonathon Edgley Kellie Peakman Alice Sharp Designers Andrew Hobson JamesWest Production manager Dylan Law [email protected] Managing director Chris White [email protected] Chairman Spencer GreenContact GDS: T +44 2920 383333 www.gdsinternational.com GDS Publishing Ltd, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN, UK

Digital diaspora networks

Convinced of the positive potential of ICT

to accelerate economic growth and

social development, and as part of its

effort to mobilise key partners for ICT-for-

development, the United Nations ICT Task Force

launched an initiative aimed at bringing together

qualified members of the Diaspora – high-tech professionals,

entrepreneurs and business leaders – into a network with their

counterparts in order to promote ICT-for-development initiatives in

their home country.

This initiative, known as the Digital Diaspora Network, aims to

promote development and the achievement of the Millennium

Development Goals through mobilising the intellectual,

technological, entrepreneurial and financial resources of the

Diaspora entrepreneurs.

Through the Digital Diaspora Networks, expatriates working in

the high-tech sector in North America and Europe will seek to

jump-start ICT initiatives in their home region. Thousands of

Internet nodes and digital activities are taking shape in many

developing countries, but usually lack the capital, expertise and

networking ability to stabilise and grow. The Networks will mobilise

expatriate leaders and entrepreneurs to underwrite and mentor

these developments.

The modalities of the initiative are modelled, to a large extent, on

the successful IndUS Entrepreneurs network created nine years ago

for the Indian Diaspora in the United States.

Two Digital Diaspora Networks have been launched by the ICT

Task Force so far: The Digital Diaspora Network for Africa (DDN-A)

and the Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean (DDN-C).

For Africa

The Digital Diaspora Network for Africa (DDN-A) was launched in

July 2002, in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for

International Partnerships, the United Nations Development Fund for

Women and the Digital Partners Institute. The launch meeting

brought together more than 130 high-level

entrepreneurs, academics and experts of African

origin currently residing in the United States.

Among the tangible outcomes of the launch

meeting was the creation of an AfriShare

Network, a platform for sharing best practices

and matching innovative projects with mentors

and potential sponsors, and the launching of a Social Venture Fund

for Africa that will provide financial support for entrepreneurial

activities using ICT in Africa. A Steering Committee was formed and

immediately started work on the Plan of Action of the Network.

In September 2002, the Digital Diaspora network for Africa was

launched in Europe as well. In the near future the Digital Diaspora

Network for Africa will link the two diaspora networks – in the United

States and in Europe – with existing and emerging networks in Africa,

thus creating a broad platform for empowering African entrepreneurs

and enhancing their contribution to development of the continent.

For the Caribbean

The Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean was launched in

January 2003, in partnership with the United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Fund for International

Partnerships (UNFIP). The initiative was supported by the CARICOM

Permanent Missions to the United Nations and the CARICOM

Secretariat, and facilitated by the Caribbean American Chamber of

Commerce and Industry.

The launch meeting of the Network led to the formation of a

steering team, coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat and the

University of the West Indies with the task of establishing an

organisational framework to promote and manage the resulting

network of interest, to ensure continuity and to oversee and monitor

follow-up activities. ■

10 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS

Two Task Force initiatives

From the United Nations Information andCommunication Technologies Task Force to theWorld Summit on the Information Society

For more information, contact: Daniela Giacomelli,

Program Manager, United Nations ICT Task Force Secretariat

[email protected] www.unicttaskforce.com

Organised by UNITAR, Mandate given by ICT Task Force, under the auspices of the ECOSOC Working Group on Informatics in

New York, with the support of Intel Corporation, Inc.

Capacity building programme – skills training and awareness building

To enable diplomats to the United Nations in New York, to acquire specific computer skills and be exposed to workings of the Internet.

To raise awareness and understanding of policy and security issues related to the information society among diplomats and policy makers

To enable govt. officials in countries to acquire specific computer skills and be exposed to workings of the Internet through web-

based learning

To help provide input into preparation for the World Summit for Information Society by exposing Member State delegates and

officials in capitals to technologies, on which they will be required to formulate policies.

UNITAR, United Nations ICT Task Force and Intel Corporation, Inc.

Intel’s high level of commitment to the series is demonstrated through its donation of 40 computers for training labs at the United

Nations in New York, and its substantial and financial hands-on participation in training events with UNITAR. This participation

includes providing instructors and facilitators in class, development of training material and complete involvement in delivery and

evaluation of the project in instructor-led training as well as on-line training. Intel is also very committed that this capacity building

initiative should support the eventual quality of inputs into WSIS.

Participants – Certificate Programme (4 modules on basic computer and Internet skills and one module on policy and information

security issues):

• In 2002, 4 cycles of the 5 module certificate programme were conducted

• 33 workshops were delivered

• 100 participants trained in the certificate programme in 2002 (Africa 41%, Asia 23%, Latin America and the Caribbean 24%,

Europe and Emerging Economies 10%, North America 1%)

• Participants from 65 countries participated in the certificate programme.

Participants – Open High-level Seminar (Module 5) I, II and III:

• 400 participants attended the 3 high-level seminars in 2002; (Africa 33%, Asia 21%, Latin America and the Caribbean 28%,

Europe and Emerging Economies 16%, North America 2%)

Training Material:

• For Module 1 to 4 a set of handbook, exercises on CD ROMS and Handouts were provided for each. In addition supporting

resources were posted on the training website www.un.int/unitar/patit

• For Module 5 – the high-level seminar, training materials and summary of discussions were provided on CD ROM, and posted on

to PATIT website.

Partnership agreement with Intel, with commitment from the ICT Task Force for 2003:

• Instructor-led Classes in New York: To expand the cycles of instructor-led classes in New York from 4 to 5 for the next 2 years

• Global Outreach through Web-based Training: To develop, in parallel to the above, web-based full-fledged modules to provide

access to training in capitals over the next 2 years. To phase out the instructor-led classes once the modules are fully on-line.

• Policy and Security Awareness Seminars: To provide briefings and input to the diplomatic community in New York in preparation

for the WSIS in 2003 and 2005

The organisers and sponsors are encouraged that the participant profile has been in-line with the ICT Taskforce’s developmental

priority of providing policy makers and officials from developing and less-developed countries with basic exposure to computers

and Internet technologies. This can be seen from the regional and hierarchical class profile, where on average 41% of participants

were from Africa (a priority area) and 47% were from Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean combined. By title/hierarchy 48% of

total participants were senior diplomats such as Permanent Representatives, Deputy Permanent Representatives and Minister

Counsellors etc. This indicated a high level of interest and need among the highest level of decision makers for meeting the

challenge posed by new information and communication technologies.

UNITAR and its partners for this series strongly believe that this is one of the rare programmes where results are immediately

visible, because the need is immediate, and can be addressed very simply.


Initiative

Type of initiative

Objectives

Implementing partners

Partnership with Intel

Facts and results

3-Year Plan (2003-2005)

for the PATIT Initiative

Conclusion

For more information, contact: Humaira Kamal, UNITAR Special Fellow. [email protected] www.unitar.org

Series on Policy Awareness and Training in Information Technology (PATIT)

12

O ver the last three years, the global digital

divide has come into focus as one of the

critical global issues facing poverty

alleviation and development. Indeed, the role of

technology in development has been recognised

through key international efforts undertaken by the

G-8 DOT Force and the United Nations ICT Task

Force. In parallel, the business sector has made

important investments towards digital development

and such practices are being mainstreamed into their

corporate strategy.

The World Economic Forum through its Global

Digital Divide Task Force is pleased to have served

the development community at the intersection of

government, business and the not-for-profit sectors

in addressing the issue of creating digital

opportunities for social and economic growth.

In its third and final year, the Global Digital Divide

Task Force has demonstrated itself as a successful

incubator for projects that facilitate digital

development in disadvantaged regions of the world.

Set up by the Governors for IT, Media and

Entertainment at our Annual Meeting 2000, the Task

Force has developed a private sector-led multi-

stakeholder community that serves to provide a

business perspective to policy advocacy, awareness

raising, project implementation, resource mobilisation

and relationship building.

Through the commitment and leadership of its

co-chairs, and the vision, hard work and dedication

of the Task Force members, the Global Digital Divide

Task Force boasts a significant portfolio of

achievements. In 2000, the Task Force was

mandated to complete an international policy effort

culminating with the G-8 Summit in Kyushu-Okinawa.

With the momentum generated from this effort, the

Governors requested an additional two-year mandate

to implement our recommendations. Today, the Task

Force work programme has a footprint that reaches

over 10 countries and collective investments totalling

over $2.5 Million.

While the Task Force completes its mandate at

this year’s Annual Meeting 2003, the work

programmes launched by the Task Force will

continue their growth thanks to the leadership and

commitment of their original initiators. Having served

as a ‘launch pad’ for sustainable projects, such as

this one, the World Economic Forum will diminish this

support in the future.

As we commence 2003, the Forum looks forward

to new challenges where we can apply our many

lessons learned over the course of our mandate. The

Forum is poised to facilitate efficient participation in

corporate citizenship activities for our members and

partners that wish to increase their involvement in

development activities. ■

CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS

From the World Economic Forum to the WorldSummit on the Information Society

Global digital divide initiative

For more information, visit:

www.weforum.org


CEO charter for digital development

At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2002 in New

York, former Vivendi Universal Chief Executive and Global Digital

Divide co-chair, Jean-Marie Messier, proposed the CEO Charter

for Digital Development (‘CEO Charter’).

The CEO Charter is a resource mobilisation initiative

designed to bring together members of the private sector to

affirm their commitment to social, economic and educational

progress in the developing world. The Global Digital Divide

Initiative has coordinated this process for the last year among

business executives involved or interested in ICT for development

activities. The CEO Charter is a private sector commitment to

transparently allocate human, in-kind or financial resources to

reduce poverty in developing countries and disadvantaged

communities through the use of information and communication

technologies.

It is a signal that participating CEOs stand ready to partner

and collaborate with governments, international organisations

and civil society to find innovative solutions to help bridge the

digital divide.

Participating CEOs agree to make their best effort to target

at least 20 percent of their annual corporate citizenship and/or

philanthropy budgets to support concrete and sustainable actions

aimed at promoting social, economic and educational progress in

developing countries and disadvantaged communities through

information and communication technologies.

We hope that the CEO Charter serves as a step towards

galvanising the private sector to commit to socially responsible

business activities and analysing the ‘support’ market. One result

will be the accumulated body of knowledge on the resources that

are dedicated by the private sector to combating the digital

divide. As we build up information about the ‘who’, ‘what’,

‘where’ and ‘why’ of social investments, we hope that project

partnerships will develop more efficiently (be it technology for

health, education or e-government).

The outline below serves as a first look at the support

market. It includes information generated from an informal

questionnaire answered by our first 10 CEO signers. Members of

the Global Digital Divide Task Force look forward to expanding

this process of information gathering and data analysis towards

more efficient partnerships as companies become more involved

in corporate citizenship activities.

General findings

The drafters of the CEO Charter used the terms ‘corporate

philanthropy’, ‘corporate citizenship’ and ‘social investment’

interchangeably to encourage companies from around the world

with different corporate cultures, traditions and business

practices to volunteer to participate in the Charter.

Of those that answered the questionnaire, 60 percent

exceed the 20 percent corporate citizenship/philanthropy or

investment target for ICT for development projects and 30

percent meet the target. The other CEO Charter signers

aspire to achieve the investment target. They indicated their

hope that participation in the CEO Charter will lead to

expanding their network of potential projects to support and

further exchange of best practices.

Ninety percent of CEO Charter respondents have a clear

mission behind their philanthropic programmes and 50 percent

of respondents undertake their social investments as part of their

core business strategy. This group indicated that such investment

is part of their portfolio of corporate citizenship activities rather

than a philanthropic investment. In their response, they indicated

that a focus on citizenship activities assist the corporate goal of

mainstreaming socially conscious corporate investment into their

core business operations.

All respondents stated in their reply form that partnership

organisations (e.g. international donor agencies, regional

government organisations, the World Economic Forum, etc.) play

a significant role in introducing projects to businesses for

corporate support. As companies expand and innovate on their

citizenship programmes, they will rely more on these

organisation to find sustainable, impactful and credible projects

that they can support.

14

In July 2001, G8 leaders endorsed the Genoa Plan

of Action, a product of the work of the Digital

Opportunities Task Force. The DOT Force, which

was formed following the 2000 G8 Summit in

Okinawa, represented both a unique model of

international cooperation and a new way of

responding to the challenges of development. It

brought together committed leaders from

government, industry and civil society, drawn from G8

member countries and from the developing world, to

conceive a forward-looking action plan designed to

expand the use of digital technology and to

universalise its benefits. Its report, Digital

Opportunities for All: Meeting the Challenge,

contained a vision of global development based on

the power of information technology to promote

sustainable growth, advance social justice and

strengthen democratic governance.

Less than one year later, the DOT Force vision

has moved dramatically closer to realisation.

Participation has reached well beyond its original

membership to include almost 100 stakeholder

organisations, spanning more than 30 countries.

Through the work of its implementation teams, the

DOT Force has generated more than 20 major

bilateral and multilateral initiatives, operating across a

broad range of areas crucial to balanced development

– access, governance, entrepreneurship, health and

education. In designing and implementing these

initiatives, DOT Force members have also given

special attention to the needs of lesser developed

countries, and particularly to Africa, responding

directly to the requirements articulated in the New

Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

New tools and partnerships for development

At the United Nations Millennium Summit in

September 2000, world leaders set a series of targets

for the reduction of poverty, known as the Millennium

Development Goals. They pledged to eradicate

extreme poverty and hunger; to achieve universal

primary education; to promote gender equality and

empower women; to reduce child mortality and

improve maternal health; to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria

and other diseases; to ensure environmental

sustainability; and to develop a global partnership for

development.

Information and communication technologies

(ICTs) provide a powerful tool to help achieve the

Millennium Development Goals. Thus, the

‘mainstreaming’ of information technology within

project planning and design and, even more

importantly, within development strategies is critically

important, both nationally and internationally. The

value and legacy of the DOT Force is clear – it has

focused global attention on sustainable, ICT-enabled

development, and has encouraged the international

development community to mainstream ICTs in its

bilateral and multilateral assistance programmes.

Over the past two years, DOT Force partners

have worked with great passion and dedication to

broaden the understanding that ICTs are a

fundamental tool for reducing poverty and for spurring

sustainable development. As stressed in its first report

to G8 leaders: “Access to knowledge and information

is a prerequisite for modern human development.”

This central premise underlies the continuing work of

the DOT Force and the commitment of its members

to expanding the contribution of ICTs to all forms and

levels of development.

Examples of the enabling power of these

technologies are now emerging. Community radio

stations in Africa are providing vital information on

weather disaster warnings, health and nutrition, and

HIV/AIDS prevention. The quality of life of many poor

women in Bangladesh has improved through the

Digital opportunities for all


From the Digital Opportunity Task Force to theWorld Summit on the Information Society

15

innovative use of cellular phones. In Bolivia, internet

centres have been set up to provide farmers with

timely information on crops, production and

processing, as well as policies and regulations.

The formula for success

The success of the DOT Force has relied on the

close cooperation from representatives of G8

governments, developing nations, international

organisations and the non-profit and private sectors.

Each participated fully and equally in its work. The

multi-stakeholder approach of the DOT Force now

serves as the model for other global ‘ICT for

development’ initiatives that follow in its footsteps.

Future agenda

Under the auspices of the G8, the DOT Force has

emerged as the primary instrument for harnessing the

potential of information technology for global

development. Through its leadership and sense of

strategic purpose, it has successfully mobilised the

international community behind a common goal of

broadening the participation of countries and peoples

in the information age. As catalysts for action, its

products and partners have demonstrated

conclusively the crucial role of ICTs in addressing

basic development needs – in promoting good

governance and democratic values, improving

healthcare, education, and government services, as

well as supporting industry and small business. The

continuing challenge is to sustain the energy and

creativity of the DOT Force and ensure the full

implementation of its future agenda.

The first and most essential task is to maintain the

sense of political leadership and accountability that

have characterised the mandate and work of the DOT

Force to date. The mobilisation of political leaders,

industry captains and civil society requires a suitably

high-level forum to provide strategic direction to, and

promote the cause of, ICTs for development.

Secondly, given the numerous initiatives under way at

the global level, a focal point is required to provide

policy coherence and coordination in the design and

implementation of ICT-based development initiatives.

This focal point should also act as a strong catalyst in

the formation of partnerships between countries and

organisations of all types, based on an all-inclusive

approach that involves governments, the private

sector, civil society and international organisations.

As a process conducted under the G8, the DOT

Force is formally drawing to a close. Its agenda,

however, has now become the business of a

number of other bodies that will carry on the

leadership role of the DOT Force within the

international community. The UN ICT Task Force,

established by the Secretary-General in November

2001, shares the DOT Force vision and approach,

and provides a focal point for establishing strategic

direction, policy coherence and advocacy in relation

to the global, ICT-based development agenda.

Through its regional networks, the UN ICT Task

Force provides an effective means for broader

outreach and the effective involvement of

developing countries in future implementation work.

In the private sector, organisations such as the

World Economic Forum, the Global Business

Dialogue on Electronic Commerce, and the

International Chamber of Commerce have also

accepted the challenge of widening digital

opportunities within the developing world.

The DOT Force implementation teams have

become the primary means of implementing the

Genoa Plan of Action. Their initiatives illustrate the

key elements in the DOT Force formula — they

include innovative models of development that are

scalable and replicable; they involve partners from

developing countries in all phases, from design to

delivery; they rely on public private partnerships; and

they carry minimal overhead, allowing for speedy

implementation.

Their autonomy and operational flexibility are key

values to nurture in the deployment of projects,

while seeking high-level support from global

organisations.

The teams are important agents to carry forward

the future work of the DOT Force and to complete

the implementation of the Genoa Plan of Action.

They will seek other additional partners and

establish an informal network to coordinate their

work, facilitate the exchange of information and

combine forces on ‘ICT for development’ advocacy.

As part of their ongoing work, DOT Force

partners also invite G8 governments individually to

continue their involvement in the implementation of

the Genoa Plan of Action, including support for

specific initiatives. The World Summit on the

Information Society will provide a good opportunity

to take stock of progress made in achieving the goal

of an inclusive global information society. ■

For more information, visit: www.dotforce.org


On the 29 April 2002, an inaugural meeting of the UN ICT Task Force

Europe and Central Asia (EuCAs) regional network took place in

Geneva. Two nodes of the UN ICT TF EuCAs Secretariat were

established in Geneva and Moscow. The Moscow node started to operate in May

2002 and has five regular staff members. A special UN ICT TF EuCAs Regional

Network website has been set up.

Six EuCAs regional network working groups were established in accordance

with those in the global UN ICT TF. Election procedures for WG coordinators

were organised. The elected coordinators now represent the following countries:

Armenia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Switzerland and the United

Kingdom. All six chairmen of the working groups became ex-officio members of

the UN ICT TF EuCAs Bureau, which includes 11 members. This Bureau was

established to ensure that the regional network pursues the objectives of the

UN ICT Task Force.

Two regional conferences took place in our subcontinent. We have approved

the Bishkek-Moscow Declaration and Bucharest Declaration. These two

important documents will be our ponderable input in preparation for the World

Summit on Information Society, which will take place in Geneva and Tunisia.

Upon the meeting of the EuCAs Bureau in Bucharest, we adopted the vision of

the strategy and plan of action for the near future. Now we have regional

priorities, such as creating the infrastructure of the information society,

knowledge-based economy and cultural diversity of the content.

An example of the holistic approach to e-development at the regional level

could be the comprehensive e-Moscow programme. Its main goals were

proclaimed as: improving the quality of life for citizens and their maximum self-

realisation, development of democracy, innovativeness and labour efficiency,

improvement of the social and economic situation through the creation of new

work places and the development of an information industry, improvement of the

environment through ICT, effective use of Moscow’s creative and cultural

potential, etc.

The last five years of our work clearly proved to us that we are not talking

about conquering the digital divide, but rather about conquering the divide

between economies or even civilisations. Today, we are appealing to those who

have knowledge.

On 9 December 2002, the international conference “Global Knowledge –

Russia” took place in Moscow, which brought together decision makers and

high-level experts from 18 countries, representing government, business, civil


The dialogue of civilisations

From the UN ICT Task Force Regional Network for Europe andCentral Asia to the World Summit on the Information Society.

“

”

The last five years of ourwork clearly proved to usthat we are not talkingabout conquering thedigital divide, but ratherabout conquering thedivide between economiesor even civilisations. Today,we are appealing to thosewho have knowledge

society, the research and education community, mass media, national and

international associations, and international organisations (such as the World

Bank, United Nations Development Program and United Nations Economic

Commission for Europe). The participants were made aware of E- and K-

strategies and programme development implementation worldwide. They could

exchange their own unique practical experience and were informed about the

World Summit on Information Society and its preparatory process. Partnership

networks were looked at and analysed as mighty tools to transform the society

towards an information society for all and to enhance the knowledge economy.

One such network is the Russian e-Development Partnership (PRIOR). It is a

loose association of organisations established in November 2001, aimed at

facilitating Russia’s dynamic and fully-fledged development in the information

society through building a partnership between the key forces of e-

development, undertaking targeted efforts to bridge the digital divide, and

assisting in the development of the knowledge economy. Now the partnership

includes 193 organisations from 26 regions of Russia – those ranging from a

one-man company to leading Russian universities and research organisations,

recognised public organisations and IT leaders. It is open for international

participation as well.

One of the significant outcomes of PRIOR and UN ICT TF EuCAs’ joint

activity is the fact that Russia made a step towards a national e-strategy – a

multi-stakeholder working group has been created to prepare a framework for

this document. The group has been established under the umbrella of the

Ministry of Russian Federation for Communication and Informatization, which is

in charge of issues related to the information society.

Today, we are looking at those who are ready to share technologies. We are

waiting for goodwill actions from those who are willing to share their profits,

realising that without it there will be no profits tomorrow. We are closely

cooperating with the Geneva Node of the UN ICT Task Force Europe and Central

Asia regional network. This cooperation resulted in a contribution to the

preparation of the conceptual outcome of the European Regional Ministerial

Conference (Bucharest, 7-9 November 2002), now it refers to the development of

action plans for the WSIS.

It’s time to speak about the dialogue of civilisations. And it’s time to use ICT

for this dialogue. The time is coming to merge TV, radio, multimedia and the

internet into one entity – the entity of knowledge and technology.

We are approaching the World Summit of Information Society. It will take

place in Geneva and Tunisia. Both Summits with our help can turn into a new

form of a dialogue between civilisations.

This is our dream. This is our will. ■


For more information, contact: Andrey Korotkov, Head of Bureau, UN ICT Task Force Regional Network

for Europe and Central Asia. www.unicttaskforce.org

18

The European Council held in Lisbon in March

2000 set the ambitious objective for Europe

to become the most competitive and

dynamic economy in the world. It recognised an

urgent need for Europe to quickly exploit the

opportunities of the new economy and in particular

the Internet. To achieve this, the Heads of State and

Government invited the Council and the

Commission to draw up ‘a comprehensive eEurope

Action Plan using an open method of co-ordination

based on the benchmarking of national initiatives,

combined with the Commission’s eEurope initiative

as well as its Communication Strategies for jobs in

the Information Society.’

eEurope initially identified ten areas where action

at European level would add value. The key target

areas were revised following the Lisbon European

Council, and clustered into three main objectives: a

cheaper, faster, secure Internet; investing in people

and skills; and stimulating the use of the Internet.

A cheaper, faster, secure Internet

The first priority of this goal was to establish

cheaper, faster Internet, an important aspect of which

involved developing competition in the local loop and

unbundling the local loop. Ensuring that less-favoured

regions can fully participate in the information society

is a priority for the Union. Projects encouraging the

uptake of new technologies in less-favoured regions

are also now a key element in regional development

agendas. In relation to the next generation Internet,

the Commission is also to launch an initiative aimed

at mobilising telecommunications operators and

equipment manufacturers to work together with

service providers and users to ensure the rapid

deployment and use of IPv6.

The next priority in this objective was faster

Internet for researchers and students. Europe needs

to invest more to provide both a truly ‘state-of-the-art’

infrastructure and the technologies required to fully

exploit it. The Commission launched the research

networking activity under the 5th Framework

Programme, which provide �80 million to ensure the

upgrading of trans-European capacity to 2.5 Gbit/s.

The final goal regarded the establishment of secure

networks and smart cards. This included improving

the availability of solutions for Internet security, better

co-ordination to fight cybercrime and the

encouragement of the use of smart cards to improve

the security of access to electronic services (via a

high level Task Force to initiate and support common

developments in the deployment of smart cards).

Investing in people and skills

A key responsibility established in the framework

of the action plan was to integrate European youth

into the digital age, by promoting the relevant use of

eEurope: An information society for all


From the European Commission to the WorldSummit on the Information Society

19

new technologies and applications, and financing

dissemination of best practices. Extra financial

resources were also made available to ensure that all

pupils have the possibility to be digitally literate by the

time they leave school. Ensuring employability and

adaptability in the new economy is also a primary

responsibility. The Commission played a key co-

ordinating role within the European Employment

Process, which is based on drawing up employment

guidelines at European level and translating them into

National Employment Action Plans.

The Council also noted that there should be no

‘info-exclusion’, adding that special attention should

be given to disabled people. As part of this drive, the

High Level Group on the Employment and Social

Dimension of the Information Society (ESDIS), in co-

operation with the Commission, examined and

monitored legislation and standards relevant to the

information society to ensure their conformity with

accessibility principles. It was also established that

public sector websites and their content in member

states and in the European Institutions must be

designed to be accessible to ensure that citizens with

disabilities can access information and take full

advantage of their potential.

Stimulating the use of the Internet

A critical element of stimulating the use of the

Internet involves accelerating e-commerce. To

ensure the establishment of the internal market for

e-commerce, the Commission proposed a number

of legislative measures – the ‘Dual Use Regulation’

providing an internal market for security products

and the rapid adoption of the e-commerce

Directive, for example. Enabling electronic access to

public services and health information was also

recognised as a critical component, and the

Commission has revised procedures to better

exploit digital technologies.

The Commission also launched a programme to

support European digital content on global networks

and promote linguistic diversity in the information

society. Finally, the eEurope initiative was also

created to address the growing demand for mobility

within transport infrastructure networks – paying

particular attention to the issues of congestion,

safety and the shortage of new services.

Technologies are already being deployed to address

these issues, and eEurope will also kick start new

solutions and accelerate their deployment.

An operational action plan

The action plan acknowledges that there is an

urgent need for Europe to quickly exploit the

opportunities of the new economy and in particular

the Internet. The objectives will contribute to the

development of a stronger and more pro-active

policy in the information society at a global level. In

the context of e-commerce, for example, it will

provide global co-operation between governments

and the private sector, particularly in the

development of co-regulation.

Europe must play an active role in the

development of a more equitable information society,

which offers fair chances of inclusion to all countries.

Closing the 'digital divide' between developed and

developing countries is a key goal for the European

Union. To meet this goal, collaboration with Europe’s

main international partners and private industry will be

necessary. eEurope assists this collaboration, driving

the ambitious objective of making Europe the most

competitive and dynamic economy in the world. ■


For more information, visit: http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/action_plan/pdf/actionplan_en.pdf


The Markle Foundation is a private, not-for-

profit philanthropy. In 1999, the Foundation

focused its mission on using emerging

information and communications technology (ICT) to

improve people’s lives.

The Foundation creates and operates most of its

own projects using grants, investments, and strategic

alliances with governments, multilateral organisations,

industry, the academy, think tanks and other

foundations and non-profit organisations. It is a

unique institution that combines the functions of an

operating foundation, granting foundation, think tank,

and incubator.

Policy for a networked society

Markle is currently undertaking work under its

Policy for a Networked Society Program to support

the use of ICT in development efforts. We pursue this

work through the Global Digital Opportunity Initiative

(GDOI) Project and the Policy Cooperation Project.

These projects address two related needs of

developing countries:

• The GDOI Project seeks to integrate ICT into

national development strategies.

• The Policy Cooperation Project seeks to engage

developing countries in global ICT policymaking that

will influence how ICT is deployed at the national

level and in the global marketplace.

The roots of the GDOI and Policy Cooperation

Projects can be found in the G8 DOT Force and UN-

ICT Task Force. Markle helped create the G8 DOT

Force and co-chaired Implementation Team I ‘National

e-Strategies’, and Team V ‘Global Policy Participation’

on the DOT Force currently chairs Working Group I

‘ICT Policy and Governance’, and participates in

Group II ‘National and Regional e-Strategies’ on the

UN ICT Task Force.

Global Digital Opportunity Initiative

Markle, the United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP) and a broad set of public-private

partners launched GDOI in February 2002. Supported

by multi-million dollar commitments from UNDP and

the Markle Foundation along with the collaboration of

a broad set of private and public sector institutions

and experts, GDOI is an implementation vehicle

created to carry on the work of the G8 DOT Force.

The GDOI is based on a report developed for the

G8 leaders at the 2001 Genoa Summit by UNDP, the

Markle Foundation and Accenture, that which out a

strategic framework for action (http://www.opt-

init.org/framework.html) that developing countries can

deploy. It enables them to reap the benefits of the

networked economy and build an information society.

The report issues a strong call to action for the

international community to assist developing

countries in taking advantage of ICT’s potential and

its integration into the mainstream of their

development activities

(http://www.markle.org/programs/_programs_policy_g

doi.stm).

The GDOI assists in the development and

implementation of national ICT for development

strategies that have the highest likelihood of

generating broader development impacts leading to

greater national growth and capacity in selected

countries. It includes a steering committee comprised

of senior officials and experts from both the

development and ICT communities and an

International Partners Group consisting of commercial

and non-profit institutions with expertise and interest

in both ICT and development matters.

GDOI’s engagements to date include:

Mozambique

The GDOI was asked by the Prime Minister of

Mozambique to assist in finalising a national ICT

Creating digital opportunity for developing countries

From the Markle Foundation to the World Summiton the Information Society


strategy. Working with an in-country ICT Policy

Commission, the GDOI helped finalise its

implementation strategy by providing policy and

technical support to the government and other

sectors. The Mozambique Council of Ministers

approved the revised version of the ICT Policy

Commission’s Implementation Strategy and UNDP

has made an agreement with the government of

Mozambique on an ICT for Development

Implementation Program.

The GDOI is currently mobilising resources and

enlisting additional partner organisations to help

implement the strategy.

South Africa

A team of seven GDOI consultants was invited to

participate in a national e-Strategy task team

mandated by the South African Electronic

Communications and Transactions Act of 2002. The

GDOI team is providing expertise in key areas of the

strategy development process: education, healthcare,

e-government, job creation access/infrastructure and

policy. Once the national e-Strategy is finalised, the

GDOI will assist South Africans in attracting additional

partners and resources for its implementation.

Policy Cooperation Project

Markle created the Policy Cooperation Project in

2002 to further the work on policy participation begun

in the G8 DOT Force, which expired in the summer of

2002, and the UN ICT Task Force, which is not an

operational body. This project aims to enable

meaningful and effective participation by developing

nations in international multilateral institutions where

ICT commitments, rules and policies are made

(ICANN, ITU, WIPO and WTO)

(http://www.markle.org/globalpolicy/).

While domestic policies are needed to harness

ICT for development effectively, international policies

forged in multilateral institutions will increasingly

define the range of policy options available to

developing countries. Many developing countries

have not participated effectively in international ICT

policy processes due to capacity and process

limitations. These limitations may cause developing

country stakeholders to question the transparency,

legitimacy and accountability of international

governance processes and outcomes related to ICT,

and impede both developing and developed countries

in their national and international ICT goals.

Full and equitable participation by developing

nations in multilateral institutions, therefore, is critical

to the realisation of their developmental goals.

Specific achievements to date include:

Roadmap

DOT Force Implementation Team V’s Roadmap

Toward Enabling Meaningful Participation by

Developing Country Stakeholders defines the

current global ICT policy environment and the most

common barriers to developing-country

participation, examines key lessons in developing

country participation drawn from other global policy

fora that are not ICT focused, and lays out a

framework of priorities and recommended actions to

increase developing nation participation. The

Roadmap complements Louder Voices:

Strengthening Developing Country Participation in

International ICT Decision-making (Louder Voices), a

survey and report conducted by CTO and PANOS

with DFID support.


ramifications for developing countries, including:

the allocation and maintenance of country-code

top level domain names (ccTLDs); the

standardisation of foreign language domain names;

and the implementation of the Uniform Domain

Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) to

safeguard the intellectual property rights of users

in developing nations.

Recently, at the ICANN board meetings in

Accra, Bucharest and most recently Shanghai,

Markle has funded developing country participation

and organised meetings with ICANN officials and

other members of the global domain name

community to discuss how best to ensure that the

needs of developing nations are met. Among the

possibilities discussed at these meetings: are

ensuring funding for participants from the

developing world to travel to ICANN meetings;

creating a number of ‘regional ombudsmen’ within

ICANN to represent developing countries; and

ensuring that ICANN’s decision-making structures

remain open and in line with some of the

suggestions outlined in the Roadmap (see above).

Other work

Markle supports additional relevant activities

that aim to foster digital opportunity for developing

countries, including: a Markle and the World

Resources Institute co-sponsored report, Serving

the World’s Poor, Profitably, which focuses on

innovative business models; InterAction, an

alliance of 160 international relief and development

non-governmental organisations awarded a two-

year grant by Markle to expand use of information

and communication technology to facilitate their

work; and Voxiva, which seeks to expand

communication services to poor communities in

developing nations. ■

Global Internet Policy Initiative (GIPI)

Markle is a founding partner, along with the

Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) and

Internews, in GIPI, an organisation committed to

promoting an open and democratic internet through

the adoption of legal and policy frameworks in

fourteen developing countries. The initiative serves

as a resource for local stakeholders (ISPs, content

providers, investors, telecommunications and

wireless service providers) as well as NGOs,

academics, and government entities in order to

promote transparency and predictability in: internet

business regulation; competition; privatisation;

open network and universal service; and market

driven solutions and user agency. The project is

leading consultative, coalition-based efforts to

identify country-specific legal and regulatory

impediments to internet development, and is

working with local initiatives to integrate open

internet principles.

Foreign affairs

“Governing the internet: Engaging Government,

Business and Nonprofits”, an article published by

Markle President Zoë Baird in Foreign Affairs

(November 2002), examines the limitations of self-

regulation given the internet’s rapid expansion in

protecting the public interest. The article argues for

a new, pluralistic model of regulation that includes

government, business, and non-profits. In addition,

it suggests ways to encourage greater participation

by developing countries in international ICT

policymaking bodies, such as ICANN, the ITU and

the WTO.

ICANN

Markle has been working with ICANN since

1999 to ensure that its decisions, decision-making

processes and venues are representative and

inclusive of developing countries. While many of

ICANN’s decisions appear to be strictly ‘technical’,

they have important social and economic

For more information, contact:

Noa Meyer, Manager for a networked society.

[email protected] www.markle.org

Nokia aims to be a good corporate community member

wherever it operates and has been running programmes for

many years to help people, particularly the young, improve

themselves through a wide variety of learning opportunities.

The focus of Nokia’s Corporate Community Involvement

programme is youth and education – a logical step given Nokia’s

leadership in future-oriented technologies. Chairman and CEO

Jorma Ollila puts it this way: “In the future that Nokia’s business is

shaping, people will have the technology to communicate anytime,

anywhere. Helping young people improve their skills, knowledge

and connections to society is a natural outgrowth of Nokia’s

business, vision and values.”

Nokia is committed to having a positive impact on society that

extends far beyond the advanced technology, products and

services it creates. The company’s Corporate Community

Involvement programme is designed to respond to the expectations

of all stakeholders – customers, employees and investors alike –

and to reflect the company’s core values.

It is dedicated to the ideal of continuous learning – constantly

improving life skills, creating an environment that fosters open and

creative thinking, establishing a meaningful connection with

society and sharing best practices across all borders. Veli

Sundbäck, Nokia’s Executive Vice President, who is in charge of

global Corporate Social Responsibility, explains: “It is not our

intention to promote technology as such even though it is our core

competence. In a fast changing world, we want young people to

develop the skills they are going to need – creative thinking, the

life skills needed to make quick decisions, and simply an ability to

think for themselves and take responsibility for what’s happening

around them.”

Veli points out that the company has also made local donations

for specific events, such as disaster relief in Kosovo and victims of

the Venezuelan floods, in addition to supporting long-term

initiatives on all the continents. “It’s not a question of pure

donations – we want to take an active role as a company and as

individual employees,” says Veli. “This is all about human values.”

Nokia and the IYF make a connection

While Nokia has been sponsoring activities to support youth

and education for many years, 2000 saw the beginning of a multi-

year commitment to the International Youth Foundation (IYF) – a

new and truly global partnership to promote corporate

responsibility.

In the first year, Nokia invested 3.4 million Euros in the well-

established IYF programme to support children and youth

development activities in six countries – China, Germany, South


Global focus on youth and education

From Nokia to the World Summit on theInformation Society

Africa, UK, Mexico and Brazil – as well as to conduct global

programmes. The IYF programme, called ‘Make a Connection’,

will work hand-in-hand with existing Nokia projects in many parts

of the world.

IYF itself is an independent, non-governmental organisation

dedicated to improving the conditions and prospects for young

people wherever they live, learn, work and play. It does so by

drawing on the expertise of a worldwide network of national-level

children and youth development organisations, as well as

corporations, such as Nokia, and governments, to ensure that the

best programmes are identified, strengthened and expanded.

Currently, this global network includes organisations in more than

30 countries with plans to expand to 60 by 2003.

IYF views young people’s needs as an urgent global priority,

with all young people having the innate right to develop their full

potential to become responsible and caring individuals. Its

programmes seek to build character, confidence and competence

and to ‘connect’ young people to their families, peers and

communities.

Creative thinking in China

“In just two days, I learned skills which I believe are most

important to success in the information age. I believe this project

will have a positive and significant impact on nurturing the creative

thinking skills of Chinese university students.”

This is what graduate Fu Peng had to say about Nokia’s

‘Creative Thinking Corner’ project, which helped him to prepare his

thesis for his master’s degree. The programme, launched in Beijing

University of Post and Telecommunications, is the first of its kind

and is touching the lives of thousands of students. It includes a

series of roadshows and Thinking Club activities and has travelled

to 12 universities across China.

An important part of the programme in 2000 was the Nokia

College Student Thinking Challenge Competition, which helped

students from the 12 universities develop their brainpower,

intelligence, innovation abilities, problem-discovery and solutions

capabilities. And, in order to share the project with as wide an

audience as possible in China, the Thinking Corner now has its

own website.

The Thinking Corner, for university students, has a natural

synergy with an existing IYF project called the ‘Little Master

Newspaper’, which is now receiving Nokia backing. Youngsters

under the age of 15 write, edit and produce the newspaper which

has a circulation of more than 1 million.

Folke Ahlback, Chairman of Nokia (China) Investment

Corporation, comments: “We feel that the newspaper encourages

leadership, creativity and responsibility across activities such as

culture, education, sports and the arts. We hope it will emulate the

success of Nokia’s Creative Thinking Corner workshops.”

Life skills initiatives in the UK

For the past seven years, Nokia has sponsored Mencap – the

UK’s leading charity for children and adults with learning disabilities.

The company supports specific projects each year ranging from

establishing a special sensory unit for learning to the construction of

a recording studio to produce Mencap’s newsletter in audio format.

Mencap Chairman Brian Baldock comments: “Computer and

communication technologies have the potential to revolutionise the

lives of people who have a disability by offering a better quality of life

unimaginable only a few years ago.”

Mencap is also one of the partners helping to develop teaching

materials in the new IYF Make a Connection project in the UK,

funded by Nokia and managed by the Children and Youth

Partnership Foundation. The nationwide project is aimed at young

people aged between 11 and 16, including those with special

educational needs, to equip them with the necessary life skills for

future personal and social well-being.

Connecting schools and families in the USA

ClassLink is a well-established example of Nokia’s commitment

to creating a positive impact on society by providing wireless phones

to hundreds of schools across the USA in order to connect students,

teachers and parents more effectively.

More than 90 percent of American classrooms do not have

access to a telephone, yet a national survey of teachers showed that

wireless phones are the one tool they really need. ClassLink, a

philanthropic partnership sponsored by Nokia, the CTIA's Wireless

Foundation and several carriers, answers that need.

Piloted successfully in Texas, Nokia donated 1,000 phones to 200

high schools in the state. Due to the success of the Texas programme,

ClassLink moved into the national arena in 2000. So far, more than

6,000 phones and millions of minutes of airtime have been donated to

schools across the country, bringing teachers and parents into a closer

partnership in the education of their communities’ students.

But ClassLink is not the only Nokia Corporate Community

Involvement project in the USA – others include help for sick children

and support for community issues. The Make a Wish Foundation

supported by Nokia and CBS Channel 11 has given trips to Disney,

puppies and computers to children suffering from life-threatening

illnesses. And The United Way is a programme dedicated to making

communities better places in which to live and work.

Nokia employees choose to donate to a network of agencies

looking after children, families, crisis relief, health and the elderly.

Their contribution went up by 116 per cent in 2000 and the

combination of corporate and employee pledges rose to $472,000 in

2000 from $173,200 the year before. ■


For more information, visit:http://www.nokia.com/cda2/0,1083,2912,00.html

Views from a roof in Maputo

From above, Maputo looks like a

welcoming warm city. The trees are

green, the ocean shines with an

intense blue colour. But Maputo is also the

capital of one of the world’s poorest

countries, a country with a GDP of only 250

USD per capita.

On the roof, a group of students from

Sweden and Mozambique have gathered.

Their aim is to connect six university

buildings in Maputo to the university

backbone – and to the rest of the world.

The Open.Net concept has been

developed by The Royal Institute of

Technology in Stockholm. The concept can

be described as an access network with a

freedom of choice of service operators.

In Mozambique, few students can afford

their own computer and they only have

access to computers and the internet at the

university during school hours. This means

that it is very difficult to conduct research

activities in the evenings when the university

is closed. But thanks to the project, the

students will have access to the internet

through wireless computer labs in four

student residences. As the situation in

Maputo is not unique, the project might well

be replicated in other countries.

“This is a truly multicultural project and

for us this has been a great opportunity to

learn more about ICT in another – and to

Sweden a very different – country,” says

Qarin Hjortzberg-Nordlund, one of the

Swedish students.

Eneas Huguana, one of the

Mozambicans in the project, is also

enthusiastic: “For me it has been a very

good experience working together with the

Swedish students. Here, most of our

studies are theoretical with teachers

lecturing. Now we have to solve real world

problems and that is of course very

interesting,” he says.

The name of the project – Mozambique

Open – is in itself also a symbol of what

needs to be achieved in most of the world’s

developing countries. Open means opening

up access to the world so that students,

researchers, university teachers in

Mozambique and other countries can truly

become partners in a global, open

community where knowledge, information

and experiences are freely exchanged.

There is still a long way to go. But here,

on the roof in Maputo, with the sun and the

breeze from the sea, the vision does not

seem totally impossible.

Main issues at stake

ICT and development is a broad subject.

This deals entirely with ICT in relation to

universities in developing countries.

1. Access and connectivity.

• Connectivity. Internet access is

paramount and in many cases a key issue

for ICT development projects.

• Bandwidth. The lack of bandwidth is the

prime obstacle for ICT in developing

countries in general and in Sub-Saharan

Africa in particular. By working together,

universities in developing countries could

negotiate better prices for bandwidth.

• Technical constraints. Lack of

infrastructure, lack of qualified man power

and unreliable power supply are among

the major problems.

• Access to information. For a higher

quality in education and research, access

to information is fundamental.


ICT –transformingthe world bytransforminguniversities

From The Swedish International DevelopmentCooperation Agency to the World Summit on theInformation Society.

“There is still a longway to go. But here,on the roof inMaputo, with the sunand the breeze fromthe sea, the visiondoes not seem totallyimpossible

”

2. Human resource development (HRD)

• Efficient administration. ICT must be

used in the universities’ administration in

order to guarantee transparency and a

more effective use of resources.

• Capacity building. Training of

professionals in the ICT field will give

developing countries an important

knowledge base.

• Cooperation with other universities. ICT

opens up new possibilities for

cooperation.

3. Local content

• ICT in research and research on ICT.

Universities in developing countries can

better participate in research projects and

contribute with their findings. There is

also a need for specific research on ICT in

developing countries.

4. Innovative use

• The university as incubator. By working

closely with the private sector the

university can play an important role for

the establishment of an emerging ICT

industry. This will also make it possible

for the university to sell services and be

more sustainable.

• The university within society. The

university plays an important role in

introducing ICT as a way of combating

poverty and improving living conditions in

the country.

5. Sustainability

• Huge investments are needed, but how

could they become sustainable? What will

happen the day the donors phase out

their programmes? Sustainability is a key

issue for long-term development.

6. Gender

• ICT cannot be a male-only club. If you do

not get various perspectives you risk

losing valuable aspects. The gender

issue must therefore be further

addressed in all programmes.

Achieving sustainability

To bridge the digital divide, huge

investments are required in bandwidth,

running cost, infrastructure, equipment and

human resources along with major support

from the donors. But here lies the problem

with sustainability. In order to make the

investment sustainable, there is a need to

develop a long-term financing model for ICT

at the universities. But who will pay? What

will happen with salaries, software licenses,

connectivity costs, and salaries to match

the private market once donor programmes

come to an end?

Sustainability requires income

generation and universities can actually

make money – so cooperation with the

private sector is of vital importance. Many

universities in developing countries are

selling their services to the private sector in

the form of internet services, consultancy

for private companies, fees for students,

etc. SIDA is planning to start a study that

will address the issue of sustainability of

ICT projects in the public sector of low-

income countries. ■


For more information, visit: www.sida.se


The proposal made by Pasquale Pistorio and

STMicroelectronics (ST) concerns the involvement of

corporations in the fight against the digital divide. The

proposal is based on the firm conviction that, while building

infrastructure – and whatever else is needed to provide internet

access – is essential for overcoming the technological gap between

the most advanced nations and the developing world, it is equally

important that people be able to use the technology, understand its

importance and recognise the benefits it has to offer. Education and

training are essential to access modern means of communication

and information.

In Pistorio’s opinion, all companies can and should invest in

teaching those who have not had access to the education necessary

to use a PC, no matter where they might live. He suggests that

medium to large corporations – i.e. companies with over 250

employees – voluntarily donate up to 0.1 percent of their annual

revenues and up to 0.1 percent of their employees’ working hours to

this cause. The intention is to create a widespread movement and to

mobilise voluntary donations, not only of hardware, software and

communications connections but also of human resources.

Why get business involved? Firstly, because Pistorio and ST are

deeply convinced that socially responsible companies – that is,

companies that are committed to promoting the wellbeing of the

communities in which they work – generate more value not only for

their stakeholders but also for their shareholders.

Secondly, corporations should consider that by encouraging

employees to transfer basic computer skills they also provide them

with extra motivation. This kind of initiative helps companies to

recruit the best young talent and retain them for longer since they

contribute to increase the motivation of employees and their

acceptance of and identification with the company.

Lastly, in the long run, the most advanced economies will clearly

benefit if, by triggering a process to limit the digital divide and to

contribute to the development of poorer areas of the world, new

markets and new opportunities for trade and production are created.

Moreover, no one should forget the payback in terms of security and

peace for the entire world if economic reasons for potential conflicts

are reduced in the future.

ST has already started down on this track and has completed

the most significant part of the preparation job, that is, building up a

model course for basic PC and internet literacy, and a course to

train its employees or other volunteers to become trainers. The

courses were designed by ST information technology specialists

leveraging the training expertise of the internal corporate school of

management, and are totally royalty-free. As such, they will be

offered to any organisation willing to run the same programme.

The model course, to be deployed in at least 20 hours in a

classroom, not only includes basic PC and internet tools for a user

starting from scratch, but also instructions on security and quality,

as well as an introduction on hardware key elements.

After a successful trial with teachers in an Italian primary

school, translation in all the main languages spoken by the ST

community worldwide has begun, taking into consideration both

local culture and local standards of computing literacy. The

English, French and Italian versions have already been

completed.

More than 50 trainers have now been trained and will initiate,

in 2003, the cascading process by which the company aims to

reach one million people in a decade.

The process will first involve members of the ST community at

large, including employees, their relatives, small businesses, schools,

local organisations and administrative entities in the vicinity of ST sites.

The next steps will foresee the setting up of internet kiosks for

free access to the web and its services and the start-up of remote

training activities, while at the same time expanding the cooperation

with other organisations and business enterprises in order to

broaden the scope and the reach of the initiative. ■

For more information, visit: www.st.com

Closing the digital dividethrough education and training

From ST Microelectronics to the World Summit onthe Information Society


Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International (TAGI) is one

of the leading providers of professional

services in the Arab world. Although it is a

profit-making firm, it is uniquely distinguished by the

inclusion, in its core mission statement, of a

commitment to contributing to the socio-economic

development of the Arab world. This unusually strong

focus on development issues originates in the life-

long commitment of the firm’s founder, CEO and

namesake Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, to fostering a

renaissance in the Arab world. Abu-Ghazaleh’s

special interests and commitments in this area have

resulted in his becoming a leading Arab business

leader in the field of development.

In the late 1990s, his belief in the power of

information and communication technologies (ICTs)

increased to such an extent that he acted as a

catalyst to the development process. The increasing

focus on ICTs led to an evolving leadership role at an

international level, which culminated in his current

international leadership position as chairman of the

ICC’s Commission on Electronic Business,

Information Technology and Telecoms (EBITT), and

co-chair of the UN ICT Task Force.

The stumbling block for Mr Abu-Ghazaleh in

seeing his vision of an Arab information society

realised is that the Arab world is one of the most

digitally deprived regions in the world. Other issues

that pose problems include lack of high-quality local

content (i.e. Arabic language materials), and

significant lack of literacy in basic computer skills.

One solution pioneered by Abu-Ghazaleh was to

partner with Cambridge International Examinations

(CIE), one of the world’s foremost educational

institutions. Together with the Arab Knowledge

Management Society (AKMS), they formed Abu-

Ghazaleh Cambridge IT Skills Centre (AGCA). AGCA

was established to prepare prospective candidates for

the Cambridge IT Skills Award tests in Arabic.

Individuals who successfully complete this course are

awarded the Cambridge Skills Award in Information

Technology. CIE provided their world-renowned

educational materials and awards, which were

translated into Arabic and marketed by TAGI.

The only difficulty the project experienced was

that which affects most development-oriented

initiatives: financing. CIE and TAGI are both profit-

making companies. For CIE, venturing into the

marketing of Arabic versions of their products would

be too risky without a strong local partner. Even for

TAGI, some of their in-house consultants were

sceptical of the profitability of the project. The key to

initiating the project was TAGI’s core commitment and

mission to Arab development.

Thus far, the project has yielded far greater

success than was initially imagined. Utilising a

franchising system, TAGI has begun spreading the

Abu-Ghazaleh Cambridge IT Skills Centres (AGCA) to

academic and other institutions across the region.

This is a demonstration of a winning partnership

between the two motivations of development and

profit making in one successful project. ■

The Abu-Ghazaleh Cambridge IT Skills Centre

From Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International to the WorldSummit on the Information Society

“”

The key to initiating theproject was TAGI’s corecommitment andmission to Arabdevelopment

For more information, visit: www.tagi.com


policy and investment tools remain effective

in a rapidly changing sector. This evolution

is underpinned by a commitment to learning

and knowledge development within the

Bank and beyond, covering research, pilots

and dissemination. Much of this

development and dissemination is

supported by infoDev, which was one of the

first grant initiatives created to back pilot

projects that put ICT to work in the fight

against poverty. It has supported over 250

projects covering initiatives such as rural

telecentres, e-readiness studies and use of

the internet to sell products created by

artisans. More recently, the Development

Gateway has also played an important role.

The Gateway is more than a website

containing best practice and information on

development topics, it also acts as an e-

procurement portal, an aid database and a

centre for knowledge creation surrounding

ICT and development.

Finally, it should be noted that the World

Bank Group’s ICT strategy recognises the

great importance of cooperation and

partnership in an area where so many

governments, private companies, donors

and non-governmental organisations are at

work, and on an agenda that is far too large

for any one organisation to hope to tackle

alone. The World Bank Group sees

collaboration with and learning from our

development partners central to the effort of

grasping digital opportunities. ■

For more information, visit: www.worldbank.org

The World Bank Group’s strategy for

ICT lays out four directions for our

work:

• Policy for ICTs, including

telecommunications reform, access

programmes and e-strategies.

• Connectivity, including support for private

sector roll-out of information infrastructure.

• Skills, supporting public private

partnerships to generate human capital to

exploit ICTs.

• Applications, using ICTs to deliver the

goals of development.

The Bank is currently involved in over 70

countries worldwide working with

governments to improve the policy and

regulatory environment for information

infrastructure. This involves support not only

for the development of well regulated,

competitive private provision of

infrastructure, but also innovative subsidy

schemes to support the roll-out of services

to poor and rural communities.

The IFC, the World Bank Group’s

private sector arm, has mobilised about

US$5 billion in private capital over the past

10 years to extend access to information

infrastructure in developing countries.

Including the catalytic impact of IFC

projects, this investment can be linked to

the roll-out of 32 million new cellular

connections – equal to 20 percent of all of

the mobile phones in developing countries

at the start of 2000. MIGA, the private

sector guarantee agency, has also

supported a number of

telecommunications investments.

Turning to skills, the Bank has been a

leader in expanding e-learning operations.

This is not only through lending operations

such as the Turkey Basic Education Project

which will eventually link 10,000 schools to

the internet, but also through a number of

special initiatives. The Global Development

Learning Network, World Links and the

Africa Virtual University all provide e-

education facilities – the first through a

network of 32 learning centres, the second

through virtual teaching that has reached

24,000 tertiary students and the third

through a programme that has reached

130,000 primary and secondary school

students in LDCs.

Finally, the Bank also supports roll-out

of ICT applications in government services

from budget and accounting to education

and telemedicine. In total, somewhere

between US$1-2 billion in lending each year

goes to support the ICT components of

such projects.

The World Bank Group is continually

evolving its ICT agenda to ensure that its

The World Bank Group:fostering digital opportunities

From the World Bank Group to the World Summit on theInformation Society

32

Despite the incredible technological advances

of the past decade, the digital revolution has

yet to touch the lives of most people in most

parts of the world. Even where new technologies are

available, they have had only minimal impact on the

great social needs of our times: improving education,

reducing poverty, enhancing healthcare and

supporting community development.

The Digital Nations Consortium focuses explicitly

on these major social challenges. The Consortium

does not aim to impose solutions but rather to

empower people in all walks of life to invent their

own solutions. The Consortium is developing a new

generation of technologies and policies that enable

people to design, create and learn in new ways,

helping them become more active participants in

their societies.

The Consortium focuses especially on populations

with the greatest needs – children and the elderly,

underserved communities and developing nations. The

Consortium tests out ideas and technologies in pilot

projects around the world, helping individuals and

communities develop innovative strategies in domains

ranging from commerce to agriculture to healthcare –

and, more broadly, it transforms the ways they learn

and develop.

To accomplish this goal the Consortium helps

organise and coordinate action projects that make

use of cutting-edge ideas and technologies in real-

world settings. In each country local organisations

(typically a public private corporation) create similar

action projects in their own communities and

countries. The learnings from these action projects

are shared among consortium members, and form the

basis for informed policy decisions.

The largest participant in the Digital Nations

Consortium is Media Lab Asia, a not-for-profit

company funded by industry and by up to US$100

million seed money from the Indian government.

Media Lab Asia has four main research themes: bits

for all (universal broadband connectivity), world

computer (low-cost computing and universal

interface), tomorrow’s tools (low-cost sensors and

fabrication) and the digital village.

The digital village research theme uses large-scale

field experiments to examine the effect of new

technologies on village life, asking if the change is

beneficial for the various stakeholders and if it is

sustainable. It also works with the government to

develop policy recommendations that can aid in

adoption of the technology and, at the same, time

minimise negative effects.

From this process two main policy

recommendations have emerged: one concerning

spectrum allocation and the second concerning the

telephone companies universal service obligation.

Spectrum allocation: After examining the

technology available for broadband wireless

connectivity and the economic trends associated with

those technologies, it was determined that the IEEE

802 standards offered great promise for rural

communications. Although these wireless standards

were originally intended primarily for office use, many

have noted that with a suitable antenna these very

inexpensive digital transceivers (now under US$200)

can be used for broadband communications over

many kilometres.

To leverage this technology Media Lab Asia

argued to the government that the 2.4Ghz frequency

band used by the IEEE 802.11b standard should be

deregulated. The goal was to allow local

entrepreneurs to become ‘mini-ISPs’ and quickly

spread broadband connectivity throughout India, in a

manner similar to the spread of India’s cable TV

Metapolicy for ICTs: The Digital Nations Consortium


From the United Nations Information & CommunicationTechnologies Task Force to the World Summit on theInformation Society on behalf of Working Group 1.

33

service via entrepreneurs capitalising on India’s

unregulated cable TV service industry.

In autumn 2002, the government of India freed the

2.4Ghz frequency band, becoming perhaps the first

nation in history to deregulate spectrum. More

recently, the FCC in the US has also issued policy

recommendations that may lead to greater

deregulation of the spectrum.

Universal service obligation: throughout most of the

world, telecommunications companies have an

obligation to provide service to rural areas, in essence,

a tax on urban service to promote universal service. In

most developing countries the specified service is

typically a pay telephone in the village centre, often

manned by a local official or entrepreneur.

In an age when developed countries are removing

pay telephones because they are too expensive to

maintain, and in which SMS messaging frequency

dominates that of voice traffic, it makes sense to


“”

The largest participant in the Digital NationsConsortium is Media Lab Asia, a not-for-profitcompany funded by industry and by up to US$100million seed money from the Indian government

revisit the definition of the universal service obligation.

Media Lab Asia has argued that a wireless broadband

‘village area network’ based on the IEEE 802.11

standard may make more sense, and is certainly more

scalable, than the current standard of service.

As single-chip implementations of the standard

become common, we expect to see the emergence of

wireless ‘communicators’ at under US$25. This opens

the possibility of providing dozens of multimedia

terminals (each capable of voice and data) at a price

comparable to the current isolated village telephone,

in essence, leapfrogging to a level of service higher

than in most developed countries. ■

For more information, contact: Prof. Alex (Sandy) Pentland

Co-Director, Digital Nations Consortium

Founding Director, Media Lab Asia

MIT Media Laboratory E-mail: [email protected]

The focus of e-development strategies

is to enhance development through

effective deployment of ICT, putting

in place the conditions necessary to achieve

these ends.

Convinced by this potential of ICT to

enhance national and regional development

opportunities, and realising that

telecommunication and IT sector reforms

by themselves were insufficient to release

this potential, a number of developing

countries have embarked on formulating

and implementing e-strategies or ICT for

Development (ICT4D) strategies. Many

have yet to do so, and are looking to

understand what needs to be done and to

get a clearer sense of the results that can

be expected.

In developing e-strategies, countries do

not necessarily retrace all the steps of

those who have gone before but adapt

their strategies to new environments and

opportunities. For both developed and

developing countries, e-strategies are thus

an evolving process rather than a fixed

output that is defined once and for all. In

analysing past national and regional e-

strategies, impact is seen to vary

according to the approach followed.

Strategies can be differentiated along some

of the following:

• Degree of integration of telecom in e-

strategies: few address the full range of

ICT and converging technology choices

and platforms.

• Digital divide as opposed to digital

opportunities for development focus:

strategies are only slowly evolving from a

largely connectivity-centred focus on the

digital divide to a more holistic

development focus that concentrates on

the deployment of ICT.

• Awareness of the networked economy

and society as opportunity and

challenge: ICT themselves have helped

to underpin the process of global

integration through the creation of a

networked economy and society. This

has transformed the ways in which

organisations, services, production and

markets are organised, creating new

opportunities and challenges for those

not yet networked.

• The distinctive focus on ICT – as a

sector and/or enabler of development:

development of the ICT sector is not

essential for deployment of the

technology, nor can all countries benefit

from developing a sector.

While falling costs and an increase in

technology options are making ICT more

accessible than ever before, difficulties in

securing investment funds and private

sector involvement remain in the wake of

the dotcom and telecom crashes. This

increases the premium on well-defined,

costed and implementable strategies, as

well as the need to think of new

partnerships, business models and

implementation strategies in terms of ODA.

The e-strategy

As an enabler of development, ICT has

the potential to assist in the achievement of

millennium development goals: through the

creation of new economic and social

opportunities; the promotion of greater

participation in development policies and

processes; an increase in the efficiency,

accountability and delivery of public

National & regional e-development strategies: A blueprint for action


From the United Nations Information &Communication Technologies Task Force to theWorld Summit on the Information Society onbehalf of Working Group 2.

National approaches to ICT

ICT as a sector ICT as an enabler

National capacity/domestic market

Focuse.g. Brazil, India(1960s-1980s)

Export market focus

e.g. Costa Rica,India (1990s)

Global positioning focus

e.g. Malaysia/ Ireland

Development goals focus

e.g. Estonia, SouthAfrica (1990s)

Source: p. Final Report of Digital Opportunity Initiative, a partnership of UNDP, Accenture & the Markle Foundationhttp://www.opt-int.org/

services; as well as through assisting with

improving the content, access and delivery

of education and healthcare.

However, this awareness of the

development potential of ICT is often not

fully reflected in the formulation of national

e-strategies, many of which either lay

primary emphasis on ICT as a sector (IT

services, call centres), assuming that this

can emerge as a new growth and export

sector, or focus on ICT as an enabler, but in

a more piecemeal fashion.

Also critical in making the case for a

strategic deployment of ICT to support the

achievement of millennium development

goals is the potential to demonstrate

impact. There are currently few studies or

strategies that outline a strategic

programmatic vision with regard to ICTs

and development in terms of benchmarks,

goals, etc.

Identification of strategic entry points

It is important to begin by identifying

areas where ICT can have a critical

development impact. Most e-assessments

do not have this development focus in

mind. Development entry points for the

strategy may be usefully derived from the

priorities identified in the national poverty

reduction strategy and other development

policies and plans.

To consider a few recent examples: in

the case of Mozambique, the ICT policy

implementation strategy draws its priorities

from the PARPA or poverty reduction

strategy. There are indications that the

PARPA may in turn be iteratively revised to

address deployment of ICT for development.

Within the context of the IT Masterplan

2001-2005, the pre-eminent focus is more

on ICT as a sector rather than ICT as an

enabler. But in general, these are the

exceptions rather than the rule. In the

context of the PRSP exercise, ICT is yet to

be viewed as a strategic enabler for

development and poverty reduction. There

are examples of ICT but as of yet there are

no systematic case studies or guidelines

on ICT as an enabler in the PRSP

sourcebook. ICT is viewed as infrastructure

or considered in the context of private

sector development.

Moving forward, it could prove both

useful and important to secure

complementarity at the policy and

implementation levels between the national

ICT and poverty reduction strategies by

inserting development in ICT strategies and

ICT in poverty reduction strategies. ■



UN ICT TF Working Group 2.

E-mail: [email protected]

e-strategy essentials / a blueprint for national and regional e-strategiesThis blueprint highlights 10 key steps for conceiving, planning and implementing e-strategies.

Telecom-IT cohesion

Regional integration

Processes to enhanceglobal inclusion

Donor cooperation and resource mobilisation

Povertyreduction goal

Implementation modalities

Prioritisation programmes

Holistic framework

Multi-stakeholder strategy

Vision and leadership

Bottom up approaches

36

As an implementation of very low cost ICT

infrastructure, we have developed a store-

and-forward wireless network for rural

connectivity known as DakNet. The name derives

from the Hindi word ‘dak’ which means ‘post’ or

‘postal’. The DakNet wireless network takes

advantage of existing communications and

transportation infrastructure to distribute digital

connectivity to outlying villages lacking digital

communications infrastructure. DakNet combines

physical means of transportation with wireless data

transfer in order to extend the internet connectivity

provided by a central uplink or hub (e.g. a cybercafe,

VSAT or post office) to kiosks in surrounding villages.

Instead of trying to relay data over a long distance

(which can be expensive), DakNet transmits data over

short point-to-point links between kiosks and portable

storage devices called mobile access points (MAPs).

Mounted on and powered by a bus, motorcycle or

even bicycle, the MAP physically transports data

among public kiosks and private communications

devices (as an intranet) and between kiosks and a

hub (for non-real-time internet access). Through the

use of low cost WiFi radio transceivers, the data

carried by the MAP is automatically and wirelessly

transferred at high bandwidth for each point-to-point

connection. The operation of the network can be

described as follows:

1. As the vehicle carrying the MAP comes within

range of each village (up to 1km depending on line-

of-sight, velocity and use of antennas) they

automatically sense a wireless connection with a

kiosk and deliver and collect data at relatively high

bandwidth (300Kbs-11Mbs).

2. Whenever a MAP comes within range of another

kiosk or a hub, data is automatically uploaded to,

and downloaded from, the intranet/internet.

3. This cycle is repeated for every vehicle carrying a

MAP unit, thereby creating a low-cost wireless

network and seamless communications

infrastructure. Even a single vehicle passing by a

village once per day is sufficient to provide daily

information services.

Although the data transport provided by DakNet

is not real-time, a significant amount of data can be

moved at once, supporting a variety of applications.

As a result, it is interesting to note that physically

transporting data from village to village by this

means generally provides a higher data throughput

than other low bandwidth technologies, such as

telephone modems.

By employing short distance radio links, DakNet

allows for small low cost, low power radio devices to

be used. Perhaps more importantly, the use of short

distance radio links also ensures high data rates and

does not have the interference problems, security

problems and maintenance costs associated with

long distance wireless links.

A road to universal broadband connectivity



”

“DakNet transmits data overshort point-to-point linksbetween kiosks andportable storage devicescalled mobile access points

37

DakNet can be used to support a wide variety of

applications such as:

• Internet/intranet messaging: e-mail and video/audio

messaging.

• Information distribution/broadcasting: community

bulletin boards, public health announcements,

music and video broadcasts.

• Information collection: collection of environmental

sensor information, voting, census/polling, health

records and land records.

• Information searching, web services: searching and

browsing, and e-commerce.

• Rural supply chain management: tracking the

movement of goods. ■


”

“Although the data transport providedby DakNet is not real-time, asignificant amount of data can bemoved at once, supporting a varietyof applications


Prof. Alex (Sandy) Pentland, Dr Richard Fletcher,

Amir Alexander Hasson, MIT Media Laboratory



Working Group 6 (WG6) was

created with the understanding

that ICTs can be leveraged to

achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Over the past year, the working group has

assessed the development environment and

has recently engaged in three specific

projects aimed at helping enterprises and

entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses.

With the assistance of experts in the field

and inputs from those who have worked in

development, the chair of WG6 has crafted

a strategy that will allow the working group

to directly affect medium enterprises, small

to medium-sized businesses and micro-

entrepreneurs. In addition, WG6 is also

drafting policy recommendations for

governments wishing to create a more

enabling environment for business

development. To achieve this goal, WG6 has

partnered with outside NGOs, most notably

Bridges.org and Open Economies.

Each of the projects being pursued

under the WG6 umbrella is unique in its

focus, scope and reach. Yet the projects are

consistent in their overall goals: addressing

the business and financial needs, and

sustainable economic growth in developing

countries. These goals parallel those of the

Millennium Development Goals. Thus all the

WG6 projects are focused on concretely

applying the benefit of ICTs to entrepreneurs

and enterprises in developing countries.

Enablis

In the category of medium-sized

businesses, WG6 is continuing the efforts

initiated by the DOT Force entrepreneurship

task force through an already partially

funded initiative called Enablis. A new

organisation that will be piloted in South

Africa, Enablis will provide venture capital-

style funding and support to medium-sized

businesses that are either focused on ICT

or are using ICT in innovative ways.

Enablis will also serve as a focal point for

expertise in the ICT/entrepreneurship area.

It is believed that Enablis will have a

transformational impact on the socio-

economic environment of the businesses it

supports. This vision is to be achieved

through loan financing, direct business and

technical support to the SMEs, as well as

policy advice to governments that

encourages a more bottoms-up approach

to business development.

DevelopmentSpace Network

WG6 has formed an alliance with the

Center for Global Development, Many

Futures Inc. and State of the World Forum

to create the DevelopmentSpace Network

(DSN). DSN is an innovative approach to the

way the private sector and civil society can

participate in development. Through a

website (www.developmentspace.com)

created by Many Futures, the alliance will

create a virtual marketplace that matches

pre-qualified community-based projects in

developing countries to individual donors

who wish to make direct contributions. By

building a bridge between small donors and

small entrepreneurs, DSN plans to link

individuals at a person-to-person level for

the transfer of financial and skills-based

resources. It is the vision of the alliance that

grantmaking and individual and corporate

investment to the developing world will

Technology solutions advance entrepreneurship in developing countries


“

”

The projects areconsistent in theiroverall goals:addressing thebusiness and financialneeds, and sustainableeconomic growth indeveloping countries


dramatically increase, resulting in direct

partnerships between the private sector and

civil society that will help reach and surpass

the Millennium Development Goals.

Microdevelopment finance team

WG6 has focused on micro-

entrepreneurs by seeking solutions that

enable the dramatic scaling of microfinance.

A team of dedicated and talented

individuals who comprise a cross-section of

organisations involved in microfinance has

been convened by WG6. Over the past

several months, this team has been

considering the key obstacles that are

preventing the microfinance industry from

reaching scale and exploring potential

solutions. The elements of the solution are

likely to include:

• Financial instruments that can attract

sizeable new commercial investment.

• Consistent management information

systems and standardised operations and

reporting systems.

• Universal, low-cost, end-to-end, real-time

information flows within the sector and

between microfinance institutions and

organisations outside the sector.

• Innovative solutions (both high-tech and

low-tech) for reducing the cost of

transactions.

• Flexibility in the design and delivery of

financial services to meet diverse and

changing local needs.

The group is seeking a solution that will

leverage the most appropriate technology

“

”

It is believed thatEnablis will have atransformational impacton the socio-economicenvironment of thebusinesses it supports

for each aspect of microfinance. The

implementation of such a solution will

require a voluntary, decentralised

organisation structure that supports

continued local innovation, institutional

autonomy and consensus building around

critical issues. The concept behind this

initiative was announced at the

Microcredit+5 Summit held the week of 11

November 2003 in New York City. The team

is continuing to reach out to parties who are

interested in participating. ■


www.unicttaskforce.org

You don’t get ahead without a strategy

www.hp.com/hps

To satisfy the individual needs of our customers we have developed a wide variety of IT outsourcing services, including development and management of IT infrastructure, IT environmentdisaster recovery, helpdesk and internet service management. To assure efficient Customer Servicewe have set up several hp Data and Operational Centers across Europe, which represent the next step in development of resources used to create complex IT outsourcing solutions.

Through many years of experience we have become one of the major IT services market leaders.Professional experts, proven work methodology, and knowledge create our competitive advantage.We have earned the trust of the largest financial and government institutions, as well as modernbusinesses. We look forward to working with you.

Hewlett Packard (Services) 31/1/04 10:43 am Page 40


The Asia Pacific Development Information Programme

(APDIP) in collaboration with the UNDP Afghanistan Country

Office successfully conducted a specialised seminar on ICT

Policy Development and Implementation from 14-18 October 2002

in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The curriculum of the seminar was

tailored to the specific needs of government officials from

Afghanistan: to provide professional expertise and assistance in the

development of organisational, national and international ICT

policies for their country.

“APDIP aims to promote the development and application of

ICT for poverty alleviation and sustainable human development in

the Asia Pacific region,” said Shahid Akhtar, the programme’s

Regional Coordinator. “By providing assistance in formulating

comprehensive ICT frameworks and enabling policies, we help

countries to harness the potential of ICT to support national

development in line with their social, economic and political

objectives.”

Headed by the Afghanistan Minister of Communications, H.E.

Masoom Stanekzai, the Afghan delegation included representatives

from the Ministries of Information, Foreign Affairs, Education,

Justice, Higher Education, Women Affairs, Commerce and Finance,

as well as from the Afghan Assistance Coordination Authority. “The

need for ICT development in Afghanistan is huge and the

development of policy is a critical ingredient for the success of the

ICT programmes,” said Mr Stanekzai.

With the assistance of a skilled facilitator and ICT policy

specialist, the group identified challenges, issues and processes for

developing and implementing a national ICT policy for Afghanistan.

Citing a vision to build a high-quality, low-cost ICT network for

Afghanistan, a strategy paper was produced that outlines pertinent

public policy issues and recommends the development of a

national ICT policy for Afghanistan in consultation with

stakeholders. The paper puts forward three objectives to be

pursued by the strategy:

1. Ensure affordable and equitable access to ICT networks and

infrastructure.

2. Provide universal access to ICT information and knowledge.

3. Reinforce the role of government as a model user of ICT.

Five principles are also put forward to guide the development

and implementation of policy:

1. An interconnected and interoperable network of networks.

2. Collaborative public and private sector development.

3. Competition in facilities, products and services.

4. Privacy protection and network security.

5. Lifelong learning as a key element of ICT policy.

Afghanistan already has two key building blocks in place for a

national ICT policy: the National Telecommunications Policy issued

in July 2002, and the Telecommunications Development Strategy

issued in October 2002. These documents tackle critical aspects of

building communications infrastructure. However, a number of

complementary public policy issues related to content and capacity

building must be addressed before further progress can be made

towards the development of a national ICT policy. These public

policy issues, ranging from competition to culture, and from access

to learning, will be discussed and debated by representatives of all

levels of Afghan society.

Mr Stanekzai is considering the establishment of a National

Information and Communications Technology Council (NICTC)

consisting of a core group of UNDP/APDIP ICT policy seminar

participants, to which representatives from various levels of Afghan

society would be added. The NICTC would use the strategy report

as a roadmap to ensure an appropriate and balanced approach to

providing network access, information and knowledge access to all

sectors of Afghanistan that respects Afghanistan’s history, socio-

economic and cultural realities, international context and

encourages investment and innovation. ■

ICT Policy Development and Implementation seminar for Afghanistan

From the Asia-Pacific Development InformationProgramme to the World Summit on theInformation Society

For more information, visit: www.apdip.net

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an

international network of civil society organisations. APC is

dedicated to empowering and supporting groups and

individuals working for peace, human rights and the development and

protection of the environment, through the strategic use of information

and communication technologies (ICTs), including the internet.

Technology: practice and policy

APC’s members were often the first providers of the internet in

their countries. Today, we continue to pioneer practical and relevant

uses of ICTs for civil society, especially in developing countries. APC

is an international facilitator of civil society’s engagement with ICTs

and related concerns (in both policy and practice), who strives for a

just and inclusive information society. Our Internet Rights

programme works to build the capacity of civil society organisations

to understand the issues and influence of policy and to ensure that

ICTs and the internet are tools for development and democracy.

The APC’s Internet Rights charter

(http://rights.apc.org/charter.shtml) outlines our position on the right

to communicate, freedom of expression, diversity of ownership and

control, licensing, intellectual property, privacy, governance of the

internet and awareness of rights.

We work to expand concern for ICT issues into the broadest

range of civil society organisations: social movements, women’s

groups, human rights organisations, trade unions, environmental

activists and more. We aim to generate information, explain

issues, build capacity and encourage lobbying – supporting the

voice of civil society to build a just information society. Visit

http://www.apc.org/english/rights/why_ir_and_civsoc.shtml to

read why civil society should lobby and protect our right to use

the internet.


APC: internet and ICTs forsocial justice and development

From the Association for ProgressiveCommunications to the World Summit on theInformation Society

Our Internet Rights programme works to build the capacityof civil society organisations to understand the issues andinfluence of policy and to ensure that ICTs and the internetare tools for development and democracy

“”

Working regionally in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean

The APC has active Internet Rights initiatives in Africa and Latin

America and the Caribbean (LAC), and works with networks of

activists in Asia and Europe. To read more about our activities,

please visit http://rights.apc.org.

In 2001, APC brought together civil society representatives to

Internet Rights workshops in Europe, Asia and LAC. In November

2002, we held a successful African Civil Society and ICT policy

workshop in Addis Ababa hosted by the UN Economic Commission

for Africa. Over 80 people attended from all over the continent. This

workshop (http://africa.rights.apc.org/workshop.shtml) developed an

African civil society statement on ICT policy, with specific actions

and contact people in each region.

Monthly newsletters are produced in LAC and Africa on ICT

policy issues as complements to our regional ICT policy monitoring

websites. Occasionally special issues on WSIS and related themes

are produced.

We are developing a one-week training course on ICT policy

for civil society, which will be translated into French and

Portuguese. Currently in draft form, this was demonstrated at the

Addis conference.

The Communication Rights in the Information Society campaign

The APC is a member of the campaign for Communication

Rights in the Information Society (CRIS) (http://www.crisinfo.org),

which brings together many civil society organisations and

individuals committed to building an information society that

benefits all. Communication rights are emerging as a key issue. The

Universal Declaration of Human Rights does not fully recognise this,

however, the World Summit on the Information Society could declare

it a universal right.

APC would like to thank IDRC, the Open Society Institute, the

CTO and Hivos for their support of our Internet Rights work. ■


For more information, contact: Dr Peter Benjamin, APC Communications

and Information Policy Programme Manager. E-mail: [email protected]

We work to expand concern for ICTissues into the broadest range ofcivil society organisations

“”

The Cisco Networking Academy

Program is a comprehensive e-

learning programme that provides

students with the internet technology skills

essential in a global economy. The

Networking Academy Program delivers

web-based content, online assessment,

student performance tracking, hands-on

labs, instructor training and support, and

preparation for industry-standard

certifications.

Launched in 1997, there are now over

10,000 networking academies in 149

countries. Over 296,000 students are

enrolled in academies in high schools,

colleges and universities, technical schools,

community-based organisations, and other

educational programmes around the world.

Cisco has partnered with various

international organisations to help bring

digital opportunities to disadvantaged and

at-risk communities worldwide.

Least developed countries initiative

During the G-8 Summit in July 2000,

leaders of eight major industrialised

democracies called for new public and

private sector efforts to bridge the global

digital divide. In response, Cisco System’s

President and CEO, John Chambers, and

United Nations Development Program

Administrator, Mark Malloch Brown,

announced the Least Developed Countries

Initiative. Their intention was to partner with

the US Agency for International

Development/Leland Initiative/EDDI and the

United Nations Volunteers/UNITeS to extend

the Cisco Networking Academy Program to

24 of the world’s 49 least developed

countries (LDCs) by the end of 2001.

“The Cisco Networking Academy

Program enables the internet to bring digital

opportunity to every corner of the earth. By

including these countries in our programme

we will show that the internet and education

are truly the two great equalisers in life for

countries, companies and individuals,”

Chambers stated.

The initial target was met six months

ahead of schedule. The Academy Program

has been established in 32 LDCs and six

African non-LDCs. Eighty-six academies

have been established at universities,

technical schools, secondary schools and


Bridging the digital divide through the Cisco Networking Academy Program

From Cisco Systems Inc. to the World Summit onthe Information Society.

non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Three-hundred instructors have been trained

and more than 2440 students are currently

enrolled. Furthermore, 20 UN/UNITeS

volunteers have been deployed in the

targeted LDCs to focus on outreach to

groups with restricted access to ICT training

and to promote female participation.

Internet Training Centres Initiative for

Developing Countries

Leaders and experts worldwide

increasingly recognise human-resource

capacity development as one of the most

crucial constraints facing developing

countries in their attempts to bridge the

digital divide. In both the developed and

developing world there is an acute shortage

of skilled networking and IT professionals.

Students in developing countries face

particular difficulties in gaining access to

training in the IT field.

With the aim to close the gap in internet

and networking skills in developing

countries, the International

Telecommunication Union (ITU) launched the

Internet Training Centres Initiative for

Developing Countries (ITCI-DC) in May 2001.

Cisco is the pioneer corporate partner under

this initiative. Cisco Networking Academy

Program will be offered at the ITU’s training

centres, which will provide training in

networking skills. The goal is to establish a

worldwide network of 50 internet training

centers by end of 2003. As of November

2002, 26 centres were participating in the

initiative, with more than 800 students

enrolled in the Academy Program.

Jordan – achieving e-quality in the IT sector

In Jordan, Cisco and Cisco Foundation

have partnered with UNIFEM and the

Government of Jordan to establish 10

gender-focused academies. The primary

goal of the project is to create training

opportunities with particular emphasis on

women, ensuring that they play an active

role in the internet economy.

Under this project, 10 institutions

including community centres, NGOs,

colleges and high schools were identified in

the capital and secondary cities. Instructor

training took place in August 2001 in

Amman and since then, nine of the 10

academies have started classes. There are

currently 520 students enrolled, of which

345 are females (66 percent).

In addition to establishing the

academies, this partnership also includes

other activities such as research on the role

of women in IT in Jordan, as well as

developing marketing materials intended to

improve recruitment and retention of women

into the IT sector. ■



www.cisco.com/edu/academy

(The Cisco Networking Academy Program)

www.cisco.com/edu/ldc

(The least developed countries initiative)

http://cisco.netacad.net/public/digital_divide/

partners/ITU.html (The ITCI-DC)

“The Cisco NetworkingAcademy Programenables the internet tobring digitalopportunity to everycorner of the earth”

What is AME?

Designed to make a contribution to

the quality of basic education in

Latin America, AME (Actualización

de Maestros en Educación) is a partnership

between an entertainment content providing

satellite-based platform and the educational

authorities of seven Latin American nations.

AME is also an innovative distance-learning

programme that provides training to

schoolteachers across the region via digital

satellite television.

AME relaunches its services this year

to serve 250 schools in seven Latin

American countries: Argentina, Colombia,

Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and

Venezuela. Teachers access an eight-

month distance-learning course that

originated in Barcelona, Spain, at the

headquarters of the Universidad Autonoma

de Barcelona via DIRECTV, and

communicate with the University and fellow

trainees through the internet.

Groups of teachers from different

countries then work together to resolve

practical tests and to prepare research

projects designed to deepen the knowledge

acquired through the distance-learning

courses. The effort has been widely praised

by teacher participants, and preparations

are underway to become a full-scale

resource for teachers throughout Latin

America. UNESCO assessed AME at the

end of its pilot project phase (September

1998-May 1999). Strong recommendations

to continue the project were issued by this

UN authority on educational matters.

Founding partners

AME’s founding partners have made this

programme a forceful reality through their

generous contributions. These enlightened

institutions are:

DIRECTV Latin America

Made available transponder space in its

region-wide digital satellite platform (Galaxy

VIII i).

The Microsoft Corporation

Donated the operating programs and

internet software to schools.

Fundacion Cisneros

Provides the project management and

finances the training fees and the publishing

of learning manuals for teachers.

Inter-American Development Bank

Covered the fees charged by UNESCO

to assess the pilot project.

Centro de Transferencia de Tecnología

Trained, free of charge, participating

teachers in the pilot project phase in the use

of computers and the internet.

Why AME?

As the DirecTV partnership (Hughes

Electronics-Cisneros Group of Companies)

prepared to enter the Latin American

market, disparities between economic and

social trends became painfully apparent.

Most salient was the status quo of

education in the region.

• 45 percent of entrants into primary school

do not graduate

• 40 percent of primary school graduates

do not understand a 500-word essay

• 55 percent of high school graduates fail a

basic algebra test

• 35 percent of primary school children

repeat grades

• 45 percent of children in high school

repeat grades

• 70 percent of primary school teachers do

not receive their teaching materials

• 80 percent of primary school teachers are

not empowered with new teaching skills

throughout the duration of their careers.

• Average teacher salary in the region is

US$1.09 per hour.

This situation posed a development

challenge for the partnership, as the

expansion plan was based on the constant

recruitment of skilled human resources. The

Fundación Cisneros was thus enlisted to

develop a region-wide teacher-training

programme that would contribute to

redressing this situation – resorting to the

DIRECTV digital satellite platform as the

distribution medium. ■



AME

Dennys Montoto [email protected]

http://www.cisneros.com/company/ame.asp

CL@SE

Maria Ignacia Arcaya

[email protected]

http://www.cisneros.com/company/clase.asp

AME and the Cl@se initiative

From the Fundación Cisneros to the World Summiton the Information Society

“Thank you so much for your devotion to a

kid like me… Congratulations to all programmes,

especially to the Math Crew that is leading me

out of my fear of numbers.”

John Jairo Marulanda Arroyave, aged 12,

Pereira, Colombia

What is the Cl@se initiative

Cl@se was developed in 1996 as an educational

channel for families in DIRECTV subscriber homes in

Latin America. The first pan-regional educational

channel, it was further developed in 1999 to provide

educational content for children and teenagers.

Cl@se offers dynamic content relevant to

primary and secondary school students, thus serving

as an educational tool for teachers that children and

teenagers become easily engaged with. Its valuable,

educational content provides a clear purpose for the

integration of new technologies in the classroom and

its integrated system takes full advantage of available

technologies, offering:

• Cl@se: the educational channel direct-to-home

and direct-to-schools.

• Teacher guides: distributed to schools to assist

teachers in taking full advantage of the channel

content as a complement to the curriculum.

• Cl@se website: an interactive environment allows

for open communication within the continent

between students, teachers, parents and Cl@se.

The Cl@se channel

• Targets 6 to 17 year olds.

• Includes hosts who make programming content

relevant for a Latin American audience, frame

programmes with questions to stimulate classroom

discussion, and promote audience participation

through contests, e-mails, on-line games, etc.

• Features programmes from: BBC, Dorling

Kindersley, TV Ontario, Pearson, Canal Once.

Programming includes:

• Eyewitness – Dorling Kindersley. This series

stimulates the imagination through the use of

computerised images, documentaries, footage

from films and animations. In Eyewitness, history

and science are presented in an anecdotal manner

with energy and a touch of humour.

• Eddie Files – FASE Productions. Eddie solves

interesting mathematics assignments and, through

his video camera, shows us that numbers are a

part of our day-to-day lives.

• Beakman’s World – Columbia Pictures. Mr

Beakman and his assistants use ingenious

humour, special effects and fascinating scientific

experiments to make learning an adventure.

• Sacbe, The Maya Route – Canal Once.

Documentary content and fiction are combined

to yield a passionate adventure through the

Maya World.

• Connect with English – WGBH/CPB/Annenberg.

Provides all of the pedagogical foundations

required to use television to teach a second

language. Throughout the video, key phrases are

repeated, important events retold and idioms

paraphrased.

• The Arts – BBC. Artists and artisans show the

techniques applied to their artwork, while they

explain their perspective on the world and how it

provides them with inspiration.

Teacher guide

Developed by Latin American educational experts

to add didactic value and relevance to the channel’s

programming, the teacher guides provide detailed

information about the channel’s programming,

suggested activities in accordance with the students’

grade level, programme summaries and more in depth

information about related subjects, and articles

regarding teaching trends.

Website

The Cl@se website provides a meeting point for

the Latin American educational community. Alongside

programming information and teacher guides, the site

also provides children with the opportunity to interact

with the programmes’ content through games, and

offers access to additional resources for parents,

teachers and students.

Distribution

Argentina

Cl@se is offered as part of the package of

channels that is made available to 8000 rural schools

through the Ministry of Communications’ Schools

without Frontiers initiative.

Costa Rica

Cl@se reaches 150 schools that have access to

DIRECTV programming through a government-

sponsored project.

Mexico

Cl@se signed a collaboration agreement with

the Instituto Latinoamericano para la Comunicación

Educativa (ILCE) for distribution of the channel and

teacher guide to 30,000 schools throughout Mexico.

Pan-regional

Cl@se provides educational content to more than

6000 teachers and 150,000 students in schools that

have participated in the Fundación Cisneros’ AME

project in seven countries (Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa

Rica, Panama, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia).

“At our school we follow Cl@se’s

programming with much enthusiasm, which we

wish could be seen in all Mexican homes. We

await the fourth teacher guide and wish you

much more success.”

Prof. Martin Alcocer, teacher, Mexico City, Mexico


48

There is a wide consensus that ICT can play

an important role in reducing poverty,

improving education and healthcare,

enhancing political participation and empowerment,

and promoting sustainable development in

developing countries as well as countries with

economies in transition. The ICT sector is the central

core of the emerging global knowledge-based

economy in which access and control of ICT

facilities and applications are prerequisites for

effective integration into the global economy.

The role of ICT as a tool for development has

recently attracted the sustained attention of the

United Nations. In 2000, the Economic and Social

Council adopted a Ministerial Communiqué on the

role of information technology in the context of a

knowledge-based economy. Later that year, the

Millennium Declaration underscored the urgency of

ensuring that the benefits of new technologies,

especially ICT, be available to all. The World Summit

on the Information Society, with ITU as lead

organising entity, which takes place in 2003 (Geneva)

and 2005 (Tunisia), provides a unique opportunity to

advance the ICT for development agenda.

These positive opportunities are undermined by

the prospect that ICT will remain accessible only to

the elite and will not contribute to the achievement of

fundamental human development.

The majority of the world’s population still lives

in poverty and remains untouched by the benefits

of ICT. There are critical disparities between and

within countries and among groups within countries

and regions. One of the most overlooked and

ignored disparities is the one that exists between

men and women. Unequal power relations in our

societies contribute to differential access,

participation and treatment for men and women in

the Information Society.

These inequalities in access to, and control of,

ICT between men and women limit the potential of an

information society to make the most valuable

contribution to the achievement of the Millennium

Development Goals MDGs. Without women’s

participation in decision-making in all spheres of life

and at all levels of society, poverty will not be

eradicated nor will fully democratic societies be

created. Limited access to ICT for women also has

the effect of reducing countries’ competitiveness in

the global market.

Promoting ICT for development can assist with

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The first goal of the MDGs is to: “Eradicate extreme

poverty and hunger.” The UN General Assembly

recognised that the achievement of this goal depends

in part on: “Good governance at the international

level,” and also resolved to: “Ensure that the benefits

of new technologies, especially information and

communications technologies… are available to all.”

(UN Millennium Declaration paras. 13 and 20.5

[A/res/55/2]).

Gender implications

The challenge of gender inequality can be

overcome with urgent and concerted actions at the

national, regional and international levels to put ICT

firmly in the service of development for all. However,

this will not happen if ICT decision makers continue

to treat gender issues as being non-existent or

unimportant. In recent months, specifically since the

first WSIS PrepCom in July 2002, there has been

consolidation of evidence on the status of women in

the Information Society and development of analysis

of strategies for improving this position. WSIS should

provide a platform for sharing this information and

debating on the best course of action to reduce

inequalities and increase opportunities.

Promoting ICT for developmentalongside gender equality issues


From WSIS-Gender Caucus to the World Summiton the Information Society.

49

Evidence shows that it is important for decision

makers on a national and global level to recognise

that, in order to formulate an appropriate plan of

action to proactively target the themes proposed by

WSIS, there must be a clear understanding of the

issues that impede some sectors of the population to

maximise their potential. In doing so, it will be

possible to formulate measures to effectively provide

access to ICT for all, to understand the value of ICT

as a tool for economic and social development and to

assure confidence and security in the use of ICT

(www.itu.int/osg/spu/wsis-themes/).

Therefore, some of the issues that must be

seriously taken into account are:

• A lack of participation by the majority of the people,

particularly women, in the developing countries,

because of structural and cultural impediments,

which significantly reduce the developmental

benefits of ICT.

• The uneven and unaffordable access to ICT

facilities and services by women, especially, but not

exclusively, in developing countries.

• Inadequate provision of relevant content and

applications, particularly in local languages and

adapted to needs of non-literate women.

• Gender discrimination in labour markets and in the

provision of education and training opportunities

and allocation of financial resources for

entrepreneurship and business development, which

also offer negative consequences.

• Under-representation of women in all aspects of

decision-making in operations, policy and

regulation in the ICT.

The convening of a World Summit on the

Information Society by the United Nations system

provides a unique opportunity to focus global

attention on these issues. In making preparations for

the Summit, the organisers are urged to take the

opportunity to ensure that WSIS provides an

opportunity for women and men to enjoy the myriad

of potentials for social and economic empowerment

offered by ICT, and to participate effectively in all

aspects of the ICT field. WSIS can assist in building

an information society that contributes to promoting

gender equality as well as furthering progress in the

eradication of poverty, promotion of peace and

security and the enjoyment of human rights. All

stakeholders must take urgent action to ensure that

gender equality and women’s rights are integrated

into the WSIS and its follow-up programmes. Unless

these actions are taken, there is a grave risk that the

Summit will not succeed in its aim of creating a

vision of the information society that contributes to

human development. ■



www.wougnet.org/WSIS/wsisgc.html

“The majority of the world’spopulation still lives inpoverty and remainsuntouched by the benefitsof ICT

”

50

In the framework of bilateral development

cooperation, Germany supports a number of

projects aimed at the application and use of ICT.

These, above all, are projects that improve the access

of the rural population to ICT services, contribute to

the modernisation of the economy and strengthen

civil society organisations.

Some examples of these initiatives include:

Communal multimedia centres in Mali

Mali has a very dynamic and wide-ranging media

environment. Its 110 private radio stations represent

the largest transmitter density in the whole of sub-

Sahara Africa.

These private radios are of a commercial,

communal, religious or cooperative type. Radio is the

most important means of communication and

information in rural areas. Communal radio not only

conveys important information, but it also gives a

‘voice’ to the rural population. In the course of the

decentralisation process, communal radio stations

have become particularly important because they

contribute to creating a local identity.

The project, currently in the pre-feasibility stage,

aims to create multimedia centres in small towns and

rural communities in Mali. These centres are to be

attached to existing private radio stations, thus

creating an added value of communication services

for the population. The one-way communication of

radio transmitters is to be extended by means of a

modern communication infrastructure (telephone, fax,

computer, internet access).

The aim is to give an additional means of income

to private communal radio stations while, at the same

time, facilitate a more active participation of the

population in the political decision processes on the

communal and national level.

The project promotes the connectivity of remote

areas and supports the process of decentralisation in

Mali. In this way, it makes a contribution to bridging

the digital divide.

Extension of the digital patent information system

in the People’s Republic of China

With the first Patent Law of 1985 the People’s

Republic of China has created the legal conditions for

granting commercial patent rights to applicants from

China and abroad.

Because of rapid economic development, the

Chinese Patent Office (CPO) reached the limits of its

technical capacities. The increasing duration of patent

procedures (on average four years) was an obstacle

to the modernisation of the People’s Republic of

China and to economic growth.

The project supports the capacities of the CPO

and access to patent information by affiliated patent

information centres of the most important industrial

cities in China. The CPO was equipped with new

data-technical equipment. There was also extensive

training of CPO employees.

The German Patent Office has been involved in

the whole process from the beginning. The exchange

of information between the two patent offices is to be

continued by means of a sponsorship agreement.

Development of the electronic payments system in

Uganda

Uganda has implemented substantial reforms in

the financial sector since 1993, with the support of

the international donor community. A lack of trust in

the system has preventend an interbank market from

coming into existence. Clearing of checks by the

Ugandan Central Bank can take several months. The

deficiencies of the system burden the rural

population, because financial transactions often

require travelling to the capital. The project aims at

improving the efficiency of the Ugandan payments

system by creating an electronic clearing house. Both

German initiatives


From Germany to the World Summit on theInformation Society.

51

companies and private bank customers will profit

from reduced transaction costs.

In the near future, cross-boundary digitalised

payments will also be possible.

The project comprises the equipment of this new

electronic clearing house with the necessary

computer hardware and software, as well as

installation, maintenance and training.

The commercial banks have been involved in the

preparation of the project and the elaboration of

standards and regulations.

Support of the project of the NGO Kabissa

‘It’s time to get online: simple steps to success on

the internet’

Many NGOs in developing countries are not able

to take advantage of the internet, because they do

not realise the benefits or because they do not have

the necessary knowledge to use it. The project aims

at removing these two barriers.

Training material will be developed and capacity-

building workshops will be organised in order to

convey the necessary knowledge for an efficient use

of the internet.

The project is aimed at NGOs in West Africa that

commit themselves to human rights, freedom of

information and democratisation.

At first, Germany will support the pilot phase of

the project. It is planned to finance the propagation in

West Africa together with other donors. Overall, 1000

NGOs are to be reached with the project and more

than 3000 sets of training material are to be

distributed.

Support of the UN University for Peace in Costa

Rica in setting up and propagating study programmes

in the field of crisis prevention, conflict management

and peace education.

Beginning in autumn 2003, the UN University for

Peace in Costa Rica will – with German support –

offer study programmes for a Master’s Degree in

international peace education.

These programmes can be made available on a

worldwide scale through links with partner universities

(above all in developing countries) and the use of new

information and communication technologies

(distance learning).

ICT in development cooperation

In 2002, Germany presented a study concerning

the state of ICTs in five countries (Peru, Laos,

Vietnam, Tanzania and Uganda). This study, which

was carried out against the background of the G8

countries’ commitment to promote the application of

ICTs in developing countries, analyses the potential

for possible cooperation in this field. ■



Gerd Benke, Federal Foreign Office, Germany

[email protected]

“

”

Many NGOs in developingcountries are not able totake advantage of theinternet, because they donot realise the benefits orbecause they do not havethe necessary knowledgeto use it

Dikhatole, a community just outside of Johannesburg, suffers

from chronic unemployment coupled with primitive living

conditions – no running water, electricity or basic housing.

The unemployment rate is more than 30 percent and many of

the community’s 8,000 people still cling to the bottom rungs of the

South African economy: most families are led by single mothers who

lack the skills needed to get a job. Often, young people leave their

unstable home environments to live on the street, and are vulnerable

to a life of violence, crime and infectious disease. There is a

perpetual cycle of poverty that leaves little hope for the future.

A reason for hope

A business consortium led by Hewlett-Packard South Africa has

launched a project to provide the Dikhatole community with basic

computer, Internet and business skills to improve their chances of

getting work. The training will be provided through the Dikhatole

Digital Village, the largest facility of its kind in the country, with more

than 90 Internet-enabled workstations.

To stem the tide of chronic unemployment in this South African

township, this Digital Village strives to help unemployed youth and

women develop sought-after computer and business skills, giving

them access to the Internet to open job opportunities.

The project is spearheaded by the non-profit Organisation for

Rehabilitation and Training (ORT) South Africa and sponsored by

HP, Macsteel and Microsoft. HP is donating much of the

equipment, while Microsoft is donating the software. Macsteel, a

South African industrial-steel producer is providing the training

room and related offices.

Opening new opportunities

The programme’s goal is to improve the standard of living

among Dikhatole residents by increasing their earning potential and

connecting them to the world. “The project targets unemployment

and low income in the area by helping youngsters gain qualifications

and experience, and encouraging entrepreneurship, particularly

among women,” explains Henry Ferreira, Managing Director of HP

South Africa.

Residents will be taught skills such as computer literacy, CV

writing, communications and presentation, and entrepreneurship.

More than 1,000 unemployed youth will be trained in employability

skills and self-employment, while 540 women will be trained in basic

Internet use for networking and support, as well as in starting and

running a small business.

Addressing community needs

The second major thrust of the project is to build up computer

resources and skills in the region’s schools. HP and ORT aim to train

at least 70 teachers in essential computer skills and will help train

more than 2,400 children in basic computer use. In addition, the two

companies will upgrade and install computers and Internet facilities

at the schools.

The third aspect of the project involves training local

government employees in basic computer and Internet skills, and

installing computers in the workplace to allow them to communicate

effectively and share information more readily.

The project is expected to last for three years; by then it is

expected that the community will be trained enough and

experienced enough to become self-sufficient. HP and ORT have

worked closely with governmental and private-sector bodies, and

members of the community, to ensure the project will sustain itself

once ORT and HP have withdrawn.

Dikhatole, which literally means ‘lost’, may have represented the

feelings of many youths and women in the community up until now.

But hopefully this project will be one small step toward self-

sufficiency and helping people find their way. ■


e-Inclusion: Dikhotole Digital Village, South Africa – rising out of a cycle of poverty

From Hewlett-Packard to the World Summit on theInformation Society


http://www.hp.com/e-inclusion/en/project/dikhotole1.html


Last year, the Cultural Centre of the

Inter-American Development Bank

and the Information Technology for

Development Division of the IDB (SDS/ICT)

announced a competition and international

video art exhibition, to be held in December

2002 and January 2003, at the IDB Cultural

Centre Art Gallery in Washington DC, and in

April-May 2003 at the Istituto Italo-

Latinoamericano (IILA) in Rome.

The objectives of the competition were

to broaden the discussion of economic and

social factors affecting Latin America and

the Caribbean with the participation of

individuals who use technology-based visual

media; to encourage those working in the

cultural milieu to use their creative abilities

to formulate viewpoints that enhance public

awareness and understanding; to inspire the

public to consider possible alternatives and

solutions; and to establish a benchmark for

the advancement of video art as a form of

expression in the region.

According to Mirna Liévano de

Marques, IDB External Relations Advisor:

“The social and economic reality of Latin

America and the Caribbean, and the role of

communications in development appealed

to a large group of people who work with

cutting-edge video technology. It is the first

international video contest of its kind in

Washington DC, a benchmark that has

afforded talented artists an opportunity to

show their abilities. These, mostly young,

filmmakers presented short films on social

issues that the IDB works with every day,

such as justice, security, social inclusion,

ethnicity and the environment, among many

other issues. As a result, we have a chance

to experience the everyday reality of life in

the region as video artists see it. The results

are poignant, revealing and educational.

They also underscore and celebrate the key

role of culture in the development process.”

An international jury selected 56 videos

from 21 countries. The two cash awards

went to Brooke Alfaro (Panama) and to

Eduardo Baggio and Carlos Rocha (Brazil).

Honourable Mentions were awarded to

The first Latin American and Caribbeanvideo art competition and exhibition

From the Inter-American Development Bank to theWorld Summit on the Information Society.

Carlos Fernando Osuna (Colombia), Ester

Guízar and Maries Mendiola (Mexico),

Humberto Polar (Peru) and David Morey

(Venezuela).

The strength of the exhibition lies with

those video artists who are able to

interpret particular issues affecting their

countries, and who reflect, in their

personal ways, their social and economic

realities. The significant response to the

call proves that the IDB Cultural Centre

was able to penetrate an entire community

not yet familiar with the IDB and its


agenda. The outstanding number of

excellent pieces received from certain

countries attests to their past economic

well-being, their long standing attention to

education and the visual tradition in the

realm of filmmaking. In some countries it

appears that artists have been able to

keep up technologically but are having

difficulty in adjusting video to artistic

terms, or they are having trouble dealing

with current situations. The structure of

many pieces shows that in almost all

countries the boundaries between

documentary, short film, performance

recording and video art are blurred.

In all countries, access to technology

for the regular individual continues to be

an outstanding issue, in some more than

others and in physical terms as well as

economic terms. In Latin America and the

Caribbean, technology still has a long way

to go to fulfil its promise of making life – or

at least work – simpler, cheaper and more

functional. Judging from the clippings that

the IDB representations sent to the IDB

headquarters, the general feeling among

artists is that video, and video art in

particular, requires resources they just do

not have. It is significant to note that

Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica and

Guyana were four out of the five countries

that did not submit any entry.

The press of Washington DC quickly

responded to the event in a variety of

reviews: “Without a doubt, the First Latin

American and Caribbean Video Art

Competition and its accompanying video

installation exhibition requires patience and

pacing from its audience, but the effort

spent viewing this show is worth it,” said

washingtonpost.com. The Washington

Times listed it in the Top Picks of its

weekend section. The Washington Diplomat

went further, stating that: “The aspect of

technology was key here because the IDB

was dealing with countries that may not

have advanced video technology, education

or knowledge of video as an artistic

medium. This, in itself, is already a reflection

of the social and economic realities facing

these countries, and how the artist

overcame their lack of resources was part of

their artistic journey.” And: “In some videos,

the equipment may have been less than

state-of-the-art, but the message is no less

intense, and the images no less disturbing

or beautiful.”

Despite the unsympathetic and

sometimes angry messages that video

artists are sending to society’s leadership

through their work, there are positive,

optimistic and even humorous alternatives

that assimilate the region’s problems and

individual shortcomings. Taken as a group,

the present exhibition may be a strong

reminder of unsolved and lingering

problems, but it is also a gratifying

demonstration of the talent of the region

that, despite chronic limitations, is found in

abundance, and is waiting for better

opportunities to help re-conceptualise the

elusive idea of integral development. ■

“

”

The results arepoignant, revealingand educational. Theyalso underscore andcelebrate the key roleof culture in thedevelopment processThe Washington Diplomat


The Cultural Center of the Inter American

Development Bank, in cooperation with the

Information and Communication Technology

for Development Division, of the Sustainable

Development Department and the Istituto Italiano di

Cultura, of Washington, DC, has organised

DIGITALYART, an exhibition honouring Italy and the

City of Milan, host of the 44th Annual Meeting of IDB

Governors in March of 2003.

It has become the Center’s tradition to honour the

member country hosting the Annual Meeting with an

art exhibition. This allows the IDB to bring to global

attention some of the most significant cultural

expressions from the LAC region. Most importantly, it

helps establish a tangible relationship between culture

and development, a notion that is obvious for some,

but debatable for others; the debate illustrates how

imperfectly the definition of development is

sometimes conceived.

Technology summarises the dynamic of the world

in the 21st century. The ‘revolution’ that started at the

end of the past century has brought many unresolved

issues into the beginning of the new one. Technology

has always been entangled in the socio-cultural

evolution of civilisation, but has never before played

such an important role affecting almost every second

of our lives. Although technology is assumed to be, in

itself, an expression of advancement, its goals are

unavoidably linked to the improvement of life and

elevation of human kind. Technology, however, has

not always brought man to better understanding,

refined his nature, or made him wiser. If not these,

what other purposes should technology have?

The artists selected for this exhibition represent a

variety of current proposals within the ample framework

of artists working with interactive digital technology in

Italy. Maestro Fabrizio Plessi is one of the most admired

and recognised contemporary Italian artists. For this

presentation, the Center was able to secure his piece

ROMA II, currently in the collection of the Guggenheim

Museum in New York. Both the monumental scale and

the bold statement he makes with the use of marble

and video combined, not to mention the sensible use of

water imagery, speaks of the balance between the past

and present, the reference to history for man to remain

alert to recurrent errors, and the awareness of

everything else humans share life with.

The position of Plessi in the international scene is

that of an artist concerned with developing a

contemporary language inspired by the newest and

most advanced resources available. At the same time,

however, he uses that language which is inscribed in

the context of man and the existential realm.

Architect Celestino Soddu has dedicated his

entire career to investigating the possibilities of

generative design. He creates software that endows

the machine with the capacity to produce multiple

alternatives to a given program, producing designs

that depart from cultural and physical DNA. Adriano

Abbado’s work illustrates an artist interested in

expressing himself with new tools. To achieve these

goals in a contemporary world, sensibility has to be

guided into new dimensions where both aesthetics

and intellectual thought coexist with technology; the

resultant imagery cannot be rejected under the

traditional arguments or modes of perception.

For the IDB it has been very rewarding to

coalesce such an interesting and different group of

efforts and realisations departing from a common

premise. This is the first time that the work of these

three artists has been exhibited in Washington, DC ■

DIGITALYART, an exhibition on technology in art


Enrica Murmura, Information and Communication Technology for

Development, Division SDS/ICT

[email protected] www.iadb.org/ict4dev

Felix Angel, Cultural Centre- Inter american Development Bank

[email protected] www.iadb.org/exr/cultural/center.html

The Inter-American Development

Bank (IDB) and the Multilateral

Investment Fund, a unit of the IDB

Group, have launched the ICT Innovation

Program for e-business and SME

Development (in short ICT-4-BUS

Program). This is a US$5 million fund,

which supports innovative ICT applications

in Latin America and the Caribbean and is

aimed at strengthening the competitive

position of SMEs.

The Program’s first call for proposals

was closed in October 2002 with 101

project applications from 18 countries. A

new call for proposals will be opened in

June 2003.

Background

In the past few decades, knowledge-

driven innovation has become a decisive

factor in the competitiveness of both

nations and firms. This trend is particularly

pronounced in developed countries where,

by 1999, knowledge-based industries

represented more than 50 percent of GDP.

ICT is the backbone of knowledge-

based economies. ICT solutions and

services improve efficiency in the value

chain by providing better and faster

communication between trading partners,

integrating transactions with logistics

functions, reducing intermediation costs,

facilitating the search for new markets and

allowing better pricing policies. ICT also

serves as an important tool for other

corporate functions such as strategic

planning, business operations, customer

services and decision-making processes

through the provision of rapid and

strategic information.

As ICT has become a key element for

improving the productivity and efficiency of

private firms, it also plays a crucial role in

strengthening the competitiveness of

national economies. However, access to,

and use of, these technologies remains

uneven. This disparity, the so-called digital

divide, is a reflection of deeper social and

economic inequalities. In particular, the lack

of financial, human and technical resources

prevent SMEs from swiftly adopting new

technology to compete in national and

international markets.

On the supply side, during 1999-2000,

an incipient industry for ICT has emerged in

Latin America and the Caribbean confirming

the potential for a small but vibrant

information sector that could count on a

reservoir of technology and business

talents. The subsequent downturn in the

fortunes of the sector led, in 2001, to a swift

reduction of resources in the development

of ICT applications.

Innovation by tech firms has been

reduced and marketing efforts have been

concentrated on providing IT services to

large corporations, a market that is already

controlled by large consulting and/or IT

firms. Investments in new ICT technologies

tailored to the need of hitherto marginalised

medium and small sized business users

have become much more risky. This

represents a potential setback for the

access of these users to ICT technologies,

either for increased efficiency and

competitiveness or for market penetration.

The ICT-4-BUS Program

ICT-4-BUS aims to improve the

competitiveness, productivity and efficiency

of SMEs in Latin America and the

Caribbean through the implementation of

innovative ICT and e-business solutions. It

will make ICT solutions available to SMEs

that strive for market penetration and

business efficiency, which were once

limited to larger companies and

international corporations. In so doing, this

initiative will lend a truly global dimension to

the multitude of efforts to bridge the global

digital divide, foster digital opportunity and

thus firmly put ICT at the service of

development for all.

In this context, ICT-4-BUS will provide

non-reimbursable matching funds for the

development and implementation of pilot

projects that will test innovative ICT

services and solutions for SMEs, primarily

The Inter-American Development Bank steps in to support ICT applications for small businesses



As ICT has becomea key element forimproving theproductivity andefficiency of privatefirms, it also plays acrucial role instrengthening thecompetitiveness ofnational economies

“

”

in the areas of value chain integration,

workplace productivity and efficiency, and

market penetration. The overall cost of the

projects to be funded is estimated at US$8

million, out of which, US$4.5 million will be

provided by the ICT-4-BUS Program. Over

450 SMEs will participate in the pilot

projects. It is also expected that a large

number will benefit from new services and

solutions through the dissemination and

replication of the ‘best practices’ and

‘lessons learned’ from the pilot projects.

Between 15 and 20 pilot projects will be

selected through a thorough evaluation

process coordinated by the IDB. The projects

that will be selected for funding may receive

between US$75,000 and US$500,000 in

matching grants from the fund.

Potential ICT solutions and services that

could be used by the projects include:

• E-commerce and e-business applications.

• E-productivity applications for individuals

and organisations.

• Infrastructure and access enhancing

systems.

• Knowledge management and distribution

systems.

• Mobile (including satellite-based)

applications and services for businesses.

The projects will be presented by non-

profit institutions in the region, which are

involved in promoting SME development

and/or have proven experience in the

development of ICT solutions or services.

Examples of these institutions are trade

associations, universities, foundations,

NGOs, chambers of commerce, business

development centres and research centres.

The Program is managed by the

Information Technology for Development

Division (SDS/ICT), and the IDB technical

division that provides support to the IDB

and Latin American and Caribbean countries

in ICT-related areas. The Division’s specific

responsibilities include providing technical

and financial backstopping for projects to

be funded by the Bank, and offering

strategic and technical advice to

governments on how to make better use of

available information technology.

The IDB is actively participating in the

activities carried out by the UN ICT Task

Force and has also joined the Working

Group on Business Enterprise and

Entrepreneurship, in order to share and

exchange lessons learned and best

practices in the development of ICT policies

and programmes for developing countries. ■


For more information, contact: Antonio Ca’ Zorzi,

Program Manager Information Technology for

Development Division Inter-American

Development Bank E-mail: [email protected]

Inter-American Development Bank offers, through this program, a

solution to the Latin America and Caribbean countries, in order to

allow them to properly face the Digital Era challenges.

Introduction

The Digital Strategies program for Latin America and the

Caribbean – the ALDEA Program – has recently been launched in

several countries. The ALDEA Program was first developed in

Uruguay, and, at the moment, different operations are carried out

also in the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Argentina and

Paraguay.

The ALDEA Program offers technical assistance and/or loan

operations for digital strategies development through the different

financial segments managed by the Bank. In particular, the Program

is oriented to work with Flexible Loan Institutions for Innovating

Operations (almost 10 million fast approvals!). The Program started

from a central concept: to partner digital strategies’ development

with institutional strength in order to support the implementation of

different pilot projects (e-government solutions, e-commerce, and

access to information and communication technologies [ICTs]) to be

realised in each country.

The Program’s focus is to create the National Committees for

the Information Society (CNSI), connecting a political effort, mainly

represented by each country presidency, with representatives of

telecommunications, academic world, entrepreneurs and all

citizens. This particular partnership has to analyse each single case,

and the pilot projects will be identified depending on the priorities

of each country. The single strategy can be constructed from top to

bottom, starting from the idea that there are no set rules or models

in this context.

The Program

With the assistance of the IADB’s Information and

Communication Technology for Development Division (SDS/ICT) and

the Refurbishing Divisions of the State of the Operative Regional

Departments, we have gathered a technical team dedicated to assist

the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, in their

formulation of strategies, and development of solutions based on

the application of ICTs for development.

Our mission consists of identifying and starting up solutions that

can suit the realities of development in each country.

These are the leading principles:

• In the digital era, there are no set rules to development: strategies

are specific to each country.

• Development is local, but must show deep commitment to a

global view.

• This is not an exclusive task for governments. All different

economic and social agents (companies, governments,

universities, civil organisations, financial agents) should

participate.

• It is necessary to generate new management skills.

• All digital strategies must be converted into state policy.

• Strict coordination of public policies must be considered.

• A cultural environment where knowledge is the new goal of

development must be created.

The ALDEA Program: Digital strategies for the Latin Americanand Caribbean governments



What does the ALDEA Program do?

The ALDEA Program offers technical and financial assistance in

order to answer the question: how can we create the right national

conditions for development in the digital era?

We offer:

• Development of a new public institutional ability for knowledge,

exchange and management.

• The transfer of technical, management and learning skills in the

knowledge economy domain.

• The integration of country’s technical teams with Latin American

professionals and experts of local reality, in order to identify and

formulate the pilot projects that will be able to offer a positive

factor for change.

• An appropriate frame for the definition and management of co-

ordinated policies between several economic and social agents.

How does the ALDEA Program work?

Governments of the countries benefited by the IADB can request

assistance from the ALDEA Program. The request must be directed

to the IADB’s representative in the country, and copied to the

Information and Communication Technology for Development

Division (SDS/ICT), and to the State’s Refurbishing Division of the

Regional Department, and referred to and signed by the Governor

and the Bank.

Once the request is received, it will be appointed to a technical

team in the Bank that will follow it throughout the project. Each

technical team will assist in identifying the ‘type of operation’.

Objectives

The general aim of the program is to contribute in creating the

institutional conditions able to foster knowledge development in

each country, starting from a single national strategy, and to favour

the implementation of pilot initiatives for the starting up of the

chosen strategy.

In each country, the ALDEA Program creates:

• A political level able to identify and coordinate a digital policy with

different economic and social agents.

A technical skill in management (management level) for the public

administration of different projects in the following areas:

• Connectivity projects (Telecentres)

• Online Government projects

• E-commerce projects

• Education and ICT projects

Identification and start up of pilot projects in the following areas:

• Connectivity projects (Telecentres)

• Online Government projects

• E-commerce projects

• Education and ICT projects

Activities

What kind of activities does the ALDEA Program promote?

• The design of a digital policy, linked to specific action plans, and

built-on in a coordinated way.

• Modernisation of the direction and decision-making systems for

public administration.

• Strengthening or development, according to the case, of the

institutional ability responsible for promoting digital strategies.

• Development of the necessary human resources.

• Improvement in the quality of services.

• Design and start up of mechanisms able to promote community

participation.

What results are expected from the ALDEA Program?

Right solutions for knowledge development.

Results

• Strengthening of the public management ability for a digital

strategy.

• Strengthening of the policies’ definition ability for a digital

strategy, co-ordinating the public and private sectors, citizens and

academic representatives.

• A pilot project to improve and increase citizens’ access to ICTs.

• A pilot project for the creation of e-government abilities.

• A pilot project for the creation of legal and institutional conditions

to support the development of e-commerce.

• A pilot project for the introduction of ICTs in public education

systems. ■


For more information, contact: Pablo Valenti, Information and Communication Technology

for Development, Division SDS/ICT. [email protected] www.iadb.org/ict4dev

“Our mission consists of identifyingand starting up solutions that canadapt to the realities ofdevelopment in each country”


Among its mandate and activities, of promoting the

introduction, use and application of ICT in the social and

economic development process of the Bank’s borrowing

member countries in the Latin American and Caribbean Region,

the ICT for Development Division (SDS/ICT) of the Sustainable

Development Department (SDS) promotes effective inter-

institutional collaboration efforts to leverage the reach and impact

of such emerging technologies in the region.

In particular, the Bank’s inter-institutional cooperation and co-

financing strategy in ICT seeks avenues of cooperation with

international organisations, civil society institutions and private

sector enterprises to leverage the technical and financial resources

available to promote the use and implementation of ICT in the

region. Within this context, a number of cooperation agreements

have been reached with, among others, the Information Society

Technologies Programme (IST) of the European Commission for the

establishment of a ‘Pilot Programme for the Diffusion of Information

Technologies in Social Programmes’, and the Government of Italy,

which has provided an effective support to the Bank in various

activities in the area of ICT for development including ‘E-Strategies’,

‘E-Commerce’ and ‘ICT Financial Leverage’.

Of particular importance is the establishment of the ‘Italian

Trust Fund for Information and Communication Technology for

Development’ for US$3 million. Such an initiative will finance a

series of pre-investment studies, project preparation activities,

pilot programmes, and small and medium-sized demonstrative

ICT projects in priority e-government activities in the Latin

American and Caribbean region. Additional bilateral donors will

be invited to join the initiative under individual trust fund

agreements in 2003 and, thereby, be allowed to cover additional

areas in the field of ICT for development (e.g. for social

development, sustainable development, business development,

and national strategies for the information society). ■

Italian Trust Fund for Information andCommunication Technologyfor Development


For more information, contact: Andres Garret

[email protected] www.iadb.org/ict4dev


The rapid pace of technological development has created

increasingly more powerful communication and information

technologies that are capable of radically transforming public

institutions and private organisations alike.

These technologies have proven to be extraordinarily useful

instruments in enabling governments to enhance the quality, speed of

delivery and reliability of services to the citizens and to business.

International experience and major international programmes

that identify ways of ensuring, the digital revolution will benefit the

population of the whole world, have demonstrated that e-

government and e-governance can make an invaluable contribution

to helping to create digital opportunities for all. In the Indian state

of Andhra Pradesh, thanks to the new computerised real estate

registry system, the public can now perform operations locally in a

matter of hours, which formerly involved several days of travelling

to attend the registry offices. Increased efficiency has also helped

to reduce corruption and sharply raise the tax revenues associated

with conveyancing.

In the Brazilian state of Bahia, the introduction of computerised

service kiosks to access government services in shopping malls,

post offices and railway stations provide easy access to such

services as the issuing of passports, registration on unemployment

lists and submitting of police reports. In the Philippines, the

computerisation of the customs system has cut transaction costs,

streamlined procedures and substantially boosted tax revenues.

Both the G8 Digital Opportunity Task Force and UN ICT TF have

identified the vital role that e-government can play in spreading

wider access to information technologies.

In the action plan presented at Genoa in 2001, the DOT Force

recalled the importance of e-government in so many fields: “For

internal efficiency and effectiveness within government, as well as of

e-governance for institutional capacity building, transparency,

accountability and its ability to enhance democratic governance.”

In addition to adopting the DOT Force Action Plan, the G8

leaders in Genoa, acting on a proposal by Italian Prime Minister,

Silvio Berlusconi, in the final declaration, encouraged: “The

development of an action plan on how e-government can

strengthen democracy and the rule of law by empowering citizens

and making the provision of essential government services

more efficient.”

The United Nations ICT Task Force has also stated that e-

governance is a priority area of action and has instituted an ICT Policy

and Governance Working Group and another group with national and

regional e-strategies comprising an e-governance component.

The Italian government believes that e-government is a strategic

instrument that will enable both the developed and the developing

countries to make a quantum leap forward in terms of enhancing the

efficiency of government services.

Italy has, therefore, put forward her candidacy to promote an

innovative form of technological cooperation based on the design

and implementation of operational projects with measurable

results for the developing countries. Italy’s initiative, E-

Government for Development, is intended to make an effective

and original contribution to disseminating information about e-

government and its programming and implementation in

countries which have not, or have only partially, exploited the full

potential of this important tool for narrowing the economic and

social divide. ■

The vital role of e-government and e-governance

From the Government of Italy to the World Summiton the Information Society


Minister for Innovation and Technologies – Italy

http://www.palermoconference2002.org/en/egov1.htm

The unique structure of ITU, as a

public/private partnership, provides

valuable experience in bringing together the

different stakeholders to work together

towards common goals. ITU is not just

talking about creating the information

society, it is doing it. ■

The International Telecommunication

Union (ITU) is the United Nations’

specialised agency within which

governments and the private sector work

together to coordinate the operation of

telecommunication networks and services

and to advance the development of

communications technology. Founded in

1865, ITU is based on a unique

public/private partnership, with 189

member states and over 660 sector

members. Every time someone,

somewhere, picks up a telephone and dials

a number, answers a call on a mobile

phone, sends a fax or receives an e-mail,

takes a plane or a ship, listens to the radio,

watches a favourite television programme

or helps a small child to master the latest

radio-controlled toy, they are benefiting

from the work of ITU. The role of ITU is thus

central to the creation of the information

society and the goals of the UN ICT Task

Force, of which ITU was a founder member.

One of the major current undertakings

is the organisation of a World Summit on

the Information Society (WSIS), to be held

in two phases, in Geneva (December 2003)

and in Tunis (2005). In line with UN General

Assembly Resolution 56/183, ITU has

assumed the leading managerial role in the

executive secretariat of the Summit and its

preparatory process.

The work of the Union is implemented

through three Sectors:

The Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R),

Telecommunication Standardisation Sector

(ITU-T) and Telecommunication

Development Sector (ITU-D). The mission of

the latter is to achieve its objectives, based

on the right to communicate of all the

inhabitants of the world, through access to

infrastructure and information and

communications services. The major

programmes of ITU-D are the six strands of

the Istanbul Action Plan (see side bar),

which charts a course for developing

countries to transform the digital divide into

digital opportunities.

In addition, there are a number of other

ITU activities that are directly relevant to the

work of the UN ICT Task Force. These

include:

• The ITU New Initiatives Programme,

launched in 1999, which provides high-

quality research and strategic workshops

on issues of high current policy and

regulatory relevance for ITU members.

Recent topics covered include

competition policy, creating trust in critical

network infrastructures, internet diffusion,

multilingual domain names, 3G licensing,

broadband, etc.

• A programme of information-sharing,

notably through the publication of the

World Telecommunication Development

Report, Trends in Telecom Reform, and

other publications and databases.

• A proposal, taken up by Working Group 5

of the UN ICT Task Force, on enhancing IP

connectivity in the least developed

countries using low-cost VSATs (very small

aperture terminals), which provide access

to remote and rural areas by satellite.

Challenges and partnerships


From the International Telecommunication Union to the World Summiton the Information Society.

For more information, visit: www.itu.int

The Istanbul Action Plan

Bridging the digital divide means providing

access to telecommunications and ICT and

promoting their use so that all segments of

society can harness the opportunities of the

information society. Digital opportunities not

only serve as an engine for economic growth,

they enable social, educational and medical

progress. These goals hinge upon the rollout of

ICT networks and services.

The Istanbul Action Plan is a

comprehensive package that will enable

developing countries to promote the equitable

and sustainable deployment of affordable ICT

networks and services. The core of the plan is

a series of six programmes:

• Regulatory reform

• Technologies and telecommunication

network development

• E-strategies and e-services/applications

• Economics and finance

• Human capacity building

• Special programme for the least developed

countries

The rationale for shared access

Since 1998, the International Telecommunication

Union has been developing multipurpose community

telecentre (MCT) projects to bring telephone, fax,

internet, e-mail and, in some cases, distance learning

and telemedicine to remote villages around the world.

Timbuktu (Mali), with its legendary past, is home to the

first major multipurpose community telecentre in

Africa. Located East of Lake Faguibine and near the

Niger River, Timbuktu remains an important trade

centre on the Saharan camel caravan routes. But like

most isolated areas, the once prosperous commercial

and cultural town needs a helping hand to join the

digital economy and participate in an increasingly

knowledge-based society.

Multipurpose community telecentres make it

possible for people of a village to learn how to use

computers and the internet. Students and teachers can

run educational software on personal computers in

telecentres or obtain access to world leading online

libraries and distance instructors through the internet.

Local administrators and society leaders can access

information on basic social services such as water

supply or infrastructure. Farmers can form joint buying

and selling groups and monitor market prices. Small

entrepreneurs can find larger markets, secure

business and use the telecentre for basic office

services such as fax, e-mail or document production.

Facilities providing access to ICTs, and the

applications they support, vary considerably. In their

simplest form, they may be limited to providing public

telephone and fax services and be run, for example, by

a local shopkeeper. Telecentres of this type, sometimes

referred to as ‘telekiosks’, tend to be located in more

densely populated areas and have an important social

and economic role.

At the other end of the scale are telecentres with

(shared) offices open to small local businesses and

‘teleworkers’, which are equipped with computers,

printers and photocopiers. Centres of this type generally

provide access to data networks (e.g. internet) for e-

mail and file transfer, to electronic libraries and

databases, government and community information

systems, market and price information databases,

environmental monitoring systems and so on. They may

also offer facilities and equipment for distance learning

and telemedicine, and some may provide the facilities,

equipment and training needed to produce (and

receive) local radio and television programmes.

Typically, MCTs are a collaborative effort of

multilateral agencies and national partners, including

non-governmental organisations, who pool expertise in

different areas to serve communities. The expertise

could range from basic health to small-scale industry.

The focus is on the development and adaptation to the

local context of applications and ‘content’ relevant to

their field of activity, and in the training of support staff

and end-users.

In Latin America, telecentre pilot projects at Valle

de Angeles and Santa Lucía in Honduras offer a good

example of appropriate technologies and institutional

arrangements at work. The Valle de Angeles MCT

recently became a rural internet service provider. Both

the Santa Lucía and Valle de Angeles telecentres link

five other ‘mini’ telecentres each with narrow-band

packet radio and spread spectrum technologies. These

low cost, low maintenance telecentres are located in

the neighbouring villages.

In Asia, Bhutan Telecom established a telecentre

at Jakar in central Bhutan with ITU assistance in 1998.

The telecentre has been particularly successful in

providing basic information technology training to over

450 people. As part of the next phase of operations,

UNESCO is assisting Bhutan to convert the Jakar

telecentre into a community multimedia centre in

which access to the internet and the broadcasting

programme production are integrated to maximise the

information services accessible to the local

community.

The media production centre will take advantage

of telecommunication facilities available at the MCT to

deliver locally produced content for daily radio and

television broadcast offered by the Bhutan

Broadcasting Service (BBS). Combining the media

production centre and the MCT would enable BBS to

offer more participatory programmes, besides using

content based on the regular field visits conducted in

central Bhutan. The media production centre is

expected to eventually introduce local broadcasts

through its own transmitter. Such broadcasts would

include regular ‘Radio Browsing’ programmes to

promote rural access to the internet through the Jakar

multipurpose community telecentre.

Another pilot project in Tanzania addresses the

needs of the refugee community, relief workers and the

local community. The project is implemented in

collaboration with the Tanzanian government, UNESCO,

UNHCR, WorldSpace Corporation and VITASAT.

According to the business plan, telecentres are to be

sustainable enterprises. The project responds to an ITU

resolution titled ‘Training of Refugees’ which calls on

The ITU to continue its efforts towards the application

of the United Nations’ resolutions relevant to assistance

to refugees. ITU is also to collaborate fully with the

organisations concerned with the training of refugees,

both within and outside the United Nations system.

Furthermore, the resolution invites ITU Members ‘to do

even more to receive certain selected refugees and to

arrange for their training in telecommunications in

professional centres and schools’.

The project comprises a network of three

telecentres:

• The first telecentre is located in the district

headquarters town of Ngara, which houses the

local administration as well as UNHCR and

UNICEF offices;

• The second is at ‘K9’, about 17 kilometres from

Ngara, where seven relief organisations and a

secondary school for girls are based;

• The third is some 8 km from K9 where two

refugee camps are located: Lukole A and B, which

currently have no telecommunication facilities.

VITA will provide satellite support and

information services through its VITA-Connect

network, including the contribution of a ground

station, antenna and software for basic electronic

mail-based connectivity. WorldSpace Corporation has

committed to providing, at each site, a container

incorporating radio equipment, satellite receiver and

data terminal to download web-based multimedia

educational and entertainment content in Kiswahili

(the local language). The centre, planned as an

educational centre for refugee children and for

teacher training, will also provide medical information

and will be run by refugees.

Projects currently in an advanced stage of

planning include: in Niger, establishment of four

telecentres around the capital Niamey, to be run by

women’s cooperatives and in the Democratic

People’s Republic of Korea, establishing a telecentre

in Hyangsan County.

All MCT pilot projects are subject to continuous

assessment by the partners involved in their

implementation. Current assessments point to the fact

that the projects have considerable social impact.



through novel sensors, effectors and

fabrication tools. Translating the vision of

fine-grain, pervasive computing to rural

communities.

World Computer – a computer for the

illiterate, for communities, for everyone. We

are creating computers that transcend these

barriers to bring digital services to everyone.

The design goal of the world computer is a

localised, grassroots interface.

These three technical themes come

together in a fourth initiative that seeks to

find a synergetic combination of technology

with societal need:

Digital Village – realising Gandhi’s vision

of a sustainable village through culturally

appropriate use of new technologies. Our

goal is to create a sustainable digital

ecology that maintains traditional values and

community while opening economic and

expressive opportunities.

These ideas are developed in two ways:

through research laboratories that generate

and prototype new concepts, and through

field projects that develop, test and evaluate

these laboratory prototypes.

Example research projects

Sustainable access in rural India (SARI)

Working with some 50 villages in the

Madurai district in south-eastern India,

Media Lab Asia is collaborating with the

Harvard Centre for International

Development, IIT-Madras and the I-Gyan

Foundation to help villagers obtain economic

self-sustainability throughout the region. They

are doing this by providing villages with

internet-ready telekiosks that provide much-

For the first time in human history your

location no longer limits your ability to

communicate. From anywhere in the

world – mountain, jungle or city – you can

now telephone, e-mail and browse the

internet using a pocket-sized, battery-

powered wireless communicator. The UN

ICT Task Force has been established to

better understand and utilise these

revolutionary new possibilities.

However, current information and

communication products are engineered for

developed nations and are often too

expensive or inappropriate for developing

nations. Only by focusing research and

development efforts on making the technology

affordable, useful and universally accessible,

will we be able to provide every family on

earth with access to first-class educational

material, medical advice, business

communications and entertainment. Media

Lab Asia’s role within the UN ICT Task Force is

to coordinate Asian industry and academia to

achieve this goal.

With core participation from MIT’s

renowned Media Laboratory, seed-funding

from the government of India, and

industrial funding from corporations such

as Tata Consulting Services and Microsoft,

Media Lab Asia is inventing technologies

that respond to the needs of the vast

number of individuals living in Asia, Africa

and Latin America.

Media Lab Asia’s research and

development efforts facilitate the invention,

refinement and dissemination of innovations

that benefit the greatest number of people.

Working though our industrial partners,

NGOs and governments, we are bringing

innovation to villages throughout the world,

combining the creativity of entrepreneurs

with the technical know-how of universities.

Particular challenges in cultivating these

solutions will include the need to operate in

many different languages and to support

local culture and tradition.

Media Lab Asia’s research programme

Our research projects may be divided

into three technical initiatives:

Bits for All – focusing on viral,

terrestrial wireless systems for rural

connectivity. We are exploring new, cost-

effective methods of connecting every

person on earth.

Tomorrow’s Tools – connecting the

disembodied world of bits to the real world

Media Lab Asia: Innovating for the next Five Billion

From MIT to the World Summit on the Information Society


needed communication and information

services. Each kiosk is equipped with a PC

(whose interfaces are in the local language,

Tamil), battery-backup power supply,

telephone and wireless internet connection.

After just four months of operation, the

kiosks have already been used for

telemedicine and have helped villagers

process hundreds of e-government

applications. But perhaps the most dramatic

result was the rescue of a key crop for the

village of Ulagapichanpatti, when a picture of

the diseased crop, sent to the agricultural

centre, immediately identified the problem

and provided the formula for a remedy.

DakNet

DakNet provides a creative, low-cost

‘drive-by’ solution for distributing the

bandwidth necessary to make connectivity

possible even in the poorest countries. A

hand-held PDA, equipped with a wireless

card, is attached to the back of any vehicle

that travels through rural villages. Villagers

queue their internet messages at local kiosks

and when the vehicle gets within range

(approximately 500 meters) it automatically

senses a wireless radio link – picking up the

queued messages and dropping off files

addressed to users of that kiosk.

DakNet is a hybrid of physical and

digital wireless transport. Using long-

distance wireless links would be more

expensive to maintain and using physical

transportation alone would be too labour

intensive. The short-distance wireless link

also has the advantage of being able to run

on batteries. DakNet is scalable and, most

importantly, sustainable.

Although the data transport provided by

DakNet is not real-time, a large amount of

data can be moved at once and, as a result, it

provides a higher data throughput than other

low-bandwidth technologies. DakNet also

provides a seamless method of upgrading to

universal broadband connectivity.

Kaash

Focused on improving health care in

rural India, Kaash is a pilot project

conducted in collaboration with the All-

India Institute of Medical Sciences. It

introduces the use of handheld PDAs into

the public health system, providing them

to some of the approximately 350,000

auxiliary nurses and midwives (ANMs) now

working throughout India.

Kaash’s goal is to make the ANMs more

efficient and to allow them to provide better

care. To ensure that the handhelds would be

used, we worked with the ANMs to design a

system that incorporates the local

terminology. Each PDA has a pull-down

menu, so you just have to recognise terms

rather than write them.

The system can also provide feedback

on diagnoses and treatment to the ANMs in

the field, and reminders that particular

patients are due for inoculation. In the long

term, the PDA will not only be a useful tool

for collecting and storing health data, but

also for helping public health officials see

trends, leading to improved health care for

the Indian population as a whole. ■


Prof. Alex (Sandy) Pentland,

Founding Director, Media Lab Asia


The main initiative undertaken by

UNCTAD in 2002 with regard to the

activities of the Task Force

concerns the organisation of a series of

meetings, held at both the expert and the

policy-making levels, on the issue of e-

commerce strategies for development. The

purpose of these events was, firstly, to

raise awareness about the key role of e-

commerce in ICT-enabled strategies to fight

poverty and social exclusion. Secondly, the

events aimed to identify policy areas and

specific measures (national and

international) that can be conducive to the

creation of an enabling environment for e-

commerce in developing countries. The

third purpose of the events was to support

national capacity building in e-strategy

making, and lastly, the events aimed to

exchange information about national and

regional experiences and to provide

opportunities for networking among e-

commerce experts of developing countries.

The Expert Meeting on E-commerce

Strategies for Development (Geneva, 10-12

July) brought together experts from 59

countries and 19 international organisations

and NGOs, including representatives of the

UN ICT Task Force. The experts discussed

the links and interactions between e-

commerce strategies and other aspects of

national development strategies.

Specific policy areas that were

addressed included human resources

development, gender aspects of e-

commerce, access and infrastructure and

the legal and regulatory aspects of e-

commerce strategies. Experts from all of the

developing regions presented a number of

national e-commerce national strategies.

Particular attention was paid to the issue of

developing a participatory approach to

national e-commerce strategy making, as

well as to regional and global initiatives in

support of developing countries interested

in putting in place their own national e-

commerce strategies. The participation of

representatives of both the G-8’s DOT Force

and of the UN ICT Task Force was

particularly relevant in this regard.

The work of the experts and policy-

makers participating in the events organised

by UNCTAD was supported by an analysis

undertaken by the UNCTAD secretariat of

the experience available so far of national e-

commerce strategies. The issues paper that

summarises the findings of this work, as

well as a number of presentations by the

participating experts, is available online at

UNCTAD’s e-commerce website.

Two regional level events have been

held in 2002 and another two are scheduled

for 2003. The 2002 events were the High-

level Regional Workshop on E-commerce

and ICT for Central America and the

Caribbean (Curaçao, 25-27 June) and the

High-level Regional Meeting on E-

commerce Strategies for Development, in

cooperation with UN/ESCAP (Bangkok, 20-

22 November). Both events also provided

the opportunity for informal meetings among

members of the respective regional

networks of the UN ICT Task Force.

The conclusions of both meetings

concerning the priority objectives for the

promotion of e-commerce in these countries

and the instruments to be used to attain

them are available online. Also available


The Trade Point Programme

The Trade Point Programme was created by

UNCTAD in 1992, as part of its Trade Efficiency

Initiative. Its objectives are to increase the

participation of small and medium-sized

enterprises (SMEs), in particular those located in

developing countries, in international trade;

reduce transaction costs; and provide them with

access to the latest information technologies.

In 2000, UNCTAD launched the

establishment of the World Trade Point

Federation (WTPF), which has taken over the

management of the programme. Through a

network of 122 trade information and

facilitation centres, known as Trade Points, the

WTPF assists SMEs in 80 countries worldwide

to trade internationally through the use of

electronic commerce technologies.

The Federation’s website (www.wtpfed.org)

offers well-known services, for example the

Electronic Trading Opportunities system,

including its Electronic Investment

Opportunities and a world company directory.

These services are offered by the Federation

and its Trade Points, or through strategic

partnerships with international organisations

and the civil society.

WTPF is an ideal physical and virtual

platform that is complementary to the work

undertaken by intergovernmental organisations

dealing with e-commerce, trade and

development. It has a direct access to the local

business communities and works closely with,

among others UNCTAD, ITC, UN/ECE, the World

Bank and WTO, as well as leading ICT firms in

the international market through partnerships.

UNCTAD and e-commercestrategies for development

From the United Nations Conference on Tradeand Development to the World Summit on theInformation Society

online is the Bangkok Declaration on E-

commerce for Development, which was

adopted as an expression of the political

will of the participating governments to

promote e-commerce as an instrument for

development in the Asia Pacific region.

In a separate effort, UNCTAD’s other

major undertaking in this area was the

preparation of the annual E-commerce and

Development Report, which was released

on 18 November. The report provides

factual information and analysis about the

implications of e-commerce for developing

countries, identifies policy and business

options available to developing countries in

several sectors, and makes some practical

proposals for maximising the contribution of

e-commerce to economic and social

development. Both the 2002 and the 2001

reports are available online. ■


For more information, visit: www.unctad.org

“

”

Experts from all ofthe developingregions presented anumber of nationale-commercenational strategies

68

2003 is the year of the Geneva session of the

WSIS. Work at the UNECE has focused,

therefore, on the follow-up to the Bucharest

Pan-European Regional Conference, held in

November 2002, and on preparations for the

December Summit. The Bucharest Conference has

provided substantive inputs to the WSIS preparatory

process. The UNECE played a key role in the

preparation for Bucharest and will continue

supporting the preparation for the WSIS in Geneva

and Tunis, both in terms of intergovernmental

processes and substantive contributions.

The Bucharest declaration

The Member States of the United Nations Economic

Commission for Europe met in Bucharest at the Pan-

European Conference on the Information Society (7-9

November 2002) and agreed on the following set of

principles and priorities:

Principle 1. Securing access to information and

knowledge

Individuals and organisations should benefit from

access to information, knowledge and ideas. Notably,

information in the public domain should be easily

accessible. Information is the basis of a well-functioning

and transparent decision-making process and a

prerequisite for any democracy. Knowledge is the key

agent for transforming both our global society and local

communities. Public policy should broaden

opportunities in providing information for all, including

disabled, inter alia by creating content, and thereby

redressing inequalities.

ICTs have the potential not only to strengthen the

effectiveness of public service delivery, but also to

involve individuals in shaping government policies.

Moreover, communications technology is not an end

in itself, but a means of supplying quality content in

the information society. In this regard, mass media –

in their various forms – are recognised as important

means of fostering public information, societal

development and social cohesion.

Principle 2. Promoting universal access at

affordable cost

An adequately developed infrastructure is the

precondition for secure, reliable and affordable access to

information by all stakeholders, and for the upgrading of

relevant services. Improving connectivity is of special

importance in this respect, and should be undertaken by

the public and private sectors, acting in partnership.

Community-led development is a critical element in the

strategy for achieving universal access to information

and knowledge. Community access centres and public

services (such as post offices, libraries, schools) can

provide an effective means for promoting universal

access, in particular in remote areas, as an important

factor of their development. Moreover, in order to ensure

greater affordability, policy action should aim at setting

up an appropriate open and competitive environment

Principle 3. Promoting linguistic diversity and

cultural identity

The information society is founded on respect for,

and enjoyment of, cultural expression. New ICTs

should stimulate cultural diversity and plurilinguism

and enhance the capacity of governments to develop

active policies to that end. Access and contribution to

knowledge and information broaden the contents of

the public domain and foster mutual understanding

and respect for diversity

Principle 4. Developing human capacity through

education, training and skills

It is important for governments to develop

comprehensive and forward-looking education

strategies. People should be enabled to acquire the

necessary skills in order to actively participate in and

The Information Societyin Europe and North America


From the United Nations Economic Commissionfor Europe to the World Summit on theInformation Society

Did you know that…?

Estonia’s internet host penetration is the highest amongst

Baltic, Central and Eastern European Countries.

90 percent of children between the ages of 5-17 now use

computers in the United States, and the rate of growth of internet

use is currently two million new internet users per month.

Information technology is a formidable tool to achieve

sustainable development as it produces huge environmental

benefits through use of video conferencing and e-mail.

However, experts estimate that in Canada alone, 351 million

computers will become obsolete by 2044.

Intelligent transport systems promise safer roads and

lower emissions

Only a third of the EU countries’ workforce has ever had

computer training for professional use. Half of this workforce

uses computers at their workplace.

The Hungarian Government has created a consortium of

public and private actors to help provide PCs and internet at a

discounted rate to 1400 underprivileged families. The

programme began in September 2000 and is funded by

Compaq, Matav and Postabank.

Only 37 percent of small companies in September 2002

declared plans to buy either an office computer or a laptop

within the next 12 months.

Spain plans to increase the present 5 percent rate of

hotels using the internet, to 75 percent by 2058.


international stability and security and may adversely

affect the integrity of the infrastructure within States, to

the detriment of their security in both civil and military

fields, as well as in relation to the functioning of their

economies. It is also necessary to prevent the use of

information resources or technologies for criminal or

terrorist purposes.

In order to build confidence and security in the use

of ICTs, governments should promote awareness in

their societies of cyber security risks and seek to

strengthen international cooperation, including the

private sector.

Principle 7. Addressing global issues

International policy dialogue on the Information

Society at global, regional and sub-regional levels

should promote the exchange of experience, the

identification and application of compatible norms and

standards, the transfer of know-how and the provision

of technical assistance with a view to bridging

capacity gaps and setting up international cooperation

programmes, in particular in the field of creation of

content. Sharing success stories and best practice

experiences will also pave the way for new forms of

international cooperation.

Priority Theme. E-government: More efficient and

accountable

ICT tools will make policies more accountable and

transparent and will enable better monitoring, evaluation

and control of public services and allow for greater

efficiency in their delivery. Public administration can make

use of ICT tools to enhance transparency, accountability

and efficiency in the delivery of public services to citizens

(education, health, transportation, etc.) and to enterprises. ■

“”

To realise fully the benefits of ICTs, networksand information systems should besufficiently robust to prevent, detect andrespond appropriately to security incidents

For more information, contact: Romi Chopra,

Assistant to the UNECE Information Society Team

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.


69

understand the information society and fully benefit from

the possibilities it offers. Individuals should be engaged

in defining their own needs and in the development of

programmes to meet those needs.

These skills integrate ICT-related specific notions

with broader knowledge, and are generally obtained

through primary, secondary and higher education,

on-the-job training, but also increasingly through

distance learning. Technological change will

progressively require life-long learning and

continuous training by all. Public policy should take

into account inequalities in access to quality

education and training, particularly in the case of

vulnerable groups and underserved or remote areas.

Specific attention has to be paid to the training of

trainers. ICTs open completely new opportunities for

e-learning. New forms of partnership between public

and private sectors are needed in this field.

Principle 5. Setting up an enabling environment,

including legal, regulatory and policy frameworks

To maximise the economic and social benefits of the

information society, governments need to create a

trustworthy, transparent, and non-discriminatory legal,

regulatory and policy environment, capable of promoting

technological innovation and competition, thus favouring

the necessary investments, mainly from the private

sector, in the deployment of infrastructures and

development of new services.

The information society is, by nature, a global

phenomenon and issues such as privacy protection,

consumer trust, management of domain names,

facilitation of e-commerce, protection of intellectual

property rights, open source solutions, etc. should be

addressed with the active participation of all

stakeholders.

Principle 6. Building confidence and security in the

use of ICTs

To realise fully the benefits of ICTs, networks and

information systems should be sufficiently robust to

prevent, detect and respond appropriately to security

incidents. However, effective security of information

systems is not merely a matter of government and law

enforcement practices, nor of technology. A global

culture of cyber-security needs to be developed –

security must be addressed through prevention and

supported throughout society, and be consistent with

the need to preserve free flow of information.

ICTs can potentially be used for purposes that are

inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining


“

”

Global standards for the global information society

UNECE, IEC, ISO, ITU-T side event at the Pan-European Preparatory Ministerial Conference

for the World Summit on the Information Society

How can international standards foster the global policy dialogue on the Information Society

and the development of a harmonised and stable framework of technologies, best practices and

agreements, recognised worldwide? This was the crux of the question tackled by Mr Ollie

Smoot, ISO President elect, and Mr U. Hartmann, Director, Information/Communications,

Siemens, at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Pan-European Regional

Conference in Bucharest on 8 November 2002.

The World Summit on the Information Society has set out, as its objective, to address the

broad range of questions concerning the information society and to draw up an action plan to

layout a roadmap to bridge the digital divide.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO), the International Telecommunication Union – Standardization Department

(ITU-T), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), will work together to

ensure that WSIS will raise awareness on the contribution that international standards can make

in addressing global issues in the information society. The four organisations have committed

themselves through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to avoiding divergent and

competitive approaches, to eliminating duplication of efforts, to providing a clear roadmap for

users and to ensuring coherence.

By highlighting the role that international standards can play to foster this international

policy dialogue on the Information Society, the four organisations hope to promote the

development of an inclusive information society that provides access and participation for all,

bypassing all borders, gender considerations and social distinctions.

International standards have an ever-greater place in helping to maximise the benefits of

information and communication technologies for developing countries. Standards simplify the

use of existing and new technologies; focus on interfaces and interoperability; reduce costs and

complexity; open markets and foster broader access to products and services; and favour the

emergence of rules and agreements on best practices.

Public policy should take intoaccount inequalities in accessto quality education andtraining, particularly in the caseof vulnerable groups andunderserved or remote areas


The United Nations Information Technology

Service (UNITeS) is working to build a Global

Network of Universities in support of UNITeS

and ICT4D (Information Communication Technologies

for Development). The creation of this network

provides expanded volunteer human resources and

knowledge resources for developing countries.

In December 2002, UNITeS received a Global

Junior Challenge 2002 award for its University

Volunteer Network. In addition, item 10 of the UN ICT

Task Force action plan focuses on the need for

partnerships between leading training institutions and

universities and community-level ICT4D programmes,

and cites UNITeS as a key avenue for involvement of

university volunteers by such organisations.

The common thread among all UNITeS

collaborating universities is that they are interested in

taking action to narrow the digital divide. Collectively,

and using the UNITeS mechanism, they endeavour to

allow the maximum possible number of qualified

volunteers – students, faculty and staff – to be

productive in serving ICT capacity-building needs

expressed in developing countries, under a well-

managed initiative.

University ICT volunteers, through UNITeS, have

already served in Botswana, Bosnia & Herzegovina,

Ecuador, Honduras, India, Jordan and Kosovo on a

variety of capacity-building ICT projects. Read more

about their activities on the UNITeS web site

(http://www.unites.org/html/projects/completed.htm).

The partnership with universities through UNITeS

involves:

• The partnering universities launching or having

already created credit-bearing service learning

courses for students involved in UNITeS ICT4D

initiatives.

• The partnering universities creating or having

already created a sabbatical programme for

professors and researchers to undertake

assignments in developing countries through

UNITeS related to thematic applications of ICT.

• The generation and identification of volunteering

opportunities by UN Volunteers Programme Officers

(in more than 70 countries and more than 140

UNDP Country Offices), as well as other partners in

the field, that could involve students, professors,

researchers and faculty from partnering

Universities, to be coordinated by UNITeS.

• The creation of an online environment for delivery

of the online training/learning packages for ICT

volunteers offered by the universities, in

coordination with UNITeS. The delivery of these

packages can take place within the Spanish

network of universities within Universitat Oberta de

Catalunya (UOC), one of the leading online

universities and a collaborating institute with

UNITeS.

• The development and contribution of course

material in ICT4D (Information Communication

Technologies for Development).

Students, faculty and staff at partnering

universities are also encouraged to engage in online

volunteering activities to support organisations

working in and for developing countries, as part of the

NetAid Online Volunteering service managed by UN

Volunteers.

University volunteers through UNITeS should:

• Be engaged in the last year of undergraduate

degree, or engaged in post graduate and/or PhD in

any field of study, or have completed such.

• Have strong ICT-related skills, particularly in

applying these skills to project management,

capacity building, health, education, agriculture,

community support, HIV/AIDS, or another area of

human development.

UNITeS: In partnership with universities

From the United Nations Information Technology Service tothe World Summit on the Information Society


• Have a strong commitment to see tasks completed

and documented, and to report regularly on

progress and activities.

• Have an excellent written and spoken command of

English, as well as Spanish and/or French.

• Have experience working in a multi-cultural

environment, and have excellent interpersonal

communication and presentation skills, with cultural

sensitivity and tact.

• Have volunteer experience at any level, particularly

with high-poverty or low-literacy populations, and a

strong belief in volunteer ideals and volunteerism as

a fundamental element of community projects.

• Possess maturity to face sometimes difficult

situations during field assignments in developing

countries.

No university volunteer should apply directly to

UNITeS. To be a volunteer within the University

framework, UNITeS must already partner with the

University where the candidate is based. We

encourage students, faculty and staff at universities,

particularly those in developing countries, to let their

offices of international studies or career development

know about the UNITeS initiative, and to view the

UNITeS partnerships and collaboration guidelines

(visit http://www.unites.org/html/unites/partner.htm).

Universities partnering (or in the process of):

• George Mason University

(Pioneer university in this innovative initiative)

• Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain

(with 19 Spanish universities, members of the

Spanish network of universities in support of UNITeS)

• Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain

(advanced process)

• Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

(advanced process)

• Universitat Bonn (advanced process)

• Kwansei Gakuin University of Japan

(advanced process)

• University of Benin, Nigeria (first contact) ■


http://www.unites.org/html/projects/Universities.htm

“

”

In December 2002,UNITeS received a GlobalJunior Challenge 2002award for its UniversityVolunteer Network


At its most basic, the CMC offers the simplest

portable radio station, a single computer for internet

browsing wherever possible, e-mail and basic office,

library and learning applications. At its most

developed, the CMC is a major infrastructure, offering

a full range of multimedia facilities, functioning as a

distance learning, training and informal education

centre, linking up to the local hospital for telemedicine

applications, downloading and printing national

newspapers for local circulation, and so forth.

A CMC gives radio listeners access to online

information by the use of:

Radio browsing of the internet

A programme in which the radio presenters gather

information in response to listeners’ needs and

queries from reliable sites on the internet, and put it

on CD-ROMs or other digital resources. During the

programme, the presenter visits these pages of

information on the internet with a local expert (for

example, a doctor for a health question). Together,

they describe, explain and discuss the information

UNESCO’s international initiative for community

multimedia centres (CMCs) promotes

community empowerment and addresses the

digital divide by combining community broadcasting

with the internet and related technologies.

The CMC programme offers a global strategy for

addressing the digital divide in the poorest

communities of the developing world and also

among countries in transition. The CMC opens a

gateway to active membership of the global

knowledge society by making information and

communication the basic tools of the poor in

improving their own lives.

In order to avoid the trap of seeking a

technological fix that overlooks the need for well-

adapted implementation, community radio can be an

invaluable relay for ongoing efforts to ensure that

ICT provision is responsive to local needs, such as

education and health.

The current development paradigm, which has a

framework of reference that is built on the concepts

of sustainable, endogenous and human

development, has been emphasising the importance

of community-driven development programmes. The

community multimedia centre can be used as a

vehicle for taking this process one step further, by

enabling the members of a community to become

recognised actors in the process of developing

knowledge. The metaphor of ‘giving the poor a

voice’ becomes a concrete reality when the poor

have a public voice quite literally, on-air and online.

This participation in both medium and message,

pivotal to both individual and community

empowerment, fills a link often missing in the

development process. The combination of a

grassroots public platform with access to

information highways promotes the public debate

and public accountability that are essential for

strengthening democracy and good governance.

UNESCO’s international initiativefor community multimedia centres

From UNESCO to the World Summit on theInformation Society


directly in the languages used by the community.

Radio browsing is already used in Sri Lanka, Bhutan

and Nepal. It has demonstrated radio’s potential for

overcoming language barriers to access, discuss,

select and assimilate information available in a limited

number of languages on the internet. Moreover, being

a participatory radio programme, ‘Radio browsing of

the internet’ has taken into account the desires of

rural communities to assimilate knowledge

collectively, as opposed to the prevailing modality of

individual access to internet.

Community databases for development

These utilise the capacity of the community

collectively to produce knowledge and to package

and disseminate it in an appropriate manner to meet

the immediate needs and priorities of the community.

The first CMC project was the pioneering

Kothmale Internet Project in Sri Lanka. Its pilot radio

browsing programmes have been replicated in Nepal

and Bhutan. CMC projects are now also being

developed in the Caribbean and Africa (for example,

Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Niger, Mali, Burkina

Faso, Benin, Senegal). A network of CMCs is now

being developed in Sri Lanka and two more CMCs

are planned in Bhutan.

UNESCO is the designated champion agency for

the worldwide global knowledge partnership (GKP)

component in this area, which involves UN agencies

such as ECA, FAO, the ITU, UNDP, UNFPA and the

World Bank as well as bilateral development agencies

and international NGOs. ■

“

”

The CMC programmeoffers a global strategyfor addressing the digitaldivide in the poorestcommunities of thedeveloping world andalso among countries intransition


Stella Hughes, UNESCO

The Communication Development Division,

Communication and Information Sector



“

”

Acting as a facilitator between the

UN system and corporate and

foundation partners, UNFIP assists

in the development of innovative

programmes and projects to achieve the

Millennium Development Goals, with

special attention to Target 18, which

states: “In cooperation with the private

sector, to make available the benefits of

new technologies, especially information

and communication technologies.”

UNFIP has played a facilitating role in

bringing Cisco Systems Inc. into a strategic

partnership with the United Nations. Since

the announcement of the partnership, Cisco

Systems, UNDP, the United Nations

Volunteer programme (UNV), the United

Nations Information Technology Service

(UNITeS) and the United States Agency for

International Development have been

working together to train students for the

internet economy. This has been achieved

by establishing the Cisco Networking

Academy Programme in countries that

suffer from poverty as well as from weak

human resources and economic

institutions. The Cisco Networking

Academies Programme has expanded to

33 of the 49 least developed countries

and has established 100 academies. In

2002, 5500 students – 25 percent of

which were female – had access to the

cutting-edge IT curriculum.

UNFIP also facilitated the Digital Bridge

to Africa meeting that was organised with

the UN ICT Task Force, Digital Partners,

Gruppo Cerfe and UNIFEM on 12 July 2002

at the United Nations. Over 100 participants

attended including leading members of the

UNFIP: Facilitating the Millennium Development Goals

From the United Nations fund for International partnership (UNFIP)to the World Summit on the Information Society

Part of a government-supported project to teach women non-traditional skills, a woman learns to operate a computer ina secretarial training programme in Nouakchott.

Rapid desertification and continuing drought has exacerbated the rural exodus of nomads and peasants in Mauritania.The result, ‘kebbas’ or shanty towns with inadequate health, school and water-supply infrastructures and infantmortality rates as high as 257/1000 live births, twice the national average. UNICEF cooperation includes programmes toreduce infant, child and maternal mortality, improve health and nutrition, and promote family food production, educationand the advancement of women.

UNFIP has also served as a close partner toUNIFEM for the development of the GlobalAdvisory Committee, which is comprisedmainly of African IT entrepreneurs whoadvise on strategic partnerships to bridgethe gender digital divide


African diaspora and representatives from

technology corporations, foundations and

non-profit organisations. The meeting

explored ways in which the combined

knowledge, experiences and resources of

the public and private sectors could be

harnessed to effect positive and sustainable

change in Africa. Results included the

official launch of the Digital Diaspora

Network – Africa (DDN-A), a non-profit

organisation that seeks to promote

development in Africa. In addition,

AfricShare was established as a resource

and knowledge-sharing facility to match

innovative projects with mentors from the

DDN-A network, and the Social Fund for

Africa was inaugurated to provide financial

support for ICT entrepreneurial activities in

the region.

UNFIP is currently facilitating a similar

meeting for the Caribbean diaspora in order

to contribute to the promotion of digital

opportunities in the region. Led by the ICT

Task Force and UNDP, the meeting on

‘Bridging the Digital Divide for the

Caribbean’ will be held at the United

Nations on 24 January 2003. The meeting

has been organised with the support of the

CARICOM Permanent Missions to the

United Nations and the CARICOM

Secretariat, and facilitated by the Caribbean

American Chamber of Commerce.

UNFIP has also served as a close

partner to UNIFEM for the development of

the Global Advisory Committee, which is

comprised mainly of African IT

entrepreneurs who advise on strategic

partnerships to bridge the gender digital

divide. The programme seeks to empower

African women through innovative uses of

information and communications

technologies. The partnerships build on

existing experiences and successful IT

ventures undertaken in Africa by African

women from the diaspora.

The next meeting of the UNIFEM Global

Advisory Committee will include the ICT

Task Force, UNFIP and UNDP

representatives. It will convene in Kampala,

Uganda in March 2003 with the

representation of Ugandan government

officials and non-governmental

organisations (NGOs).

In addition, UNFIP has been

instrumental in raising awareness about the

role of Wi-Fi as an avenue for bridging the

digital divide. UNFIP’s contribution has

included articles and speeches, developed

in cooperation with the Office of the

Secretary-General, to provide a better

understanding and appreciation of how Wi-

Fi could be used to provide fast, and maybe

free, access to the internet. ■

For more information, visit: www.un.org/unfip

“”

UNFIP has been instrumental in raisingawareness about the role of Wi-Fi as anavenue for bridging the digital divide

Secretariat of the UN ICT Task Force

One UN Plaza

10017 New York, New York

www.unicttaskforce.org

Challenges and Partnerships

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