Challenges and Partnerships
A contribution of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force to the World Summit on the Information Society
Opening up ICT to the world
Contents
“Information technology... is a 5 Foreword powerful force that can and must be Mr José Maria Figueres-Olsen, Chairman, UN ICT Task Force harnessed to our global mission of peace and development. This is a matter of 7 Welcome message Mr Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary General, International both ethics and economics; over the Telecommunication Union long term, the new economy can only be productive and sustainable if it spreads 9 Publisher’s welcome
worldwide and responds to the needs 10 Digital diaspora networks and the series on and demands of all people. I urge Policy Awareness and Training in Information Technology (PATIT) everyone in a position to make a United Nations Information and Communication difference to add his or her energies Technologies Task Force to this effort.” 12 Global digital divide initiative Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations 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 Welcome to Challenges and Partnerships, a contribution of the United Nations Information and Communication Technology Task Force to the World 26 ICT – Transforming the world by transforming universities Summit on the Information Society. 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 31 The World Bank Group: Fostering digital 53-55 The First Latin American and Caribbean opportunities Video Art Competition and Exhibition World Bank Group DIGITALYART, an exhibition on technology in art The Cultural Center of the Inter American 32 Metapolicy for ICTs: The Digital Nations Development Bank Consortium United Nations Information & Communication 56-60 The Inter-American Development Bank Technology Task Force, Working Group 1 steps in to support ICT applications for small businesses 34 National & regional e-development strategies: The ALDEA Program: Digital strategies for the A blueprint for action Latin America and Caribbean Governments United Nations Information & Communication Italian Trust Fund for Information and Technology Task Force, Working Group 2 Communication Technology for Development Inter-American Development Bank Information and 36 A road to universal broadband connectivity Communication Technology for Development Division United Nations Information & Communication Technology Task Force, Working Group 5 61 The vital role of e-government and e-governance 38 Technology solutions advance Ministry for Innovation and Technologies, entrepreneurship in developing countries Government of Italy United Nations Information & Communication Technology Task Force, Working Group 6 62 Challenges and partnerships International Telecommunication Union 41 ICT Policy Development and Implementation seminar for Afghanistan 64 Media Lab Asia: The Asia-Pacific Information Development Programme Innovating for the next Five Billion MIT and the World Bank Group 42 APC: Internet and ICTs for social justice and development 66 UNCTAD and e-commerce strategies for Association for Progressive Communications development United Nations Conference on Trade and 44 Bridging the digital divide through the Cisco Development Networking Academy Program Cisco Systems Inc. 68 The Information Society in Europe and North America: 46 AME and the Cl@se initiative United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Fundación Cisneros 71 UNITeS: In partnership with universities 48 Promoting ICT for development alongside United Nations Information Technology Service gender equality issues WSIS-Gender Caucus 73 UNESCO’s international initiative for community multimedia centres 50 German initiatives UNESCO Federal Foreign Office, Government of Germany 75 UNFIP: Facilitating the Millennium 52 e-Inclusion: Dikahotole Digital Village, Development Goals South Africa – rising out of a cycle of poverty UNFIP Hewlett-Packard
Foreword
Mr José Maria Figueres-Olsen Chairman, UN ICT Task Force
espite real progress on some good. They can help devise ICT solutions fronts, there remain dramatic that are built to last. Secondly, they can Ddisparities in levels of human participate in public-private initiatives that development: the digital divide is are driven by user demands, identified threatening to exacerbate the existing and realised through direct participation social and economic inequalities between and ownership. Thirdly, such initiatives countries and communities. should be sensitive to local conditions The principal objective of the Summit and limitations. And finally, initiatives should be identification of strategies and should be explicit about their actions that would mainstream ICT into development goals and how they will the work aimed at achieving the directly impact the target population. Millennium Development Goals, which provide the wider social, All these aspects suggest that ICT interventions focusing on economic and political context. development goals must address a variety of interrelated One third of the world’s population has never made a telephone dimensions to secure an enduring impact. The potential impact of call. Seventy percent of the world’s poorest live in rural and remote ICT interventions would be far greater if they are conceived in areas, where access to information and communications technologies, conjunction with private sector economies. There is no doubt that even to a telephone, is often scarce. Most of the information the private sector could be a great asset to ICT initiatives in exchanged over global networks such as the internet is in English, the developing countries. language of less than 10 percent of the world’s population. Governments, on the other hand, can play a role in providing a In response to these growing concerns, in March 2001, the favourable policy and pro-competitive environments to ensure United Nations Economic and Social Council requested the Secretary market fairness and flexibility as well as exercising leadership General to establish an Information and Communication Technologies through strategic investments in ICT applications and content. (ICT) Task Force. The Council recognised the tremendous potential of If public-private partnerships are built on complementarities the digital revolution for economic growth, poverty eradication and between the profit motive of the private sector and human sustainable development. Countries in which most people do not development goals, we can achieve sustainable results and the have access to the new technologies cannot play a full part in the harmonious development of a global networked society. new global economy at a time when knowledge acquisition and The United Nations ICT Task Force is helping to build information are becoming pre-requisites for human development and partnerships in key areas such as low-cost connectivity access, progress. And the longer they remain outside the global economy, human resources development and capacity building, and business the harder and costlier it will be to catch up. The digital divide must enterprise and entrepreneurship. It also provides a platform to then be bridged before it is too late. analyse how programmes for promoting education, combating In order to spread information and communications technologies diseases, promoting gender equality and the empowerment of and their benefits to the developing world, intensified cooperation women, and those targeting youth, the disabled and people living in and strong commitment among the private and non-profit sectors poverty in general can be leveraged and enhanced with ICT. will be required. Our objective is to work towards an ambitious but achievable The private sector – through innovation, risk taking and agenda, in which progress would offer all human beings a chance of investment – can help develop a country’s ICT infrastructure. The achieving lifelong prosperity. We have begun to transform our private sector can contribute to achieving development goals with societies and together we can and must find our way towards a investments that can produce a positive impact on social and universal and inclusive information society in which wealth creation economic development outcomes. Companies can do well by doing and social well being go hand-in-hand.
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 5
Welcome message
Mr Yoshio Utsumi Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union
While the basic needs of humankind have long been food, clothing and shelter, the time “ has come to add ‘information’ to that list
nformation has the power to dispel ignorance and to empower ” those who are oppressed. It has the power to bind the global Icommunity 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.
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© 2002 Stellent, Inc. Stellent and the Stellent logo are trademarks of Stellent, Inc. Welcome message
Mr Spencer Green Chairman, GDS Publishing Ltd
DS has been publishing journals for the Secretary-General of the United Nations has said: information and communication technologies “Governments themselves are acknowledging that G(ICTs) sector for many years, and still the they cannot successfully pursue development on their phenomenal speed of evolution and development own. Thus there is unprecedented scope for public- amazes me. New products, new services and new private partnerships that match real investment ways of conducting business are created everyday opportunities with the real needs of the poor...” through an increasing convergence between The digital divide has the potential to give rise to telecommunications, broadcasting multimedia and a new form of illiteracy by promoting information and traditional IT, then disseminated and implemented at knowledge poverty and limiting the opportunities for incredible speed using the same channels. economic growth and wealth distribution. Mr Annan: Meanwhile, modern business’ hunger for “If all countries are to benefit, we need more and information, ‘lean’ operations and connectivity – given better strategic public-private partnerships. That is a solid platform by ICTs – is opening new markets to one of the primary functions of the United Nations competition, foreign investment and participation, and Information and Communication Technologies Task is driving commercial and professional opportunities Force, which brings together CEOs, government in these markets. officials, nongovernmental organisations, technical We are living through a paradigm shift every bit as experts and other information industry leaders.” far reaching as that of a century ago, when the world ICTs can create economic and social networks, pitched from an agrarian to an industrial base. Now allowing diverse groups around the world to access the industrial society that marked the 20th century is and exchange information and knowledge crucial for giving way to the information society of the 21st their socio-economic development. The benefits to century, and the changes are coming thick and fast: business are obvious, less obvious are the benefits to how people live, how they learn and work, and how basic health and education services delivery, and to governments interact with civil society. Information marginalized and isolated people who can now have a has become the most powerful tool for economic and voice in the world community, regardless of their social development. gender or where they live. To benefit the world community fully, this new To this end, of course, there is the World Summit dynamic needs global attention. We need to close the on Information Society. gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ of access to I would like to wish everyone a successful the global information and communication network: to Prepcom and hope you find ‘Challenges and bridge the ‘digital divide’. And, as Kofi Annan, Partnerships’ a useful and interesting contribution.
Editor Adam Burns [email protected] Assistant editors Jonathon Edgley Kellie Peakman Alice Sharp Designers Andrew Hobson James West Production manager Dylan Law [email protected] Managing director Chris White [email protected] Chairman Spencer Green Contact GDS: T +44 2920 383333 www.gdsinternational.com GDS Publishing Ltd, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN, UK
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 9 From the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force to the World Summit on the Information Society
Two Task Force initiatives
Digital diaspora networks brought together more than 130 high-level onvinced of the positive potential of ICT entrepreneurs, academics and experts of African to accelerate economic growth and origin currently residing in the United States. Csocial development, and as part of its Among the tangible outcomes of the launch effort to mobilise key partners for ICT-for- meeting was the creation of an AfriShare development, the United Nations ICT Task Force Network, a platform for sharing best practices launched an initiative aimed at bringing together and matching innovative projects with mentors qualified members of the Diaspora – high-tech professionals, and potential sponsors, and the launching of a Social Venture Fund entrepreneurs and business leaders – into a network with their for Africa that will provide financial support for entrepreneurial counterparts in order to promote ICT-for-development initiatives in activities using ICT in Africa. A Steering Committee was formed and their home country. immediately started work on the Plan of Action of the Network. This initiative, known as the Digital Diaspora Network, aims to In September 2002, the Digital Diaspora network for Africa was promote development and the achievement of the Millennium launched in Europe as well. In the near future the Digital Diaspora Development Goals through mobilising the intellectual, Network for Africa will link the two diaspora networks – in the United technological, entrepreneurial and financial resources of the States and in Europe – with existing and emerging networks in Africa, Diaspora entrepreneurs. thus creating a broad platform for empowering African entrepreneurs Through the Digital Diaspora Networks, expatriates working in and enhancing their contribution to development of the continent. the high-tech sector in North America and Europe will seek to jump-start ICT initiatives in their home region. Thousands of For the Caribbean Internet nodes and digital activities are taking shape in many The Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean was launched in developing countries, but usually lack the capital, expertise and January 2003, in partnership with the United Nations Development networking ability to stabilise and grow. The Networks will mobilise Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Fund for International expatriate leaders and entrepreneurs to underwrite and mentor Partnerships (UNFIP). The initiative was supported by the CARICOM these developments. Permanent Missions to the United Nations and the CARICOM The modalities of the initiative are modelled, to a large extent, on Secretariat, and facilitated by the Caribbean American Chamber of the successful IndUS Entrepreneurs network created nine years ago Commerce and Industry. for the Indian Diaspora in the United States. The launch meeting of the Network led to the formation of a Two Digital Diaspora Networks have been launched by the ICT steering team, coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat and the Task Force so far: The Digital Diaspora Network for Africa (DDN-A) University of the West Indies with the task of establishing an and the Digital Diaspora Network for the Caribbean (DDN-C). organisational framework to promote and manage the resulting network of interest, to ensure continuity and to oversee and monitor For Africa follow-up activities. The Digital Diaspora Network for Africa (DDN-A) was launched in July 2002, in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for For more information, contact: Daniela Giacomelli, Program Manager, United Nations ICT Task Force Secretariat International Partnerships, the United Nations Development Fund for [email protected] www.unicttaskforce.com Women and the Digital Partners Institute. The launch meeting
10 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS Series on Policy Awareness and Training in Information Technology (PATIT)
Initiative 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.
Type of initiative Capacity building programme – skills training and awareness building
Objectives 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.
Implementing partners UNITAR, United Nations ICT Task Force and Intel Corporation, Inc.
Partnership with Intel 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.
Facts and results 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.
3-Year Plan (2003-2005) Partnership agreement with Intel, with commitment from the ICT Task Force for 2003: for the PATIT Initiative • 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
Conclusion 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.
For more information, contact: Humaira Kamal, UNITAR Special Fellow. [email protected] www.unitar.org
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 11 From the World Economic Forum to the World Summit on the Information Society
Global digital divide initiative
ver the last three years, the global digital divide has come into focus as one of the O 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 over 10 countries and collective investments totalling incubator for projects that facilitate digital over $2.5 Million. development in disadvantaged regions of the world. While the Task Force completes its mandate at Set up by the Governors for IT, Media and this year’s Annual Meeting 2003, the work Entertainment at our Annual Meeting 2000, the Task programmes launched by the Task Force will Force has developed a private sector-led multi- continue their growth thanks to the leadership and stakeholder community that serves to provide a commitment of their original initiators. Having served business perspective to policy advocacy, awareness as a ‘launch pad’ for sustainable projects, such as raising, project implementation, resource mobilisation this one, the World Economic Forum will diminish this and relationship building. support in the future. Through the commitment and leadership of its As we commence 2003, the Forum looks forward co-chairs, and the vision, hard work and dedication to new challenges where we can apply our many of the Task Force members, the Global Digital Divide lessons learned over the course of our mandate. The Task Force boasts a significant portfolio of Forum is poised to facilitate efficient participation in achievements. In 2000, the Task Force was corporate citizenship activities for our members and mandated to complete an international policy effort partners that wish to increase their involvement in culminating with the G-8 Summit in Kyushu-Okinawa. development activities. With the momentum generated from this effort, the Governors requested an additional two-year mandate For more information, visit: to implement our recommendations. Today, the Task www.weforum.org Force work programme has a footprint that reaches
12 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS CEO charter for digital development questionnaire answered by our first 10 CEO signers. Members of At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2002 in New the Global Digital Divide Task Force look forward to expanding York, former Vivendi Universal Chief Executive and Global Digital this process of information gathering and data analysis towards Divide co-chair, Jean-Marie Messier, proposed the CEO Charter more efficient partnerships as companies become more involved for Digital Development (‘CEO Charter’). in corporate citizenship activities. The CEO Charter is a resource mobilisation initiative designed to bring together members of the private sector to General findings affirm their commitment to social, economic and educational The drafters of the CEO Charter used the terms ‘corporate progress in the developing world. The Global Digital Divide philanthropy’, ‘corporate citizenship’ and ‘social investment’ Initiative has coordinated this process for the last year among interchangeably to encourage companies from around the world business executives involved or interested in ICT for development with different corporate cultures, traditions and business activities. The CEO Charter is a private sector commitment to practices to volunteer to participate in the Charter. transparently allocate human, in-kind or financial resources to Of those that answered the questionnaire, 60 percent reduce poverty in developing countries and disadvantaged exceed the 20 percent corporate citizenship/philanthropy or communities through the use of information and communication investment target for ICT for development projects and 30 technologies. percent meet the target. The other CEO Charter signers It is a signal that participating CEOs stand ready to partner aspire to achieve the investment target. They indicated their and collaborate with governments, international organisations hope that participation in the CEO Charter will lead to and civil society to find innovative solutions to help bridge the expanding their network of potential projects to support and digital divide. further exchange of best practices. Participating CEOs agree to make their best effort to target Ninety percent of CEO Charter respondents have a clear at least 20 percent of their annual corporate citizenship and/or mission behind their philanthropic programmes and 50 percent philanthropy budgets to support concrete and sustainable actions of respondents undertake their social investments as part of their aimed at promoting social, economic and educational progress in core business strategy. This group indicated that such investment developing countries and disadvantaged communities through is part of their portfolio of corporate citizenship activities rather information and communication technologies. than a philanthropic investment. In their response, they indicated We hope that the CEO Charter serves as a step towards that a focus on citizenship activities assist the corporate goal of galvanising the private sector to commit to socially responsible mainstreaming socially conscious corporate investment into their business activities and analysing the ‘support’ market. One result core business operations. will be the accumulated body of knowledge on the resources that All respondents stated in their reply form that partnership are dedicated by the private sector to combating the digital organisations (e.g. international donor agencies, regional divide. As we build up information about the ‘who’, ‘what’, government organisations, the World Economic Forum, etc.) play ‘where’ and ‘why’ of social investments, we hope that project a significant role in introducing projects to businesses for partnerships will develop more efficiently (be it technology for corporate support. As companies expand and innovate on their health, education or e-government). citizenship programmes, they will rely more on these The outline below serves as a first look at the support organisation to find sustainable, impactful and credible projects market. It includes information generated from an informal that they can support.
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 13 From the Digital Opportunity Task Force to the World Summit on the Information Society
Digital opportunities for all
n July 2001, G8 leaders endorsed the Genoa Plan for the reduction of poverty, known as the Millennium of Action, a product of the work of the Digital Development Goals. They pledged to eradicate IOpportunities Task Force. The DOT Force, which extreme poverty and hunger; to achieve universal was formed following the 2000 G8 Summit in primary education; to promote gender equality and Okinawa, represented both a unique model of empower women; to reduce child mortality and international cooperation and a new way of improve maternal health; to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria responding to the challenges of development. It and other diseases; to ensure environmental brought together committed leaders from sustainability; and to develop a global partnership for government, industry and civil society, drawn from G8 development. member countries and from the developing world, to Information and communication technologies conceive a forward-looking action plan designed to (ICTs) provide a powerful tool to help achieve the expand the use of digital technology and to Millennium Development Goals. Thus, the universalise its benefits. Its report, Digital ‘mainstreaming’ of information technology within Opportunities for All: Meeting the Challenge, project planning and design and, even more contained a vision of global development based on importantly, within development strategies is critically the power of information technology to promote important, both nationally and internationally. The sustainable growth, advance social justice and value and legacy of the DOT Force is clear – it has strengthen democratic governance. focused global attention on sustainable, ICT-enabled Less than one year later, the DOT Force vision development, and has encouraged the international has moved dramatically closer to realisation. development community to mainstream ICTs in its Participation has reached well beyond its original bilateral and multilateral assistance programmes. membership to include almost 100 stakeholder Over the past two years, DOT Force partners organisations, spanning more than 30 countries. have worked with great passion and dedication to Through the work of its implementation teams, the broaden the understanding that ICTs are a DOT Force has generated more than 20 major fundamental tool for reducing poverty and for spurring bilateral and multilateral initiatives, operating across a sustainable development. As stressed in its first report broad range of areas crucial to balanced development to G8 leaders: “Access to knowledge and information – access, governance, entrepreneurship, health and is a prerequisite for modern human development.” education. In designing and implementing these This central premise underlies the continuing work of initiatives, DOT Force members have also given the DOT Force and the commitment of its members special attention to the needs of lesser developed to expanding the contribution of ICTs to all forms and countries, and particularly to Africa, responding levels of development. directly to the requirements articulated in the New Examples of the enabling power of these Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). technologies are now emerging. Community radio stations in Africa are providing vital information on New tools and partnerships for development weather disaster warnings, health and nutrition, and At the United Nations Millennium Summit in HIV/AIDS prevention. The quality of life of many poor September 2000, world leaders set a series of targets women in Bangladesh has improved through the
14 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS innovative use of cellular phones. In Bolivia, internet however, has now become the business of a centres have been set up to provide farmers with number of other bodies that will carry on the timely information on crops, production and leadership role of the DOT Force within the processing, as well as policies and regulations. international community. The UN ICT Task Force, established by the Secretary-General in November The formula for success 2001, shares the DOT Force vision and approach, The success of the DOT Force has relied on the and provides a focal point for establishing strategic close cooperation from representatives of G8 direction, policy coherence and advocacy in relation governments, developing nations, international to the global, ICT-based development agenda. organisations and the non-profit and private sectors. Through its regional networks, the UN ICT Task Each participated fully and equally in its work. The Force provides an effective means for broader multi-stakeholder approach of the DOT Force now outreach and the effective involvement of serves as the model for other global ‘ICT for developing countries in future implementation work. development’ initiatives that follow in its footsteps. In the private sector, organisations such as the World Economic Forum, the Global Business Future agenda Dialogue on Electronic Commerce, and the Under the auspices of the G8, the DOT Force has International Chamber of Commerce have also emerged as the primary instrument for harnessing the accepted the challenge of widening digital potential of information technology for global opportunities within the developing world. development. Through its leadership and sense of The DOT Force implementation teams have strategic purpose, it has successfully mobilised the become the primary means of implementing the international community behind a common goal of Genoa Plan of Action. Their initiatives illustrate the broadening the participation of countries and peoples key elements in the DOT Force formula — they in the information age. As catalysts for action, its include innovative models of development that are products and partners have demonstrated scalable and replicable; they involve partners from conclusively the crucial role of ICTs in addressing developing countries in all phases, from design to basic development needs – in promoting good delivery; they rely on public private partnerships; and governance and democratic values, improving they carry minimal overhead, allowing for speedy healthcare, education, and government services, as implementation. well as supporting industry and small business. The Their autonomy and operational flexibility are key continuing challenge is to sustain the energy and values to nurture in the deployment of projects, creativity of the DOT Force and ensure the full while seeking high-level support from global implementation of its future agenda. organisations. The first and most essential task is to maintain the The teams are important agents to carry forward sense of political leadership and accountability that the future work of the DOT Force and to complete have characterised the mandate and work of the DOT the implementation of the Genoa Plan of Action. Force to date. The mobilisation of political leaders, They will seek other additional partners and industry captains and civil society requires a suitably establish an informal network to coordinate their high-level forum to provide strategic direction to, and work, facilitate the exchange of information and promote the cause of, ICTs for development. combine forces on ‘ICT for development’ advocacy. Secondly, given the numerous initiatives under way at As part of their ongoing work, DOT Force the global level, a focal point is required to provide partners also invite G8 governments individually to policy coherence and coordination in the design and continue their involvement in the implementation of implementation of ICT-based development initiatives. the Genoa Plan of Action, including support for This focal point should also act as a strong catalyst in specific initiatives. The World Summit on the the formation of partnerships between countries and Information Society will provide a good opportunity organisations of all types, based on an all-inclusive to take stock of progress made in achieving the goal approach that involves governments, the private of an inclusive global information society. sector, civil society and international organisations.
As a process conducted under the G8, the DOT For more information, visit: www.dotforce.org Force is formally drawing to a close. Its agenda,
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 15 From the UN ICT Task Force Regional Network for Europe and Central Asia to the World Summit on the Information Society.
The dialogue of civilisations
n the 29 April 2002, an inaugural meeting of the UN ICT Task Force Europe and Central Asia (EuCAs) regional network took place in OGeneva. Two nodes of the UN ICT TF EuCAs Secretariat were established in Geneva and Moscow. The Moscow node started to operate in May The last five years of our 2002 and has five regular staff members. A special UN ICT TF EuCAs Regional “ Network website has been set up. work clearly proved to us Six EuCAs regional network working groups were established in accordance that we are not talking with those in the global UN ICT TF. Election procedures for WG coordinators were organised. The elected coordinators now represent the following countries: about conquering the Armenia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Switzerland and the United digital divide, but rather 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 about conquering the established to ensure that the regional network pursues the objectives of the divide between economies UN ICT Task Force. or even civilisations. Today, Two regional conferences took place in our subcontinent. We have approved the Bishkek-Moscow Declaration and Bucharest Declaration. These two we are appealing to those important documents will be our ponderable input in preparation for the World who have knowledge 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
16 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 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
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 17 From the European Commission to the World Summit on the Information Society
eEurope: An information society for all
he European Council held in Lisbon in March 2000 set the ambitious objective for Europe T 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 infrastructure and the technologies required to fully The first priority of this goal was to establish exploit it. The Commission launched the research cheaper, faster Internet, an important aspect of which networking activity under the 5th Framework involved developing competition in the local loop and Programme, which provide €80 million to ensure the unbundling the local loop. Ensuring that less-favoured upgrading of trans-European capacity to 2.5 Gbit/s. regions can fully participate in the information society The final goal regarded the establishment of secure is a priority for the Union. Projects encouraging the networks and smart cards. This included improving uptake of new technologies in less-favoured regions the availability of solutions for Internet security, better are also now a key element in regional development co-ordination to fight cybercrime and the agendas. In relation to the next generation Internet, encouragement of the use of smart cards to improve the Commission is also to launch an initiative aimed the security of access to electronic services (via a at mobilising telecommunications operators and high level Task Force to initiate and support common equipment manufacturers to work together with developments in the deployment of smart cards). service providers and users to ensure the rapid deployment and use of IPv6. Investing in people and skills The next priority in this objective was faster A key responsibility established in the framework Internet for researchers and students. Europe needs of the action plan was to integrate European youth to invest more to provide both a truly ‘state-of-the-art’ into the digital age, by promoting the relevant use of
18 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS new technologies and applications, and financing recognised as a critical component, and the dissemination of best practices. Extra financial Commission has revised procedures to better resources were also made available to ensure that all exploit digital technologies. pupils have the possibility to be digitally literate by the The Commission also launched a programme to time they leave school. Ensuring employability and support European digital content on global networks adaptability in the new economy is also a primary and promote linguistic diversity in the information responsibility. The Commission played a key co- society. Finally, the eEurope initiative was also ordinating role within the European Employment created to address the growing demand for mobility Process, which is based on drawing up employment within transport infrastructure networks – paying guidelines at European level and translating them into particular attention to the issues of congestion, National Employment Action Plans. safety and the shortage of new services. The Council also noted that there should be no Technologies are already being deployed to address ‘info-exclusion’, adding that special attention should these issues, and eEurope will also kick start new be given to disabled people. As part of this drive, the solutions and accelerate their deployment. High Level Group on the Employment and Social Dimension of the Information Society (ESDIS), in co- An operational action plan operation with the Commission, examined and The action plan acknowledges that there is an monitored legislation and standards relevant to the urgent need for Europe to quickly exploit the information society to ensure their conformity with opportunities of the new economy and in particular accessibility principles. It was also established that the Internet. The objectives will contribute to the public sector websites and their content in member development of a stronger and more pro-active states and in the European Institutions must be policy in the information society at a global level. In designed to be accessible to ensure that citizens with the context of e-commerce, for example, it will disabilities can access information and take full provide global co-operation between governments advantage of their potential. and the private sector, particularly in the development of co-regulation. Stimulating the use of the Internet Europe must play an active role in the A critical element of stimulating the use of the development of a more equitable information society, Internet involves accelerating e-commerce. To which offers fair chances of inclusion to all countries. ensure the establishment of the internal market for Closing the 'digital divide' between developed and e-commerce, the Commission proposed a number developing countries is a key goal for the European of legislative measures – the ‘Dual Use Regulation’ Union. To meet this goal, collaboration with Europe’s providing an internal market for security products main international partners and private industry will be and the rapid adoption of the e-commerce necessary. eEurope assists this collaboration, driving Directive, for example. Enabling electronic access to the ambitious objective of making Europe the most public services and health information was also competitive and dynamic economy in the world.
For more information, visit: http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/action_plan/pdf/actionplan_en.pdf
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 19 From the Markle Foundation to the World Summit on the Information Society
Creating digital opportunity for developing countries
he Markle Foundation is a private, not-for- Global Digital Opportunity Initiative profit philanthropy. In 1999, the Foundation Markle, the United Nations Development T focused its mission on using emerging Programme (UNDP) and a broad set of public-private information and communications technology (ICT) to partners launched GDOI in February 2002. Supported improve people’s lives. by multi-million dollar commitments from UNDP and The Foundation creates and operates most of its the Markle Foundation along with the collaboration of own projects using grants, investments, and strategic a broad set of private and public sector institutions alliances with governments, multilateral organisations, and experts, GDOI is an implementation vehicle industry, the academy, think tanks and other created to carry on the work of the G8 DOT Force. foundations and non-profit organisations. It is a The GDOI is based on a report developed for the unique institution that combines the functions of an G8 leaders at the 2001 Genoa Summit by UNDP, the operating foundation, granting foundation, think tank, Markle Foundation and Accenture, that which out a and incubator. strategic framework for action (http://www.opt- init.org/framework.html) that developing countries can Policy for a networked society deploy. It enables them to reap the benefits of the Markle is currently undertaking work under its networked economy and build an information society. Policy for a Networked Society Program to support The report issues a strong call to action for the the use of ICT in development efforts. We pursue this international community to assist developing work through the Global Digital Opportunity Initiative countries in taking advantage of ICT’s potential and (GDOI) Project and the Policy Cooperation Project. its integration into the mainstream of their These projects address two related needs of development activities developing countries: (http://www.markle.org/programs/_programs_policy_g doi.stm). • The GDOI Project seeks to integrate ICT into The GDOI assists in the development and national development strategies. implementation of national ICT for development • The Policy Cooperation Project seeks to engage strategies that have the highest likelihood of developing countries in global ICT policymaking that generating broader development impacts leading to will influence how ICT is deployed at the national greater national growth and capacity in selected level and in the global marketplace. countries. It includes a steering committee comprised of senior officials and experts from both the The roots of the GDOI and Policy Cooperation development and ICT communities and an Projects can be found in the G8 DOT Force and UN- International Partners Group consisting of commercial ICT Task Force. Markle helped create the G8 DOT and non-profit institutions with expertise and interest Force and co-chaired Implementation Team I ‘National in both ICT and development matters. e-Strategies’, and Team V ‘Global Policy Participation’ GDOI’s engagements to date include: on the DOT Force currently chairs Working Group I ‘ICT Policy and Governance’, and participates in Mozambique Group II ‘National and Regional e-Strategies’ on the The GDOI was asked by the Prime Minister of UN ICT Task Force. Mozambique to assist in finalising a national ICT
20 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS strategy. Working with an in-country ICT Policy in the G8 DOT Force, which expired in the summer of Commission, the GDOI helped finalise its 2002, and the UN ICT Task Force, which is not an implementation strategy by providing policy and operational body. This project aims to enable technical support to the government and other meaningful and effective participation by developing sectors. The Mozambique Council of Ministers nations in international multilateral institutions where approved the revised version of the ICT Policy ICT commitments, rules and policies are made Commission’s Implementation Strategy and UNDP (ICANN, ITU, WIPO and WTO) has made an agreement with the government of (http://www.markle.org/globalpolicy/). Mozambique on an ICT for Development While domestic policies are needed to harness Implementation Program. ICT for development effectively, international policies The GDOI is currently mobilising resources and forged in multilateral institutions will increasingly enlisting additional partner organisations to help define the range of policy options available to implement the strategy. 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 South Africa Toward Enabling Meaningful Participation by A team of seven GDOI consultants was invited to Developing Country Stakeholders defines the participate in a national e-Strategy task team current global ICT policy environment and the most mandated by the South African Electronic common barriers to developing-country Communications and Transactions Act of 2002. The participation, examines key lessons in developing GDOI team is providing expertise in key areas of the country participation drawn from other global policy strategy development process: education, healthcare, fora that are not ICT focused, and lays out a e-government, job creation access/infrastructure and framework of priorities and recommended actions to policy. Once the national e-Strategy is finalised, the increase developing nation participation. The GDOI will assist South Africans in attracting additional Roadmap complements Louder Voices: partners and resources for its implementation. Strengthening Developing Country Participation in Policy Cooperation Project International ICT Decision-making (Louder Voices), a Markle created the Policy Cooperation Project in survey and report conducted by CTO and PANOS 2002 to further the work on policy participation begun with DFID support.
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 21 Global Internet Policy Initiative (GIPI) ramifications for developing countries, including: Markle is a founding partner, along with the the allocation and maintenance of country-code Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) and top level domain names (ccTLDs); the Internews, in GIPI, an organisation committed to standardisation of foreign language domain names; promoting an open and democratic internet through and the implementation of the Uniform Domain the adoption of legal and policy frameworks in Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) to fourteen developing countries. The initiative serves safeguard the intellectual property rights of users as a resource for local stakeholders (ISPs, content in developing nations. providers, investors, telecommunications and Recently, at the ICANN board meetings in wireless service providers) as well as NGOs, Accra, Bucharest and most recently Shanghai, academics, and government entities in order to Markle has funded developing country participation promote transparency and predictability in: internet and organised meetings with ICANN officials and business regulation; competition; privatisation; other members of the global domain name open network and universal service; and market community to discuss how best to ensure that the driven solutions and user agency. The project is needs of developing nations are met. Among the leading consultative, coalition-based efforts to possibilities discussed at these meetings: are identify country-specific legal and regulatory ensuring funding for participants from the impediments to internet development, and is developing world to travel to ICANN meetings; working with local initiatives to integrate open creating a number of ‘regional ombudsmen’ within internet principles. ICANN to represent developing countries; and ensuring that ICANN’s decision-making structures Foreign affairs remain open and in line with some of the “Governing the internet: Engaging Government, suggestions outlined in the Roadmap (see above). Business and Nonprofits”, an article published by Markle President Zoë Baird in Foreign Affairs Other work (November 2002), examines the limitations of self- Markle supports additional relevant activities regulation given the internet’s rapid expansion in that aim to foster digital opportunity for developing protecting the public interest. The article argues for countries, including: a Markle and the World a new, pluralistic model of regulation that includes Resources Institute co-sponsored report, Serving government, business, and non-profits. In addition, the World’s Poor, Profitably, which focuses on it suggests ways to encourage greater participation innovative business models; InterAction, an by developing countries in international ICT alliance of 160 international relief and development policymaking bodies, such as ICANN, the ITU and non-governmental organisations awarded a two- the WTO. year grant by Markle to expand use of information and communication technology to facilitate their ICANN work; and Voxiva, which seeks to expand Markle has been working with ICANN since communication services to poor communities in 1999 to ensure that its decisions, decision-making developing nations. processes and venues are representative and inclusive of developing countries. While many of For more information, contact: Noa Meyer, Manager for a networked society. ICANN’s decisions appear to be strictly ‘technical’, [email protected] www.markle.org they have important social and economic
22 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS
From Nokia to the World Summit on the Information Society
Global focus on youth and education
okia aims to be a good corporate community member wherever it operates and has been running programmes for Nmany 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 Nokia and the IYF make a connection think for themselves and take responsibility for what’s happening While Nokia has been sponsoring activities to support youth around them.” and education for many years, 2000 saw the beginning of a multi- Veli points out that the company has also made local donations year commitment to the International Youth Foundation (IYF) – a for specific events, such as disaster relief in Kosovo and victims of new and truly global partnership to promote corporate the Venezuelan floods, in addition to supporting long-term responsibility. initiatives on all the continents. “It’s not a question of pure In the first year, Nokia invested 3.4 million Euros in the well- donations – we want to take an active role as a company and as established IYF programme to support children and youth individual employees,” says Veli. “This is all about human values.” development activities in six countries – China, Germany, South
24 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS Africa, UK, Mexico and Brazil – as well as to conduct global Life skills initiatives in the UK programmes. The IYF programme, called ‘Make a Connection’, For the past seven years, Nokia has sponsored Mencap – the will work hand-in-hand with existing Nokia projects in many parts UK’s leading charity for children and adults with learning disabilities. of the world. The company supports specific projects each year ranging from IYF itself is an independent, non-governmental organisation establishing a special sensory unit for learning to the construction of dedicated to improving the conditions and prospects for young a recording studio to produce Mencap’s newsletter in audio format. people wherever they live, learn, work and play. It does so by Mencap Chairman Brian Baldock comments: “Computer and drawing on the expertise of a worldwide network of national-level communication technologies have the potential to revolutionise the children and youth development organisations, as well as lives of people who have a disability by offering a better quality of life corporations, such as Nokia, and governments, to ensure that the unimaginable only a few years ago.” best programmes are identified, strengthened and expanded. Mencap is also one of the partners helping to develop teaching Currently, this global network includes organisations in more than materials in the new IYF Make a Connection project in the UK, 30 countries with plans to expand to 60 by 2003. funded by Nokia and managed by the Children and Youth IYF views young people’s needs as an urgent global priority, Partnership Foundation. The nationwide project is aimed at young with all young people having the innate right to develop their full people aged between 11 and 16, including those with special potential to become responsible and caring individuals. Its educational needs, to equip them with the necessary life skills for programmes seek to build character, confidence and competence future personal and social well-being. and to ‘connect’ young people to their families, peers and communities. Connecting schools and families in the USA ClassLink is a well-established example of Nokia’s commitment Creative thinking in China to creating a positive impact on society by providing wireless phones “In just two days, I learned skills which I believe are most to hundreds of schools across the USA in order to connect students, important to success in the information age. I believe this project teachers and parents more effectively. will have a positive and significant impact on nurturing the creative More than 90 percent of American classrooms do not have thinking skills of Chinese university students.” access to a telephone, yet a national survey of teachers showed that This is what graduate Fu Peng had to say about Nokia’s wireless phones are the one tool they really need. ClassLink, a ‘Creative Thinking Corner’ project, which helped him to prepare his philanthropic partnership sponsored by Nokia, the CTIA's Wireless thesis for his master’s degree. The programme, launched in Beijing Foundation and several carriers, answers that need. University of Post and Telecommunications, is the first of its kind Piloted successfully in Texas, Nokia donated 1,000 phones to 200 and is touching the lives of thousands of students. It includes a high schools in the state. Due to the success of the Texas programme, series of roadshows and Thinking Club activities and has travelled ClassLink moved into the national arena in 2000. So far, more than to 12 universities across China. 6,000 phones and millions of minutes of airtime have been donated to An important part of the programme in 2000 was the Nokia schools across the country, bringing teachers and parents into a closer College Student Thinking Challenge Competition, which helped partnership in the education of their communities’ students. students from the 12 universities develop their brainpower, But ClassLink is not the only Nokia Corporate Community intelligence, innovation abilities, problem-discovery and solutions Involvement project in the USA – others include help for sick children capabilities. And, in order to share the project with as wide an and support for community issues. The Make a Wish Foundation audience as possible in China, the Thinking Corner now has its supported by Nokia and CBS Channel 11 has given trips to Disney, own website. puppies and computers to children suffering from life-threatening The Thinking Corner, for university students, has a natural illnesses. And The United Way is a programme dedicated to making synergy with an existing IYF project called the ‘Little Master communities better places in which to live and work. Newspaper’, which is now receiving Nokia backing. Youngsters Nokia employees choose to donate to a network of agencies under the age of 15 write, edit and produce the newspaper which looking after children, families, crisis relief, health and the elderly. has a circulation of more than 1 million. Their contribution went up by 116 per cent in 2000 and the Folke Ahlback, Chairman of Nokia (China) Investment combination of corporate and employee pledges rose to $472,000 in Corporation, comments: “We feel that the newspaper encourages 2000 from $173,200 the year before. leadership, creativity and responsibility across activities such as culture, education, sports and the arts. We hope it will emulate the For more information, visit:http://www.nokia.com/cda2/0,1083,2912,00.html success of Nokia’s Creative Thinking Corner workshops.”
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 25 From The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency to the World Summit on the Information Society.
ICT –
transforming Views from a roof in Maputo studies are theoretical with teachers rom above, Maputo looks like a lecturing. Now we have to solve real world the world by welcoming warm city. The trees are problems and that is of course very Fgreen, the ocean shines with an interesting,” he says. intense blue colour. But Maputo is also the The name of the project – Mozambique transforming capital of one of the world’s poorest Open – is in itself also a symbol of what countries, a country with a GDP of only 250 needs to be achieved in most of the world’s universities USD per capita. developing countries. Open means opening On the roof, a group of students from up access to the world so that students, Sweden and Mozambique have gathered. researchers, university teachers in Their aim is to connect six university Mozambique and other countries can truly buildings in Maputo to the university become partners in a global, open backbone – and to the rest of the world. community where knowledge, information The Open.Net concept has been and experiences are freely exchanged. “There is still a long developed by The Royal Institute of There is still a long way to go. But here, way to go. But here, Technology in Stockholm. The concept can on the roof in Maputo, with the sun and the be described as an access network with a breeze from the sea, the vision does not on the roof in freedom of choice of service operators. seem totally impossible. Maputo, with the sun In Mozambique, few students can afford and the breeze from their own computer and they only have Main issues at stake access to computers and the internet at the ICT and development is a broad subject. the sea, the vision university during school hours. This means This deals entirely with ICT in relation to does not seem totally that it is very difficult to conduct research universities in developing countries. activities in the evenings when the university impossible is closed. But thanks to the project, the 1. Access and connectivity. students will have access to the internet • Connectivity. Internet access is through wireless computer labs in four paramount and in many cases a key issue ” student residences. As the situation in for ICT development projects. Maputo is not unique, the project might well • Bandwidth. The lack of bandwidth is the be replicated in other countries. prime obstacle for ICT in developing “This is a truly multicultural project and countries in general and in Sub-Saharan for us this has been a great opportunity to Africa in particular. By working together, learn more about ICT in another – and to universities in developing countries could Sweden a very different – country,” says negotiate better prices for bandwidth. Qarin Hjortzberg-Nordlund, one of the • Technical constraints. Lack of Swedish students. infrastructure, lack of qualified man power Eneas Huguana, one of the and unreliable power supply are among Mozambicans in the project, is also the major problems. enthusiastic: “For me it has been a very • Access to information. For a higher good experience working together with the quality in education and research, access Swedish students. Here, most of our to information is fundamental.
26 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 2. Human resource development (HRD) 6. Gender the private market once donor programmes • Efficient administration. ICT must be • ICT cannot be a male-only club. If you do come to an end? used in the universities’ administration in not get various perspectives you risk Sustainability requires income order to guarantee transparency and a losing valuable aspects. The gender generation and universities can actually more effective use of resources. issue must therefore be further make money – so cooperation with the • Capacity building. Training of addressed in all programmes. private sector is of vital importance. Many 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 Achieving sustainability universities in developing countries are university plays an important role in To bridge the digital divide, huge selling their services to the private sector in introducing ICT as a way of combating investments are required in bandwidth, the form of internet services, consultancy poverty and improving living conditions in running cost, infrastructure, equipment and for private companies, fees for students, the country. human resources along with major support etc. SIDA is planning to start a study that from the donors. But here lies the problem will address the issue of sustainability of 5. Sustainability with sustainability. In order to make the ICT projects in the public sector of low- • Huge investments are needed, but how investment sustainable, there is a need to income countries. could they become sustainable? What will develop a long-term financing model for ICT happen the day the donors phase out at the universities. But who will pay? What their programmes? Sustainability is a key will happen with salaries, software licenses, For more information, visit: www.sida.se issue for long-term development. connectivity costs, and salaries to match
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 27 From ST Microelectronics to the World Summit on the Information Society
Closing the digital divide through education and training
he proposal made by Pasquale Pistorio and Moreover, no one should forget the payback in terms of security and STMicroelectronics (ST) concerns the involvement of peace for the entire world if economic reasons for potential conflicts T corporations in the fight against the digital divide. The are reduced in the future. proposal is based on the firm conviction that, while building ST has already started down on this track and has completed infrastructure – and whatever else is needed to provide internet the most significant part of the preparation job, that is, building up a access – is essential for overcoming the technological gap between model course for basic PC and internet literacy, and a course to the most advanced nations and the developing world, it is equally train its employees or other volunteers to become trainers. The important that people be able to use the technology, understand its courses were designed by ST information technology specialists importance and recognise the benefits it has to offer. Education and leveraging the training expertise of the internal corporate school of training are essential to access modern means of communication management, and are totally royalty-free. As such, they will be and information. offered to any organisation willing to run the same programme. In Pistorio’s opinion, all companies can and should invest in The model course, to be deployed in at least 20 hours in a teaching those who have not had access to the education necessary classroom, not only includes basic PC and internet tools for a user to use a PC, no matter where they might live. He suggests that starting from scratch, but also instructions on security and quality, medium to large corporations – i.e. companies with over 250 as well as an introduction on hardware key elements. employees – voluntarily donate up to 0.1 percent of their annual After a successful trial with teachers in an Italian primary revenues and up to 0.1 percent of their employees’ working hours to school, translation in all the main languages spoken by the ST this cause. The intention is to create a widespread movement and to community worldwide has begun, taking into consideration both mobilise voluntary donations, not only of hardware, software and local culture and local standards of computing literacy. The communications connections but also of human resources. English, French and Italian versions have already been Why get business involved? Firstly, because Pistorio and ST are completed. deeply convinced that socially responsible companies – that is, More than 50 trainers have now been trained and will initiate, companies that are committed to promoting the wellbeing of the in 2003, the cascading process by which the company aims to communities in which they work – generate more value not only for reach one million people in a decade. their stakeholders but also for their shareholders. The process will first involve members of the ST community at Secondly, corporations should consider that by encouraging large, including employees, their relatives, small businesses, schools, employees to transfer basic computer skills they also provide them local organisations and administrative entities in the vicinity of ST sites. with extra motivation. This kind of initiative helps companies to The next steps will foresee the setting up of internet kiosks for recruit the best young talent and retain them for longer since they free access to the web and its services and the start-up of remote contribute to increase the motivation of employees and their training activities, while at the same time expanding the cooperation acceptance of and identification with the company. with other organisations and business enterprises in order to Lastly, in the long run, the most advanced economies will clearly broaden the scope and the reach of the initiative. benefit if, by triggering a process to limit the digital divide and to
contribute to the development of poorer areas of the world, new For more information, visit: www.st.com markets and new opportunities for trade and production are created.
28 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS From Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International to the World Summit on the Information Society
The Abu-Ghazaleh Cambridge IT Skills Centre
alal Abu-Ghazaleh International (TAGI) is one of the leading providers of professional T services in the Arab world. Although it is a profit-making firm, it is uniquely distinguished by the The key to initiating the inclusion, in its core mission statement, of a “project was TAGI’s core commitment to contributing to the socio-economic commitment and development of the Arab world. This unusually strong focus on development issues originates in the life- mission to Arab long commitment of the firm’s founder, CEO and development 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 Individuals who successfully complete this course are leader in the field of development. awarded the Cambridge Skills Award in Information” In the late 1990s, his belief in the power of Technology. CIE provided their world-renowned information and communication technologies (ICTs) educational materials and awards, which were increased to such an extent that he acted as a translated into Arabic and marketed by TAGI. catalyst to the development process. The increasing The only difficulty the project experienced was focus on ICTs led to an evolving leadership role at an that which affects most development-oriented international level, which culminated in his current initiatives: financing. CIE and TAGI are both profit- international leadership position as chairman of the making companies. For CIE, venturing into the ICC’s Commission on Electronic Business, marketing of Arabic versions of their products would Information Technology and Telecoms (EBITT), and be too risky without a strong local partner. Even for co-chair of the UN ICT Task Force. TAGI, some of their in-house consultants were The stumbling block for Mr Abu-Ghazaleh in sceptical of the profitability of the project. The key to seeing his vision of an Arab information society initiating the project was TAGI’s core commitment and realised is that the Arab world is one of the most mission to Arab development. digitally deprived regions in the world. Other issues Thus far, the project has yielded far greater that pose problems include lack of high-quality local success than was initially imagined. Utilising a content (i.e. Arabic language materials), and franchising system, TAGI has begun spreading the significant lack of literacy in basic computer skills. Abu-Ghazaleh Cambridge IT Skills Centres (AGCA) to One solution pioneered by Abu-Ghazaleh was to academic and other institutions across the region. partner with Cambridge International Examinations This is a demonstration of a winning partnership (CIE), one of the world’s foremost educational between the two motivations of development and institutions. Together with the Arab Knowledge profit making in one successful project. Management Society (AKMS), they formed Abu- Ghazaleh Cambridge IT Skills Centre (AGCA). AGCA was established to prepare prospective candidates for For more information, visit: www.tagi.com the Cambridge IT Skills Award tests in Arabic.
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 29
From the World Bank Group to the World Summit on the Information Society
The World Bank Group: fostering digital opportunities
he World Bank Group’s strategy for policy and investment tools remain effective ICT lays out four directions for our in a rapidly changing sector. This evolution T work: is underpinned by a commitment to learning and knowledge development within the • Policy for ICTs, including Bank and beyond, covering research, pilots telecommunications reform, access and dissemination. Much of this programmes and e-strategies. development and dissemination is • Connectivity, including support for private supported by infoDev, which was one of the sector roll-out of information infrastructure. first grant initiatives created to back pilot • Skills, supporting public private projects that put ICT to work in the fight partnerships to generate human capital to supported a number of against poverty. It has supported over 250 exploit ICTs. telecommunications investments. projects covering initiatives such as rural • Applications, using ICTs to deliver the Turning to skills, the Bank has been a telecentres, e-readiness studies and use of goals of development. leader in expanding e-learning operations. the internet to sell products created by This is not only through lending operations artisans. More recently, the Development The Bank is currently involved in over 70 such as the Turkey Basic Education Project Gateway has also played an important role. countries worldwide working with which will eventually link 10,000 schools to The Gateway is more than a website governments to improve the policy and the internet, but also through a number of containing best practice and information on regulatory environment for information special initiatives. The Global Development development topics, it also acts as an e- infrastructure. This involves support not only Learning Network, World Links and the procurement portal, an aid database and a for the development of well regulated, Africa Virtual University all provide e- centre for knowledge creation surrounding competitive private provision of education facilities – the first through a ICT and development. infrastructure, but also innovative subsidy network of 32 learning centres, the second Finally, it should be noted that the World schemes to support the roll-out of services through virtual teaching that has reached Bank Group’s ICT strategy recognises the to poor and rural communities. 24,000 tertiary students and the third great importance of cooperation and The IFC, the World Bank Group’s through a programme that has reached partnership in an area where so many private sector arm, has mobilised about 130,000 primary and secondary school governments, private companies, donors US$5 billion in private capital over the past students in LDCs. and non-governmental organisations are at 10 years to extend access to information Finally, the Bank also supports roll-out work, and on an agenda that is far too large infrastructure in developing countries. of ICT applications in government services for any one organisation to hope to tackle Including the catalytic impact of IFC from budget and accounting to education alone. The World Bank Group sees projects, this investment can be linked to and telemedicine. In total, somewhere collaboration with and learning from our the roll-out of 32 million new cellular between US$1-2 billion in lending each year development partners central to the effort of connections – equal to 20 percent of all of goes to support the ICT components of grasping digital opportunities. the mobile phones in developing countries such projects. at the start of 2000. MIGA, the private The World Bank Group is continually For more information, visit: www.worldbank.org sector guarantee agency, has also evolving its ICT agenda to ensure that its
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 31 From the United Nations Information & Communication Technologies Task Force to the World Summit on the Information Society on behalf of Working Group 1.
Metapolicy for ICTs: The Digital Nations Consortium
espite the incredible technological advances company funded by industry and by up to US$100 of the past decade, the digital revolution has million seed money from the Indian government. Dyet to touch the lives of most people in most Media Lab Asia has four main research themes: bits parts of the world. Even where new technologies are for all (universal broadband connectivity), world available, they have had only minimal impact on the computer (low-cost computing and universal great social needs of our times: improving education, interface), tomorrow’s tools (low-cost sensors and reducing poverty, enhancing healthcare and fabrication) and the digital village. supporting community development. The digital village research theme uses large-scale The Digital Nations Consortium focuses explicitly field experiments to examine the effect of new on these major social challenges. The Consortium technologies on village life, asking if the change is does not aim to impose solutions but rather to beneficial for the various stakeholders and if it is empower people in all walks of life to invent their sustainable. It also works with the government to own solutions. The Consortium is developing a new develop policy recommendations that can aid in generation of technologies and policies that enable adoption of the technology and, at the same, time people to design, create and learn in new ways, minimise negative effects. helping them become more active participants in From this process two main policy their societies. recommendations have emerged: one concerning The Consortium focuses especially on populations spectrum allocation and the second concerning the with the greatest needs – children and the elderly, telephone companies universal service obligation. underserved communities and developing nations. The Spectrum allocation: After examining the Consortium tests out ideas and technologies in pilot technology available for broadband wireless projects around the world, helping individuals and connectivity and the economic trends associated with communities develop innovative strategies in domains those technologies, it was determined that the IEEE ranging from commerce to agriculture to healthcare – 802 standards offered great promise for rural and, more broadly, it transforms the ways they learn communications. Although these wireless standards and develop. were originally intended primarily for office use, many To accomplish this goal the Consortium helps have noted that with a suitable antenna these very organise and coordinate action projects that make inexpensive digital transceivers (now under US$200) use of cutting-edge ideas and technologies in real- can be used for broadband communications over world settings. In each country local organisations many kilometres. (typically a public private corporation) create similar To leverage this technology Media Lab Asia action projects in their own communities and argued to the government that the 2.4Ghz frequency countries. The learnings from these action projects band used by the IEEE 802.11b standard should be are shared among consortium members, and form the deregulated. The goal was to allow local basis for informed policy decisions. entrepreneurs to become ‘mini-ISPs’ and quickly The largest participant in the Digital Nations spread broadband connectivity throughout India, in a Consortium is Media Lab Asia, a not-for-profit manner similar to the spread of India’s cable TV
32 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 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
service via entrepreneurs capitalising on India’s revisit the definition of the universal service obligation. unregulated cable TV service industry. Media Lab Asia has argued that a wireless” broadband In autumn 2002, the government of India freed the ‘village area network’ based on the IEEE 802.11 2.4Ghz frequency band, becoming perhaps the first standard may make more sense, and is certainly more nation in history to deregulate spectrum. More scalable, than the current standard of service. recently, the FCC in the US has also issued policy As single-chip implementations of the standard recommendations that may lead to greater become common, we expect to see the emergence of deregulation of the spectrum. wireless ‘communicators’ at under US$25. This opens Universal service obligation: throughout most of the the possibility of providing dozens of multimedia world, telecommunications companies have an terminals (each capable of voice and data) at a price obligation to provide service to rural areas, in essence, comparable to the current isolated village telephone, a tax on urban service to promote universal service. In in essence, leapfrogging to a level of service higher most developing countries the specified service is than in most developed countries. typically a pay telephone in the village centre, often manned by a local official or entrepreneur. For more information, contact: Prof. Alex (Sandy) Pentland In an age when developed countries are removing Co-Director, Digital Nations Consortium pay telephones because they are too expensive to Founding Director, Media Lab Asia maintain, and in which SMS messaging frequency MIT Media Laboratory E-mail: [email protected] dominates that of voice traffic, it makes sense to
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 33 From the United Nations Information & Communication Technologies Task Force to the World Summit on the Information Society on behalf of Working Group 2.
National & regional e-development strategies: A blueprint for action
he focus of e-development strategies largely connectivity-centred focus on the While falling costs and an increase in is to enhance development through digital divide to a more holistic technology options are making ICT more Teffective deployment of ICT, putting development focus that concentrates on accessible than ever before, difficulties in in place the conditions necessary to achieve the deployment of ICT. securing investment funds and private these ends. • Awareness of the networked economy sector involvement remain in the wake of Convinced by this potential of ICT to and society as opportunity and the dotcom and telecom crashes. This enhance national and regional development challenge: ICT themselves have helped increases the premium on well-defined, opportunities, and realising that to underpin the process of global costed and implementable strategies, as telecommunication and IT sector reforms integration through the creation of a well as the need to think of new by themselves were insufficient to release networked economy and society. This partnerships, business models and this potential, a number of developing has transformed the ways in which implementation strategies in terms of ODA. countries have embarked on formulating organisations, services, production and and implementing e-strategies or ICT for markets are organised, creating new The e-strategy Development (ICT4D) strategies. Many opportunities and challenges for those As an enabler of development, ICT has have yet to do so, and are looking to not yet networked. the potential to assist in the achievement of understand what needs to be done and to • The distinctive focus on ICT – as a millennium development goals: through the get a clearer sense of the results that can sector and/or enabler of development: creation of new economic and social be expected. development of the ICT sector is not opportunities; the promotion of greater In developing e-strategies, countries do essential for deployment of the participation in development policies and not necessarily retrace all the steps of technology, nor can all countries benefit processes; an increase in the efficiency, those who have gone before but adapt from developing a sector. accountability and delivery of public their strategies to new environments and opportunities. For both developed and developing countries, e-strategies are thus National approaches to ICT 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. ICT as a sector ICT as an enabler Strategies can be differentiated along some of the following:
• Degree of integration of telecom in e- strategies: few address the full range of National capacity/ Export market Global Development ICT and converging technology choices domestic market focus positioning focus goals focus Focus e.g. Costa Rica, e.g. Malaysia/ e.g. Estonia, South and platforms. e.g. Brazil, India India (1990s) Ireland Africa (1990s) • Digital divide as opposed to digital (1960s-1980s) opportunities for development focus: Source: p. Final Report of Digital Opportunity Initiative, a partnership of UNDP, Accenture & the Markle Foundation strategies are only slowly evolving from a http://www.opt-int.org/
34 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS e-strategy essentials / a blueprint for national and regional e-strategies This blueprint highlights 10 key steps for conceiving, planning and implementing e-strategies.
Telecom-IT cohesion Poverty Processes to enhance reduction goal global inclusion
Regional integration Donor cooperation and resource mobilisation Implementation modalities
Prioritisation programmes
Holistic framework
Multi-stakeholder strategy
Vision and leadership
Bottom up approaches services; as well as through assisting with Identification of strategic entry points exceptions rather than the rule. In the improving the content, access and delivery It is important to begin by identifying context of the PRSP exercise, ICT is yet to of education and healthcare. areas where ICT can have a critical be viewed as a strategic enabler for However, this awareness of the development impact. Most e-assessments development and poverty reduction. There development potential of ICT is often not do not have this development focus in are examples of ICT but as of yet there are fully reflected in the formulation of national mind. Development entry points for the no systematic case studies or guidelines e-strategies, many of which either lay strategy may be usefully derived from the on ICT as an enabler in the PRSP primary emphasis on ICT as a sector (IT priorities identified in the national poverty sourcebook. ICT is viewed as infrastructure services, call centres), assuming that this reduction strategy and other development or considered in the context of private can emerge as a new growth and export policies and plans. sector development. sector, or focus on ICT as an enabler, but in To consider a few recent examples: in Moving forward, it could prove both a more piecemeal fashion. the case of Mozambique, the ICT policy useful and important to secure Also critical in making the case for a implementation strategy draws its priorities complementarity at the policy and strategic deployment of ICT to support the from the PARPA or poverty reduction implementation levels between the national achievement of millennium development strategy. There are indications that the ICT and poverty reduction strategies by goals is the potential to demonstrate PARPA may in turn be iteratively revised to inserting development in ICT strategies and impact. There are currently few studies or address deployment of ICT for development. ICT in poverty reduction strategies. strategies that outline a strategic Within the context of the IT Masterplan programmatic vision with regard to ICTs 2001-2005, the pre-eminent focus is more For more information, contact: UN ICT TF Working Group 2. and development in terms of benchmarks, on ICT as a sector rather than ICT as an E-mail: [email protected] goals, etc. enabler. But in general, these are the
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 35 From the United Nations Information & Communication Technologies Task Force to the World Summit on the Information Society on behalf of Working Group 5.
A road to universal broadband connectivity
s an implementation of very low cost ICT among public kiosks and private communications infrastructure, we have developed a store- devices (as an intranet) and between kiosks and a A and-forward wireless network for rural hub (for non-real-time internet access). Through the connectivity known as DakNet. The name derives use of low cost WiFi radio transceivers, the data from the Hindi word ‘dak’ which means ‘post’ or carried by the MAP is automatically and wirelessly ‘postal’. The DakNet wireless network takes transferred at high bandwidth for each point-to-point advantage of existing communications and connection. The operation of the network can be transportation infrastructure to distribute digital described as follows: connectivity to outlying villages lacking digital communications infrastructure. DakNet combines 1. As the vehicle carrying the MAP comes within physical means of transportation with wireless data range of each village (up to 1km depending on line- transfer in order to extend the internet connectivity of-sight, velocity and use of antennas) they provided by a central uplink or hub (e.g. a cybercafe, automatically sense a wireless connection with a VSAT or post office) to kiosks in surrounding villages. kiosk and deliver and collect data at relatively high Instead of trying to relay data over a long distance bandwidth (300Kbs-11Mbs). (which can be expensive), DakNet transmits data over 2. Whenever a MAP comes within range of another short point-to-point links between kiosks and portable kiosk or a hub, data is automatically uploaded to, storage devices called mobile access points (MAPs). and downloaded from, the intranet/internet. Mounted on and powered by a bus, motorcycle or 3. This cycle is repeated for every vehicle carrying a even bicycle, the MAP physically transports data 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 DakNet transmits data over moved at once, supporting a variety of applications. “short point-to-point links As a result, it is interesting to note that physically between kiosks and transporting data from village to village by this means generally provides a higher data throughput portable storage devices than other low bandwidth technologies, such as called mobile access points 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.
36 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 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, Although the data transport provided music and video broadcasts. “ • Information collection: collection of environmental by DakNet is not real-time, a sensor information, voting, census/polling, health significant amount of data can be records and land records. • Information searching, web services: searching and moved at once, supporting a variety browsing, and e-commerce. of applications • Rural supply chain management: tracking the movement of goods.
For more information, contact: Prof. Alex (Sandy) Pentland, Dr Richard Fletcher, ” Amir Alexander Hasson, MIT Media Laboratory E-mail: [email protected]
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 37 From the United Nations Information & Communication Technologies Task Force to the World Summit on the Information Society on behalf of Working Group 6.
Technology solutions advance entrepreneurship in developing countries
orking Group 6 (WG6) was funded initiative called Enablis. A new created with the understanding organisation that will be piloted in South W that ICTs can be leveraged to Africa, Enablis will provide venture capital- achieve the Millennium Development Goals. style funding and support to medium-sized The projects are Over the past year, the working group has businesses that are either focused on ICT “consistent in their assessed the development environment and or are using ICT in innovative ways. has recently engaged in three specific Enablis will also serve as a focal point for overall goals: projects aimed at helping enterprises and expertise in the ICT/entrepreneurship area. addressing the entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses. It is believed that Enablis will have a With the assistance of experts in the field transformational impact on the socio- business and financial and inputs from those who have worked in economic environment of the businesses it needs, and sustainable development, the chair of WG6 has crafted supports. This vision is to be achieved a strategy that will allow the working group through loan financing, direct business and economic growth in to directly affect medium enterprises, small technical support to the SMEs, as well as developing countries to medium-sized businesses and micro- policy advice to governments that entrepreneurs. In addition, WG6 is also encourages a more bottoms-up approach drafting policy recommendations for to business development. governments wishing to create a more enabling environment for business DevelopmentSpace Network development. To achieve this goal, WG6 has WG6 has formed an alliance with the ” partnered with outside NGOs, most notably Center for Global Development, Many Bridges.org and Open Economies. Futures Inc. and State of the World Forum Each of the projects being pursued to create the DevelopmentSpace Network under the WG6 umbrella is unique in its (DSN). DSN is an innovative approach to the focus, scope and reach. Yet the projects are way the private sector and civil society can consistent in their overall goals: addressing participate in development. Through a the business and financial needs, and website (www.developmentspace.com) sustainable economic growth in developing created by Many Futures, the alliance will countries. These goals parallel those of the create a virtual marketplace that matches Millennium Development Goals. Thus all the pre-qualified community-based projects in WG6 projects are focused on concretely developing countries to individual donors applying the benefit of ICTs to entrepreneurs who wish to make direct contributions. By and enterprises in developing countries. building a bridge between small donors and small entrepreneurs, DSN plans to link Enablis individuals at a person-to-person level for In the category of medium-sized the transfer of financial and skills-based businesses, WG6 is continuing the efforts resources. It is the vision of the alliance that initiated by the DOT Force entrepreneurship grantmaking and individual and corporate task force through an already partially investment to the developing world will
38 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 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 for each aspect of microfinance. The systems and standardised operations and implementation of such a solution will reporting systems. require a voluntary, decentralised • Universal, low-cost, end-to-end, real-time organisation structure that supports It is believed that information flows within the sector and continued local innovation, institutional between microfinance institutions and autonomy and consensus building around “Enablis will have a organisations outside the sector. critical issues. The concept behind this transformational impact • Innovative solutions (both high-tech and initiative was announced at the on the socio-economic low-tech) for reducing the cost of Microcredit+5 Summit held the week of 11 transactions. November 2003 in New York City. The team environment of the • Flexibility in the design and delivery of is continuing to reach out to parties who are businesses it supports financial services to meet diverse and interested in participating. changing local needs.
For more information, contact: The group is seeking a solution that will www.unicttaskforce.org ” leverage the most appropriate technology CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 39 Hewlett Packard (Services) 31/1/04 10:43 am Page 40
You don’t get ahead without a strategy
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 environment disaster recovery, helpdesk and internet service management. To assure efficient Customer Service we 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 modern businesses. We look forward to working with you. www.hp.com/hps From the Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme to the World Summit on the Information Society
ICT Policy Development and Implementation seminar for Afghanistan
he Asia Pacific Development Information Programme 2. Provide universal access to ICT information and knowledge. (APDIP) in collaboration with the UNDP Afghanistan Country 3. Reinforce the role of government as a model user of ICT. T Office successfully conducted a specialised seminar on ICT Policy Development and Implementation from 14-18 October 2002 Five principles are also put forward to guide the development in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The curriculum of the seminar was and implementation of policy: tailored to the specific needs of government officials from Afghanistan: to provide professional expertise and assistance in the 1. An interconnected and interoperable network of networks. development of organisational, national and international ICT 2. Collaborative public and private sector development. policies for their country. 3. Competition in facilities, products and services. “APDIP aims to promote the development and application of 4. Privacy protection and network security. ICT for poverty alleviation and sustainable human development in 5. Lifelong learning as a key element of ICT policy. the Asia Pacific region,” said Shahid Akhtar, the programme’s Regional Coordinator. “By providing assistance in formulating Afghanistan already has two key building blocks in place for a comprehensive ICT frameworks and enabling policies, we help national ICT policy: the National Telecommunications Policy issued countries to harness the potential of ICT to support national in July 2002, and the Telecommunications Development Strategy development in line with their social, economic and political issued in October 2002. These documents tackle critical aspects of objectives.” building communications infrastructure. However, a number of Headed by the Afghanistan Minister of Communications, H.E. complementary public policy issues related to content and capacity Masoom Stanekzai, the Afghan delegation included representatives building must be addressed before further progress can be made from the Ministries of Information, Foreign Affairs, Education, towards the development of a national ICT policy. These public Justice, Higher Education, Women Affairs, Commerce and Finance, policy issues, ranging from competition to culture, and from access as well as from the Afghan Assistance Coordination Authority. “The to learning, will be discussed and debated by representatives of all need for ICT development in Afghanistan is huge and the levels of Afghan society. development of policy is a critical ingredient for the success of the Mr Stanekzai is considering the establishment of a National ICT programmes,” said Mr Stanekzai. Information and Communications Technology Council (NICTC) With the assistance of a skilled facilitator and ICT policy consisting of a core group of UNDP/APDIP ICT policy seminar specialist, the group identified challenges, issues and processes for participants, to which representatives from various levels of Afghan developing and implementing a national ICT policy for Afghanistan. society would be added. The NICTC would use the strategy report Citing a vision to build a high-quality, low-cost ICT network for as a roadmap to ensure an appropriate and balanced approach to Afghanistan, a strategy paper was produced that outlines pertinent providing network access, information and knowledge access to all public policy issues and recommends the development of a sectors of Afghanistan that respects Afghanistan’s history, socio- national ICT policy for Afghanistan in consultation with economic and cultural realities, international context and stakeholders. The paper puts forward three objectives to be encourages investment and innovation. pursued by the strategy:
1. Ensure affordable and equitable access to ICT networks and For more information, visit: www.apdip.net infrastructure.
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 41 From the Association for Progressive Communications to the World Summit on the Information Society
APC: internet and ICTs for social justice and development
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
he Association for Progressive Communications (APC)” is an international network of civil society organisations. APC is Tdedicated 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.
42 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 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 We work to expand concern for ICT Addis conference. “ issues into the broadest range of The Communication Rights in the Information Society campaign civil society organisations 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]
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 43 From Cisco Systems Inc. to the World Summit on the Information Society.
Bridging the digital divide through the Cisco Networking Academy Program
he Cisco Networking Academy Program is a comprehensive e- T 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. 24 of the world’s 49 least developed countries, companies and individuals,” Launched in 1997, there are now over countries (LDCs) by the end of 2001. Chambers stated. 10,000 networking academies in 149 “The Cisco Networking Academy The initial target was met six months countries. Over 296,000 students are Program enables the internet to bring digital ahead of schedule. The Academy Program enrolled in academies in high schools, opportunity to every corner of the earth. By has been established in 32 LDCs and six colleges and universities, technical schools, including these countries in our programme African non-LDCs. Eighty-six academies community-based organisations, and other we will show that the internet and education have been established at universities, educational programmes around the world. are truly the two great equalisers in life for technical schools, secondary schools and 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
44 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS “The Cisco Networking of skilled networking and IT professionals. Students in developing countries face Academy Program particular difficulties in gaining access to enables the internet to training in the IT field. bring digital With the aim to close the gap in internet opportunity to every and networking skills in developing countries, the International corner of the earth” Telecommunication Union (ITU) launched the Internet Training Centres Initiative for non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Developing Countries (ITCI-DC) in May 2001. Three-hundred instructors have been trained Cisco is the pioneer corporate partner under and more than 2440 students are currently this initiative. Cisco Networking Academy enrolled. Furthermore, 20 UN/UNITeS Program will be offered at the ITU’s training volunteers have been deployed in the centres, which will provide training in targeted LDCs to focus on outreach to networking skills. The goal is to establish a groups with restricted access to ICT training worldwide network of 50 internet training and to promote female participation. centers by end of 2003. As of November 2002, 26 centres were participating in the Internet Training Centres Initiative for initiative, with more than 800 students Developing Countries enrolled in the Academy Program. opportunities with particular emphasis on Leaders and experts worldwide women, ensuring that they play an active increasingly recognise human-resource Jordan – achieving e-quality in the IT sector role in the internet economy. capacity development as one of the most In Jordan, Cisco and Cisco Foundation Under this project, 10 institutions crucial constraints facing developing have partnered with UNIFEM and the including community centres, NGOs, countries in their attempts to bridge the Government of Jordan to establish 10 colleges and high schools were identified in digital divide. In both the developed and gender-focused academies. The primary the capital and secondary cities. Instructor developing world there is an acute shortage goal of the project is to create training 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.
For more information, visit: 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)
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 45 From the Fundación Cisneros to the World Summit on the Information Society
AME and the Cl@se initiative
What is AME? Founding partners • 45 percent of entrants into primary school esigned to make a contribution to AME’s founding partners have made this do not graduate the quality of basic education in programme a forceful reality through their • 40 percent of primary school graduates DLatin America, AME (Actualización generous contributions. These enlightened do not understand a 500-word essay de Maestros en Educación) is a partnership institutions are: • 55 percent of high school graduates fail a between an entertainment content providing basic algebra test satellite-based platform and the educational DIRECTV Latin America • 35 percent of primary school children authorities of seven Latin American nations. Made available transponder space in its repeat grades AME is also an innovative distance-learning region-wide digital satellite platform (Galaxy • 45 percent of children in high school programme that provides training to VIII i). repeat grades schoolteachers across the region via digital • 70 percent of primary school teachers do satellite television. The Microsoft Corporation not receive their teaching materials AME relaunches its services this year Donated the operating programs and • 80 percent of primary school teachers are to serve 250 schools in seven Latin internet software to schools. not empowered with new teaching skills American countries: Argentina, Colombia, throughout the duration of their careers. Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Fundacion Cisneros • Average teacher salary in the region is Venezuela. Teachers access an eight- Provides the project management and US$1.09 per hour. month distance-learning course that finances the training fees and the publishing originated in Barcelona, Spain, at the of learning manuals for teachers. This situation posed a development headquarters of the Universidad Autonoma challenge for the partnership, as the de Barcelona via DIRECTV, and Inter-American Development Bank expansion plan was based on the constant communicate with the University and fellow Covered the fees charged by UNESCO recruitment of skilled human resources. The trainees through the internet. to assess the pilot project. Fundación Cisneros was thus enlisted to Groups of teachers from different develop a region-wide teacher-training countries then work together to resolve Centro de Transferencia de Tecnología programme that would contribute to practical tests and to prepare research Trained, free of charge, participating redressing this situation – resorting to the projects designed to deepen the knowledge teachers in the pilot project phase in the use DIRECTV digital satellite platform as the acquired through the distance-learning of computers and the internet. distribution medium. courses. The effort has been widely praised by teacher participants, and preparations Why AME? For more information, contact: are underway to become a full-scale As the DirecTV partnership (Hughes AME resource for teachers throughout Latin Electronics-Cisneros Group of Companies) Dennys Montoto [email protected] America. UNESCO assessed AME at the prepared to enter the Latin American http://www.cisneros.com/company/ame.asp
end of its pilot project phase (September market, disparities between economic and CL@SE 1998-May 1999). Strong recommendations social trends became painfully apparent. Maria Ignacia Arcaya [email protected] to continue the project were issued by this Most salient was the status quo of http://www.cisneros.com/company/clase.asp UN authority on educational matters. education in the region.
46 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS “Thank you so much for your devotion to a Programming includes: Website kid like me… Congratulations to all programmes, The Cl@se website provides a meeting point for especially to the Math Crew that is leading me • Eyewitness – Dorling Kindersley. This series the Latin American educational community. Alongside out of my fear of numbers.” stimulates the imagination through the use of programming information and teacher guides, the site John Jairo Marulanda Arroyave, aged 12, computerised images, documentaries, footage also provides children with the opportunity to interact Pereira, Colombia from films and animations. In Eyewitness, history with the programmes’ content through games, and and science are presented in an anecdotal manner offers access to additional resources for parents, What is the Cl@se initiative with energy and a touch of humour. teachers and students. Cl@se was developed in 1996 as an educational • Eddie Files – FASE Productions. Eddie solves channel for families in DIRECTV subscriber homes in interesting mathematics assignments and, through Distribution Latin America. The first pan-regional educational his video camera, shows us that numbers are a Argentina channel, it was further developed in 1999 to provide part of our day-to-day lives. Cl@se is offered as part of the package of educational content for children and teenagers. • Beakman’s World – Columbia Pictures. Mr channels that is made available to 8000 rural schools Cl@se offers dynamic content relevant to Beakman and his assistants use ingenious through the Ministry of Communications’ Schools primary and secondary school students, thus serving humour, special effects and fascinating scientific without Frontiers initiative. as an educational tool for teachers that children and experiments to make learning an adventure. teenagers become easily engaged with. Its valuable, • Sacbe, The Maya Route – Canal Once. Costa Rica educational content provides a clear purpose for the Documentary content and fiction are combined Cl@se reaches 150 schools that have access to integration of new technologies in the classroom and to yield a passionate adventure through the DIRECTV programming through a government- its integrated system takes full advantage of available Maya World. sponsored project. technologies, offering: • Connect with English – WGBH/CPB/Annenberg. Provides all of the pedagogical foundations Mexico • Cl@se: the educational channel direct-to-home required to use television to teach a second Cl@se signed a collaboration agreement with and direct-to-schools. language. Throughout the video, key phrases are the Instituto Latinoamericano para la Comunicación • Teacher guides: distributed to schools to assist repeated, important events retold and idioms Educativa (ILCE) for distribution of the channel and teachers in taking full advantage of the channel paraphrased. teacher guide to 30,000 schools throughout Mexico. content as a complement to the curriculum. • The Arts – BBC. Artists and artisans show the • Cl@se website: an interactive environment allows techniques applied to their artwork, while they Pan-regional for open communication within the continent explain their perspective on the world and how it Cl@se provides educational content to more than between students, teachers, parents and Cl@se. provides them with inspiration. 6000 teachers and 150,000 students in schools that have participated in the Fundación Cisneros’ AME The Cl@se channel Teacher guide project in seven countries (Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa • Targets 6 to 17 year olds. Developed by Latin American educational experts Rica, Panama, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia). • Includes hosts who make programming content to add didactic value and relevance to the channel’s relevant for a Latin American audience, frame programming, the teacher guides provide detailed “At our school we follow Cl@se’s programmes with questions to stimulate classroom information about the channel’s programming, programming with much enthusiasm, which we discussion, and promote audience participation suggested activities in accordance with the students’ wish could be seen in all Mexican homes. We through contests, e-mails, on-line games, etc. grade level, programme summaries and more in depth await the fourth teacher guide and wish you • Features programmes from: BBC, Dorling information about related subjects, and articles much more success.” Kindersley, TV Ontario, Pearson, Canal Once. regarding teaching trends. Prof. Martin Alcocer, teacher, Mexico City, Mexico
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 47 From WSIS-Gender Caucus to the World Summit on the Information Society.
Promoting ICT for development alongside gender equality issues
here is a wide consensus that ICT can play These inequalities in access to, and control of, an important role in reducing poverty, ICT between men and women limit the potential of an T improving education and healthcare, information society to make the most valuable enhancing political participation and empowerment, contribution to the achievement of the Millennium and promoting sustainable development in Development Goals MDGs. Without women’s developing countries as well as countries with participation in decision-making in all spheres of life economies in transition. The ICT sector is the central and at all levels of society, poverty will not be core of the emerging global knowledge-based eradicated nor will fully democratic societies be economy in which access and control of ICT created. Limited access to ICT for women also has facilities and applications are prerequisites for the effect of reducing countries’ competitiveness in effective integration into the global economy. the global market. The role of ICT as a tool for development has Promoting ICT for development can assist with recently attracted the sustained attention of the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. United Nations. In 2000, the Economic and Social The first goal of the MDGs is to: “Eradicate extreme Council adopted a Ministerial Communiqué on the poverty and hunger.” The UN General Assembly role of information technology in the context of a recognised that the achievement of this goal depends knowledge-based economy. Later that year, the in part on: “Good governance at the international Millennium Declaration underscored the urgency of level,” and also resolved to: “Ensure that the benefits ensuring that the benefits of new technologies, of new technologies, especially information and especially ICT, be available to all. The World Summit communications technologies… are available to all.” on the Information Society, with ITU as lead (UN Millennium Declaration paras. 13 and 20.5 organising entity, which takes place in 2003 (Geneva) [A/res/55/2]). and 2005 (Tunisia), provides a unique opportunity to advance the ICT for development agenda. Gender implications These positive opportunities are undermined by The challenge of gender inequality can be the prospect that ICT will remain accessible only to overcome with urgent and concerted actions at the the elite and will not contribute to the achievement of national, regional and international levels to put ICT fundamental human development. firmly in the service of development for all. However, The majority of the world’s population still lives this will not happen if ICT decision makers continue in poverty and remains untouched by the benefits to treat gender issues as being non-existent or of ICT. There are critical disparities between and unimportant. In recent months, specifically since the within countries and among groups within countries first WSIS PrepCom in July 2002, there has been and regions. One of the most overlooked and consolidation of evidence on the status of women in ignored disparities is the one that exists between the Information Society and development of analysis men and women. Unequal power relations in our of strategies for improving this position. WSIS should societies contribute to differential access, provide a platform for sharing this information and participation and treatment for men and women in debating on the best course of action to reduce the Information Society. inequalities and increase opportunities.
48 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS • 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 “The majority of the world’s and allocation of financial resources for population still lives in entrepreneurship and business development, which also offer negative consequences. poverty and remains • Under-representation of women in all aspects of untouched by the benefits decision-making in operations, policy and of ICT 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 Evidence shows that it is important for decision attention on these issues. In making preparations for makers on a national and global level to recognise” the Summit, the organisers are urged to take the that, in order to formulate an appropriate plan of opportunity to ensure that WSIS provides an action to proactively target the themes proposed by opportunity for women and men to enjoy the myriad WSIS, there must be a clear understanding of the of potentials for social and economic empowerment issues that impede some sectors of the population to offered by ICT, and to participate effectively in all maximise their potential. In doing so, it will be aspects of the ICT field. WSIS can assist in building possible to formulate measures to effectively provide an information society that contributes to promoting access to ICT for all, to understand the value of ICT gender equality as well as furthering progress in the as a tool for economic and social development and to eradication of poverty, promotion of peace and assure confidence and security in the use of ICT security and the enjoyment of human rights. All (www.itu.int/osg/spu/wsis-themes/). stakeholders must take urgent action to ensure that Therefore, some of the issues that must be gender equality and women’s rights are integrated seriously taken into account are: into the WSIS and its follow-up programmes. Unless these actions are taken, there is a grave risk that the • A lack of participation by the majority of the people, Summit will not succeed in its aim of creating a particularly women, in the developing countries, vision of the information society that contributes to because of structural and cultural impediments, human development. which significantly reduce the developmental benefits of ICT.
• The uneven and unaffordable access to ICT For more information, visit: facilities and services by women, especially, but not www.wougnet.org/WSIS/wsisgc.html exclusively, in developing countries.
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 49 From Germany to the World Summit on the Information Society.
German initiatives
n the framework of bilateral development Mali. In this way, it makes a contribution to bridging cooperation, Germany supports a number of the digital divide. Iprojects aimed at the application and use of ICT. These, above all, are projects that improve the access Extension of the digital patent information system of the rural population to ICT services, contribute to in the People’s Republic of China the modernisation of the economy and strengthen With the first Patent Law of 1985 the People’s civil society organisations. Republic of China has created the legal conditions for Some examples of these initiatives include: granting commercial patent rights to applicants from China and abroad. Communal multimedia centres in Mali Because of rapid economic development, the Mali has a very dynamic and wide-ranging media Chinese Patent Office (CPO) reached the limits of its environment. Its 110 private radio stations represent technical capacities. The increasing duration of patent the largest transmitter density in the whole of sub- procedures (on average four years) was an obstacle Sahara Africa. to the modernisation of the People’s Republic of These private radios are of a commercial, China and to economic growth. communal, religious or cooperative type. Radio is the The project supports the capacities of the CPO most important means of communication and and access to patent information by affiliated patent information in rural areas. Communal radio not only information centres of the most important industrial conveys important information, but it also gives a cities in China. The CPO was equipped with new ‘voice’ to the rural population. In the course of the data-technical equipment. There was also extensive decentralisation process, communal radio stations training of CPO employees. have become particularly important because they The German Patent Office has been involved in contribute to creating a local identity. the whole process from the beginning. The exchange The project, currently in the pre-feasibility stage, of information between the two patent offices is to be aims to create multimedia centres in small towns and continued by means of a sponsorship agreement. rural communities in Mali. These centres are to be attached to existing private radio stations, thus Development of the electronic payments system in creating an added value of communication services Uganda for the population. The one-way communication of Uganda has implemented substantial reforms in radio transmitters is to be extended by means of a the financial sector since 1993, with the support of modern communication infrastructure (telephone, fax, the international donor community. A lack of trust in computer, internet access). the system has preventend an interbank market from The aim is to give an additional means of income coming into existence. Clearing of checks by the to private communal radio stations while, at the same Ugandan Central Bank can take several months. The time, facilitate a more active participation of the deficiencies of the system burden the rural population in the political decision processes on the population, because financial transactions often communal and national level. require travelling to the capital. The project aims at The project promotes the connectivity of remote improving the efficiency of the Ugandan payments areas and supports the process of decentralisation in system by creating an electronic clearing house. Both
50 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS companies and private bank customers will profit offer study programmes for a Master’s Degree in from reduced transaction costs. international peace education. In the near future, cross-boundary digitalised These programmes can be made available on a payments will also be possible. worldwide scale through links with partner universities The project comprises the equipment of this new (above all in developing countries) and the use of new electronic clearing house with the necessary information and communication technologies computer hardware and software, as well as (distance learning). installation, maintenance and training. The commercial banks have been involved in the ICT in development cooperation preparation of the project and the elaboration of In 2002, Germany presented a study concerning standards and regulations. the state of ICTs in five countries (Peru, Laos, Vietnam, Tanzania and Uganda). This study, which Support of the project of the NGO Kabissa was carried out against the background of the G8 ‘It’s time to get online: simple steps to success on countries’ commitment to promote the application of the internet’ ICTs in developing countries, analyses the potential Many NGOs in developing countries are not able for possible cooperation in this field. 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 Many NGOs in developing convey the necessary knowledge for an efficient use “ countries are not able to of the internet. The project is aimed at NGOs in West Africa that take advantage of the commit themselves to human rights, freedom of internet, because they do information and democratisation. not realise the benefits or At first, Germany will support the pilot phase of the project. It is planned to finance the propagation in because they do not have West Africa together with other donors. Overall, 1000 the necessary knowledge NGOs are to be reached with the project and more than 3000 sets of training material are to be to use it 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. For more information, contact: ” Gerd Benke, Federal Foreign Office, Germany Beginning in autumn 2003, the UN University for [email protected] Peace in Costa Rica will – with German support –
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 51 From Hewlett-Packard to the World Summit on the Information Society
e-Inclusion: Dikhotole Digital Village, South Africa – rising out of a cycle of poverty
ikhatole, a community just outside of Johannesburg, suffers and experience, and encouraging entrepreneurship, particularly from chronic unemployment coupled with primitive living among women,” explains Henry Ferreira, Managing Director of HP Dconditions – no running water, electricity or basic housing. South Africa. The unemployment rate is more than 30 percent and many of Residents will be taught skills such as computer literacy, CV the community’s 8,000 people still cling to the bottom rungs of the writing, communications and presentation, and entrepreneurship. South African economy: most families are led by single mothers who More than 1,000 unemployed youth will be trained in employability lack the skills needed to get a job. Often, young people leave their skills and self-employment, while 540 women will be trained in basic unstable home environments to live on the street, and are vulnerable Internet use for networking and support, as well as in starting and to a life of violence, crime and infectious disease. There is a running a small business. perpetual cycle of poverty that leaves little hope for the future. Addressing community needs A reason for hope The second major thrust of the project is to build up computer A business consortium led by Hewlett-Packard South Africa has resources and skills in the region’s schools. HP and ORT aim to train launched a project to provide the Dikhatole community with basic at least 70 teachers in essential computer skills and will help train computer, Internet and business skills to improve their chances of more than 2,400 children in basic computer use. In addition, the two getting work. The training will be provided through the Dikhatole companies will upgrade and install computers and Internet facilities Digital Village, the largest facility of its kind in the country, with more at the schools. than 90 Internet-enabled workstations. The third aspect of the project involves training local To stem the tide of chronic unemployment in this South African government employees in basic computer and Internet skills, and township, this Digital Village strives to help unemployed youth and installing computers in the workplace to allow them to communicate women develop sought-after computer and business skills, giving effectively and share information more readily. them access to the Internet to open job opportunities. The project is expected to last for three years; by then it is The project is spearheaded by the non-profit Organisation for expected that the community will be trained enough and Rehabilitation and Training (ORT) South Africa and sponsored by experienced enough to become self-sufficient. HP and ORT have HP, Macsteel and Microsoft. HP is donating much of the worked closely with governmental and private-sector bodies, and equipment, while Microsoft is donating the software. Macsteel, a members of the community, to ensure the project will sustain itself South African industrial-steel producer is providing the training once ORT and HP have withdrawn. room and related offices. Dikhatole, which literally means ‘lost’, may have represented the feelings of many youths and women in the community up until now. Opening new opportunities But hopefully this project will be one small step toward self- The programme’s goal is to improve the standard of living sufficiency and helping people find their way. among Dikhatole residents by increasing their earning potential and connecting them to the world. “The project targets unemployment For more information, visit: http://www.hp.com/e-inclusion/en/project/dikhotole1.html and low income in the area by helping youngsters gain qualifications
52 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS From the Inter-American Development Bank to the World Summit on the Information Society.
The first Latin American and Caribbean video art competition and exhibition
ast year, the Cultural Centre of the Inter-American Development Bank L 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 such as justice, security, social inclusion, Carlos Fernando Osuna (Colombia), Ester Marques, IDB External Relations Advisor: ethnicity and the environment, among many Guízar and Maries Mendiola (Mexico), “The social and economic reality of Latin other issues. As a result, we have a chance Humberto Polar (Peru) and David Morey America and the Caribbean, and the role of to experience the everyday reality of life in (Venezuela). communications in development appealed the region as video artists see it. The results The strength of the exhibition lies with to a large group of people who work with are poignant, revealing and educational. those video artists who are able to cutting-edge video technology. It is the first They also underscore and celebrate the key interpret particular issues affecting their international video contest of its kind in role of culture in the development process.” countries, and who reflect, in their Washington DC, a benchmark that has An international jury selected 56 videos personal ways, their social and economic afforded talented artists an opportunity to from 21 countries. The two cash awards realities. The significant response to the show their abilities. These, mostly young, went to Brooke Alfaro (Panama) and to call proves that the IDB Cultural Centre filmmakers presented short films on social Eduardo Baggio and Carlos Rocha (Brazil). was able to penetrate an entire community issues that the IDB works with every day, Honourable Mentions were awarded to not yet familiar with the IDB and its
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 53 agenda. The outstanding number of Competition and its accompanying video excellent pieces received from certain installation exhibition requires patience and countries attests to their past economic pacing from its audience, but the effort well-being, their long standing attention to spent viewing this show is worth it,” said The results are education and the visual tradition in the washingtonpost.com. The Washington realm of filmmaking. In some countries it Times listed it in the Top Picks of its “poignant, revealing appears that artists have been able to weekend section. The Washington Diplomat and educational. They keep up technologically but are having went further, stating that: “The aspect of also underscore and difficulty in adjusting video to artistic technology was key here because the IDB terms, or they are having trouble dealing was dealing with countries that may not celebrate the key role with current situations. The structure of have advanced video technology, education of culture in the many pieces shows that in almost all or knowledge of video as an artistic countries the boundaries between medium. This, in itself, is already a reflection development process
documentary, short film, performance of the social and economic realities facing The Washington Diplomat recording and video art are blurred. these countries, and how the artist In all countries, access to technology overcame their lack of resources was part of for the regular individual continues to be their artistic journey.” And: “In some videos, an outstanding issue, in some more than the equipment may have been less than ” others and in physical terms as well as state-of-the-art, but the message is no less economic terms. In Latin America and the intense, and the images no less disturbing Caribbean, technology still has a long way or beautiful.” to go to fulfil its promise of making life – or Despite the unsympathetic and at least work – simpler, cheaper and more sometimes angry messages that video functional. Judging from the clippings that artists are sending to society’s leadership the IDB representations sent to the IDB through their work, there are positive, headquarters, the general feeling among optimistic and even humorous alternatives artists is that video, and video art in that assimilate the region’s problems and particular, requires resources they just do individual shortcomings. Taken as a group, not have. It is significant to note that the present exhibition may be a strong Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica and reminder of unsolved and lingering Guyana were four out of the five countries problems, but it is also a gratifying that did not submit any entry. demonstration of the talent of the region The press of Washington DC quickly that, despite chronic limitations, is found in responded to the event in a variety of abundance, and is waiting for better reviews: “Without a doubt, the First Latin opportunities to help re-conceptualise the American and Caribbean Video Art elusive idea of integral development.
54 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS DIGITALYART, an exhibition on technology in art
he Cultural Center of the Inter American ROMA II, currently in the collection of the Guggenheim Development Bank, in cooperation with the Museum in New York. Both the monumental scale and T Information and Communication Technology the bold statement he makes with the use of marble for Development Division, of the Sustainable and video combined, not to mention the sensible use of Development Department and the Istituto Italiano di water imagery, speaks of the balance between the past Cultura, of Washington, DC, has organised and present, the reference to history for man to remain DIGITALYART, an exhibition honouring Italy and the alert to recurrent errors, and the awareness of City of Milan, host of the 44th Annual Meeting of IDB everything else humans share life with. Governors in March of 2003. The position of Plessi in the international scene is It has become the Center’s tradition to honour the that of an artist concerned with developing a member country hosting the Annual Meeting with an contemporary language inspired by the newest and art exhibition. This allows the IDB to bring to global most advanced resources available. At the same time, attention some of the most significant cultural however, he uses that language which is inscribed in expressions from the LAC region. Most importantly, it the context of man and the existential realm. helps establish a tangible relationship between culture Architect Celestino Soddu has dedicated his and development, a notion that is obvious for some, entire career to investigating the possibilities of but debatable for others; the debate illustrates how generative design. He creates software that endows imperfectly the definition of development is the machine with the capacity to produce multiple sometimes conceived. alternatives to a given program, producing designs Technology summarises the dynamic of the world that depart from cultural and physical DNA. Adriano in the 21st century. The ‘revolution’ that started at the Abbado’s work illustrates an artist interested in end of the past century has brought many unresolved expressing himself with new tools. To achieve these issues into the beginning of the new one. Technology goals in a contemporary world, sensibility has to be has always been entangled in the socio-cultural guided into new dimensions where both aesthetics evolution of civilisation, but has never before played and intellectual thought coexist with technology; the such an important role affecting almost every second resultant imagery cannot be rejected under the of our lives. Although technology is assumed to be, in traditional arguments or modes of perception. itself, an expression of advancement, its goals are For the IDB it has been very rewarding to unavoidably linked to the improvement of life and coalesce such an interesting and different group of elevation of human kind. Technology, however, has efforts and realisations departing from a common not always brought man to better understanding, premise. This is the first time that the work of these refined his nature, or made him wiser. If not these, three artists has been exhibited in Washington, DC what other purposes should technology have?
The artists selected for this exhibition represent a For more information, contact: variety of current proposals within the ample framework Enrica Murmura, Information and Communication Technology for Development, Division SDS/ICT of artists working with interactive digital technology in [email protected] www.iadb.org/ict4dev Italy. Maestro Fabrizio Plessi is one of the most admired Felix Angel, Cultural Centre- Inter american Development Bank and recognised contemporary Italian artists. For this [email protected] www.iadb.org/exr/cultural/center.html presentation, the Center was able to secure his piece
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 55 From the Inter-American Development Bank to the World Summit on the Information Society.
The Inter-American Development Bank steps in to support ICT applications for small businesses
he Inter-American Development fortunes of the sector led, in 2001, to a swift Bank (IDB) and the Multilateral reduction of resources in the development T Investment Fund, a unit of the IDB of ICT applications. Group, have launched the ICT Innovation Innovation by tech firms has been Program for e-business and SME reduced and marketing efforts have been Development (in short ICT-4-BUS concentrated on providing IT services to Program). This is a US$5 million fund, large corporations, a market that is already which supports innovative ICT applications controlled by large consulting and/or IT in Latin America and the Caribbean and is firms. Investments in new ICT technologies aimed at strengthening the competitive tailored to the need of hitherto marginalised position of SMEs. medium and small sized business users The Program’s first call for proposals have become much more risky. This was closed in October 2002 with 101 represents a potential setback for the project applications from 18 countries. A access of these users to ICT technologies, new call for proposals will be opened in either for increased efficiency and June 2003. competitiveness or for market penetration. through the provision of rapid and Background strategic information. The ICT-4-BUS Program In the past few decades, knowledge- As ICT has become a key element for ICT-4-BUS aims to improve the driven innovation has become a decisive improving the productivity and efficiency of competitiveness, productivity and efficiency factor in the competitiveness of both private firms, it also plays a crucial role in of SMEs in Latin America and the nations and firms. This trend is particularly strengthening the competitiveness of Caribbean through the implementation of pronounced in developed countries where, national economies. However, access to, innovative ICT and e-business solutions. It by 1999, knowledge-based industries and use of, these technologies remains will make ICT solutions available to SMEs represented more than 50 percent of GDP. uneven. This disparity, the so-called digital that strive for market penetration and ICT is the backbone of knowledge- divide, is a reflection of deeper social and business efficiency, which were once based economies. ICT solutions and economic inequalities. In particular, the lack limited to larger companies and services improve efficiency in the value of financial, human and technical resources international corporations. In so doing, this chain by providing better and faster prevent SMEs from swiftly adopting new initiative will lend a truly global dimension to communication between trading partners, technology to compete in national and the multitude of efforts to bridge the global integrating transactions with logistics international markets. digital divide, foster digital opportunity and functions, reducing intermediation costs, On the supply side, during 1999-2000, thus firmly put ICT at the service of facilitating the search for new markets and an incipient industry for ICT has emerged in development for all. allowing better pricing policies. ICT also Latin America and the Caribbean confirming In this context, ICT-4-BUS will provide serves as an important tool for other the potential for a small but vibrant non-reimbursable matching funds for the corporate functions such as strategic information sector that could count on a development and implementation of pilot planning, business operations, customer reservoir of technology and business projects that will test innovative ICT services and decision-making processes talents. The subsequent downturn in the services and solutions for SMEs, primarily
56 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS in the areas of value chain integration, Potential ICT solutions and services that workplace productivity and efficiency, and could be used by the projects include: market penetration. The overall cost of the projects to be funded is estimated at US$8 • E-commerce and e-business applications. million, out of which, US$4.5 million will be • E-productivity applications for individuals provided by the ICT-4-BUS Program. Over and organisations. 450 SMEs will participate in the pilot • Infrastructure and access enhancing projects. It is also expected that a large systems. number will benefit from new services and • Knowledge management and distribution solutions through the dissemination and systems. • Mobile (including satellite-based) applications and services for businesses. “As ICT has become The projects will be presented by non- a key element for profit institutions in the region, which are improving the involved in promoting SME development and/or have proven experience in the productivity and development of ICT solutions or services. efficiency of private Examples of these institutions are trade firms, it also plays a associations, universities, foundations, NGOs, chambers of commerce, business crucial role in development centres and research centres. strengthening the The Program is managed by the competitiveness of Information Technology for Development Division (SDS/ICT), and the IDB technical national economies 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 replication of the ‘best practices’ and Entrepreneurship, in order to share and ‘lessons learned’ from the pilot projects. exchange lessons learned and best Between 15 and 20 pilot projects will be practices in the development of ICT policies selected through a thorough evaluation and programmes for developing countries. process coordinated by the IDB. The projects For more information, contact: Antonio Ca’ Zorzi, that will be selected for funding may receive Program Manager Information Technology for between US$75,000 and US$500,000 in Development Division Inter-American Development Bank E-mail: [email protected] matching grants from the fund.
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 57 From the Inter-American Development Bank to the World Summit on the Information Society.
The ALDEA Program: Digital strategies for the Latin American and Caribbean governments
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 nter-American Development Bank offers, through this program, a the application of ICTs for development. solution to the Latin America and Caribbean countries, in order to Our mission consists of identifying and starting up solutions that Iallow them to properly face the Digital Era challenges. can suit the realities of development in each country. These are the leading principles: Introduction The Digital Strategies program for Latin America and the • In the digital era, there are no set rules to development: strategies Caribbean – the ALDEA Program – has recently been launched in are specific to each country. several countries. The ALDEA Program was first developed in • Development is local, but must show deep commitment to a Uruguay, and, at the moment, different operations are carried out global view. also in the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Argentina and • This is not an exclusive task for governments. All different Paraguay. economic and social agents (companies, governments, The ALDEA Program offers technical assistance and/or loan universities, civil organisations, financial agents) should operations for digital strategies development through the different participate. financial segments managed by the Bank. In particular, the Program • It is necessary to generate new management skills. is oriented to work with Flexible Loan Institutions for Innovating • All digital strategies must be converted into state policy. Operations (almost 10 million fast approvals!). The Program started • Strict coordination of public policies must be considered. from a central concept: to partner digital strategies’ development • A cultural environment where knowledge is the new goal of with institutional strength in order to support the implementation of development must be created.
58 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS What does the ALDEA Program do? “Our mission consists of identifying The ALDEA Program offers technical and financial assistance in order to answer the question: how can we create the right national and starting up solutions that can conditions for development in the digital era? adapt to the realities of We offer: development in each country”
• Development of a new public institutional ability for knowledge, exchange and management. • The transfer of technical, management and learning skills in the Identification and start up of pilot projects in the following areas: knowledge economy domain. • The integration of country’s technical teams with Latin American • Connectivity projects (Telecentres) professionals and experts of local reality, in order to identify and • Online Government projects formulate the pilot projects that will be able to offer a positive • E-commerce projects factor for change. • Education and ICT projects • An appropriate frame for the definition and management of co- ordinated policies between several economic and social agents. Activities What kind of activities does the ALDEA Program promote? How does the ALDEA Program work? Governments of the countries benefited by the IADB can request • The design of a digital policy, linked to specific action plans, and assistance from the ALDEA Program. The request must be directed built-on in a coordinated way. to the IADB’s representative in the country, and copied to the • Modernisation of the direction and decision-making systems for Information and Communication Technology for Development public administration. Division (SDS/ICT), and to the State’s Refurbishing Division of the • Strengthening or development, according to the case, of the Regional Department, and referred to and signed by the Governor institutional ability responsible for promoting digital strategies. and the Bank. • Development of the necessary human resources. Once the request is received, it will be appointed to a technical • Improvement in the quality of services. team in the Bank that will follow it throughout the project. Each • Design and start up of mechanisms able to promote community technical team will assist in identifying the ‘type of operation’. participation.
Objectives What results are expected from the ALDEA Program? The general aim of the program is to contribute in creating the Right solutions for knowledge development. institutional conditions able to foster knowledge development in each country, starting from a single national strategy, and to favour Results the implementation of pilot initiatives for the starting up of the • Strengthening of the public management ability for a digital chosen strategy. strategy. In each country, the ALDEA Program creates: • Strengthening of the policies’ definition ability for a digital strategy, co-ordinating the public and private sectors, citizens and • A political level able to identify and coordinate a digital policy with academic representatives. different economic and social agents. • A pilot project to improve and increase citizens’ access to ICTs. • A pilot project for the creation of e-government abilities. A technical skill in management (management level) for the public • A pilot project for the creation of legal and institutional conditions administration of different projects in the following areas: to support the development of e-commerce. • A pilot project for the introduction of ICTs in public education • Connectivity projects (Telecentres) systems. • Online Government projects • E-commerce projects For more information, contact: Pablo Valenti, Information and Communication Technology for Development, Division SDS/ICT. [email protected] www.iadb.org/ict4dev • Education and ICT projects
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 59 From the Inter-American Development Bank to the World Summit on the Information Society.
mong its mandate and activities, of promoting the Italian Trust Fund introduction, use and application of ICT in the social and A economic development process of the Bank’s borrowing for Information and member countries in the Latin American and Caribbean Region, the ICT for Development Division (SDS/ICT) of the Sustainable Communication Technology Development Department (SDS) promotes effective inter- institutional collaboration efforts to leverage the reach and impact for Development 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).
For more information, contact: Andres Garret [email protected] www.iadb.org/ict4dev
60 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS From the Government of Italy to the World Summit on the Information Society
The vital role of e-government and e-governance
he rapid pace of technological development has created The United Nations ICT Task Force has also stated that e- increasingly more powerful communication and information governance is a priority area of action and has instituted an ICT Policy T technologies that are capable of radically transforming public and Governance Working Group and another group with national and institutions and private organisations alike. regional e-strategies comprising an e-governance component. These technologies have proven to be extraordinarily useful The Italian government believes that e-government is a strategic instruments in enabling governments to enhance the quality, speed of instrument that will enable both the developed and the developing delivery and reliability of services to the citizens and to business. countries to make a quantum leap forward in terms of enhancing the International experience and major international programmes efficiency of government services. 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 Italy has, therefore, put forward her candidacy to promote an wider access to information technologies. innovative form of technological cooperation based on the design In the action plan presented at Genoa in 2001, the DOT Force and implementation of operational projects with measurable recalled the importance of e-government in so many fields: “For results for the developing countries. Italy’s initiative, E- internal efficiency and effectiveness within government, as well as of Government for Development, is intended to make an effective e-governance for institutional capacity building, transparency, and original contribution to disseminating information about e- accountability and its ability to enhance democratic governance.” government and its programming and implementation in In addition to adopting the DOT Force Action Plan, the G8 countries which have not, or have only partially, exploited the full leaders in Genoa, acting on a proposal by Italian Prime Minister, potential of this important tool for narrowing the economic and Silvio Berlusconi, in the final declaration, encouraged: “The social divide. development of an action plan on how e-government can strengthen democracy and the rule of law by empowering citizens For more information, contact: Minister for Innovation and Technologies – Italy and making the provision of essential government services http://www.palermoconference2002.org/en/egov1.htm more efficient.”
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 61 From the International Telecommunication Union to the World Summit on the Information Society.
Challenges and partnerships
he International Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D). The mission of Union (ITU) is the United Nations’ the latter is to achieve its objectives, based The Istanbul Action Plan T specialised agency within which on the right to communicate of all the Bridging the digital divide means providing governments and the private sector work inhabitants of the world, through access to access to telecommunications and ICT and together to coordinate the operation of infrastructure and information and promoting their use so that all segments of telecommunication networks and services communications services. The major society can harness the opportunities of the and to advance the development of programmes of ITU-D are the six strands of information society. Digital opportunities not communications technology. Founded in the Istanbul Action Plan (see side bar), only serve as an engine for economic growth, 1865, ITU is based on a unique which charts a course for developing they enable social, educational and medical public/private partnership, with 189 countries to transform the digital divide into progress. These goals hinge upon the rollout of member states and over 660 sector digital opportunities. ICT networks and services. members. Every time someone, In addition, there are a number of other The Istanbul Action Plan is a somewhere, picks up a telephone and dials ITU activities that are directly relevant to the comprehensive package that will enable a number, answers a call on a mobile work of the UN ICT Task Force. These developing countries to promote the equitable phone, sends a fax or receives an e-mail, include: and sustainable deployment of affordable ICT takes a plane or a ship, listens to the radio, networks and services. The core of the plan is watches a favourite television programme • The ITU New Initiatives Programme, a series of six programmes: or helps a small child to master the latest launched in 1999, which provides high- radio-controlled toy, they are benefiting quality research and strategic workshops • Regulatory reform from the work of ITU. The role of ITU is thus on issues of high current policy and • Technologies and telecommunication central to the creation of the information regulatory relevance for ITU members. network development society and the goals of the UN ICT Task Recent topics covered include • E-strategies and e-services/applications Force, of which ITU was a founder member. competition policy, creating trust in critical • Economics and finance One of the major current undertakings network infrastructures, internet diffusion, • Human capacity building is the organisation of a World Summit on multilingual domain names, 3G licensing, • Special programme for the least developed the Information Society (WSIS), to be held broadband, etc. countries in two phases, in Geneva (December 2003) • A programme of information-sharing, and in Tunis (2005). In line with UN General notably through the publication of the The unique structure of ITU, as a Assembly Resolution 56/183, ITU has World Telecommunication Development public/private partnership, provides assumed the leading managerial role in the Report, Trends in Telecom Reform, and valuable experience in bringing together the executive secretariat of the Summit and its other publications and databases. different stakeholders to work together preparatory process. • A proposal, taken up by Working Group 5 towards common goals. ITU is not just The work of the Union is implemented of the UN ICT Task Force, on enhancing IP talking about creating the information through three Sectors: connectivity in the least developed society, it is doing it. The Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), countries using low-cost VSATs (very small
Telecommunication Standardisation Sector aperture terminals), which provide access For more information, visit: www.itu.int (ITU-T) and Telecommunication to remote and rural areas by satellite.
62 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS The rationale for shared access Typically, MCTs are a collaborative effort of According to the business plan, telecentres are to be Since 1998, the International Telecommunication multilateral agencies and national partners, including sustainable enterprises. The project responds to an ITU Union has been developing multipurpose community non-governmental organisations, who pool expertise in resolution titled ‘Training of Refugees’ which calls on telecentre (MCT) projects to bring telephone, fax, different areas to serve communities. The expertise The ITU to continue its efforts towards the application internet, e-mail and, in some cases, distance learning could range from basic health to small-scale industry. of the United Nations’ resolutions relevant to assistance and telemedicine to remote villages around the world. The focus is on the development and adaptation to the to refugees. ITU is also to collaborate fully with the Timbuktu (Mali), with its legendary past, is home to the local context of applications and ‘content’ relevant to organisations concerned with the training of refugees, first major multipurpose community telecentre in their field of activity, and in the training of support staff both within and outside the United Nations system. Africa. Located East of Lake Faguibine and near the and end-users. Furthermore, the resolution invites ITU Members ‘to do Niger River, Timbuktu remains an important trade In Latin America, telecentre pilot projects at Valle even more to receive certain selected refugees and to centre on the Saharan camel caravan routes. But like de Angeles and Santa Lucía in Honduras offer a good arrange for their training in telecommunications in most isolated areas, the once prosperous commercial example of appropriate technologies and institutional professional centres and schools’. and cultural town needs a helping hand to join the arrangements at work. The Valle de Angeles MCT The project comprises a network of three digital economy and participate in an increasingly recently became a rural internet service provider. Both telecentres: knowledge-based society. the Santa Lucía and Valle de Angeles telecentres link Multipurpose community telecentres make it five other ‘mini’ telecentres each with narrow-band • The first telecentre is located in the district possible for people of a village to learn how to use packet radio and spread spectrum technologies. These headquarters town of Ngara, which houses the computers and the internet. Students and teachers can low cost, low maintenance telecentres are located in local administration as well as UNHCR and run educational software on personal computers in the neighbouring villages. UNICEF offices; telecentres or obtain access to world leading online In Asia, Bhutan Telecom established a telecentre • The second is at ‘K9’, about 17 kilometres from libraries and distance instructors through the internet. at Jakar in central Bhutan with ITU assistance in 1998. Ngara, where seven relief organisations and a Local administrators and society leaders can access The telecentre has been particularly successful in secondary school for girls are based; information on basic social services such as water providing basic information technology training to over • The third is some 8 km from K9 where two supply or infrastructure. Farmers can form joint buying 450 people. As part of the next phase of operations, refugee camps are located: Lukole A and B, which and selling groups and monitor market prices. Small UNESCO is assisting Bhutan to convert the Jakar currently have no telecommunication facilities. entrepreneurs can find larger markets, secure telecentre into a community multimedia centre in business and use the telecentre for basic office which access to the internet and the broadcasting VITA will provide satellite support and services such as fax, e-mail or document production. programme production are integrated to maximise the information services through its VITA-Connect Facilities providing access to ICTs, and the information services accessible to the local network, including the contribution of a ground applications they support, vary considerably. In their community. station, antenna and software for basic electronic simplest form, they may be limited to providing public The media production centre will take advantage mail-based connectivity. WorldSpace Corporation has telephone and fax services and be run, for example, by of telecommunication facilities available at the MCT to committed to providing, at each site, a container a local shopkeeper. Telecentres of this type, sometimes deliver locally produced content for daily radio and incorporating radio equipment, satellite receiver and referred to as ‘telekiosks’, tend to be located in more television broadcast offered by the Bhutan data terminal to download web-based multimedia densely populated areas and have an important social Broadcasting Service (BBS). Combining the media educational and entertainment content in Kiswahili and economic role. production centre and the MCT would enable BBS to (the local language). The centre, planned as an At the other end of the scale are telecentres with offer more participatory programmes, besides using educational centre for refugee children and for (shared) offices open to small local businesses and content based on the regular field visits conducted in teacher training, will also provide medical information ‘teleworkers’, which are equipped with computers, central Bhutan. The media production centre is and will be run by refugees. printers and photocopiers. Centres of this type generally expected to eventually introduce local broadcasts Projects currently in an advanced stage of provide access to data networks (e.g. internet) for e- through its own transmitter. Such broadcasts would planning include: in Niger, establishment of four mail and file transfer, to electronic libraries and include regular ‘Radio Browsing’ programmes to telecentres around the capital Niamey, to be run by databases, government and community information promote rural access to the internet through the Jakar women’s cooperatives and in the Democratic systems, market and price information databases, multipurpose community telecentre. People’s Republic of Korea, establishing a telecentre environmental monitoring systems and so on. They may Another pilot project in Tanzania addresses the in Hyangsan County. also offer facilities and equipment for distance learning needs of the refugee community, relief workers and the All MCT pilot projects are subject to continuous and telemedicine, and some may provide the facilities, local community. The project is implemented in assessment by the partners involved in their equipment and training needed to produce (and collaboration with the Tanzanian government, UNESCO, implementation. Current assessments point to the fact receive) local radio and television programmes. UNHCR, WorldSpace Corporation and VITASAT. that the projects have considerable social impact.
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 63 From MIT to the World Summit on the Information Society
Media Lab Asia: Innovating for the next Five Billion
or the first time in human history your through novel sensors, effectors and location no longer limits your ability to fabrication tools. Translating the vision of Fcommunicate. From anywhere in the fine-grain, pervasive computing to rural world – mountain, jungle or city – you can communities. now telephone, e-mail and browse the World Computer – a computer for the internet using a pocket-sized, battery- illiterate, for communities, for everyone. We powered wireless communicator. The UN are creating computers that transcend these ICT Task Force has been established to barriers to bring digital services to everyone. better understand and utilise these The design goal of the world computer is a revolutionary new possibilities. localised, grassroots interface. However, current information and These three technical themes come communication products are engineered for together in a fourth initiative that seeks to developed nations and are often too find a synergetic combination of technology expensive or inappropriate for developing with societal need: nations. Only by focusing research and Digital Village – realising Gandhi’s vision development efforts on making the technology of a sustainable village through culturally affordable, useful and universally accessible, appropriate use of new technologies. Our will we be able to provide every family on goal is to create a sustainable digital earth with access to first-class educational ecology that maintains traditional values and material, medical advice, business community while opening economic and communications and entertainment. Media expressive opportunities. Lab Asia’s role within the UN ICT Task Force is innovation to villages throughout the world, These ideas are developed in two ways: to coordinate Asian industry and academia to combining the creativity of entrepreneurs through research laboratories that generate achieve this goal. with the technical know-how of universities. and prototype new concepts, and through With core participation from MIT’s Particular challenges in cultivating these field projects that develop, test and evaluate renowned Media Laboratory, seed-funding solutions will include the need to operate in these laboratory prototypes. from the government of India, and many different languages and to support industrial funding from corporations such local culture and tradition. Example research projects as Tata Consulting Services and Microsoft, Media Lab Asia is inventing technologies Media Lab Asia’s research programme Sustainable access in rural India (SARI) that respond to the needs of the vast Our research projects may be divided Working with some 50 villages in the number of individuals living in Asia, Africa into three technical initiatives: Madurai district in south-eastern India, and Latin America. Bits for All – focusing on viral, Media Lab Asia is collaborating with the Media Lab Asia’s research and terrestrial wireless systems for rural Harvard Centre for International development efforts facilitate the invention, connectivity. We are exploring new, cost- Development, IIT-Madras and the I-Gyan refinement and dissemination of innovations effective methods of connecting every Foundation to help villagers obtain economic that benefit the greatest number of people. person on earth. self-sustainability throughout the region. They Working though our industrial partners, Tomorrow’s Tools – connecting the are doing this by providing villages with NGOs and governments, we are bringing disembodied world of bits to the real world internet-ready telekiosks that provide much-
64 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 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 Although the data transport provided by care. To ensure that the handhelds would be possible even in the poorest countries. A DakNet is not real-time, a large amount of used, we worked with the ANMs to design a hand-held PDA, equipped with a wireless data can be moved at once and, as a result, it system that incorporates the local card, is attached to the back of any vehicle provides a higher data throughput than other terminology. Each PDA has a pull-down that travels through rural villages. Villagers low-bandwidth technologies. DakNet also menu, so you just have to recognise terms queue their internet messages at local kiosks provides a seamless method of upgrading to rather than write them. and when the vehicle gets within range universal broadband connectivity. The system can also provide feedback (approximately 500 meters) it automatically on diagnoses and treatment to the ANMs in senses a wireless radio link – picking up the Kaash the field, and reminders that particular queued messages and dropping off files Focused on improving health care in patients are due for inoculation. In the long addressed to users of that kiosk. rural India, Kaash is a pilot project term, the PDA will not only be a useful tool DakNet is a hybrid of physical and conducted in collaboration with the All- for collecting and storing health data, but digital wireless transport. Using long- India Institute of Medical Sciences. It also for helping public health officials see distance wireless links would be more introduces the use of handheld PDAs into trends, leading to improved health care for expensive to maintain and using physical the public health system, providing them the Indian population as a whole. transportation alone would be too labour to some of the approximately 350,000 intensive. The short-distance wireless link auxiliary nurses and midwives (ANMs) now For more information, contact: also has the advantage of being able to run working throughout India. Prof. Alex (Sandy) Pentland, Founding Director, Media Lab Asia on batteries. DakNet is scalable and, most Kaash’s goal is to make the ANMs more E-mail: [email protected] importantly, sustainable. efficient and to allow them to provide better
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 65 From the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to the World Summit on the Information Society
UNCTAD and e-commerce strategies for development
he main initiative undertaken by national e-commerce national strategies. UNCTAD in 2002 with regard to the Particular attention was paid to the issue of The Trade Point Programme activities of the Task Force developing a participatory approach to T The Trade Point Programme was created by concerns the organisation of a series of national e-commerce strategy making, as UNCTAD in 1992, as part of its Trade Efficiency meetings, held at both the expert and the well as to regional and global initiatives in Initiative. Its objectives are to increase the policy-making levels, on the issue of e- support of developing countries interested participation of small and medium-sized commerce strategies for development. The in putting in place their own national e- enterprises (SMEs), in particular those located in purpose of these events was, firstly, to commerce strategies. The participation of developing countries, in international trade; raise awareness about the key role of e- representatives of both the G-8’s DOT Force reduce transaction costs; and provide them with commerce in ICT-enabled strategies to fight and of the UN ICT Task Force was access to the latest information technologies. poverty and social exclusion. Secondly, the particularly relevant in this regard. In 2000, UNCTAD launched the events aimed to identify policy areas and The work of the experts and policy- establishment of the World Trade Point specific measures (national and makers participating in the events organised Federation (WTPF), which has taken over the international) that can be conducive to the by UNCTAD was supported by an analysis management of the programme. Through a creation of an enabling environment for e- undertaken by the UNCTAD secretariat of network of 122 trade information and commerce in developing countries. The the experience available so far of national e- facilitation centres, known as Trade Points, the third purpose of the events was to support commerce strategies. The issues paper that WTPF assists SMEs in 80 countries worldwide national capacity building in e-strategy summarises the findings of this work, as to trade internationally through the use of making, and lastly, the events aimed to well as a number of presentations by the electronic commerce technologies. exchange information about national and participating experts, is available online at The Federation’s website (www.wtpfed.org) regional experiences and to provide UNCTAD’s e-commerce website. offers well-known services, for example the opportunities for networking among e- Two regional level events have been Electronic Trading Opportunities system, commerce experts of developing countries. held in 2002 and another two are scheduled including its Electronic Investment The Expert Meeting on E-commerce for 2003. The 2002 events were the High- Opportunities and a world company directory. Strategies for Development (Geneva, 10-12 level Regional Workshop on E-commerce These services are offered by the Federation July) brought together experts from 59 and ICT for Central America and the and its Trade Points, or through strategic countries and 19 international organisations Caribbean (Curaçao, 25-27 June) and the partnerships with international organisations and NGOs, including representatives of the High-level Regional Meeting on E- and the civil society. UN ICT Task Force. The experts discussed commerce Strategies for Development, in WTPF is an ideal physical and virtual the links and interactions between e- cooperation with UN/ESCAP (Bangkok, 20- platform that is complementary to the work commerce strategies and other aspects of 22 November). Both events also provided undertaken by intergovernmental organisations national development strategies. the opportunity for informal meetings among dealing with e-commerce, trade and Specific policy areas that were members of the respective regional development. It has a direct access to the local addressed included human resources networks of the UN ICT Task Force. business communities and works closely with, development, gender aspects of e- The conclusions of both meetings among others UNCTAD, ITC, UN/ECE, the World commerce, access and infrastructure and concerning the priority objectives for the Bank and WTO, as well as leading ICT firms in the legal and regulatory aspects of e- promotion of e-commerce in these countries the international market through partnerships. commerce strategies. Experts from all of the and the instruments to be used to attain developing regions presented a number of them are available online. Also available
66 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS “Experts from all of the developing regions presented a number of national e-commerce national strategies ” 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
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 67 From the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to the World Summit on the Information Society
The Information Society in Europe and North America
003 is the year of the Geneva session of the in their various forms – are recognised as important WSIS. Work at the UNECE has focused, means of fostering public information, societal 2therefore, on the follow-up to the Bucharest development and social cohesion. Pan-European Regional Conference, held in November 2002, and on preparations for the Principle 2. Promoting universal access at December Summit. The Bucharest Conference has affordable cost provided substantive inputs to the WSIS preparatory An adequately developed infrastructure is the process. The UNECE played a key role in the precondition for secure, reliable and affordable access to preparation for Bucharest and will continue information by all stakeholders, and for the upgrading of supporting the preparation for the WSIS in Geneva relevant services. Improving connectivity is of special and Tunis, both in terms of intergovernmental importance in this respect, and should be undertaken by processes and substantive contributions. the public and private sectors, acting in partnership. Community-led development is a critical element in the The Bucharest declaration strategy for achieving universal access to information The Member States of the United Nations Economic and knowledge. Community access centres and public Commission for Europe met in Bucharest at the Pan- services (such as post offices, libraries, schools) can European Conference on the Information Society (7-9 provide an effective means for promoting universal November 2002) and agreed on the following set of access, in particular in remote areas, as an important principles and priorities: factor of their development. Moreover, in order to ensure greater affordability, policy action should aim at setting Principle 1. Securing access to information and up an appropriate open and competitive environment knowledge Individuals and organisations should benefit from Principle 3. Promoting linguistic diversity and access to information, knowledge and ideas. Notably, cultural identity information in the public domain should be easily The information society is founded on respect for, accessible. Information is the basis of a well-functioning and enjoyment of, cultural expression. New ICTs and transparent decision-making process and a should stimulate cultural diversity and plurilinguism prerequisite for any democracy. Knowledge is the key and enhance the capacity of governments to develop agent for transforming both our global society and local active policies to that end. Access and contribution to communities. Public policy should broaden knowledge and information broaden the contents of opportunities in providing information for all, including the public domain and foster mutual understanding disabled, inter alia by creating content, and thereby and respect for diversity redressing inequalities. ICTs have the potential not only to strengthen the Principle 4. Developing human capacity through effectiveness of public service delivery, but also to education, training and skills involve individuals in shaping government policies. It is important for governments to develop Moreover, communications technology is not an end comprehensive and forward-looking education in itself, but a means of supplying quality content in strategies. People should be enabled to acquire the the information society. In this regard, mass media – necessary skills in order to actively participate in and
68 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS To realise fully the benefits of ICTs, networks “and information systems should be sufficiently robust to prevent, detect and respond appropriately to security incidents
international stability and security and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure within States, to Did you know that…? ” the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields, as well as in relation to the functioning of their Estonia’s internet host penetration is the highest amongst economies. It is also necessary to prevent the use of Baltic, Central and Eastern European Countries. information resources or technologies for criminal or 90 percent of children between the ages of 5-17 now use terrorist purposes. computers in the United States, and the rate of growth of internet In order to build confidence and security in the use use is currently two million new internet users per month. of ICTs, governments should promote awareness in Information technology is a formidable tool to achieve their societies of cyber security risks and seek to sustainable development as it produces huge environmental strengthen international cooperation, including the benefits through use of video conferencing and e-mail. private sector. However, experts estimate that in Canada alone, 351 million computers will become obsolete by 2044. Principle 7. Addressing global issues International policy dialogue on the Information Intelligent transport systems promise safer roads and Society at global, regional and sub-regional levels lower emissions should promote the exchange of experience, the Only a third of the EU countries’ workforce has ever had identification and application of compatible norms and computer training for professional use. Half of this workforce standards, the transfer of know-how and the provision uses computers at their workplace. of technical assistance with a view to bridging The Hungarian Government has created a consortium of capacity gaps and setting up international cooperation public and private actors to help provide PCs and internet at a programmes, in particular in the field of creation of discounted rate to 1400 underprivileged families. The content. Sharing success stories and best practice programme began in September 2000 and is funded by experiences will also pave the way for new forms of Compaq, Matav and Postabank. international cooperation. Only 37 percent of small companies in September 2002 declared plans to buy either an office computer or a laptop Priority Theme. E-government: More efficient and within the next 12 months. accountable Spain plans to increase the present 5 percent rate of ICT tools will make policies more accountable and hotels using the internet, to 75 percent by 2058. 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.
For more information, contact: Romi Chopra, Assistant to the UNECE Information Society Team United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. E-mail: [email protected]
70 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS understand the information society and fully benefit from the possibilities it offers. Individuals should be engaged Global standards for the global information society in defining their own needs and in the development of programmes to meet those needs. UNECE, IEC, ISO, ITU-T side event at the Pan-European Preparatory Ministerial Conference These skills integrate ICT-related specific notions for the World Summit on the Information Society with broader knowledge, and are generally obtained How can international standards foster the global policy dialogue on the Information Society through primary, secondary and higher education, and the development of a harmonised and stable framework of technologies, best practices and on-the-job training, but also increasingly through agreements, recognised worldwide? This was the crux of the question tackled by Mr Ollie distance learning. Technological change will Smoot, ISO President elect, and Mr U. Hartmann, Director, Information/Communications, progressively require life-long learning and Siemens, at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Pan-European Regional continuous training by all. Public policy should take Conference in Bucharest on 8 November 2002. into account inequalities in access to quality The World Summit on the Information Society has set out, as its objective, to address the education and training, particularly in the case of broad range of questions concerning the information society and to draw up an action plan to vulnerable groups and underserved or remote areas. layout a roadmap to bridge the digital divide. Specific attention has to be paid to the training of The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for trainers. ICTs open completely new opportunities for Standardization (ISO), the International Telecommunication Union – Standardization Department e-learning. New forms of partnership between public (ITU-T), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), will work together to and private sectors are needed in this field. 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 Principle 5. Setting up an enabling environment, themselves through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to avoiding divergent and including legal, regulatory and policy frameworks competitive approaches, to eliminating duplication of efforts, to providing a clear roadmap for To maximise the economic and social benefits of the users and to ensuring coherence. information society, governments need to create a By highlighting the role that international standards can play to foster this international trustworthy, transparent, and non-discriminatory legal, policy dialogue on the Information Society, the four organisations hope to promote the regulatory and policy environment, capable of promoting development of an inclusive information society that provides access and participation for all, technological innovation and competition, thus favouring bypassing all borders, gender considerations and social distinctions. the necessary investments, mainly from the private International standards have an ever-greater place in helping to maximise the benefits of sector, in the deployment of infrastructures and information and communication technologies for developing countries. Standards simplify the development of new services. use of existing and new technologies; focus on interfaces and interoperability; reduce costs and The information society is, by nature, a global complexity; open markets and foster broader access to products and services; and favour the phenomenon and issues such as privacy protection, emergence of rules and agreements on best practices. 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 Public policy should take into use of ICTs To realise fully the benefits of ICTs, networks and “account inequalities in access information systems should be sufficiently robust to to quality education and prevent, detect and respond appropriately to security incidents. However, effective security of information training, particularly in the case systems is not merely a matter of government and law of vulnerable groups and enforcement practices, nor of technology. A global underserved or remote areas 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 ”
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 69 From the United Nations Information Technology Service to the World Summit on the Information Society
UNITeS: In partnership with universities
he United Nations Information Technology professors and researchers to undertake Service (UNITeS) is working to build a Global assignments in developing countries through T Network of Universities in support of UNITeS UNITeS related to thematic applications of ICT. and ICT4D (Information Communication Technologies • The generation and identification of volunteering for Development). The creation of this network opportunities by UN Volunteers Programme Officers provides expanded volunteer human resources and (in more than 70 countries and more than 140 knowledge resources for developing countries. UNDP Country Offices), as well as other partners in In December 2002, UNITeS received a Global the field, that could involve students, professors, Junior Challenge 2002 award for its University researchers and faculty from partnering Volunteer Network. In addition, item 10 of the UN ICT Universities, to be coordinated by UNITeS. Task Force action plan focuses on the need for • The creation of an online environment for delivery partnerships between leading training institutions and of the online training/learning packages for ICT universities and community-level ICT4D programmes, volunteers offered by the universities, in and cites UNITeS as a key avenue for involvement of coordination with UNITeS. The delivery of these university volunteers by such organisations. packages can take place within the Spanish The common thread among all UNITeS network of universities within Universitat Oberta de collaborating universities is that they are interested in Catalunya (UOC), one of the leading online taking action to narrow the digital divide. Collectively, universities and a collaborating institute with and using the UNITeS mechanism, they endeavour to UNITeS. allow the maximum possible number of qualified • The development and contribution of course volunteers – students, faculty and staff – to be material in ICT4D (Information Communication productive in serving ICT capacity-building needs Technologies for Development). expressed in developing countries, under a well- managed initiative. Students, faculty and staff at partnering University ICT volunteers, through UNITeS, have universities are also encouraged to engage in online already served in Botswana, Bosnia & Herzegovina, volunteering activities to support organisations Ecuador, Honduras, India, Jordan and Kosovo on a working in and for developing countries, as part of the variety of capacity-building ICT projects. Read more NetAid Online Volunteering service managed by UN about their activities on the UNITeS web site Volunteers. (http://www.unites.org/html/projects/completed.htm). University volunteers through UNITeS should: The partnership with universities through UNITeS involves: • Be engaged in the last year of undergraduate degree, or engaged in post graduate and/or PhD in • The partnering universities launching or having any field of study, or have completed such. already created credit-bearing service learning • Have strong ICT-related skills, particularly in courses for students involved in UNITeS ICT4D applying these skills to project management, initiatives. capacity building, health, education, agriculture, • The partnering universities creating or having community support, HIV/AIDS, or another area of already created a sabbatical programme for human development.
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 71 • 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 In December 2002, countries. “ UNITeS received a Global No university volunteer should apply directly to Junior Challenge 2002 UNITeS. To be a volunteer within the University framework, UNITeS must already partner with the award for its University University where the candidate is based. We Volunteer Network 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)
For more information, visit: http://www.unites.org/html/projects/Universities.htm
72 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS From UNESCO to the World Summit on the Information Society
UNESCO’s international initiative for community multimedia centres
NESCO’s international initiative for community multimedia centres (CMCs) promotes Ucommunity 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 At its most basic, the CMC offers the simplest education and health. portable radio station, a single computer for internet The current development paradigm, which has a browsing wherever possible, e-mail and basic office, framework of reference that is built on the concepts library and learning applications. At its most of sustainable, endogenous and human developed, the CMC is a major infrastructure, offering development, has been emphasising the importance a full range of multimedia facilities, functioning as a of community-driven development programmes. The distance learning, training and informal education community multimedia centre can be used as a centre, linking up to the local hospital for telemedicine vehicle for taking this process one step further, by applications, downloading and printing national enabling the members of a community to become newspapers for local circulation, and so forth. recognised actors in the process of developing A CMC gives radio listeners access to online knowledge. The metaphor of ‘giving the poor a information by the use of: voice’ becomes a concrete reality when the poor have a public voice quite literally, on-air and online. Radio browsing of the internet This participation in both medium and message, A programme in which the radio presenters gather pivotal to both individual and community information in response to listeners’ needs and empowerment, fills a link often missing in the queries from reliable sites on the internet, and put it development process. The combination of a on CD-ROMs or other digital resources. During the grassroots public platform with access to programme, the presenter visits these pages of information highways promotes the public debate information on the internet with a local expert (for and public accountability that are essential for example, a doctor for a health question). Together, strengthening democracy and good governance. they describe, explain and discuss the information
CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 73 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, The CMC programme select and assimilate information available in a limited “ number of languages on the internet. Moreover, being offers a global strategy a participatory radio programme, ‘Radio browsing of for addressing the digital the internet’ has taken into account the desires of rural communities to assimilate knowledge divide in the poorest collectively, as opposed to the prevailing modality of communities of the individual access to internet. developing world and
Community databases for development also among countries in These utilise the capacity of the community transition 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.
For more information, contact: Stella Hughes, UNESCO The Communication Development Division, Communication and Information Sector E-mail: [email protected]
74 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS From the United Nations fund for International partnership (UNFIP) to the World Summit on the Information Society
UNFIP: Facilitating the Millennium Development Goals
cting as a facilitator between the UN system and corporate and A 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 Part of a government-supported project to teach women non-traditional skills, a woman learns to operate a computer in a secretarial training programme in Nouakchott. International Development have been working together to train students for the 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 infant internet economy. This has been achieved mortality rates as high as 257/1000 live births, twice the national average. UNICEF cooperation includes programmes to reduce infant, child and maternal mortality, improve health and nutrition, and promote family food production, education by establishing the Cisco Networking and the advancement of women. 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 UNFIP has also served as a close partner to and has established 100 academies. In “ UNIFEM for the development of the Global 2002, 5500 students – 25 percent of which were female – had access to the Advisory Committee, which is comprised cutting-edge IT curriculum. mainly of African IT entrepreneurs who UNFIP also facilitated the Digital Bridge advise on strategic partnerships to bridge to Africa meeting that was organised with the UN ICT Task Force, Digital Partners, the gender digital divide Gruppo Cerfe and UNIFEM on 12 July 2002 at the United Nations. Over 100 participants attended including leading members of the ” CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS 75 African diaspora and representatives from technology corporations, foundations and non-profit organisations. The meeting explored ways in which the combined UNFIP has been instrumental in raising knowledge, experiences and resources of “awareness about the role of Wi-Fi as an the public and private sectors could be harnessed to effect positive and sustainable avenue for bridging the digital divide 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, African women through innovative uses of AfricShare was established as a resource information and communications ” and knowledge-sharing facility to match technologies. The partnerships build on innovative projects with mentors from the existing experiences and successful IT DDN-A network, and the Social Fund for ventures undertaken in Africa by African Africa was inaugurated to provide financial women from the diaspora. support for ICT entrepreneurial activities in The next meeting of the UNIFEM Global the region. Advisory Committee will include the ICT UNFIP is currently facilitating a similar Task Force, UNFIP and UNDP meeting for the Caribbean diaspora in order representatives. It will convene in Kampala, to contribute to the promotion of digital Uganda in March 2003 with the opportunities in the region. Led by the ICT representation of Ugandan government Task Force and UNDP, the meeting on officials and non-governmental ‘Bridging the Digital Divide for the organisations (NGOs). Caribbean’ will be held at the United In addition, UNFIP has been Nations on 24 January 2003. The meeting instrumental in raising awareness about the has been organised with the support of the role of Wi-Fi as an avenue for bridging the CARICOM Permanent Missions to the digital divide. UNFIP’s contribution has United Nations and the CARICOM included articles and speeches, developed Secretariat, and facilitated by the Caribbean in cooperation with the Office of the American Chamber of Commerce. Secretary-General, to provide a better UNFIP has also served as a close understanding and appreciation of how Wi- partner to UNIFEM for the development of Fi could be used to provide fast, and maybe the Global Advisory Committee, which is free, access to the internet. comprised mainly of African IT entrepreneurs who advise on strategic partnerships to bridge the gender digital For more information, visit: www.un.org/unfip divide. The programme seeks to empower
76 CHALLENGES AND PARTNERSHIPS Challenges and Partnerships
Secretariat of the UN ICT Task Force One UN Plaza 10017 New York, New York
www.unicttaskforce.org