Knowledge Societies Policy Library United Nations Information for All Programme Cultural Organization ii Knowledge Societies Policy Library STATUS: Version 1.0 DATE: 27 May 2016 PARTNERS • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Information for All Programme (UNESCO/IFAP) • United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) CONTRIBUTORS • Rehema BAGUMA • João Álvaro CARVALHO • Guillermina CLEDOU • Elsa ESTEVEZ • Susana FINQUELIEVICH • Tomasz JANOWSKI • Nuno Vasco LOPES • Jeremy MILLARD COORDINATION • Tomasz JANOWSKI, Head, UNU-EGOV,
[email protected] • Paul HECTOR, Programme Specialist, UNESCO,
[email protected] iii iv Knowledge Societies Policy Library Foreword I UNESCO, recognizing the transformative role played by information and knowledge across all spheres of human endeavor, has been promoting its vision of inclusive Knowledge Societies. Facilitated by information and communication technologies (ICTs), we see information and the sharing of knowledge, catalyzing changes across societal, economic and political landscapes. In this context, universal access to information and knowledge becomes crucial for social cohesion, sustainable economic development, intercultural dialogue and peace. Accordingly, UNESCO through its intergovernmental Information for All Programme (IFAP) and its Knowledge Societies Division, has continued to draw attention to the importance of the concept of knowledge societies and the need for related competencies and policies in today’s globalized