One of the risks that may worry people about the DOT Force is that of
adding another layer of bureaucracy between funds and recipients. But
the inevitable imperfections can be handled responsibly. There was
probably a similar worry with the Global Development Gateway, but the
funds will benefit worthy projects in many countries to a great degree
nonetheless. There should not be one umbrella organization for all
well-meaning initiatives in a certain field, because largeness works
against close communication, whereas the most can be accomplished by
many tightly-knit teams working cooperatively. Although the GDG adds
another layer of Websites, it should empower new players to enter the
network, and similarly with the Dot Force. What could be done to
minimize redundancy is for the G8 to fund existing teams that are
already visionary and competent, meaning either funding sources like the
World Bank's infoDev or teams lacking only funds, such as the Global
University System and Global Service Trust Fund conceived by Dr. Takeshi
Utsumi: <http://www.friends-partners.org/utsumi/>
At present, many worthy projects end up as competitors for insufficient
grant funds. The decision-makers are forced to look for reasons not to
fund proposals, and they may say, well, this group was funded before or
elsewhere, which works against both excellence and sustainability.
It seems unrealistic to expect only the G8 and not other governments to
be involved, so further risks are also inevitable. For all the G8
governments to see something in it for their constituents is also
necessary to secure their cooperation. On the other hand, the Dot Force
might try to fund groups in developing countries directly, or through
their collaborating organizations in the G8 countries.
But the Dot Force itself is still at the idea stage and needs to be sold
to world governments, as mutually beneficial and as an effective
approach -- with a consensus -- in order to fulfil its promise. As Dr.
Takeshi Utsumi has said, like the Genome project, first the Japanese
government puts in money, other G8 governments match it, and then it can
really change the world. Under the current financial uncertainties, the
real risk is that the funding may not snowball, and it may be more
necessary to appeal to the self-interest of the governments involved.
Here in Japan, PM Mori made the pledge of $15 billion over time, but
there is no policy consensus about the priority of overcoming the
digital divide in Asia or elsewhere. The Dot Force role of Japan will
have to be renegotiated with a new administration soon. Note that
Japanese is the only official language here, and one needs a formal
position to get in the door. If overall ODA cannot grow, would we argue
that these IT projects are still the priority? Would we accept that most
of the funding would go to Japanese corporations providing
infrastructure abroad, or can the Dot Force lobby for more funding of
education and training by non-Japanese?
This was probably too succinct, but the general idea is that the Dot
Force is all in the future, with nothing guaranteed, so it needs to be
cultivated gently and very understandably to all concerned, perhaps
through existing channels. It needs to reach the ears of the Japanese
and other G8 governments with continual persuasion and monitoring, just
as one would do with other important appropriation legislation. While
not everyone will be satisfied with the compromises, the bills need to
pass, again and again.
Collegially,
Steve McCarty, Professor, Kagawa JC, Japan
President, World Association for Online Education (NPO):
[EMAIL PROTECTED] - http://waoe.org/president/index.html
Global University System (NGO) Asia-Pacific Framework:
http://www.kagawa-jc.ac.jp/~steve_mc/asia-pacific/
Online Publications (Asian Studies WWWVL 4-star site):
http://www.kagawa-jc.ac.jp/~steve_mc/epublist.html
In Japanese: http://www.kagawa-jc.ac.jp/~steve_mc/
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