Dear GKD Members, Please find below a copy of the media announcement on the launch of the East and Southern Africa Centre on International ICT Policy. Over and above generating awareness over the Centre's launch, the announcement is advertising the vacant posts within the Centre and is inviting stakeholders to step forward and enter discussions with the Centre on possible collaborations.
Looking forward to working with you on this initiative! Best regards, Leonie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leonie Vlachos senior policy associate http://www.bridges.org United States: P O Box 53099, Washington, DC 20009-9099 South Africa: P O Box 715, Cape Town, 8000 [t] : +27.(0)21.465.9313 (GMT +02) // [f] : +27.(0)21.465.5917 [m] : +27.(0)84.426.0629 // [e] : [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - News Announcement - East and Southern Africa Centre on International ICT Policy (ESA CIP) March 2004 International African-led consortium launches the East and Southern Africa Centre for International ICT policy in Kampala, Uganda A new Centre dedicated to increasing the capacity of East and Southern African stakeholders to participate in international information and communications technology (ICT) policy-making is being launched in Kampala, Uganda in April 2004. There is wide recognition of the role that ICT can play in poverty alleviation and socio-economic reform, and the need for both is pressing in Africa. The Centre is being supported during its first two years by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and is currently looking to recruit members of staff. A second Centre, serving West and Central Africa will be launched later this year. The Centre is part of the broader 'Catalysing Access to Information and Communications Technologies in Africa' (CATIA) programme which aims to enable poor people in Africa to gain the maximum benefit from the opportunities offered by technology and to act as a strong catalyst for reform. See, <http://www.catia.ws>. Currently, the international ICT policy-making arena is dominated by the developed world countries, despite the fact that some of the greatest growth in the use of ICT is in the developing world, notably in Africa. One example, is that Africa is paying a disproportionately high price for international telecommunications and therefore needs a louder, more informed voice in the various international fora where these and other issues that impact on African society at all levels are discussed. The Centre aims to redress the balance by helping to shape African thinking and increase coordination and participation between the countries in the region. The African Bridge Consortium has been tasked with establishing and managing the Centre prior to the appointment of Centre's Executive Director, and to supporting the Centre's work during the first two years. Bridges.org, Enablis, Makerere University Faculty of Law (MUKLAW), the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School form the African Bridge Consortium. Each member brings significant expertise in international and regional ICT policy and processes, as well as the appropriate ground-level experience to create a Centre that will deliver on its mission to increase Africa's voice. The Consortium members are committed to promoting the use of ICT for poverty reduction across Africa including by helping to remove the international, regional, and national policy obstacles that stand in the way. The Centre will be located in the new Institute of Computer Science building at Makerere University in Kampala. The African Bridge Consortium welcome applications for the positions of Executive Director and Policy Research Associate at the Centre, more details can be found at <http://www.bridges.org/about/getinvolved/> and at <http://www.catia.ws>. Partnerships have already been established with leading organisations and individuals in the region, and a call is being extended to invite additional potential partners that have not yet been identified to step forward and take part in this ICT capacity building initiative that will support African nations in the years and help them to address some of the most pressing challenges that they face. Ewan McPhie Policy Director, Bridges.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Telephone: +27 21 465-9313 Fax: +27 21 465-5917 ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
