[GKD] Digital Opportunity Channel Newsletter
TS ITS OWN 'GRAZING LAND' FOR OPEN SOURCE South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has launched an Open Source Centre as an attempt to stimulate the adoption of Open Source software technologies in Africa. The centre has adopted as its theme the concept of 'Meraka', a SeSotho term meaning common grazing land. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/70537/1138/557 * Analysis http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1134 * MAKING TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR THE POOR --- At the upcoming WSIS conference on technology and development, delegates should consider not just how to improve Internet access in the developing world, but how to overcome the other half of the "digital divide" - making the new technologies work in poorer, less literate societies, argues David Dickson. OneWorld's Open Knowledge Network is already doing just that. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/70900/1134/557 * Get Involved http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1112 * WRITE A VIDEO SCRIPT AND WIN A DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA! The UK Department for International Development, Gamos and Big World invite you to compete for a digital video camera, plus accessories, to enhance your information and communication for development. Develop a script for a short video that you will use the digital video camera to make and its project planning and send by email or post. Closing date: 30 October 2003 http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/70784/1112/557 TALK TO HER: DIALOGUE AMONG YOUNG WOMEN IN ICT -- From October 24 to November 21, 2003, young women from across the globe will connect in an electronic forum to discuss strategies for the integration of gender dimensions and empowerment of young women and girls at all levels of the ICT for development field. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/70783/1112/557 * Partner News http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/4678 * 'MAKING THE LINKS' OF DIVERSE VOICES IN CANADA'S HEARTLAND -- Making the Links is an independent, alternative radio from the heartland of Canada, now in its sixth year of broadcasting. Airing on community stations in Saskatoon and Regina, it features the voices of many communities fighting for social and economic change at home and globally. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/70901/4678/557 AMARC LAUNCHES RADIO NEWS AGENCY FOR AFRICA'S RURAL AREAS - The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) has set up a news agency on development issues. Simbani [1] Africa News Agency will make use of technical information from various organizations, editing it into radio format, thus making it accessible to a wide audience, including to people in the most remote rural areas. Read more in French http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/70570/4678/557 * Current Funding Opportunity http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/4889 * OSISA INVITES ICT4D PROPOSALS FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA - The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) has formally launched its new ICT Programme Guidelines and has invited organisations to engage with OSISA on developing effective proposals for ICT s and development in Southern Africa. OSISA will support programmes where ICT policy, technologies, networking, literacy and development awareness are not an end in themselves, but where the emphasis is on social action for change. Contact Ashraf Patel at [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> for more information. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/70905/4889/557 Digital Opportunity Channel http://www.digitalopportunity.org Promoting Digital Opportunities for All Editor: Kanti Kumar Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can manage your email digest subscriptions with Digital Opportunity Channel and OneWorld by visiting: http://www.digitalopportunity.org/bulkmail/subscriptionlist/ You will need to log in with your nickname and password, or register for (free) OneWorld/Digital Opportunity Channel membership. ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PRO
[GKD] Digital Opportunity Channel Newsletter
- Microsoft will support the Angolan government in formulating its information technology strategy and assist with projects worth US$ 10 million. It will work with the government to set up partnership with Angolan firms dealing in computing and select five to officially represent the country at the World Summit on the Information Society. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69623/1138/493 U.S. GOVT ANNOUNCES TOP GRANT AWARDS The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced the award of almost $14 million in Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) grants to 28 nonprofit organizations. The grants demonstrate how ICTs can address public concerns over areas such as economic development, housing, public safety, health and e-government. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69539/1138/493 * Analysis http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1134 * AN OPEN LETTER TO FELLOWS OF TWAS -- Most scientists in the developing world do not get all the information they need. Subbiah Arunachalam of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, in this open letter to fellows of the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), stresses the need to support institutional self-archiving and open access for better access and visibility of such information. TWAS is meeting soon in Beijing. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69744/1134/493 * Get Involved http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1112 * AIDS DAY COMPETITION FOR YOUNG RADIO, TV PROFESSIONALS -- If you're aged between 18 and 34 and fancy yourself as a budding radio or TV director, now's the time to get creative. MTV and OneWorld are running a global competition in the run up to World AIDS Day, on 1 December 2003, to enable young people to produce and submit original audio or video public service announcements that convey the messages of MTV's award winning HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, Staying Alive. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69641/1112/493 COMPETITION FOR ETRANSPARENCY CASE STUDIES -- The eGovernment for Development Information Exchange is seeking short case studies involving use of ICTs to improve public sector transparency in developing/transitional economies. All case studies accepted for publication will receive a £150 payment. The best three cases will attract a total £300 payment. You can submit case studies using the online form or by email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Last date for submissions: 10 October 2003. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69640/1112/493 * Partner News http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/4678 * BELLANET COMES OUT WITH NEW ANNUAL REPORT - Bellanet has published its Annual Report for April 2002-March 2003. Included in this report (910kb, PDF) are the highlights of important initiatives such as: the new strategic programme directions, results of the external evaluation, present initiatives and a snap shot of Bellanet's financial situation. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69739/4678/493 IEARN SIERRA LEONE, TAKINGITGLOBAL ORGANISE WSIS AWARENESS ACTIVITIES -- Interactive online and offline discussions and phone-in programmes were held recently in Sierra Leone to increase the level of awareness about the World Summit on the Information Society. Organised by the youth groups of the TakingITGlobal Sierra Leone Network, they received an overwhelming response and brought ICT and young people in the mainstream of the nation's public discussion and opinion. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69064/4678/493 Digital Opportunity Channel http://www.digitalopportunity.org Promoting Digital Opportunities for All Editor: Kanti Kumar Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can manage your email digest subscriptions with Digital Opportunity Channel and OneWorld by visiting: http://www.digitalopportunity.org/bulkmail/subscriptionlist/ You will need to log in with your nickname and password, or register for (free) OneWorld/Digital Opportunity Channel membership. ***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/>
[GKD] Digital Opportunity Channel Newsletter
equity in black hands in South Africa to comply with empowerment criteria. A split in opinion quickly emerged at a workshop, where members of the ICT sector hoped to draw up a charter setting out clear black empowerment targets. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/68301/1138/433 SCIENTISTS TAP GLOBAL COMPUTER POWER TO PROBE CLIMATE CHANGE British scientists have launched a new program, climateprediction.net, that will draw on the input of thousands of personal computer users around the world to track climate change and provide comprehensive forecasts. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/68300/1138/433 * Success Stories http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1136 * SOUTH AFRICA: TAKING TECHNOLOGY TO RURAL LIMPOPO Until a year ago, some villagers in deep rural Limpopo had never seen a computer. Now their fingers fly across the keyboard. They are the members of the Mogalakwena Hewlett Packard i-community where villagers are being exposed to technology in a project initiated at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) a year ago. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/68387/1136/433 * Get Involved http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1112 * JOIN OUR NEW FORUM ON GENDER & ICT ISSUES - Are women increasingly getting even access to information technologies and services? Is unequal power relations in our societies contribute to differential access for men and women in information society? How can the situation be improved through ICT? These are some of the issues that our new Gender & ICT forum aims to address. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/68410/1112/433 * Partner News http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/4678 * MAHITI BUILDING ONLINE DONATION CHANNEL FOR INDIAN COMMUNITIES -- Mahiti from India provides simple and affordable information and communication technology services to the civil sector. It specialises in multi-platform, multi-lingual Web, intranet, multimedia and kiosk applications. Mahiti is building an online donation channel on a portal called ICICI Communities, in collaboration with Give Foundation and Murray Culshaw Advisory Services. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/68759/4678/433 NEW VERSION OF KABISSA'S 'TIME TO GET ONLINE' TOOLKIT - Kabissa has come out with an updated version of its highly successful 'Time to Get Online' self-learning materials for African civil society organisations. The materials help civil society activists and organisers to get online, learn the essential steps to success on the Internet and to integrate the Internet into their work. The toolkit is available online for free download and in print and CD-ROM version at a nominal cost. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/67590/4678/433 Digital Opportunity Channel http://www.digitalopportunity.org Promoting Digital Opportunities for All Editor: Kanti Kumar Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can manage your email digest subscriptions with Digital Opportunity Channel and OneWorld by visiting: http://www.digitalopportunity.org/bulkmail/subscriptionlist/ You will need to log in with your nickname and password, or register for (free) OneWorld/Digital Opportunity Channel membership. ***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/>
[GKD] Information Society Forum Discussion Summary NowAvailable
Dear Friends, The summaries of discussions on the first topic of Knowledge Societies in our online discussion forum 'Information Society: Voices from the South' are available now on the Web. The discussions in this forum, being run by Digital Opportunity Channel in partnership with Bytes for All, began May 15, 2003 under the theme of 'Information Society: What does it mean for the South?' This discussion, which continued for over a month, was then split into three sub-topics: * Should ICT be always associated with Information Society? * Information society for grassroots development: Who takes the most important role (of the information intermediaries)? * Indigenous knowledge and information for local needs: How to collect, process and deliver that? You can read the summary of the discussions over the main theme at <http://www.digitalopportunity.org/fulltext/IS_summary1_knowledgesociety.ht m> You can find links to the summaries of the sub-topics from therein. To read recent messages to the forum, visit <http://www.dgroups.org/groups/IS/index.cfm?op=main&cat_id=2777> To join the forum, sign up at: <http://www.digitalopportunity.org/discussion/signup/> More information about the discussion forum is available at <http://www.digitalopportunity.org/discussion/wsis/> Kanti Kumar Editor, Digital Opportunity Channel www.digitalopportunity.org OneWorld South Asia New Delhi, India ***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/>
[GKD] Last Chance to Vote in Digital Opp. Channel Poll
Dear All, As you know, Digital Opportunity Channel is running an online opinion poll on who should be the intermediaries for initiating ICT-enabled development at the grassroots level. This poll is based on recent discussions on the issue in our discussion forum: 'Information Society: Voices from the South', and we will include the poll results in our reports. If you have not already cast your vote in the poll, you can still do so until 15 June 2003, when it will close. You can vote even if you are not a member of the discussion forum. So, give us your opinion (anonymous) at <http://www.digitalopportunity.org/discussion/wsis/>. It takes just one click to cast your vote! Sincere thanks to those who have already voted! Kanti Kumar Editor, Digital Opportunity Channel www.digitalopportunity.org OneWorld South Asia New Delhi, India ***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/>
[GKD] Vacancy at OneWorld South Asia
Dear Friends, Please circulate the following vacancy announcement among your colleagues and friends. This post is open to South Asian nationals. We are looking for an entrepreneurial Centre Director to provide leadership and direction to the OneWorld South Asia team based in Delhi. OneWorld is a dynamic, non-profit network using the Internet to promote human rights and sustainable development.Our award-winning initiatives have consistently broken fresh ground in showing how Civil Society can profit from new technology. The OneWorld South Asia team of 10 has already established itself as front-runners in South Asia in the use of ICTs for development, through a range of targeted activities: Partnership networking among 200+ regional partners. Syndicating news stories from South Asia to Yahoo, the web¥s biggest news site, alongside Reuters and AP. Highlighting news and features from partners on the regional portal www.oneworld.net/southasia. Running training sessions and delivering technical services to partners. Publishing specialist global portals on Education (www.learningchannel.org) and ICTs (www.digitalopportunity.org). Other new initiatives such as the Open Knowledge Network (see www.openknowledge.net) are in the pipeline. The current budget of R1.5 crore is expected to grow substantially. OneWorld South Asia is currently registered as a representative office of OneWorld International, but the new Centre Director will lead the office to become an autonomous Centre within the OneWorld Network. The post will initially report to the OneWorld International Southern Programmes Manager, and later to a representative Regional Board. We are looking for someone who is both an idealist and a realist: idealist enough to project a vision of how the new information tools can be used for social goals, and realist enough to know that nothing gets achieved without tight management, effective planning, and a keen eye on the bottom line. Responsibilities: 1. Management To provide overall leadership to the OneWorld South Asia (OWSA) team. To line-manage senior OWSA staff. To ensure that OWSA meets its statutory legal and fiscal obligations. To ensure sound budget management. 2. Representational To represent OWSA within the OneWorld network. To build the reputation of OWSA with its partners, the regional media and other stakeholders. To develop relations with donors, corporates, Trusts and other potential income-sources for OWSA. 3. Centre Business Development To develop a diversified income-generating strategy including both grants and technical services delivered to partners. To incorporate this income-generating strategy in a Centre business plan to be put to the OneWorld International trustees as the basis for Centre autonomy. To develop and manage balanced annual budgets for OWSA. 4. Technical To coordinate the development of the Open Knowledge Syndication Centre under or within OWSA. To coordinate the development of ICT services to be provided to partners, including on a paying basis. Essential Skills and Experience Proven track record of leadership achievement - not necessarily within NGOs. Management of technical services such as programming, web development and hosting. Financial Management and budgetary control. Fund-raising. Line management of staff in inter-disciplinary teams. Strategic thinker, professional, entrepreneurial, committed to the use of ICTs for social purposes. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Passport-holder of a South Asian country willing to work in Delhi, with regular international travel. Commitment to OneWorld's values. Desirable Skills and Experience Knowledge of Web based ICT software applications. Experience of international working. Experience in the civil society sector. Experience of working within networks. Notes: This is a re-advertisement. Previous applicants need not re-apply. This is a paid position. Salary / Benefits : : Equivalent to c. 15,000 pounds sterling per year Type of work : Contract Location : New Delhi, India Closing Date : 5 Mar 2003 To apply : Please send for an application form to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In exceptional cases, a CV and covering letter will also be considered. Closing date for return of application forms: 5 March 2003. Interviews will take place in Delhi in the week beginning 24 March 2003. Agreed travel costs will be reimbursed. Short-listed candidates will be contacted no later than 14 March. Applicants who have not been contacted by this date should assume that their applications have not been successful. OneWorld is committed to equal opportunities. For more information about OneWorld see: http://www.oneworld.net/about For more information see : http://www.oneworld.net/southasia Kanti Kumar Editor, Digital Opportunity Channel www.digitalopportunity.org OneWorld South Asia New Delhi, India Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-P
[GKD] Digital Opportunity Channel Weekly Digest
Dear GKD Members, I thought you may be interested to see a sample of the weekly email digest of Digital Opportunity Channel. We hope this product is a useful way for all those interested in ICT for development issues to keep informed on latest news, analysis, success stories, campaigns and upcoming events. If you would like to subscribe, details of how to do so are near the foot of this message or you can do so on the web at . Apologies to any current subscribers and for any other cross-postings. Kanti Kumar Editor, Digital Opportunity Channel www.digitalopportunity.org OneWorld South Asia tel: +91-11-6498791 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] What's new on DigitalOpportunity.org <http://www.digitalopportunity.org> 10-Jul-02 News http://www.digitalopportunity.org/news/ Broadcasters create forum to push children's radio http://www.worldradioforum.org/ Broadcasters from all over the world have come together to create the World Radio Forum to strengthen the links between all sectors for the support and promotion of radio produced for, with and by children and youth. The forum has just launched its Website. Have a look at what they are about. Africa gets supercomputer for HIV, genome research http://allafrica.com/stories/200207090009.html The first supercomputer in Africa devoted specifically to research is now operational. The supercomputer will be used for research tasks that include greater understanding of HIV and better analysis of human genome. Internet touches lives of Iranian villagers http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/news/index.cfm?key=686 Shahkooh, a village 240 miles from Tehran, has built a computer lab to help all interested villagers become computer literate. Classes are free and the village has its own Farsi-language Website, Shakooh.com. <http://www.shakooh.com> Two dozen villagers have become entrepreneurs and the Website is used to market local crafts. India's digital library stokes controversy http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=10756 India's new Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, meant to preserve and protect the country's biodiversity and traditional knowledge, has come in for criticism. Activists fear it may provide biopirates the fodder they are looking for. R&D grants available for Asia-Pacific ICT proposals http://www.idrc.ca/reports/read_news.cfm?article_num=1072 The ICTs for Research and Development Grants programme is now accepting proposals. The programme aims to promote an R&D environment for Internet-based applications, systems, and policy research in the Asia-Pacific region. The last date for submitting proposals is 15 July 2002. Techniques, policies needed to preserve digital knowledge http://allafrica.com/stories/200206120600.html An enormous trove of digital information covering all areas of human endeavour could be lost if specific techniques and policies are not developed to conserve it, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has warned. Indian rural markets being connected for real time prices http://www.propoor.org/news/xar0617.asp#3 India's efforts to network more than 7,000 agricultural markets have begun with 72 markets in the southern state of Karnataka being networked. The network will provide farmers real time prices and other farming information. * Analysis http://www.digitalopportunity.org/features/analysis/ * ICTs for indigenous women in Bolivia <http://www.eldis.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd /e xec/dbtwpcgi.exe&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eldis.org%2Fsearch.htm&TN=a1&SN=AUTO235 72&SE=1280&RN=3&MR=20&RF=s1&DF=f1&RL=0&DL=0&NP=3&ID=&MF=eldismsg.ini&MQ=&TI= 0> The participatory action research of OMAK, an indigenous women's organisation in Bolivia, shows that there is a need for developing a methodology that allows women to access information themselves. Success Stories http://www.digitalopportunity.org/features/success_stories/ Zambia uses ICT-based development to avoid isolation http://www.iconnect-online.org/base/ic_show_news?sc=220&id=1877 In order to avoid isolation in the developing knowledge society, Zambia has initiated various development activities based on effective use of ICTs. A national network and think-tank of NGOs is helping the government to formulate a common vision for ICT-supported development. ** Campaigns http://www.digitalopportunity.org/get_involved/campaigns/ ** A mailing list devoted to gender aspects of ICTs
[GKD] Launch of Digital Opportunity Channel
New Digital Opportunity Web Initiative To Elevate Voices >From Developing Nations 17 May 2002, New Delhi: Digital Opportunity Channel , a Web portal and online community focused on information and communications technologies for global sustainable development, launched here today on UN World Telecommunications Day. Digital Opportunity Channel is a joint initiative of OneWorld , the online sustainable development and human rights network, and the Benton Foundation , the Washington-based non-profit organization that works to realize the social benefits made possible by the public interest use of information and communications technology (ICT). The visiting Director of OneWorld International Foundation, Anuradha Vittachi, spoke about the merits of the new channel and how it will help narrow the divide between developed and developing communities. ìThe point is that none of us has to rely just on our own isolated efforts any more. To amplify our power, there is the blendability of the new digital technologies, the multiplying power of networks, the interdependability of human beings - and, most important of all, the boundless power of goodwill.î Coordinated from India, Digital Opportunity Channel has a special emphasis on developing countries. "Developing countries have largely been marginalized in the global dialogue on the benefits and negative impacts of digital technologies,î said Kanti Kumar, channel editor. ìOur portal aims to give organizations and community leaders in the South a platform for their voice to be heard, a place where they can work together with colleagues around the world striving to develop smart strategies for using ICT to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty." Digital Opportunity Channel builds on OneWorld's experience of seven years in ICT for development and presents content from OneWorld's worldwide partnership of over 1250 development, human rights and environment NGOs. All these organizations are now using the Internet and other ICT to share knowledge and take action on poverty and human rights or in support of programmes that aim to meet the basic needs of the most disadvantaged peoples in the world. In the current issue of Foreign Policy magazine, UN Secretary General Kofi A. Annan has recommended OneWorld.net as one of his top Web sites, reflecting his belief that "Information and communications technologies are enormously powerful tools for development. One of the most pressing challenges is to harness this extraordinary force, spread it throughout the world, and make its benefits accessible and meaningful for all humanity, in particular the poor." The channel also brings in the invaluable experience of the Benton Foundation's Digital Divide Network in building a community of practitioners, academics, policy leaders and people from ICT industries to help shape a shared responsibility in creating opportunity for all the world's people through appropriate use of emerging technologies. Benton Foundation's Andy Carvin, co-editor of the new portal, said: "Information about how the digital divide is being addressed in the U.S. and Europe is widely available. However, until now, there has not been a place to gain a global picture and explore the viewpoints, challenges and successes of grassroots communities in around the world. With this channel we aim to fill that gap." People without access to new information and communications technologies are increasingly excluded from education, healthcare, good governance and the ability to improve their own livelihood. The challenge is to ensure ICT no longer increases the gap between the rich and the poor but becomes an opportunity to help bring greater equality, understanding and solidarity. Digital Opportunity Channel seeks to help tackle this challenge. Available on the Web at www.digitalopportunity.org <http://www.digitalopportunity.org/>, the channel will feature news from around the globe, campaign actions, success stories, opinion pieces by leading commentators, in-depth analysis and research, events listings, a beginner's guide to digital divide issues, funding information, email digests and a dedicated search facility on ICT for development. OneWorld is funded for Digital Opportunity Channel by the UK Government Department for International Development <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/> and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General for International Co-operation <http://www.minbuza.nl/english/>. The Benton Foundation's involvement in Digital Opportunity Channel is supported by the AOL Time Warner Foundation <http://www.aoltimewarnerfoundation.org/> and the Markle Foundation <http://www.markle.org/>. Kanti Kumar Editor, Digital Opportunity Channel OneWorld South Asia Third Floor 17 Panchsheel Commercial Centre Panchsheel Park New Delhi 110 017 Tel: +91-1
[GKD] Supporting Local Development Content
Dear Friends, Forwarding the following for those who're interested in and working on open content. They can share their experiences and ideas. Kanti Kumar -Original Message- From: Peter Ballantyne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 2:01 AM Subject: Supporting Local Development Content For several years now, there has been talk of the need to focus our 'development with ICTs' efforts on ways to encourage and support 'local content.' Thus, the report of the DOT Force points to local content development and dissemination as critical to the local appropriation of ICTs for development purposes. But it gives little insight into exactly what content, for what purposes, and with what expected development impacts. Nor does it indicate how exactly the processes of local content creation, adaptation, and sharing can best be supported. As an input to the work of the Digital Opportunities Taskforce (DOT Force), IICD is working with DFID, OneWorld and other partners to identify and document how local organisations and communities in developing countries are using ICTs to create, adapt, and exchange local content. We are looking for examples and cases as well as insights into critical success and support factors. We will provide a short report to DFID on these issues by the end of March 2002. Brief information about the project is available on the web at: <http://www.iconnect-online.org/base/show_template_hl?template=1&articl=e_id v6&subcat7&> But we need your help. By: * Sharing your experiences and ideas regarding what is meant by 'local content' and how it can be propagated. * Requesting and completing a form describing how you are generating, adapting, or exchanging a particular type of local content. Case study forms can be requested from me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Forwarding this message to any local contacts or partners who are doing interesting things with local content. * Suggesting who we can contact to solicit further case experiences and lessons. If there is sufficient demand, we will bring the various discussants of these issues together in an online workspace to avoid inconveniencing people not directly interested in this issue. Looking forward to hearing from you in the coming month! Peter Ballantyne Team Leader, Knowledge Sharing International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) PO Box 11586 * 2502 AN The Hague * The Netherlands phone: 31 (0)70 311 7311 * email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * web: www.iicd.org www.iconnect-online.org ***GKD is an initiative of the Global Knowledge Partnership*** 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.globalknowledge.org>
