Integrating Modern and Traditional ICTs for Community Development
[this is further to my e-mail of 30 Nov 2000]
Integrating Modern and Traditional ICTs for Community Development
December 18, 2000 - "Integrating Modern and Traditional Information
and Communication Technologies for Community Development", is the
theme of an International Seminar addressing the digital divide in
some of the world's poorest communities, that will be held from 22 to
27 January 2001 in Kothhmale, Sri Lanka. Due to the strong interest
shown world-wide in Radio Kotmale's use of Internet with community
broadcasting, its pioneering "radio-browsing" programmes and its
multimedia community database for development, this event is being
held within a development project environment, at a conference
facility near the village of Kotmale itself.
The event meeting is intended to be the first international pooling
of project experience in this an innovative area which many believe
offers the "missing link" in efforts to eradicate poverty: the
harnessing of new information and communication technologies together
with community media (especially radio) for community development and
empowerment.
The two-part meeting is organized as follows: will consist of two
parts:
- In a four-day workshop from 22-25 January, some 20 managers and
project co-ordinators from community radios and telecentres in Asia,
Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean will discuss case studies and
models, exchange experiences, views, strategies and techniques for
the successful integration of the full spectrum of communication and
information technologies at community level.
- At the two-day round-table meeting on 26-27 January, international
partners representing including national development agencies and ,
IGOs and international governmental and non-governmental
organizationsNGOs, will engage the project managers in discussions on
criteria for models of best practice, on partnership strategies and
programme development. From this process will be drawn a set of
project models and guidelines for ensuring full community
appropriation of NICTs, offering strategies for sustainability,
networking and technical support systems that development workers in
this field can draw on and apply in project development.
This meeting comes within the framework of the Global Knowledge
Partnership's Action Plan, for which UNESCO washas been asked to take
the "champion" role for Action Item 1.3. The GKP approach emphasises
coalitions for development and many GKP partners will be present in
Kothmale.
The Kothmale meeting is particularly timely, as the GKP is to
undertake the consultative process on the information and
communication issues under consideration by the G-8's Digital
Opportunities Taskforce (DOT.force). The meeting will contribute to
the global dialogue on 'bridging the digital divide', as emphasised
in the Okinawa Charter, through its efforts to:
"Actively facilitate discussions with developing countries,
international organizations and other stakeholders to promote
international co-operation with a view to fostering policy,
regulatory and network readiness; improving connectivity, increasing
access and lowering cost; building human capacity; and encouraging
participation in global e-commerce networks"
The meeting aims to encourage public authorities and the
international community to harness their efforts to bridge the
digital divide at community level through solidarity and cooperation
which supports:
- the development and use of the full range of ICTs appropriate for
grass-roots use, especially linking community radio and the Internet
- the production, translation and sharing of content and development-
oriented applications
- the implementation of pilot projects corresponding to different
cultural and development situations
- the inventorying, evaluation and exchange of experience at the
national and international levels
- appropriate national policies and environments to encourage
community action and cooperation, on the basis of successful models.
Due to the strong interest shown world-wide in Radio Kothhmale's use
of the Internet with community broadcasting, its pioneering "radio-
browsing" programmes and its multimedia community database for
development, the event is being held within a development project
environment, at a conference facility near the village of Kothhmale
itself.
On the occasion of the Seminar, UNESCO will launch its new programme
for Community Multimedia Centres, which combine community
broadcasting with ICTs.
The seminar is organized by UNESCO, the Ministry of Information and
the Media of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka
Broadcasting Corporation in association with the Kothmale Internet
Project of Kothmale Community Radio.
Related Links
- Kothmale: (Internet Radio in Sri Lanka)
[http://www.unesco.org/webworld/netaid/com/sri_lanka.html ]
- UNESCO Multipurpose Community Telecentres
[http://www.unesco.org/webworld/public_domain/mct.html ]
- Global Knowledge Partnership [http://www.globalknowledge.org/ ]
[source: http://www.unesco.org/webworld/news/001218_kothhmale.shtml ]
