civil society & ICT

31.10.2003 The UN Information Technology Service (UNITeS) is gathering and posting at its Website examples of how ICT volunteers are helping people and communities in developing countries. These stories are presented as they correspond to particular Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and their respective targets.

31.10.2003 Twenty-five participants from nine countries will participate in an ICT South-South exchange programme in Uganda in November. Organised jointly by Hivos, IDRC and IICD, it will enable them to visit various projects in Uganda to exchange experiences, obtain knowledge and develop new ideas.

30.10.2003 Joulukuussa pidettävän YK:n tietoyhteiskuntahuippukokouksen (WSIS) ympärillä käy jo etukäteen kova kuhina. Ammattiyhdistysliike kantaa huolta siitä, että it-yritysten työntekijöiden asema jää kokouksessa liian vähälle huomiolle.

30.10.2003 Bangladesh NGO - Bangladesh Friendship Education Society - provides a background perspective to the WSIS and the role of the civil society.

27.10.2003 Two hundred organisations and businesses from 80 countries will participate in the ICT for Development Platform to be held concurrently with the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva. Digital Opportunity Channel will also be present at the event, which will show how ICTs – from simple transistor radios to high-tech computer systems – can be used innovatively to reduce poverty and promote development.

23.10.2003 YK:n tietoyhteiskuntahuippukokouksen valmisteluja seurannut suomalaisten kansalaisjärjestöjen työryhmä pitää valitettavana sitä, että ihmisoikeudet yleisesti ja erityisesti sananvapaus ovat joutuneet osallistujamaiden kiistakapuloiksi. Työryhmä luovutti kannanottonsa YK-kokouksen valmisteluista vastaavalle ulkoasiainneuvos Asko Nummiselle keskiviikkona.

21.10.2003 Registrations for the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) have begun and applications for fellowships are available. The cut off point for grant applications is October 25th, so hurry.

21.10.2003 La Federació Setem ha redissenyat la pàgina web amb l'objectiu de fer-la més dinàmica i atractiva i oferir als internautes més continguts d'interès . La nova web és el portal d'entrada a les diferents oficines Setem de l'Estat espanyol, però en ella es recullen també les activitats conjuntes i els àmbits de treball comuns com campanyes, comerç just , educació i formació.

21.10.2003 La Federación Setem ha rediseñado su página web con el objetivo de hacerla más dinámica y atractiva y ofrecer a los internautas más contenidos de interés. La nueva web es el portal de entrada a las diferentes oficinas de Setem en el Estado español, pero en ella se recogen también las actividades conjuntas y los ámbitos de trabajo comunes como campañas, comercio justo, educación y formación.

16.10.2003

© APC

The Brazil-based Cyberela Network is helping develop gender-based content for radio transmissions on the internet. Another network is helping indigenous groups use the internet for communications and information gathering. Read about all 12 of the inspirational Latin American projects that are finalists for this year's Betinho prize.

16.10.2003 This facilitator guide and reference manual is to be used when training people who will in turn serve as trainers in ICT. It outlines the format, materials, objectives, time, sequence, and content of the training of trainers.

16.10.2003 APC has announced the 12 finalists for the Betinho Communications Prize 2003. Three of the projects will be awarded US$ 7,500 in prize in recognition of their outstanding people-centred technology initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean.

14.10.2003 The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) has published its latest annual report for 2002. Highlights include: APC in the run-up to the first World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS); the APC ICT policy monitors in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean; a new training course to help civil society organisations understand how ICT policy decisions affect their work; a free software content management system; and the Gender Evaluation Methodology (GEM) for ICT initiatives which was piloted in four continents.

13.10.2003 The DOT-COM Alliance and, InterAction and the Global Knowledge for Development List (GKD) are hosting a month-long discussion on the list, starting October 14, examining the practical approaches to bringing ICT connectivity to poor, rural and other un and under-served communities.

09.10.2003 This guide provides practical advice on how to set up, start, maintain or join an email list. Email has become commonly used; however, in parts of the world where there are fewer experienced users, this guidebook should be useful in the basic information it provides on how to use Internet-based technology.

07.10.2003 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.

06.10.2003 Civil society organisations (CSOs) are frustrated that a large number of their proposals have been ignored by state officials crafting the declaration for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in December 2003. CSOs are now deliberating on an alternative declaration of their own for delegates’ consideration at the summit.