As the Software Freedom Day is celebrated on 10 September, UNESCO continues its efforts to develop free tools for processing information and to provide access to resources on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) through its portal.
In the digital age, software is essential for knowledge management and sharing. UNESCO has accumulated significant experience in facilitating the development of some key software tools for processing information. These software tools are distributed free-of-charge and the objective is to empower the users by giving them access to some key technology for development and knowledge sharing, that most of them otherwise could not afford.
The development model is based upon international cooperation and the software tools are continuously enriched, modified and updated with the co-operation of a community of experts from different countries. The most popular UNESCO software tools are CDS/ISIS, Greenstone and IDAMS.
In 2001, UNESCO launched its FOSS Portal as a gateway to resources related to Free Software and Open Source Technology movement. With this portal, UNESCO provides a single interactive access point to pertinent information for users who wish to acquire an understanding of the Free Software movement, to learn why it is important and to apply the concept.
Software Freedom Day is a global, grassroots effort to educate the public about the virtues and availability of Free and Open Source Software. This year, over 200 teams have been registered to celebrate it at schools, universities, parks, and other public places.
Source:UNESCO
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