Information and communication technology (ICT) has been the driving force behind rapid economic growth around the world, and is "transforming social and economic activity faster than the steam engine, railroads, and electricity did in earlier times," says the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
In March 2003, USAID joined the departments of Commerce and State, the Peace Corps, the USA Freedom Corps and technology industry leaders in launching the Digital Freedom Initiative (DFI), a private-public partnership that promotes economic growth by transferring the benefits of information technology to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the developing world.
Under DFI, volunteers from the private sector and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) are placed with local businesses and entrepreneurs to share business knowledge and technology expertise, and help them develop the ICT skills and products -- such as Web sites -- needed to compete better in both the regional and global market place.
DFI launched its first projects in Senegal, and now also supports projects and training in Peru, Indonesia and Jordan.
In addition to the U.S. government agencies already mentioned, the Small Business Administration and others also play a role. Private sector companies provide vision, strategy and business expertise to all phases of the DFI.
Countries participating in DFI "provide a positive example for other countries, showing a path forward with tangible benefits," he added.
The program has helped local businesses, universities, NGOs, medical centers and telecommunications centers increase productivity through information technology.
At Senegal's Université du Sahel in Dakar, President El Hadji I. Sall said the funding through the DFI has helped him reach his dreams of a world class Web site with international reach.
In Jordan a U.S. nonprofit organization, One Global Economy, supported by the Intel Corporation, is working with the Jordanian Ministry of Information and Communications Technology to develop a model reference community or "e-village."
The project will serve two Jordanian villages -- Libb and Mleih -- characterized by high levels of poverty and unemployment despite high education rates among residents.
DFI also is helping to build an Arabic Web portal in Jordan to assist local businesses in finding information on business development opportunities. The portal also will provide access to educational and medical resources.
In early November, the United States and Peru signed an agreement to enhance the flexibility of the program in Peru, allowing U.S. companies, NGOs and academic institutions to take a more active role in assisting entrepreneurs and business in partner countries.
On November 16, the U.N.-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will convene in Tunis, Tunisia, to discuss ways to bring the benefits of technology to the developing world and the future of Internet governance.
A plan of action to pursue goals of expanding ICT access came out of the first round of the summit held in Geneva in 2003. In advance of the WSIS second round in Tunis, talks and media attention have focused on Internet governance. The United States has made repeated calls to the United Nations and the international community to remain focused on the important goal of expanding ICT access to the developing world during the second round of the summit.
USAID currently is involved in helping expand ICT access and capabilities in more than 80 nations and devotes about $200 million to these goals each year, supporting about 350 ICT development activities around the world.
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