Global ICTD Programmes

UNDP Global Programmes aim at providing support for developing countries to influence global trends and benefit from global knowledge on critical dimensions of sustainable human development in order to reduce national poverty and increase social inclusion. ICTD related Global Programmes focus in turn on proving additional support to address related emerging issues, building local capacity to assure sustainability in the long term, and foster increased South- South co-operation.

UNDP support to WSIS: This project will be providing support to enhance inclusiveness and strengthen the development focus in the World Summit, through a series of activities at the national and Summit levels. The activities undertaken include: Substantive contributions to the declaration, organisation of roundtables & publications at the Summit and prior to that in selected countries; Fellowships in support of the participation of selected developing country participants; Support to strengthening civil society participation and inputs to the Summit and at the national level in multi-stakeholder processes; and Building partnerships in support of implementation. The programme started operation in April.

National ICT for Development Strategies - Implementing the DOI Framework: This programme will assist developing countries in the design and implementation of national ICT for Development strategies. The programme will build on both the policy framework of the Digital Opportunity Initiative report and recent country experiences where UNDP has been involved (Mozambique, Azerbaijan, Djibouti, etc..). The programme will also support awareness raising and local capacity building on ICT as an enabler for development through regional workshops. A critical component of the programme is the capturing of country experiences on both design and implementation and, based on this, refinement on the existing policy framework supported by toolkits and UNDP practice and guidance notes to support further work in developing countries. The programme will start in July 2003.

Capacity Development Through Knowledge Sharing and Networking: This programme will assist developing countries in harnessing the potential of Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) to create and enhance national capacities to foster local research and development, and innovation, harness "digital opportunities" and address in this fashion local development goals. For this purpose, the programme will provide support to four regional resource centres and support similar activities such as the Asia-Pacific Open Source Network launched by APDIP as well as that of other development partners. The project also envisages the creation of a public-private partnership with the business and non-profit sectors to support the implementation of the centres, as well as awareness rising at the global and local levels through involvement in global fora such as WSIS. The programme will start in July 2003.

Support to Partnerships in ICTD: This programme will draw lessons from its experience with public-private partnerships in support fo ICTD programmes and initiatives, and create guidelines and best practices for countries on strategies to how attract private sector partners to support new and ongoing programme and projects. The programme will start in July 2003.

Sustainable Development Networking Programme, SDNP: Launched in 1992, SDNP was the first UNDP global programme to directly support ICT for development activities in developing countries. Focusing on connectivity and access, national capacity building, and loca content development, the programme supported activities in 45 countries. About twenty country programmes are still operating and most have became independent foundations or NGOs. An evaluation of the programme is currently underway and expected to be completed in July 2003.

Small Island Developing States Network, SIDSNet: Launched in 1998 with support of SDNP and the Alliance of Small island States (AOSIS) as a follow-up to the 1994 Barbados Programme of Action, SIDSNet's main goal is to use ICT to link 43 SIDS and support the implementation of sustainable development objectives. The programme moved to the UN Department of Economic Affairs (DESA) in 2000 and is currently running under the Water Resources Management and the Small Island Developing States branch of DESA.