ICTD News for 01 March 2007

[ICTD Newsmaster <ictdnews@undp.org>]

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CONTENTS

DIGITAL DIVIDE
	UN entices business to invest in global technology development

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
	VIA Expands Cooperation with Geekcorps to Empower Remote Mali

E-GOVERNANCE/E-GOVERNMENT
	Is e-democracy now a reality?
	Over 27,000 Estonians cast vote online in world's first e-ballot

E-STRATEGIES/POLICY
	Rwanda's knowledge revolution




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DIGITAL DIVIDE
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---- UN entices business to invest in global technology development
The UN has arrived in Silicon Valley. In meetings held both yesterday and today, the UN's Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development (GAID) is bringing together diplomats and businesspeople in an attempt to solve major world problems through the increased use of information technology. GAID's goals are cetainly lofty?better broadband in Africa, the creation of a "Cyber Development Corps," and free computers and Internet access for schools?but its biggest achievement might be getting businesses more involved in technology development work.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=9316&do=gpage




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ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
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---- VIA Expands Cooperation with Geekcorps to Empower Remote Mali
?Cybertigi? is a mobile computing kiosk program aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs to create their own micro-businesses selling cyber services such as email, voicemail, printing, photography and web-based information. A ?tigi? is a local tradesman in Bambara, the local language; thus the Cybertigi offers services during market days in local towns and villages. While the first Cybertigis are using fixed locations, the goal is for mobility, with all equipment in a cart to enable travel between markets, enabling the vendor to expand the customer base and for far more to benefit from these services.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=9317&do=gpage




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E-GOVERNANCE/E-GOVERNMENT
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---- Is e-democracy now a reality?
A British-made film praising American foreign policy becomes a hit on You Tube. There have been more than a few false dawns since e-evangelists first predicted the internet would revolutionalise British politics. 
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=9319&do=gpage



---- Over 27,000 Estonians cast vote online in world's first e-ballot
 Over 27,000 Estonians by Wednesday evening had cast their ballot via the Internet for the March 4 parliamentary election, the world's first to offer online voting, election officials said. Arne Koitmae, spokesman for the Estonian National Electoral Committee, said the three-day online voting period that began on Monday had proceeded smoothly.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=9315&do=gpage




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E-STRATEGIES/POLICY
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---- Rwanda's knowledge revolution
For all its challenges, Rwanda is by nearly all accounts making tremendous strides, working to re-build into a modern, knowledge-based economy. In fact, a number of Rwanda-watchers these days see the country on track to become the hottest IT spot between Cairo and Durban, a kind of ?Silicon Valley of East-Central Africa.? But it certainly did not have to be this way? 
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=9318&do=gpage




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