Getting beyond the Digital Divide Approach, Objectives, Focus of the

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Getting beyond the Digital DivideApproach,
Objectives, Focusof the

• Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP)
• and the
• Swiss Agency for Developmentand Cooperation (SDC)

Sustainability in the Information Society.
International Symposium. Zürich, October 12,
2001 Gerolf Weigel, SDC
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Content

• Digital Divide and Development. Key Issues
• Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP)
• Knowledge/ICT for Development in the Swiss
  Agency for Development (SDC)

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DIGITAL DIVIDE LIMITATIONS

• ACCESS
• connectivity, infrastructure beyond high income
  areas
• education, human capacity
• resources, high fees in low income areas
• CONTENT
• diversity (language, culture, local knowledge)
• relevance
• quality

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DIGITAL DIVIDE LIMITATIONS

• MARKET / INTERVENTIONS
• market mechanisms and private investment do not
  reduce the Digital Divide automatically
• without strong and coordinated efforts at all
  levels, the ICT revolution is likely to further
  enhance the poverty gap
• suitable national strategies, policies and
  interventions are crucial

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ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS

• GOVERNANCE
• transparency gt accountability
• information on misuse of power, risks etc.
• voice of disadvantaged groups in policy /
  strategy discussions
• POVERTY REDUCTION
• relevant information for small producers/farmers
  (e.g. market prices gt higher income)
• direct marketing
• etc.
• national strategy, policy framework

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ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALS

• GOVERNANCE
• transparency gt accountability
• information on misuse of power
• voice of disadvantaged groups in policy /
  strategy discussions
• POVERTY REDUCTION
• relevant information for small producers/farmers
  (e.g. market prices gt higher income)
• direct marketing
• etc.
• national strategy, policy framework

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Digital Divide and Development Key Issues (1)
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Digital Divide and Development Key Issues (2)
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Digital Divide and Development Key Issues (3)
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Digital Divide and Development Key Issues (4)
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Digital Divide and Development Key Issues (5)
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Introducing THE GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSHIP
Partners in knowledge for development
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GKPs Origins

• The GKP arose from the 2000 participants from
  144 countries attending the 1st Global Knowledge
  Conference, Knowledge for Development in the
  Information Age, which was hosted by the World
  Bank and the Government of Canada in Toronto in
  June 1997.

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GKP Membership Structure
Member Categories Private enterprises Government
Institutions Civil society organizations Multilate
ral institutions Spectrum South
North Global/Regional/National/Local Big
Small Commercial Not for profit Individual
organisation Network Multiple Focus Strategic
(Policy), Tactical (Program),Operational
(Project)
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• 60 partners, and growing (20 aplications
  pending)
• 1997 - June 2001 GKP Secretariat Chair World
  Bank Institute
• new GKP Secretariat NITC/Malaysia GKP Chair
  SDC/Switzerland

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Critical Choices
Source www.globalpublic policy.net

• Global Public Policy Networks and the Future of
  Global Governance

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Managing Global Issues Luncheon July 7, 2000
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Change in the Strategic Triangle
Source www.globalpublic policy.net
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From Confrontation to Collaboration?
Source www.globalpublic policy.net

• Rising incidence of collaborative alliances
  involving governments, international
  organizations, companies and civil society
  responding to the governance gaps.

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Strengthsof Partnerships the GKP case

• Aggregated Knowledge-Pool
• Aggregate of individual member knowledge and
  contacts
• Pool of individual practical experiences (tacit
  and codified)
• Mechanisms for disseminating knowledge
• Principle of Inclusion
• Meets the challenge of inclusion and trust
  (local-global North-South) by helping to close
  the participatory gap

• Diverse membership
• Pulls diverse groups and resources together
  through a cross-sectoral alliance of structured
  informality
• Flexible and dynamic
• can shift direction and mobilize resources
  quickly
• Can address issues that no other group can
  resolve by itself
• Wide networking opportunities/possibilities
• Can place issues on the global agenda
• Can provide access to key players of Global
  Policy Dialogue

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Strengthsof Partnerships the GKP case

• Consultation Platform
• Global agendas (DOT Force consultation GKD List
• Awareness-Raising, Learning, Knowledge-Sharing
  Platforms
• GK97 GKII GKD List
• Joint-Action Platform
• Partner to Partner initiatives (link to GKP often
  not visible)
• Market Place for Partner-to Partner initiatives

• Action-Oriented
• Focused, substantial and practical contribution
  to Global Policy Dialogue
• Innovative implementation mechanisms for
  joint-action (programs/projects) in line with
  identified priorities

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THE GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSHIP working
together for BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
END
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SDC and the Digital Divide

• 3 Key Elements of the SDC Policy Outline 1998
• ITCs are not an end in itself, but they are
  tools in a broader approach to development and
  poverty reduction.
• information and knowledge are essential elements
  of development enhancing participation and
  capacities of stakeholders.
• SDC should play an advocacy role for its
  partners in international discussions about the
  new information society.

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Knowledge for Development in SDC Process /
History
Knowledge as Key Factor of Development
Cooperation but not explicitly,no systemic
approach, often rather one way, little
networking ...
1970/80
1990

• K - Mgt
• K- Sharing
• Info - Mgt.
• Learning

• Global Knowledge
• Networks, Initiatives
• Digital Divide

2000
2001
Knowledge for Development

• Thematic Dimension, K - Sharing, KM, Learning
  Processes
• Multilateral Initiatives / Networks (focus
  Bridging the Digital Divide)
• Operational Dimension, K / ICT as component

2005
SDC-final-KS-K4D-Presentation-Chennai-weigel
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ICT for Development in SDC Main Elements
WBI Knowledge for Development Programm
UNESCO Community Radio
GDN Global Development Network
Francophonie
WSIS
GKP Global Knowledge Partnership
UNDP SURF
GDLN Global Distance Learning Network
SDC-final-KS-K4D-Presentation-Chennai-weigel
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SDC Approach to ICT for Devlopment see slides
No. 1 to 11
Thank you
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Knowledge in the SDC 2010 Strategy
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The Tree of Sustainability
ECOLOGICAL COMPATI- BILITY -good
environmental conditions
POLITICAL STABILITY Favourable economic and
social trends
1. ORIENTATION TOWARDS TARGET GROUPS
2. EFFECTIVE ORGANISATION
4. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
3. FINANCIAL VIABILITY FOLLOW UP COST and
PROFITABILITY
6. REALISTIC PROJECT CONCEPT
5. SUPPORT by DECISION-MAKERS
SUSTAINABILITY
External contributions
Finances - complementary Advice -
transparent Technology - appropriate Training -
kept up to date
Fertiliser
Own contributions
Motivation
Autonomy
Self-esteem
Creativity
Local resources
Self-confidence
Positive experiences

• by LOO/SDC/ 1996