INFOPOVERTY NEW TOOLS AND BEST PRACTICES: THE ROLE OF ICT'S IN REACHING THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS LE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE E LE MIGLIORI SPERIMENTAZIONI PER IL RAGGIUNGIMENTO DEGLI OBIETTIVI ONU DEL MILLENNIO III WORLD CONFERENCE 19-20 June 2003

THE INFOPOVERTY WORLD CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION OFFICIALLY PRESENTED AT PREPCOM2 IN GENEVA The Infopoverty World Conference and Exhibition has been officially presented in the ambit of the PrepCom2 to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Room 17 of the International Congress Center of Geneva on February 27th 2003. The Conference, organized by OCCAM with the European Parliament, UNIC Rome and the Università Cattolica, has established itself as a world forum of discussion, where all aspects of the digital divide are taken into account by leading world institutions, aiming at real solutions to the problem, through: The display and illustration of the most advanced experiences throughout the world in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations in 2000. The analyses of the new perspectives that the social-economic situation creates for new technologies in developing countries. The elaboration of new strategies to enhance sustainable development for all with the participation of all stakeholders in accordance to the Global Compact launched by Kofi Annan. In particular, the Conference this year will focus on the ideation, realization and sustainability of digital villages, in accordance with the action plan drafted by PrepCom2, stating the benchmark for action of all villages connected to internet by 2010. The direct participation in the Conference of key figures from public and private institutions, from NGOs and Foundations involved in this field, has made this event an important forum in which to evaluate the state-of-the art of technologies, the most advanced forms of cooperation in fighting Infopoverty and the results achieved. This year the Exhibition, which is closely related to the Conference, will focus on new practices and new instruments to fight Infopoverty, with particular attention to the development of connectivity in rural and isolated areas of the world, through the illustration of digital villages, tell-centers, community centers and new tools (such as wireless internet, solar power, advanced hardware and software specifically designed for the needs of developing countries) able to connect those areas to the flow of communication. An open discussion followed the presentation of the event made by OCCAM President, Pierpaolo Saporito. The Head of the Italian Task Force and Delegation to the WSIS, Mr. Gerardo Carante, has expressed his congratulation on this Italian initiative, reiterating the support the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will give to this event. Moreover, he suggested that the results of the Infopoverty World Conference and Exhibition should be presented in a stand at the WSIS in December, when the Italian Prime Minister, H.E. Silvio Berlusconi, will take part in the event. Dr. Batilda Burian, Member of Parliament of Tanzania and Member of the local ICT Task Force, agreed with the aims and goals of the event, expressing the will of the Tanzanian Government to participate in it and inviting the OCCAM staff to visit Tanzania in order to launch specific actions in this field. Moreover, after asking more details on the financial costs of solar electricity, she suggested that a specific seminar of the Infopoverty Conference should be devoted to e-commerce, as an important tool to develop economies. Mr. Saporito warmly accepted this suggestion, inviting Dr. Burian to work with her colleagues in developing countries to create a panel on e-commerce, so that the Conference would promote model based on the needs of emerging economies, more than on the standards of rich countries. Dr. Johnson Nkuuhe, Member of Parliament of Uganda, and Vice Chairman of the Committee of Science and Technology found various aspects of the conference in line with the strategies of his Government and expressed the will of his Country to take part in the Infopoverty Conference. Mr. Rafael Rodriguez, from FAO, illustrated some important experiences FAO is developing in Honduras as well as in other countries concerning information centers and Tellcenters, experiences that FAO would like to present during the Infopoverty event. Mr. Bildad Kagai, Coordinator of the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) suggested that a seminar should be devoted to open source, as it represents one of the most apt tools to grant sustainable development to emerging economies. Mr. Saporito invited him to prepare a specific action plan on this subject, finding other stakeholders in this field to organize a specific seminar on open source. Mr. Feridun Keskinkilinç, ICT Department Manager of the Ministry of National Education of Turkey, said that the country he represents is very interested in participating in the Infopoverty event, and asked Mr. Saporito to provide more specific information of some executive aspects of the Infopoverty Programme specifically designed to tackle the needs of isolated communities not provided with electricity and telephone lines. Mr. O. F. Bizri, from ESCWA, described the actions that the organization he was representing is supporting and doing in the area of Southern Lebanon. The official presentation was concluded by Mr. Saporito, who warmly thanked all participants inviting them all to participate in the Infopoverty World Conference and Exhibition, and proposing them to work all together to make this event in line with the strategic partnership launched by Kofi Annan with Global Compact. During PrepCom2, the Infopoverty World Conference and Exhibition has been presented in private meetings to leading representatives from many different organizations - among the others: Adama Samassékou, President of PrepCom2; Marcel A. Boisard, UNITAR Director General; Abdul Waheed Khan, UNESCO Assistant Director General; Stephen Browne, UNDP Practice Leader ICT-D; Christopher Lamb, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - as well as to representatives from countries such as Croatia, Ghana, Honduras, India, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda and the United States of America. Many adhered to the initiative, expressing their willingness to start forms of cooperation and giving very useful and enlightened suggestions that will contribute to the concrete realization of the event.   * *** *

with the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic
and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers

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