20:
548:(UNDESA) in cooperation with the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) on the occasion of the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis in November 2005, the Global Centre for Information and Communication Technologies in Parliament responds to the common desire to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society, where legislatures are empowered to better fulfill their constitutional functions through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
88:, Japan. By providing it with a home in the United Nations, this accorded the UN ICT Task Force, in the eyes of many developing countries, a broader legitimization than the previous WEF and G8 initiatives, even if these previous initiatives also included a multi-stakeholder approach with broad participation by stakeholders from industrialized and developing countries.
526:
Today GESCI (www.gesci.org) is located in
Nairobi, Kenya. It has evolved into an organization engaging with governments and ministries, development partners, the private sector and communities to provide strategic advice, coordinate policy dialogue, conduct research and develop and implement models
564:
to allow for a global multi-stakeholder discussion of issues related to the governance of the global resource that the
Internet represents. The WSIS also called for a follow-up and implementation process, for which the principles embodied in the multi-stakeholder composition and workings of the UN
551:
The Global Centre for ICT in
Parliament acts as a clearing house for information, research, innovation, technology and technical assistance, and promotes a structured dialogue among parliaments, centres of excellence, international organizations, the civil society, the private sector and the donor
302:
The Task Force held 10 semi-annual meetings in various places that served as important venues for exchange of best practices, and to bring the various stakeholders together to work on common themes. Most successful, in the eyes of the participants, were those meetings that were held in conjunction
298:
was devoted to information and communication technologies for development, addressing the digital divide in the context of globalization and the development process. The session promoted coherence and synergies between various regional and international information and communication technologies
535:
Another outcome is the Global ePolicy
Resource Network (ePol-NET), designed to marshal global efforts in support of national e-strategies for development. The network provides ICT policymakers in developing countries with the depth and quality of information needed to develop effective national
417:
was held in New York City, 13 September 2005. The primary focus of the Forum was on the critical role of science, technology and innovation, especially information and communication technologies, in scaling-up grassroots, national and global responses to achieve the
536:
e-policies and e-strategies. The network was first proposed by the members of the
Digital Opportunities Task Force (DOT Force), who merged their activities with the UN ICT Task Force in 2002. The ePol-Net was also officially launched during the WSIS.
140:), governments and international agencies. Its coordinating body was a multi-stakeholder bureau, assisted by a small secretariat at UN headquarters in New York. Technical advice was provided by a high-level panel of technical advisors.
458:
Key parliament leaders presented their views on the role that national and regional assemblies can play in building the information society at a “High-level
Dialogue on Governance, Global Citizenship and Technology”, on 16 November.
100:(WSIS) and leading the UN in developing ICT strategies for development, the Task Force's objective was to form partnerships between the UN system and states, private industry, trusts, foundations, and donors, and other stakeholders.
527:
of good practice for the widespread use and integration of ICTs in formal education and other learning environments, within the context of supporting the development of inclusive knowledge societies and the achievement of the SDGs.
599:
As part of its work, the Task Force and its members have published a series of books on various topics related to the work of the Task Force. These books are available in the UN bookstore, at Amazon (partially), or in PDF form:
329:, (United States) - September 30 - October 1, 2002, focused on ICT for development in Africa. It also reviewed the results of the first year of Task Force activities and agreed on an ambitious strategy for the next two years.
467:
At this workshop, the Global e-School
Initiative presented the Total Cost of Ownership Calculator—a framework for identifying and selecting the right ICT for schools by assessing their benefits, feasibility and costs.
249:, in November 2005. In order to participate in the second phase of the WSIS, the Task Force's original three-year mandate was extended by another year and expired on 31 December 2005, with no further extension.
476:
Two high-level round tables on 16 November focused on “Regional
Perspectives for the Global Information Society” and on “Women in the Information Society: Building a Gender Balanced Knowledge-based Economy”.
485:
The 17 November round table examined how ICT can be applied to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, and discussed ways to raise awareness of ICT as an enabler of development.
957:
443:
299:
initiatives. The meeting also contributed to the preparation of WSIS. Many countries were represented by high-level officials responsible for communications and for development.
165:
opportunities make mobilizing "national human resources" (local ICT experts) within developing countries a priority, for both men and women. The initiative was launched at the
194:
157:(22 May 2000) suggesting a UN ICT Task Force, the panel welcomed the establishment of a United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS), suggested by Kofi Annan in "
206:
96:
The Task Force's principal aim was to provide policy advice to governments and international organizations for bridging the digital divide. In addition to supporting the
523:, Ireland, to improve education in schools and communities through the use of information and communication technologies. GESCI was officially launched during the WSIS.
494:
The 17 November panel demonstrated the potential of ICT to improve quality and cost efficiency of key public services, with specific focus on education and health care.
967:
257:
The Task Force's stakeholders, members and the experts on the panel of technical advisors, were active in working groups organized around four broad themes:
568:
Work is also being carried on by the UN Group on the
Information Society (UN GIS), with a focus on the UN System, and the successor to the UN ICT TF, the
552:
community, with the purpose to enhance the sharing of experiences, the identification of best practices and the implementation of appropriate solutions.
286:
Regional activities were carried out in five regional networks—Africa, Latin
America and the Caribbean, Asia, Arab States, and Europe and Central Asia.
161:" (Millennium Report of the Secretary-General). The panel made suggestions on its configuration and implementation strategy, including that ICT4D
502:
The 17 November round table focused on the critical role that broadband wireless infrastructure deployments play in bridging the digital divide.
198:
545:
430:
Parallel to the booth at the ICT4ALL exhibition, a series of events was held under the auspices of the UN ICT Task Force and its members:
76:(ECOSOC) dated July 11, 2000, with an initial term of mandate of three years (until the end of 2004). It followed in the footsteps of the
516:
962:
137:
73:
735:
728:
714:
703:
696:
689:
661:
647:
778:
633:
619:
605:
569:
398:
234:
174:
97:
80:(WEF) Global Digital Divide Initiative (GDDI), and the Digital Opportunities Task Force (DOT Force), established in 2000 by the
295:
729:
Information and Communication Technology for Peace - The Role of ICT in Preventing, Responding to and Recovering from Conflict
748:
214:
442:, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the
722:
683:
669:
655:
641:
627:
613:
387:
46:
66:
19:
620:
Information and Communication Technologies for African Development: An Assessment of Progress and Challenges Ahead
634:
The Role of Information and Communication Technology in Global Development - Analyses and Policy Recommendations
932:
830:
419:
274:
606:
Information Insecurity: A Survival Guide to the Uncharted Territories of Cyber-Threats and Cyber-Security
480:
758:
690:
WTO, E-commerce and Information Technologies: From the Uruguay Round through the Doha Development Agenda
489:
173:
and was active from February 2001 to February 2005. Initiative staff and volunteers participated in the
415:
Global Roundtable Forum on "Innovation and Investment: Scaling Science and Technology to Meet the MDGs"
860:
927:
909:
561:
166:
802:
446:(UNESCO), the United Nations ICT Task Force, the five United Nations Regional Commissions and the
158:
952:
783:
515:
One of the notable outcomes of the work of the UN ICT Task Force was the creation in 2003 of the
170:
736:
Reforming Internet Governance: Perspectives from the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG)
347:- September 12–13, 2003, to allow participants to discuss the Task Force's contribution to WSIS.
753:
53:
which is "intended to lend a truly global dimension to the multitude of efforts to bridge the
587:
581:
154:
57:, foster digital opportunity and thus firmly put ICT at the service of development for all".
54:
972:
773:
768:
77:
675:
8:
357:
544:
Another outcome of the WSIS is the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament. Launched by the
85:
560:
The task of bridging the digital divide is yet unfinished. The WSIS has called for an
481:
Putting ICT to Work for the Millennium Development Goals and the UN Development Agenda
718:
679:
665:
651:
637:
623:
609:
582:
Report of the high-level panel of experts on information and communication technology
490:
Achieving Better Quality and Cost Efficiency in Health Care and Education through ICT
351:
326:
319:
312:
268:
218:
197:
to create suitable systems at prices low enough to permit deployment everywhere. The
155:
Report of the high-level panel of experts on information and communication technology
27:
addressing the 6th session of the UN ICT Task Force in New York City, March 25, 2004
133:
913:
834:
697:
The World Summit on the Information Society: Moving from the Past into the Future
113:
497:
50:
946:
707:
109:
438:
The Partnership for Measuring ICT for Development involves 11 organizations—
704:
Harnessing the Potential of ICT for Education – A Multistakeholder Approach
162:
108:
The UN ICT Task Force has included the top ranks of the computer industry (
731:(By Daniel Stauffacher, William Drake, Paul Currion and Julia Steinberger)
676:
Creating an Enabling Environment: Toward the Millennium Development Goals
148:
622:(Edited with Introduction by Joseph O. Okpaku, Sr., Ph.D.) - July 2005,
447:
190:
129:
69:
24:
763:
233:
The Task Force was active, inter alia, in the process leading to the
209:
had placed computers and communications equipment for the use of the
471:
336:, (Switzerland) - February 21–22, 2004, with a Private Sector Forum.
33:
United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force
650:(By Akhtar Badshah, Sarbuland Khan and Maria Garrido) - July 2005,
439:
222:
202:
933:
Information about the Digital Opportunities Task Force (DOT Force)
827:
159:
We the peoples: the role of the United Nations in the 21st century
453:
406:
246:
228:
210:
648:
Connected for Development: Information Kiosks and Sustainability
462:
444:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
636:(Edited with introduction by Abdul Basit Haqqani) - July 2005,
520:
391:
376:
365:
344:
333:
238:
178:
125:
16:
Multi-stakeholder initiative associated with the United Nations
590:(11 July 2000), asking for the establishment of the UN ICT TF.
884:
402:
381:
Global Forum on Harnessing the Potential of ICTs in Education
242:
121:
498:
Bridging the Digital Divide with Broadband Wireless Internet
864:
340:
199:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
958:
Information and communication technologies for development
906:
806:
117:
699:(Edited by Daniel Stauffacher and Wolfgang Kleinwächter)
937:
895:
848:
81:
779:
United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS)
539:
149:
United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS)
828:
Welcome to the Measuring ICT Website - new.unctad.org
692:(By Sacha Wunsch-Vincent, Edited by Joanna McIntosh)
572:(GAID), with an international development emphasis.
433:
517:
Global E-Schools and Communities Initiative (GESCI)
364:7th meeting: at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
938:Global eSchools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI)
608:(By Eduardo Gelbstein, Ahmad Kamal) - July 2005,
472:Building Partnerships for the Information Society
944:
717:(By David Keogh and Tim Wood) - September 2005,
968:Organizations established by the United Nations
72:in November 2001, acting upon a request by the
584:(22 May 2000), suggesting a UN ICT Task Force.
454:Role of Parliaments in the Information Society
229:World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
184:
103:
463:Choosing the Right Technologies for Education
546:UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
519:, an international NGO initially located in
849:Global eSchools and Communities Initiative
662:Internet Governance: A Grand Collaboration
138:Association for Progressive Communications
74:United Nations Economic and Social Council
368:, Germany - November 18–20, 2004, with a
315:, (United States) - November 19–20, 2001.
136:), together with global NGOs (e.g., the
18:
907:Global Alliance for ICT and Development
844:
842:
570:Global Alliance for ICT and Development
399:World Summit on the Information Society
370:Global Forum on an Enabling Environment
354:, (United States) - March 2004, with a
322:, (United States) - February 3–4, 2002.
235:World Summit on the Information Society
175:World Summit on the Information Society
98:World Summit on the Information Society
945:
678:(By Denis Gilhooly) - September 2005,
379:, Ireland - April 13–15, 2005, with a
296:General Assembly of the United Nations
91:
749:International Telecommunication Union
594:
575:
505:
241:in December 2003 and WSIS II in
215:International Telecommunication Union
65:The UN ICT Task Force was created by
839:
281:
565:ICT TF can provide a useful model.
540:Global Centre for ICT in Parliament
425:
350:6th meeting: at UN headquarters in
325:3rd meeting: at UN headquarters in
318:2nd meeting: at UN headquarters in
311:1st meeting: at UN headquarters in
294:2002, June 17–18: A session of the
13:
14:
984:
963:Internet governance organizations
921:
861:"Global ePolicy Resource Network"
434:Measuring the Information Society
252:
896:Group on the Information Society
715:Village Phone Replication Manual
394:, Switzerland - October 1, 2005.
67:United Nations Secretary-General
60:
267:Human resource development and
49:initiative associated with the
900:
889:
878:
853:
821:
795:
664:(By Don MacLean) - July 2005,
1:
734:UN ICT Task Force Series 12:
727:UN ICT Task Force Series 11:
713:UN ICT Task Force Series 10:
688:UN ICT Task Force Series 7 -
674:UN ICT Task Force Series 6 -
660:UN ICT Task Force Series 5 -
618:UN ICT Task Force Series 2 -
604:UN ICT Task Force Series 1 -
588:Draft Ministerial Declaration
397:10th (final) meeting: at the
213:refugees confined there. The
143:
738:(Edited by William J. Drake)
702:UN ICT Task Force Series 9:
695:UN ICT Task Force Series 8:
646:UN ICT Task Force Series 4:
632:UN ICT Task Force Series 3:
555:
420:Millennium Development Goals
7:
742:
530:
289:
195:Challenge to Silicon Valley
185:Challenge to Silicon Valley
104:Membership and organization
10:
989:
207:Global Catalyst Foundation
84:at their annual summit in
928:UNICTTF official homepage
912:February 8, 2010, at the
885:Internet Governance Forum
562:Internet Governance Forum
261:ICT policy and governance
167:United Nations Volunteers
789:
510:
169:under the leadership of
784:World Computer Exchange
171:Sharon Capeling-Alakija
754:Multistakeholder Model
332:4th meeting: at UN in
217:(ITU) worked with the
201:ran a refugee camp in
28:
833:May 16, 2008, at the
55:global digital divide
23:UN Secretary General
22:
774:One Laptop per Child
769:Geeks Without Bounds
409:- November 17, 2005.
264:Enabling environment
78:World Economic Forum
358:Internet Governance
273:ICT Indicators and
92:Aims and objectives
595:Publication series
576:Selected documents
506:Outcomes from WSIS
181:in December 2003.
29:
809:on 31 August 2004
710:and Terry Culver)
352:New York City, NY
327:New York City, NY
320:New York City, NY
313:New York City, NY
303:with a series of
282:Regional networks
269:capacity building
219:Kingdom of Bhutan
189:In November 2002
47:multi-stakeholder
980:
916:
904:
898:
893:
887:
882:
876:
875:
873:
872:
863:. Archived from
857:
851:
846:
837:
825:
819:
818:
816:
814:
805:. Archived from
799:
426:WSIS II in Tunis
386:9th meeting: at
375:8th meeting: in
356:Global Forum on
339:5th meeting: at
134:Sun Microsystems
988:
987:
983:
982:
981:
979:
978:
977:
943:
942:
924:
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914:Wayback Machine
905:
901:
894:
890:
883:
879:
870:
868:
859:
858:
854:
847:
840:
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812:
810:
801:
800:
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792:
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578:
558:
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513:
508:
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492:
483:
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465:
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976:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
953:Digital divide
941:
940:
935:
930:
923:
922:External links
920:
918:
917:
899:
888:
877:
852:
838:
820:
793:
791:
788:
787:
786:
781:
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771:
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337:
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253:Working groups
251:
230:
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186:
183:
150:
147:
145:
142:
105:
102:
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51:United Nations
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881:
867:on 2006-01-05
866:
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733:
730:
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724:
723:92-1-104546-0
720:
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708:Bonnie Bracey
705:
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684:92-1-104535-5
681:
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670:92-1-104534-7
667:
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656:92-1-104533-9
653:
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642:92-1-104532-0
639:
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629:
628:92-1-104531-2
625:
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614:92-1-104530-4
611:
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603:
602:
601:
589:
586:
583:
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579:
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566:
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309:
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305:Global Forums
300:
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110:Cisco Systems
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869:. Retrieved
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153:Within the
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871:2005-12-29
813:9 November
448:World Bank
237:(WSIS) in
205:where the
191:Kofi Annan
177:(WSIS) in
144:Activities
70:Kofi Annan
25:Kofi Annan
764:Geekcorps
556:Follow-up
225:project.
211:Burundian
193:issued a
910:Archived
831:Archived
803:"UNITeS"
743:See also
531:ePol-Net
440:Eurostat
290:Meetings
223:Simputer
203:Tanzania
45:) was a
407:Tunisia
277:mapping
247:Tunisia
130:Siemens
86:Okinawa
759:eCorps
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668:
654:
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626:
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521:Dublin
392:Geneva
377:Dublin
366:Berlin
345:Geneva
334:Geneva
239:Geneva
179:Geneva
790:Notes
511:GESCI
403:Tunis
243:Tunis
221:on a
122:Nokia
815:2016
719:ISBN
680:ISBN
666:ISBN
652:ISBN
638:ISBN
624:ISBN
610:ISBN
341:WIPO
31:The
401:in
390:in
388:ILO
343:in
275:MDG
126:SAP
118:IBM
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949::
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82:G8
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874:.
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383:.
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361:.
35:(
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