United Nations GAID Global forum, Abu Dhabi
Posted on 05/12/2010
Close the Gap was present at the UN Gaid Global forum, as a member of the UN Gaid.
The Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development (GAID), an initiative approved by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2006, was launched after comprehensive worldwide consultations with governments, the private sector, civil society, the technical and Internet communities and academia. With its multi-stakeholder approach, the Alliance reaffirms the belief that a people-centered and knowledge-based information society is essential for achieving better life for all.
Close the Gap was invited to the forum and received the opportunity to present to the broad community of ICT4Development partners its concept and flagship projects.
The congress opened with a key-note address by H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister for Foreign Trade, UAE on “ ICT have great potential for advancing development -but why have we not achieved more? What is missing? How do we fill this gap and move decisively from advocacy to action?”
After the plenary discussion “Reality Check – Information and Communication Technologies for Development: what is holding us back?”, Close the Gap’s delegate participated to the interactive solution salon, ICT for Education, leaded by John Davies, Intel and Janis Karklins, UNESCO.
Other salons covered all main areas of ICT 4 Development topics, namely
ICT for Poverty Alleviation and Hunger
ICT for Persons with Disabilities
ICT and Governance
ICT for Financing Development and the MDG’s
ICT for Gender Equality
ICT for Sustainable Development/Climate Change
ICT for Disaster Relief and Post-Conflict Zones
ICT for Entrepreneurship
Besides great networking with interesting stakeholders from corporate, civil society, non-profit and governments, the added value of being present for Close the Gap was significant in terms of validating our ongoing way of working and key principles in ICT 4 Development. Main findings noted during the forum will be key for Close the Gap’s upcoming strategic planning.
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