About UNDP and ICT for Development

UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on UNDP's network and its wide range of national and international partners. UNDP's network also links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals which world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015.

UNDP focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of Democratic Governance; Poverty Reduction; Crisis Prevention and Recovery; Energy and Environment; ICT for development (ICTD); and HIV/AIDS. UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all of its activities, UNDP encourages the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.

UNDP and ICT for Development:

Since 1992, UNDP has been a pioneer in ICTD. It has gained substantial on the ground expertise and knowledge through global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP), the Small Islands Developing States Network (SIDSNet) and the Cisco-UNDP Network Academies programme for 24 LDCs; regional initiatives such as the Asia Pacific Development Internet Programme (APDIP) and the Internet Initiative for Africa (IIA); and national programmes such as Ukraine's FreeNet, Egypt's Community Access Centers and Cameroon's SchoolNets, to mention a few.

Based on this extensive work, UNDP has explicitly recognized the key role that ICT can play in the fight against global poverty and as an effective tool in helping to achieve the MDGs. UNDP has promoted this innovative approach to ICTD through its participation in global fora such as the G-8 DOT Force, the UN ICT Task Force and, more recently, at the various WSIS regional and global preparatory meetings.

UNDP's ICTD strategy focuses on upstream policy advice to help countries design a strategic approach to ICT as an enabler for development and link it to Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) and related development focus processes. This is complemented by support to the implementation of ICTD priority programmes based on a multi- stakeholder approach and innovative national and global partnerships to secure additional resources and expertise.

To accomplish the above goals, UNDP has identified, in consultation with developing country stakeholders, five strategic areas for ICTD related interventions. They are:

• National ICT for Development Strategies
• Capacity development through strategy implementation
• E-governance to promote citizen participation and government transparency
• Bottom-up ICTD initiatives to support civil society and SMMEs
• National awareness and stakeholder campaigns

UNDP has created a dedicated ICTD Trust Fund as a new and flexible mechanism to support the above activities. To date, the trust fund has received contributions of over 7 million dollars and started financing new ICTD programme activities in close to 25 developing countries, on a demand driven basis.