UNDP and Andersen Consulting, in cooperation with Markle Foundation, Launch Project at G-8 Summit to Bridge the Global Digital Divide.Business & Technology Editors OKINAWA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2000 opportunITy initiative Seeks to Extend the Benefits of the Network Economy and Society to All Responding to calls from leaders of the G-8 to bridge the global digital divide, a new initiative to be known as the opportunITy initiative was launched today by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNDP Unión Nacional para la Democracia y el Progreso (National Union for Democracy and Progress) ) and Andersen Consulting See Accenture. , in cooperation with the Markle Foundation The Markle Foundation is an organization concerned with technology, health care, and national security. People associated
The initiative will design a strategic approach and help mobilize mo·bi·lize v. 1. To make mobile or capable of movement. 2. To restore the power of motion to a joint. 3. To release into the body, as glycogen from the liver. action on the ground from the international community to assist developing economies in pursuing the opportunities and benefits offered by the Information and Communications Technology Noun 1. communications technology - the activity of designing and constructing and maintaining communication systems engineering, technology - the practical application of science to commerce or industry (ICT (1) (Information and Communications Technology) An umbrella term for the information technology field. See IT. (2) (International Computers and Tabulators) See ICL. 1. (testing) ICT - In Circuit Test. ) revolution. The aim is to use the power and efficiency of the ICT and the Internet to promote sustainable development Sustainable development is a socio-ecological process characterized by the fulfilment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment indefinitely. The linkage between environment and development was globally recognized in 1980, when the International Union in those countries and communities that are currently failing to benefit from the network revolution. The opportunITy initiative comes in accord with the G-8 "Okinawa Charter on the Global Information Society"; the "Comprehensive Co-operation Package to Address the International Digital Divide" of the Japanese government; and the "Global Call to Action" issued by President Clinton and endorsed today by a broad cross-section of the U.S. private sector. The opportunITy initiative will involve three main components: setting an overall strategic approach for bridging the global digital divide before the decade is out; initiation and/or scaling up of a series of exemplar ex·em·plar n. 1. One that is worthy of imitation; a model. See Synonyms at ideal. 2. One that is typical or representative; an example. 3. An ideal that serves as a pattern; an archetype. 4. initiatives across the world over the next twelve months; and execution of a campaign to win the hearts and minds of all stakeholders Stakeholders All parties that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in a firm-stockholders, creditors, bondholders, employees, customers, management, the community, and the government. in support of the real development benefits of ICT investment. The opportunITy initiative will run for twelve months and report back in time for next year's G-8 Summit. "We should not think in terms of a trade-off between Information and Communications Technologies and other developmental needs such as health and education. Technology is a powerful force to enhance the lives of people around the globe as well as a powerful engine of economic growth, said Vernon Ellis, International Chairman of Andersen Consulting. "We are proud to have played a leading role in creating this vitally important initiative which aims to ensure that everyone can benefit from the immense opportunities new technologies deliver. We look forward to working with partner organizations worldwide both in setting a strategy and in making a real difference on the ground and helping create a more sustainable future for all of us." "The role that ICT can best play in supporting broader economic and social development is far from being fully understood," said Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the UNDP, "but the price of delaying entry to the network revolution will rise sharply over time." He added, "If developing nations can be helped to put the right public policies in place, and attract private and public capital, then the applications from education to health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract and micro-finance for the poor know no boundaries." He said the UNDP, which has a network of offices in 136 countries worldwide, will provide critical country support and leadership for the opportunITy initiative. The opportunITy initiative is intended to fully support the activities and strategic objectives of the G-8 Digital Opportunities Task Force (DOT) announced today. The implementation framework will suggest a concrete timetable and set targets for bridging the global digital divide before the decade is out. By the time of the 2001 G-8 meeting, this plan should contain a series of practical commitments from public, private, multilateral mul·ti·lat·er·al adj. 1. Having many sides. 2. Involving more than two nations or parties: multilateral trade agreements. and charitable organizations This article is about charitable organizations. For other uses of the word charity, see Charity. A charitable organization (also known as a charity) is an organization with charitable purposes only. and from governments of developed and developing nations, and for at least six immediate and concrete initiatives to act as exemplars for future work across the world. "The dedication of both G-8 and private sector resources so early in the global expansion of the information and communications technology should give us optimism that developing nations can match their most critical needs with the benefits the information revolution can provide," said Zoe Baird, President of the Markle Foundation. "It will take a concerted effort from the beginning to bring all stakeholders to the table to shape the needed strategies and policies in the public interest. The opportunITy initiative can make an important contribution to these goals and the Markle Foundation is pleased to be a partner in it." "Every day Andersen Consulting professionals work with our clients to change the way people live and work around the world. Through our work with the world's leading organizations, we have seen the value and learning that can be enabled by digital technologies," said Joe Forehand Joe Forehand is Chairman of the board and former CEO of Accenture. He became CEO in November 1999, and chairman in February 2001. Forehand was born in Alexander City, Alabama and graduated in 1971 from Auburn University and is a brother of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. , global managing partner and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Andersen Consulting. "This initiative will focus our energy and expertise on designing a strategy for bridging the widening digital divide. I know my partners and our employees share my enthusiasm for this task." Andersen Consulting expects to contribute approximately $3 million worth of personnel and other resources to the 12-month project, pro bono Short for pro bono publico [Latin, For the public good]. The designation given to the free legal work done by an attorney for indigent clients and religious, charitable, and other nonprofit entities. . The combined UNDP, Andersen Consulting, Markle Foundation, and other partner contributions are expected to total an initial commitment of at least $5 million. About the United Nations Development Programme UNDP is part of the United Nations is committed to the principle that development is inseparable in·sep·a·ra·ble adj. 1. Impossible to separate or part: inseparable pieces of rock. 2. Very closely associated; constant: inseparable companions. from the quest for Verb 1. quest for - go in search of or hunt for; "pursue a hobby" quest after, go after, pursue look for, search, seek - try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of; "The police are searching for clues"; "They are searching for the peace and human security and that the United Nations must be a strong force for development as well as peace. With offices in 136 countries, UNDP's mission is to help countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable human development by assisting them to build their capacity to design and carry out development programs in poverty eradication eradication extermination of an infectious agent so that no further cases of the related disease can occur. virtual eradication , employment creation and sustainable livelihoods, the empowerment of women and the protection and regeneration of the environment, giving first priority to poverty eradication. About Andersen Consulting Andersen Consulting is an $8.9 billion global management and technology consulting organization whose mission is to help its clients create their future. The firm works with clients from a wide range of industries to bring about far-reaching change by aligning their people, processes and technology with their strategy. Andersen Consulting has more than 65,000 people in 48 countries. Its home page address is http://www.ac.com. About the Markle Foundation The Markle Foundation works to realize the potential of emerging communications media and information technology to improve people's lives and promotes the development of communications industries communications industry, broadly defined, the business of conveying information. Although communication by means of symbols and gestures dates to the beginning of human history, the term generally refers to mass communications. that address public needs. Markle is the largest U.S. philanthropy philanthropy, the spirit of active goodwill toward others as demonstrated in efforts to promote their welfare. The term is often used interchangeably with charity. devoted exclusively to working in the public interest as the information revolution unfolds and recently announced a $100 million commitment to grants, investments and projects that seek to do so. For more information, go to www.markle.org. BACKGROUND BRIEFING NOTE A briefing note is a document that is used to inform or advise a person in an organization, usually a decision-maker. A briefing note could provide good news, bad news or understanding of an issue. It could advise the reader to make a decision that will guide the writer's actions. FOR THE EDITORS opportunITy initiative SEIZING THE DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY A GLOBAL STRATEGY TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE The challenge of bridging the global digital divide should not be underestimated. With the accelerating pace of innovation in information and communications technologies (ICT) a clear danger exists that developing nations will not have the opportunity to participate fully in the network revolution. Indeed, despite the significant number of initiatives currently underway, the digital divide is widening, not closing. One of the principal reasons for this is that the role that ICT can best play in supporting broader economic and social development has not been fully addressed. Initiatives to close the digital divide will only become self-sustaining when they tie in with this wider development agenda, and so generate real popular market demand, increases in wealth and quality of life, and as a consequence become a high political priority for developing nations. In order to succeed, the G-8 Digital Opportunities Task Force (DOT) will need to gain and demonstrate a firm understanding of how ICT can be used to address these issues. It will need to use that understanding to mobilise n. 1. Mobilize. Verb 1. mobilise - call to arms; of military personnel mobilize, rally, call up send for, call - order, request, or command to come; "She was called into the director's office"; "Call the police!" 2. the international community around practical approaches and realistic targets for closing the digital divide. The opportunITy initiative, launched at the G-8 Summit in Okinawa, Japan today, sets out to lay the foundation for such an approach and should be seen as a critical supporting mechanism for the creation and the success of the G-8 DOT whose mandate is to promote the goal of achieving digital access and education for all before this decade is out. A Global Strategy to Bridge the Digital Divide It is proposed that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works together with Andersen Consulting and in cooperation with the Markle Foundation and all categories of development partners and others to build a global strategy for bridging the digital divide within ten years, and will seek to mobilise the global community to execute that strategy. This work will include detailed research through a broad consultation process on links between ICT and broader development issues, using that knowledge to set an overall 10 year strategy, proposal of the strategy to the G-8 Digital Opportunities Task Force (DOT), and mobilising the global community to execute the strategy. The programme of work involves 3 main components: - the expansion of basic connectivity to people everywhere with a coordinated and cooperative approach, including new public-private partnerships, toward the diffusion of low cost devices and applications customized to developing nation needs, and with the goal of scalable and catalytic solutions for an early and significant increase in local, backbone and international connectivity. - Realistic targets for making progress, and how to initiate and scale major global initiatives which would help to enable excluded communities to seize the digital opportunity. - A stakeholder stakeholder n. a person having in his/her possession (holding) money or property in which he/she has no interest, right or title, awaiting the outcome of a dispute between two or more claimants to the money or property. campaign to win hearts and minds in support of the real developmental benefits of ICT investment. Experience around the world has proven that popular demand is an absolute necessity for the success of ICT investments, and that such demand can spark dramatic and self-sustaining growth. The first step towards this is to win the battle of ideas amongst governments, business and the international development community. The campaign will also be implicit in Adj. 1. implicit in - in the nature of something though not readily apparent; "shortcomings inherent in our approach"; "an underlying meaning" underlying, inherent the open, enthusiastic and consensus building approach that will characterise the opportunITy initiative. Under the leadership of the UNDP together with Andersen Consulting and in cooperation with the Markle Foundation the project team will work with public, private, academic, international and not for profit organizations on a global basis. In particular it will seek to draw on the expertise of the World Bank, ITU (International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland, www.itu.ch) A telecommunications standards body that is under the auspices of the United Nations. Comprising more than 185 member countries, the ITU sets standards for global telecom networks. and other multilateral and international agencies, the DOT, and with organizations such as the GBDe, the GIIC GIIC Global Information Infrastructure Commission GIIC Gulf Industrial Investment Company (Safat, Kuait) GIIC Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (India) , and the World Economic Forum (WEF WEF World Economic Forum WEF Water Environment Federation WEF Winter Equestrian Festival (Wellington, FL) WEF With Effect From (aviation) WEF World Environment Fund WEF Weight Enumerating Function ). In order to build consensus and mobilize support, the opportunITy initiative will be launched in September 2000 at the United Nations Millennium Summit The Millennium Summit was a meeting among many world leaders lasting three days from 6 September[1] to 8 September 2000[2] at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , with an interim presentation made at the WEF annual meeting in Davos in January 2001. Preparing and launching the overall strategic plan and mobilizing mobilizing, v 1. freeing or making loose and able to move. 2. observing any ongoing movements in a client's body, whether small or large, assisted or not, that identify strengths and weaknesses, as well as the client's physical and exemplar initiatives will be accomplished over the course of the next year, with an update back to the DOT in time for the 2001 G-8 meeting. Where possible exemplar initiatives will be framed and mobilised early so that their first results can be used to inform the strategy by the year's end. In order to formulate the strategy, the project will have to examine issues such as: - the expansion of basic connectivity to people everywhere with a coordinated and cooperative approach, including new public-private partnerships, toward the diffusion of low cost devices and applications customized to developing nation needs, and with the goal of scalable and catalytic solutions for an early and significant increase in local, backbone and international connectivity. - Realistic targets for making progress, and how to initiate and scale major global initiatives which would help to enable excluded communities to seize the digital opportunity. - the appropriate mix of telecommunications Communicating information, including data, text, pictures, voice and video over long distance. See communications. competition, Internet and e-policy, e-government, human capacity initiatives, and the enabling entrepreneurial environment that will attract investment but also reap the full economic, social and cultural benefits of the network revolution. - the expansion of basic connectivity to people everywhere with a coordinated and cooperative approach, including new public-private partnerships, toward the diffusion of low cost devices and applications customized to developing nation needs, and with the goal of scalable and catalytic solutions for an early and significant increase in local, backbone and international connectivity. - Realistic targets for making progress, and how to initiate and scale major global initiatives which would help to enable excluded communities to seize the digital opportunity. The UNDP together with Andersen Consulting and in cooperation with the Markle Foundation will provide appropriate staffing and support from within their global organizations, and by agreement will co-opt project team members from other organizations. Andersen Consulting will provide a full-time ten-strong project team, with other senior involvement up to and including the firm's CEO and International Chairman. The combined UNDP, Andersen Consulting, Markle Foundation and other partner contributions are expected to total an initial commitment of at least $5 million. |
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