World Bank time series statistical data covering 1970 to the present, with forecast data for up to seven years, for the 138 countries reporting public and publicly-guaranteed debt. Data include external debt stocks and flows, major economic aggregates, key debt ratios, average terms of new commitments, currency composition of long-term debt, debt restructuring, and scheduled debt service projections.
This is the website to the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID). It contains a multiude of information regarding GAID activities, ICT development projects, and publications regarding relevant ICT and development issues. There are various articles on the use of Open Source Software in development projects, which I will use as examples in this paper.
The GAID is an organization launched by the United Nations in 2006 to address the use of ICT in acheieving the Millenium Development Goals, particularly for reducing poverty in the developing world. It formed from the 2003 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), during which a need for a global ICT and development policy forum was established. The GAID serves to facilitate collaborative development projects between the private and public sectors, non-governmental organizations and civil society groups.
As stated on the website, the Objectives of the GAID are as follows:
"The Alliance will seek to contribute to:
(1) Mainstreaming of the global ICT agenda into the broader United Nations development agenda
(2) Bringing together key organizations involved in ICT for development (ICT4D) to enhance their collaboration and effectiveness for achieving the internationally agreed development goals
(3) Raising awareness of policy makers on ICT4D policy issues;
(4) Facilitating identification of technological solutions for specific development goals and pertinent partnerships
(5) Creating an enabling environment and innovative business models for pro-poor investment and growth and for empowering people living in poverty
(6) Acting as a "think-tank" on ICT4D-related issues and as an advisory group to the Secretary-General."
tagged development digital_divide gaid ict literacyopen_source mdg millenium_development_goals open_source poverty un wsis by cdoughe ...on 24-JUL-09
Call#: Van Pelt Library HD30.2 .F685 2007
The GAID is an initiative launched by the UN in 2006 to address the use of ICT in achieving the MDGs. This book outlines the purpose, goals, and operations of the GAID. It is organized into three parts: 1) principles and structure of the GAID; 2) summary and outcomes from the organization's first meeting; and 3) the business plan of the GAID. It is published by the UN/GAID so it is somewhat of a manifesto rather than a critique or analysis of the organization's operations. It will give a concise view of the GAID stated goals and objectives and how the organization plans to promote the Millenium Development Goals through the effective use and proliferation of ICT.
The GAID originated as a result of the 2003 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). During this summit, representatives from the UN, civil society groups, and non-governemental organizations (NGO) determined a need for a global open forum within which ICT policy dialogue could take place. It is from this need that the GAID was concieved and launched in 2006. In pursuit of this goal the GAID "will contribute to transforming the spirit and vision of the WSIS into action and promote the use of ICT for the acheivement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millenium Development Goals (pp. 2)." The organization acts a facilitator and a spring board for colaborative partnerships aimed at tackling development issues using ICT. This is the main focus of my research and thus this book will be helpful in understanding the vision and operations of this organization.
tagged digital_divide ict mdg millenium_development_goals open_source un wsis by cdoughe ...on 24-JUL-09
Call#: Van Pelt Library HM851 .R6795 2009
Call#: Annenberg Library Reference Ann Ref HM851 .R6795 2009
Call#: Van Pelt Library HM851 .R6795 2009
Call#: Annenberg Library Reference Ann Ref HM851 .R6795 2009
This is a very extensive text that covers a wide range of internet policy issues. I will focus on two chapters specifically for this paper: Chapter 26 "Globalizing the logic of openess: open source software and the global governance of intellectual property" and Chapter 30 "Internet diffusion and the digital divide: the role of policy making and political institutions."
Chapter 26 will inform my discussion of the use of and debate surrounding open source software. The author argues that the global economy dictates the dissemination of information and skills necessary to complete in the era of globalization. Thus corporate powers such as Microsoft, and national powers such as the US and Western Europe are dominating the spread of information and communication technologies to the disadvantage of developing nations. Liscensing costs and copyright laws serve to protect the interests of wealthy elites and international finanical organizations, while those without access to relevant knowledge and skills fall farther behind. It is argued here that open source software is a kew way, possibly the key way, to counteract these forces of globalization that contribute to the global digital divide. Specifically the use of free and open source software in Africa is discussed as is the support for open source software offered by the United Nations and many non-governmental organizations. This will be a key text for my analysis of the use of open source software.
Chapter 30 focuses on issues surrounding the digital divide and policies that impact it. It focuses on four countries as case studies: Brazil, Estonia, Singapore and the US. The aim of this chapter is to discuss what role political policy and institutions may have in addressing the digital divide. The conclusion is that policy and leadership in a society can in fact impact the diffusion of ICT. Additionally, as I have seen in my other sources, civil society groups and non-governmental organizations are also key players in addressing issues of ICT disparity.
tagged digital_divide globalization ict internet_policy literacy open_source poverty un by cdoughe ...on 24-JUL-09
tagged countries documents international un by cobine ...on 26-MAR-09
tagged cities database international publichealth un unesco urbanstudies by cobine ...on 26-MAR-09



