An International Seminar addressing the digital divide in some of the poorest communities of the developing world January 22 - 27, 2001 Kothmale, Sri Lanka Organized by UNESCO, the Ministry of Information and the Media of the Government of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in association with the Kothmale Internet Project of Kothmale Community Radio   This meeting presents a unique opportunity for the first international pooling of project experience in an innovative area which many believe offers the "missing link" in efforts to eradicate poverty: the harnessing of new information and communication technologies together with community media (especially radio) for community development and empowerment. On this occasion, UNESCO will launch its new programme for Community Multimedia Centres, which combine community broadcasting with NICTs. This two-part meeting is organized as follows: In a four-day workshop from 22-25 January, some 20 managers and project co-ordinators from community radios and telecentres in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean will discuss case studies and models, exchange experiences, views, strategies and techniques for the successful integration of the full spectrum of communication and information technologies at community level. At the two-day round-table meeting on 26-27 January, international partners including national development agencies and international governmental and non-governmental organizations, will engage the project managers in discussions on models of best practice, partnership strategies and programme development. From this process will be drawn a set of project models and guidelines for ensuring full community appropriation of NICTs, offering strategies for sustainability, networking and technical support systems that development workers in this field can draw on and apply in project development. This meeting comes within the framework of the Global Knowledge Partnership's Action Plan, for which UNESCO was asked to take the "champion" role for Action Item 1.3. The GKP approach emphasises coalitions for development and many GKP partners will be present in Kotmale. The Kothmale meeting is particularly timely, as the GKP is to undertake the consultative process on the information and communication issues under consideration by the G-8's Digital Opportunities Taskforce (DOT.force). The meeting will contribute to the global dialogue on 'bridging the digital divide', as emphasised in the Okinawa Charter, through its efforts to: "Actively facilitate discussions with developing countries, international organizations and other stakeholders to promote international co-operation with a view to fostering policy, regulatory and network readiness; improving connectivity, increasing access and lowering cost; building human capacity; and encouraging participation in global e-commerce networks" This meeting aims to encourage public authorities and the international community to harness their efforts to bridge the digital divide at community level through solidarity and cooperation which supports: the development and use of the full range of ICTs appropriate for grass-roots use, especially linking community radio and the Internet the production, translation and sharing of content and development-oriented applications the implementation of pilot projects corresponding to different cultural and development situations the inventorying, evaluation and exchange of experience at the national and international levels appropriate national policies and environments to encourage community action and cooperation, on the basis of successful models. Due to the strong interest shown world-wide in Radio Kothmale's use of the Internet with community broadcasting, its pioneering "radio-browsing" programmes and its multimedia community database for development, this event is being held within a development project environment, at a conference facility near the village of Kothmale itself.       Community Multimedia Centres Community Multimedia Centres - Addressing the Digital Divide (video, Media Player, 214498 KB) Community Multimedia Centres [EN | FR | ES] (brochure, PDF, 1000 KB) Seminar documents Kothmale Seminar Final Report (PDF, 400 KB) Message of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (RTF, 6 KB) Message from the Director-General of UNESCO (RTF, 9 KB) Address by the Assistant Director-General of UNESCO Mr Alain Modoux (RTF, 12 KB) Seminar document (RTF, 158 KB) List of participants (RTF, 13 KB) Press release from SLBC and UNESCO, 27 January 2001 (RTF, 5 KB) Press release on Switzerland and Belgium funding UNESCO Community Multimedia Projects, January 2001 (RTF, 5 KB) Recommendations [EN] [FR] [ES] (RTF, 50 KB) Papers A case study of Suriname (RTF, 10237 KB) (PPT, 492 KB) by Roberto Pansa, Suriname Assessment of Impact of Information Technology on Rural Areas of India (RTF, 50 KB) by Senthil Bhutan Broadcasting Service (PPT, 761 KB) Sonam Tobgyal Connecting People and Organizations for Rural Development through Pilot Multipurpose Community Telecenters (MCTs) in Selected Philippine Barangays (PPT, 4746 KB) by Opeña, Philippines Empowering the rural and poor suburban communities in Central America: The Infoplazas program of Panama (RTF, 1496 KB) by zael Barrera G., Panama Gender and Minority Mainstreaming at policy, strategic tactical and operational levels (PPT, 144 KB) by Augustine Bazaale, Uganda Impact on Uses of Information and Communication Technology in a Conflict and Crisis Situation - A Philippine Experience (PPT, 80 KB) by Edmundo G. Casino, Philippine INTERCOM - ECUANEX: Internet for Development (RTF, 35 KB) by Roberto Roggiero, Ecuador Katutura Community Radio - "The Experience" (RTF, 17 KB) by Tukondjeni Haikali, Namibia Multipurpose Community Telecentres in Mozambique (PPT, 152 KB) by Polly Gastor Problems and Prospects in the Utilization of New Information Technologies by Developing Countries in Asia (RTF, 29 KB) by Anura Goonasekera, Singapore Project on Community Information Centres in India (PPT, 98 KB) by Mukesh Bhatnagar Radio Network and Conflict (RTF, 4 KB) by Roberto Durette, Bolivia Radio Sagarmatha (PPT, 1110 KB) by Pawan Prakash Upreti The Case of Sengerema MCT, Tanzania (RTF, 10 KB) by Felician Ncheye UNESCO Local Radio Network (RTF, 20 KB) by Ade Kusumaningrum, Indonesia VITAsat (PPT, 3782 KB) by Gary Garriot Women's Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC) (PPT, 42 KB) by Mary Van, Cambodia
	Related Links Community Media Website of the Kothmale FM Community Radio WebWorld news on the opening of the Kothmale seminar, 23 January 2001 WebWorld news on the closure of the Kothmale seminar, 29 January 2001 Radio Toco, Trinidad and Tobago

• WebWorld entry point