Information for All ProgrammeInformation for All Programme

AndAnd

The Caribbean The Caribbean Information/Knowledge Information/Knowledge

SocietySociety

Caribbean 0ffice

Summary of PresentationSummary of Presentation• Profile of Caribbean Information SocietyProfile of Caribbean Information Society

•7 Basic Indicators7 Basic Indicators•Institutional FrameworkInstitutional Framework•Challenges to WSIS POA in CaribbeanChallenges to WSIS POA in Caribbean

•International Players/InitiativesInternational Players/Initiatives

•Regional Regional Programme/IntiativesProgramme/Intiatives•GeneralGeneral•CARICOM, towards the CSMECARICOM, towards the CSME•Strategic Principles for attentionStrategic Principles for attention•Caribbean Forum on Information SocietyCaribbean Forum on Information Society

•UNESCO IFAP in the Caribbean Information SocietyUNESCO IFAP in the Caribbean Information Society•A Way Forward and ProposalsA Way Forward and Proposals•Major Documents for further reading Major Documents for further reading

Caribbean 0ffice

Basic I. Society Profile of the Caribbean Basic I. Society Profile of the Caribbean Seven Basic IndicatorsSeven Basic Indicators

•Institutions and StrategiesInstitutions and Strategies

•Access to telecom and technologiesAccess to telecom and technologies

•Awareness and understandingAwareness and understanding

•Regulation and LegislationsRegulation and Legislations

•Human ResourceHuman Resource

•ICT industry and servicesICT industry and services

•Commerce & GovernanceCommerce & Governance

Caribbean 0ffice

Institutional FrameworksInstitutional Frameworks

•Of 19 Countries covered by UNESCO Cluster office, 4 at Of 19 Countries covered by UNESCO Cluster office, 4 at acceptable stages of ICT policy and formulation - national acceptable stages of ICT policy and formulation - national ICT vision, strategies, and action plansICT vision, strategies, and action plans

•3 countries have IS/ICTs coordination units eg CITO, 3 countries have IS/ICTs coordination units eg CITO, Jamaica.Jamaica.

•Few have multi-stakeholder consultation or participationFew have multi-stakeholder consultation or participation

•No regional mechanism for coordination – no one is in No regional mechanism for coordination – no one is in chargecharge

•Low participation in international negotiations and forums Low participation in international negotiations and forums (WTO, ITU etc)(WTO, ITU etc)

WSIS POA and the Caribbean:WSIS POA and the Caribbean:ChallengesChallenges

• The absence of an accurate analysis of the status of Caribbean with respect to the Information Society

• The basic economic and social conditions unfavourable

• IS not integrated in the national or sectoral development agendas

• The absence of technocratic expertise and negotiating mechanisms

• Competition among actors, overlapping projects

• Inadequate integration of ICTs pursuits and social and economic challenges

•

International Programmes

•World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) (www.itu.int.wsis)

•UNICT Task Force www.unicttaskforce.org•Established by the UN Social and Economic Council, 2001

•provide overall leadership to the United Nations role in helping to formulate strategies for the development of information and communication technologies and putting those technologies at the service of development

•The UN ICT Task Force Latin American and Caribbean Regional Network was created to support and strengthen the UN ICT Task Force efforts in favor of reducing the digital gap in the region.

International Telecommunication Union (http://www.unitu.int)

The ITU, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland is an international organization within the United Nations System where governments and the private sector coordinate global telecom networks and services.

•Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL)

• developed a strategy document entitled “Agenda for Connectivity in the Americas: Plan of Action”

• This addresses the fundamental issues related to connectivity

Inter’l Organ. Cont.Inter’l Organ. Cont.

infoDEV - Information for Development Programme of the World Bank.

(www.infodev.org)

World Bank Funded grant programme

Innovative project in use of ICT4D

2 Approved projects in the Caribbean

• Digital Opportunity Task Force (http://www.dotforce.org)

• Established by G8 Heads of State, 2000

• Included governmental, private sector, NGOs and international organizations

• Identify the way in which the digital revolution could be applied to socio-economic development of the world’s poorest and most underserved groups.

• Has joined forces with UNICt Task Force

BELLANET (http://www.bellanet.org)

•Internationally funded initiative, UNDP IDRC, CIDA, Sida

•Focused on application of ICT IN Development

CARICOMCARICOMStrategic LevelStrategic Level

•Head of Government approved regional strategic Head of Government approved regional strategic approach to ICT developmentsapproach to ICT developments

•Two broad headings, ICT Technology Development and Two broad headings, ICT Technology Development and ICT Business and Trade ServicesICT Business and Trade Services

Operational LevelOperational Level•Regional discussion through preparation of Regional discussion through preparation of Regional Connectivity Agenda Regional Connectivity Agenda

•Defined number of strategic principles for Defined number of strategic principles for attentionattention

Defined number of strategic principles for attentionDefined number of strategic principles for attention• The major principles being addressed are :The major principles being addressed are :

• A comprehensive and dynamic Regional ICT PolicyA comprehensive and dynamic Regional ICT Policy

• Collaborative public and private sector actionCollaborative public and private sector action

• Security requirementsSecurity requirements

• Access to information services and technologiesAccess to information services and technologies

• Human Resource developmentHuman Resource development

• Enabling legal and regulatory frameworksEnabling legal and regulatory frameworks

• Regional and international dialogue on ICTs in Regional and international dialogue on ICTs in developmentdevelopment

•For a such as ITU, WTO, WIPO, FTAA, CITELFor a such as ITU, WTO, WIPO, FTAA, CITEL

•Caribbean Forum on the Information Society, 2004Caribbean Forum on the Information Society, 2004

•Intergovernmental Agencies CARICOM, OECSIntergovernmental Agencies CARICOM, OECS

•International Agencies, UNESCO, ITU, WIPO,International Agencies, UNESCO, ITU, WIPO,

•International Development Agencies, , WB, International Development Agencies, , WB, IDRC,IDRC,• EU, IDB, USAIDEU, IDB, USAID

• Research and academic institutions, UWI, UoG Research and academic institutions, UWI, UoG

Regional Programmes and Regional Programmes and InitiativesInitiatives

•The UN ICT Task Force Latin American and Caribbean Regional Network

•Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)

•Caribbean Information Action Group (CARINFO)Caribbean Information Action Group (CARINFO)

Regional Programmes Regional Programmes and Initiativesand Initiatives

• Caribbean ICT Virtual Community (CIVIC)Caribbean ICT Virtual Community (CIVIC)

• Caribbean Information Society Network (CARISNET)Caribbean Information Society Network (CARISNET)

• CARICOM: Connectivity agendaCARICOM: Connectivity agenda

• CARICAD / UNDESACARICAD / UNDESA / government of Italy + Ministerial / government of Italy + Ministerial meetingsmeetings

• Telecom: CTU: telecom - weak Telecom: CTU: telecom - weak

• ECTEL : sub regional telecom regulationECTEL : sub regional telecom regulation

• OECS / looking to ICTs, some other areas as e-education OECS / looking to ICTs, some other areas as e-education + Culture+ Culture

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)Caribbean (ECLAC)

Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC)(CDCC)

Education: CKLN (tertiary education) in development Education: CKLN (tertiary education) in development distance learning association distance learning association

Regulators: OCCURRegulators: OCCUR

CROSQ (norms)CROSQ (norms)

Regional Programmes Regional Programmes and Initiatives and Initiatives

UNESCO IFAP in the Caribbean Information SocietyUNESCO IFAP in the Caribbean Information Society

• preservation of information and universal access to itpreservation of information and universal access to it

•Regional Audio-visual PolicyRegional Audio-visual Policy•Global and regional PortalGlobal and regional Portal•CAVICCAVIC•MOWMOW•CMCCMC•CDERACDERA

•participation of all in the emerging global information societyparticipation of all in the emerging global information society

• WSIS, UNECLAC – Caribbean ParticipationWSIS, UNECLAC – Caribbean Participation

UNESCO IFAP in the Caribbean Information SocietyUNESCO IFAP in the Caribbean Information Society

•ethical, legal and societal consequences of ICT developments.ethical, legal and societal consequences of ICT developments.

•training, continuing education and lifelong learning in the training, continuing education and lifelong learning in the fields ICTsfields ICTs

• This WorkshopThis Workshop• CARIMACCARIMAC• Caribbean Centre of Excellence in ICT Caribbean Centre of Excellence in ICT training and developmenttraining and development• Caribbean adult literacy software (FOSS)Caribbean adult literacy software (FOSS)• Information Literacy trainingInformation Literacy training• E-local GovernanceE-local Governance

UNESCO IFAP in the Caribbean Information SocietyUNESCO IFAP in the Caribbean Information Society

•Production of local content and foster the availability of Production of local content and foster the availability of indigenous knowledgeindigenous knowledge

•CMCCMC•Digital LibrariesDigital Libraries•Initiative BabelInitiative Babel•Indigenous Peoples of the CaribbeanIndigenous Peoples of the Caribbean

•International standards and best practices in ICTsInternational standards and best practices in ICTs

•Community Database on Best Practices in Community Database on Best Practices in Conflict ResolutionConflict Resolution•Community Database on Best Practices in Community Database on Best Practices in disaster areas disaster areas •Guide on the development of PublicGuide on the development of Public Domain InformationDomain Information• Guideline on ICT in Education Guideline on ICT in Education

A Way ForwardA Way Forward

Role of National Commissions in Collaboration with UNESCO Role of National Commissions in Collaboration with UNESCO Caribbean Office Caribbean Office

• Establishment and strengthening of National Establishment and strengthening of National Information CommitteesInformation Committees

• Elect representatives to form Regional IFAP CommitteeElect representatives to form Regional IFAP Committee

• Seek partnership with CARINFO Programme (CDB, CARICOM, Seek partnership with CARINFO Programme (CDB, CARICOM, UNECLAC)UNECLAC)

• CARINFO collaboration with UNESCO National CARINFO collaboration with UNESCO National Commission; give guide to Information Committees Commission; give guide to Information Committees

Information gathering and disseminationInformation gathering and disseminationPlan grassroot programmesPlan grassroot programmes

Way Forward and Proposals •Strategic approach focusing on YOUTH [6-13 years] and ADULTS [60-up]

•Ensure gender balance

•Engendering the development of Information

Culture in the Caribbean

Guide line for proposal

•Joint Regional PP of NATCOMs in the Caribbean

•Information clubs in schools (Formal and informal Education)

•NATCOMs are strategically placed to spearhead

•Partnership with Ministries of Education, UNESCO ASPNET, SIV, YOUTH Organisation in the Caribbean

•Information and Youth Regional Policy

•Develop Plan of Action at next regional meeting of NATCOMs

•Establish Links with other regions

IFAP Special Fund

• New call for proposals end 2004 to be submitted by February 2005

• National Projects, 25,000usd

• Regional Projects, 35,000

• One or two regional projects for the Caribbean

• Application will be done on-line

• Priority areas 2005

Priorities 2004/5Priorities 2004/5• Promoting Promoting information literacyinformation literacy, through , through

capacity building particularly for capacity building particularly for information professionalsinformation professionals

• Strengthening awareness about the Strengthening awareness about the importance of importance of preservation of preservation of informationinformation of all kinds of all kinds

• Promoting a better understanding of Promoting a better understanding of the the ethical, legal and societalethical, legal and societal implications of ICTsimplications of ICTs

Major Documents for further readingMajor Documents for further reading

•UNESCO, Caribbean IFAP Report, Maritza Hee Houng

•UNESCO Recommendation on Multiligualism and Access to Cyberspace

•UNESCO Guideline on Access to Government Public Domain Information

•UNESCO Digital Heritage Charter

•WSIS Declaration of Principles •WSIS Plan of Action

•UNICT Task Force POA, also LAC Chapter

Major Documents for further Major Documents for further readingreading

• Caricom Connectivity Agenda

• America Connectivity Agenda

• CITEL action plan

• The Information Society from the Caribbean Perspective/CDCC 20th Session

• Bavaro Declaration

• CIVIC inputs to WSIS