27 Feb. 2007, Silicon Valley, California

Question 1: Mr Segond, you’re just back from Silicon Valley, where the second meeting of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development was held. What are you first impressions?

Like the global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF), the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) brings together, under the chairmanship of Craig Barret, CEO of Intel, members of the public sector, the private sector and civil society. It’s the first time that a body dependent on the United Nations has met in Silicon Valley. The new UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, took the opportunity to confirm the UN strategy defined by his predecessor, Kofi Annan: information technologies are central to achieving the Millennium Goals. Bearing in mind the difficulties that development and ITC specialists have in understanding one another, this is an extremely important policy position.

In addition to the strategy confirmation, which is essential for the development of the Fund, this meeting showed that the private sector, represented at the highest level, was ready to get involved in the fight against the digital divide, alongside the competent international bodies. This has led the GAID to structure its activities around a combination of reflection and specific actions. This evolution is essential for the Fund which, since its creation, has been committed to an innovative partnership between public authorities and private businesses.


Question 2: In less than five months, we will be half way through the Millennium Programme. Do you think the GAID can contribute to the Millennium Goals?

The Millennium Goals, set by the heads of state and government of the whole world, are ambitious. As is all too often the case, there’s a gulf between the political ideals expressed and the financial resources made available to achieve them. But things are progressing: new financing mechanisms for development are attracting the interest of a growing number of countries, which are actively discussing them within the framework of the Pilot Group, ICTs are now recognised as an important development tool, private companies are starting to get involved… The GAID and the Fund must support the efforts of the Secretary-General and the United Nations, and help them to mobilise the necessary resources to sustain the Millennium dynamic. By holding its meeting in the heart of Silicon Valley, the GAID is sending out a strong signal. And the Fund is responding to that signal with the presentation, in Geneva on 20 March, of its vision of an information society based on high connectivity, where solidarity prevails. By applying this vision and harnessing ICTs, it will be possible to provide universal access to knowledge.

Question 3: Do you think that the ICT industry is keen to contribute to these goals?

Although the ICT industry is not directly concerned by all the Millennium Goals, it does play an essential role in the area of access to knowledge, particularly for health and education. I’ve noticed that companies in Silicon Valley are fully aware of the issues and their responsibilities. What’s more, the United Nations, the GAID, the Fund and Silicon Valley share similar aims: providing good connectivity everywhere, giving access to the Internet, simplifying the use of ICTs and reducing costs, meeting the real needs of populations, developing local content and providing basic training. To ensure that these convergent approaches are as effective as possible, we must go beyond purely public action – which all too often is subject to restrictions – to develop public-private partnerships based on a shared vision of a society governed by principles of solidarity.

Question 4: What can the GAID and the DSF do to promote this partnership and quickly achieve tangible results?

The DSF is one of the few organisations that bring together national states, local authorities, private companies and civil society organisations. Its activities – whether seeking resources or funding for projects – must be based on consensus among its members. So, the Fund embodies a new, successful public-private partnership.

What’s more, the fundraising policy of the DSF benefits private businesses: the 1% digital solidarity contribution is collected in the IT sector to finance existing but undeveloped demand in the same sector. By supporting community-based projects that create activities and jobs, the Fund is contributing to the emergence of future markets. For the companies paying this contribution, this financing mechanism is neither a tax nor a donation, but rather an investment in the markets of tomorrow. It also entitles them to display the “digital solidarity” label. Like the GAID, the Fund believes – and demonstrates – that, in the long run, it pays for companies to invest in social responsibility!

Question 5: Do you think the partnership you’re proposing could rally all stakeholders from the private sector?

It’s too early to answer that question. When the Fund – which is an initiative of the African Union – was proposed in December 2003, at the World Summit on the Information Society, only a few countries actively supported the idea. But two years later, thanks to the commitment of its founding father, Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal and Chairman of the NEPAD Infrastructure Committee, and Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria and Chairman of the African Union, heads of state and government from around the world have acknowledged the Fund (New York, MDG+5, September 2005).

Today, the digital solidarity contribution is recognised as one of the new financing mechanisms for development: within the framework of the Pilot Group, its timeliness and feasibility have been recognised by a good forty national states. The Bucharest Francophonie Summit (September 2006) and the Summit of the ACP Group of States (December 2006), urged their member states to implement it… At Silicon Valley, many business leaders acknowledged that it is a good approach, but, as ever, no one wants to be the first… and no one wants to be the last either!

Personally, I’m confident: every really new idea starts out in isolation, then it becomes marginal, then it is adopted by a minority, then the majority. Within 10 years, everyone will support it. And we’ll ask ourselves “Why didn’t we do it sooner?”