At the Millenium+5 in New York, Nations States recognize the DSF commitment to bridge the digital divide

Though a shared vision of our development has yet to emerge, it would be unfair to conceal the good news. A decision in the final document adopted by Heads of State and Government in New York last month – on the occasion of the «Millennium +5» meeting – deserves to be shared: political leaders from around the world decided to support the global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) and to invite Nation States to contribute to it.

The prospects opened by the DSF are promising. The involvement of local authorities in the Fund multiplies the potential for co-operation on a scale that is difficult to imagine. If thousands of local authorities engage in favour of international solidarity, the impact will be considerable. Moreover, in a society the growth of which is based on information flows, solidarity means that all the sources of information are taken into account.

Thus, local authorities’ commitment represents a unique opportunity to reduce the digital divide. Thanks to a new division of responsibilities between local authorities and Nation States – in partnership with the private sector and civil society – access to knowledge for all can be realized. While States ensure the deployment of large infrastructures, local authorities can focus on what they do best : local applications in the economic, political, cultural or social areas.

This is the DSF ambition. In this sense, the DSF constitutes the first global Fund for universal access.

In its development phase, the DSF needs Nation States’ support, to ensure both finances for the start-up of activities and the legal framework enabling local authorities to capitalise on the Fund. Local authorities’ commitment can be carried out through new financial mechanisms, in particular through the «Geneva principle», which proposes that one percent of public-private transactions related to IT products or services be transferred to the DSF.

This 1% contribution is not a tax, but an investment for the IT sector, through which new markets are made solvent. Without this effort, entire market sections will remain excluded from globalisation. This ethical contribution needs to be supported, in order to move on from a dual world divided between those who have access to knowledge and those who are excluded from it.