The «one percent for digital solidarity» principle is a direct participation in initiatives to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Given the chronic lack of means suffered by aid development programmes, a fresh spirit of innovation is required whereby all the stakeholders – civil society, public and private sectors and local collectivities alike – work in solidarity to reduce the digital divide. The DSF has proposed to the international community and public authorities the adoption of the principle of «one percent for digital solidarity », an innovative mechanism for financing development.

The mechanism is transparent and readily applicable. It is of no cost to the local collectivities themselves apart from a genuine display of solidarity towards other local bodies. It simply requests public authorities* to introduce a digital solidarity clause in their calls for bids relating to information technologies. The companies would then pay 1% of the transaction to the DSF. The DSF invests the resulting revenue in support of local collectivities that are at present excluded from the information society. The decision to introduce this clause entitles the partners involved to display the «digital solidarity» label.

By thus promoting the advance of new activities in the developing countries, information and communication technology (ICT) represents a vital tool in the reduction of poverty and the encouragement of economic growth. The one percent principle furthermore offers the possibility for hundreds of millions of women and men now excluded from the information society to gain access to knowledge and participate in globalization. By its application to telemedicine and teleeducation, it makes a direct contribution to the principles enshrined in the Millennium Development Goals.

The gain for the companies will be twofold, for not only will the resources invested enlarge their market in the developing countries but they will be the first beneficiaries of the Fund’s purchases.

Today, only 15% of the world population has access to the Internet. In our present information society, the lack of a digital identity is a factor of exclusion, just as an individual without a postal address cannot be contacted or, what is worse, affirm his existence. Clearly, the exclusion of 85% of the world population from the Internet represents an impoverishment in the exchange of knowledge and ideas. In the information society, to deprive another of an address is tantamount to ostracizing him socially, culturally and economically.

In the face of this challenge, local collectivities cannot hide behind a lack of competencies. Indeed, their own interests oblige them to face their new responsibilities within globalisation. The network that in so doing they help to create will furthermore permit them to become fully fledged actors in the age of participation. Paradoxically, it is through the development of unity, a shared vision of digital solidarity, that they can best preserve their own identity.