The «1% digital solidarity»

An equitable information society cannot be envisioned without new forms of solidarity and innovative financing mechanisms. Awareness must be raised. Political and economic decision-makers can no longer shirk their responsibility. Inherent to the digital divide is a cognitive divide that runs the risk of permanently marginalising disconnected populations.

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The Secretary of State to the Prime Minister, in charge of New Technologies, Mognana Sow Mohamed Deyna, firmly believes that the innovative financing mechanism proposed by the DSF will give a strong impetus to the development of ICTs

Mauritania could be the third North African nation to join the DSF. What is the reason for this interest?

ICTs play a crucial role in countries’ social and economic development. To take full advantage of this, the Mauritanian Government is firmly committed to mastering ICTs. Within this context, our country is striving to promote and develop the use of computing and technologies in government, the private sector and civil society. The ultimate goal is to establish a positive position for Mauritania in the global information society in order to harness the benefits of the ICT revolution and the globalisation phenomenon, facilitate access to knowledge, fight poverty and overcome the «digital divide». This last goal can only be achieved globally and collectively, which is why digital solidarity is so important at both the regional and international levels.

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Jérôme Bindé1, coordinator of the UNESCO report Towards Knowledge Societies, considers that the knowledge divide between North and South can only be overcome by technical means

Reducing the digital divide must become a priority objective if new technologies are to contribute to development and stimulate the expansion of genuine «knowledge societies». «Info-exclusion» is not only linked to content, but also to access and connectivity. Consequently, it is tied in with both the digital divide and the cognitive divide, reflecting the educational, cultural and linguistic barriers that make the Internet something alien and inaccessible for populations confined to the margins of globalisation.

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Ms Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for the Information Society and Media, sees ICT as a valuable resource for achieving the Millennium Development Goals

Europe intends to intensify its efforts to become a major player in the information society. Might that not further widen the digital divide?

The European Commission is aware of the fact that the rapid development of the ICT products and services market creates enormous benefits for society, but also lays down potential digital divides. The global information society also risks creating differential development between a core of richer countries and a number of developing countries in terms of access to knowledge.

That is the reason why we set up policies that stimulate markets for the largest uptake of innovative technologies whilst making sure that the benefits are reaped by all. In my view, participation on equal terms in society and economy is a basic individual’s right. In the information society, this translates into an inclusive and barrier-free information for all. Our economy and society would benefit tremendously from such evolution.

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The aim of the Forum for a Responsible Globalisation, which will take place in Lyon from 25 to 28 October 2006, is to create an environment for a space for dialogue to find with a view to finding innovative and effective solutions to meet the new challenges of globalisation. Fostering dialogue among a broad spectrum of stakeholders, building on best practices and promoting the role of regions and cities are the underlying principles chosen by the organisers to create «a permanent laboratory for initiatives and experimentation».

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The Global Digital Solidarity Fund establishes a presence on the African continent

Most of the poorest countries of the world are found in Africa. Given that information technologies offer a solution to problems of development, the presence of the DSF in the heart of the continent is clearly necessary », explains Mr Ayuba Kadafa, the DSF representative in Africa. Thus the Global Digital Solidarity Fund’s first regional office was established in July in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, where the Nigerian government has put an administrative building at its disposal.

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