APDIP Internet policy information service - news

[Adam Peake <ajp@glocom.ac.jp>]

Dear colleagues,

I would like to bring to your attention this request for expression of
interest to take over the content management of an Internet policy
information service for the Asia-Pacific. More details below.

With best regards,


Dieter Zinnbauer


Editor
Internet Governance Information Service
Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
d.zinnbauer@LSE.AC.UK

-----------------------------------------


Request for expression of interest to manage an Internet policy information
service in the Asia-Pacific


The Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP), a regional UNDP
initiative to promote ICT for sustainable human development, is seeking
expressions of interest from organizations in the Asia-Pacific region to
take over the content management of its Internet Governance Information
Service (IGIS), which provides timely information on Internet policies for
policymakers and other stakeholders in developing countries (DCs) in the
Asia Pacific.

Ideally, we are looking for a public interest advocacy or academic
institution with proven track record in either media or ICT policy work and
the ability to analyze emerging issues in Internet governance with regard to
their implications for DCs in the Asia-Pacific and to communicate the
findings to our stakeholders in 35+ countries in the region.

In a nutshell, APDIP would provide seed financing, technical backstopping,
hosting services for the website, as well as affiliation with APDIP/UNDP.

For more information on the IGIS and APDIP please see the attached paragraph
at the end of this message.

Expressions of interest are treated confidentially, should be sent no later
than August 20, 2001, by email to the editor of the information service, Mr.
Dieter Zinnbauer, at d.zinnbauer@LSE.AC.UK and include the following
information in no more than two pages

- your expertise/experience with regard to the policy areas covered by the
information service as well as with regard to the communication and
organizational capacities required to maintain and actively expand a
regional information network;

- your position on Internet governance issues, your editorial independence
and potential constraints on the latter in view of existing funding
arrangements or the mandate of your institution

- the ideas and expectations you would bring to the implementation and
future development of the information service, the resources your
organization would be able to contribute in the medium and long-term, and a
suggested timeframe for transitioning the service.


We will acknowledge receipt of all expressions of interest by email but
contact only organisations we take further interested in.


About the Internet Governance Information Service

APDIP set up the Internet Governance Information Service in early 1999
(www.intgov.apdip.net) to supplement APDIP's (www.apdip.net) portfolio of
ICT projects in the Asia-Pacific with an information service on Internet
policies for policymakers and other stakeholders.

The initial spark was the creation of ICANN and the very limited
participation of stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific in this crucial period of
institution building.

As we collected and disseminated information on the ICANN process, well
before the topic reached its current popularity in the public debate, we
soon realized the importance of other issue areas, which

a) were just about to enter the various international negotiation fora;

b) have potentially dramatic implications for the ability of developing
countries to maximize the benefits of the 'information revolution'; and,

c) of which policy-makers, public interest groups and  even business in DCs
were barely aware as our policy seminars in the region had clearly shown.

I was commissioned to design and put together the intgov
website/e-newsletter and have since then acted as editor for the information
service.

The final step is now to transfer the content management and editorial
functions to a suitable organisation in the Asia-Pacific.

APDIP intends to provide seed financing, hosting facilities and general
technical support, as well as affiliation of the service with APDIP/UNDP
(the site would be co-branded as orgx/apdip project).

The website of the information service at www.intgov.apdip.net should give a
good overview of what range of topics we cover. In general we aim at strong
editorial selection rather than comprehensiveness (UNESCO is already
providing  a very extensive unedited news service). In terms of future
expected output, the website should be supplemented by a regular
e-newsletter.
Discussion lists, email alert services or similar things are also possible
and would be technically supported by APDIP.

For more information about APDIP, please visit www.apdip.net.

I very much look forward to hearing from you.

With best regards,


Dieter Zinnbauer


Editor
Internet Governance Information Service
Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
d.zinnbauer@LSE.AC.UK

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