New portal on ICTs and development

["Kanti Kumar" <kanti.kumar@oneworld.net>]

OneWorld and Benton Foundation announce new portal on ICTs and development

New Web portal will promote digital opportunities worldwide

OneWorld <www.oneworld.net>, the online sustainable development and human
rights network, is preparing to launch Digital Opportunity Channel, in
collaboration with the Benton Foundation <www.benton.org>, the
Washington-based non-profit that works to realize the social benefits made
possible by the public interest use of communications technology.

Digital Opportunity Channel <www.digitalopportunity.org> will focus on the
use of ICTs (information and communications technologies) for global
sustainable development, with a special emphasis on developing countries.
The site will be launched publicly the week of 17 May 2002 to coincide with
UN World Telecommunications Day, which this year is celebrated under the
theme, "ICT for all: empowering people to cross the digital divide".

Digital Opportunity Channel will build on Benton Foundation's Digital Divide
Network (DDN) <www.digitaldividenetwork.org> and OneWorld's seven years
experience in ICT for development. The site will present content from
OneWorld's partnership of over 1000 NGOs around the world and DDN's network
of practitioners and policymakers. Other civil society actors, international
organisations, governments and businesses engaged in harnessing the full
potential of ICT for sustainable development will also be involved in the
initiative.

Digital Opportunity Channel will be coordinated from India, which has one of
the largest populations of the poorest and marginalized in the world - and
at the same time shows the biggest potential in ICT for development. The
portal will also act as an online community and innovation lab for people
working in the field of ICT for development both in the developing and
developed world.

Organisations working on ICT and digital divide issues are invited to
participate in Digital Opportunity Channel. Further information is available
at <www.digitalopportunity.org>.

*	For enquiries about becoming a participating organisation contact
Myriam Horngren, OneWorld partnership and channels co-ordinator, Tel +44
(0)20 7735 4512,  Email <myriam.horngren@oneworld.net>

*	For media enquiries and launch information contact Glen Tarman,
OneWorld publicity manager, Tel +44 (0)20 7735 4541 Email
<media@oneworld.net>

*	For corporate support and sponsorship opportunities contact Ann
Longley, OneWorld corporate relations manager, Tel +44 7091 4509 Email
<ann.longley@oneworld.net>

Notes:

1. OneWorld <www.oneworld.net> is a non-profit network (made up of 10
OneWorld centres in the North and South and a partner community of over 1000
organisations) that aims to harness the democratic potential of the Internet
for human rights, sustainable development and an end to world poverty.
OneWorld is a global policy advisor on ICT for development. The organisation
is a representative of the G8 DOT Force <www.dotforce.org> and other
international alliances taking appropriate action on ensuring new technology
is a vital tool in promoting social and economic justice globally and
effectively supports initiatives that aim to meet the basic needs of the
most disadvantaged peoples in our world.

2. The Digital Divide Network <www.digitaldividenetwork.org>, a project of
the Benton Foundation, is a virtual network offering a range of information,
tools and resources on digital divide developments for people and
communities interested in working together to bridge the divide. The Benton
Foundation <www.benton.org> is a non-profit leader in accelerating digital
opportunity, serving as a catalyst for developing innovative strategies to
bridge the digital divide across the US and around the world. Benton also
works with fellow non-profit organisations
to improve the ways they use the Internet to communicate effectively.


Kanti Kumar
Editor, Digital Opportunity Channel
OneWorld South Asia
Third Floor
17 Panchsheel Commercial Centre
Panchsheel Park
New Delhi 110 017
Email: kanti.kumar@oneworld.net <kanti.kumar@oneworld.net> 

Digital Opportunity Channel: http://www.digitalopportunity.org/
<http://www.digitalopportunity.org/> 
OneWorld Home Page: http://www.oneworld.net/ <http://www.oneworld.net/> 
OneWorld South Asia: http://www.oneworld.net/southasia/
<http://www.oneworld.net/southasia/>

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