Global Knowledge Partnership Launches GKP Strategy 2005

["Irfan Khan" <khania@super.net.pk>]

 GKP PRESS RELEASE

Global Knowledge Partnership Launches GKP Strategy 2005

At the Annual Meeting of the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 4-5 April 2002, members of GKP endorsed and
formally launched the GKP Strategy 2005. The Strategy represents a
milestone in the positioning and orientation of the Partnership,
reinforcing its vision of "a world of equal opportunities where all
people are able to use and access knowledge and information to
improve their lives." GKP's commitment to knowledge sharing for
development remains as the overriding ideology.

Based on GKP's strengths and past experiences, the objectives of
Strategy 2005 focus on:

· Facilitating advocacy and amplifying the voices of stakeholders
from the developing world in Global Policy Dialogues on ICT for
Development

· Providing services that enhance members' individual and collective
efficiency and effectiveness by operating as a broker for knowledge,
services, resources and relationships.

· Increasing the availability of information and knowledge on ICT for
development and empowerment, and promoting regional exchange.

Through such identified activities, GKP aims to unleash the potential
of ICT to meet the goals of sustainable development, particularly for
poverty reduction and empowerment of people.  The Strategy will
further help to strengthen GKP's commitment to an effective
partnership, through reduced duplication and increased synergies
between partners, and sharpen its unique profile as a 'network of
networks'. A resounding emphasis is placed on the core partnership
principles of shared values, mutual respect, transparency and trust.



The GKP Strategy 2005 is premised upon the recognition that access to
information and knowledge is essential if the disadvantaged, the
marginalised, and the poor are to improve their lives and the lives
of their children. The Strategy represents a concrete realization
that both the inclusion and participation of developing countries,
and a multi-sectoral approach are crucial to bridging the global
digital and economic divide. The consensus is that "mutual prosperity
gained through effective use of information and knowledge would
contribute to a more stable and equitable world.


About GKP:

GKP is an evolving network of public, private and not-for profit
organizations from both developed and developing countries.  The
Partnership was born as a result of the 1997 Global Knowledge
Conference in Canada, hosted by the World Bank and the Government of
Canada.  At present there are 45 members and 48 pending members.  An
elected nine-member executive committee serves as the decision-making
body of the Partnership and holds a two-year term.  For 2001-2003,
the chair for the committee is the Government of Switzerland,
represented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
(SDC), and the secretariat is hosted by the Government of Malaysia
and represented by the National Information Technology Council
(NITC).


Contact:

GKP Secretariat
Lot L-2-I-4, Enterprise 4
Technology Park Malaysia
57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60-3-8996-2379
Fax: +60-3-8996-2382
e-mail: gkps@gkpsecretariat.org.my
http://www.globalknowledge.org