USAID and Partners Discuss the Future of Information Sharing for Global Development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2007
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), recently hosted the first-ever Global Development Commons forum in order to initiate discussions to better identify ways in which increased communication, collaboration and cooperation can benefit global development.
Convened by USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore, the Forum brought together nearly 100 development specialists from both the public and private sectors to explore such questions as:
- How can we make lessons of development experience available to the developing world?
- How will the future of connectivity fill existing knowledge gaps?
- What will development look like in 5, 10, or 20 years?
- What role can USAID play?
"The Commons is a community of continuous and real-time exchange, collaboration, partnership and action between public and private donors, agencies, NGOs, host governments, and civil society - all operating as equals," said Fore.
The keynote address was given by Dr. James Billington, Librarian of Congress. The Library of Congress, through their World Digital Library Initiative, has made monumental advancements in information sharing to the developing world.
Other speakers included Mark Fleeton from The Development Gateway Foundation and Helga Leifsdottir from ReliefWeb. Each gave their perspective on the advancements and challenges in making development information available on-line, while Corey Griffin of the Microsoft Corporation spoke of efforts to expand connectivity to the developing world and reconfirmed Microsoft's goal to "broaden Internet access to the next 5 billion people." Dr. John Steffens of the Infopoverty Institute and William Reese of the International Youth Foundation spoke of trends currently taking place in development and ways in which the Global Development Commons can contribute.
For more information on the Global Development Commons and to view videotaped portions of the Forum, please visit http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/gdc.
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.
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