Vance's CALL resources page | esl_home index
Return to Papyrus News Archive Main Page
*******************************************************************
March 3, 2000
: This message was distributed by Papyrus News, a free e-mail distribution list on the global impact of information technology on language, literacy, and education. Feel free to forward this message to others, preferably with this introduction. For information on Papyrus News, including how to (un)subscribe or access archives, see <http://www.lll.hawaii.edu/web/faculty/markw/papyrus-news.html>.*******************************************************************
UNDP SU/TCDC PRESS RELEASE February 23, 2000
The United Nations Development Programs Special Unit for Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries (SU/TCDC) is pleased to announce the launch of the WIDE Initiative (Web of Information for Development).
Details can be found at <http://www.undp.org/tcdc/wide>
SU/TCDC, established within UNDP by the United Nations General Assembly in 1974, is launching the WIDE Initiative in support of, and to further, technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC).
The WIDE Initiative introduces a new array of internet-based services and efforts to give more visibility to developing country expertise, foster communications and promote more effective technical cooperation among developing countries.
The first of these services, WIDE Online, is a public access database for collecting and accessing (i) experts bio-data (expertise, location, contacts, publications, etc.) and (ii) information on institutions, products, services and best practices.
WIDE Online started life in 1977 as INRES, a paper-based Information Referral Service system. Today, in partnership with CESAR (Recife, Brazil), WIDE Online transforms INRES into a modern global information service.
To raise the visibility of developing country expertise and knowledge TCDC is also undertaking WIDE InterLink, a program of strategic partnerships with TCDC stakeholder organizations.
The InterLink program is designed to (i) promote stakeholder participation in the WIDE Initiative by using WIDE Online, or its offline version, to raise the profile of developing country expertise and knowledge and (ii) assist stakeholders in strengthening their capacity for sharing expertise and promoting technical cooperation among developing countries.
The Initiative also includes TCDC/WIDE Innovative Experiences. A database of experiences and projects demonstrating innovative development activities or cooperation carried out by institutions and professionals in developing countries. These valuable experiences are to be shared for use in other developing countries. They are also available in book format.
The WIDE Initiative, in cooperation with Bellanet (Ottawa, Canada) includes two online WIDE Discussion Forums, accessible by email and web browser.
WIDEFORUM-L is the WIDE Initiative discussion area, and a forum for policy dialogue and knowledge networking for strengthening the WIDE Initiative and technical cooperation among developing countries.
GOODWIDE-L collects and critiques innovative experiences in technical cooperation among developing countries.
TCDC/WIDE is also providing an internet broadcasting News Service, in cooperation with Comcast Inc. (Republic of Korea). SU/TCDC and Comcast are collaborating to deliver this state of the art news service for news related to development and to South-South cooperation.
The WIDE Initiative launches today with partnerships across three continents, and plans to expand both its partnerships and its services.
* WIDE Initiative Web Pages and Innovative Experiences are hosted by SU/TCDC in New York (USA).
* WIDE Online is hosted by CESAR (Centro de Estudos e Sistemas Avancados de Recife) in Recife (Brazil)
* The WIDE News Service is hosted by COMCAST Co.,Ltd. in Seoul (Rep. of Korea)
* WIDEFORUM-L and GOODWIDE-L are hosted by Bellanet in Ottawa (Canada)
Experts in and from the South, and institutions, are invited to register in the WIDE database and to participate in the WIDE Initiative discussion forums. Everybody is invited to subscribe to the WIDE Discussion Forums in order to receive announcements of new services, and to participate in the implementation of the WIDE Initiative.
All WIDE services can be accessed through http://www.undp.org/tcdc/wide.
Please contact SU/TCDC for information on partnerships, the InterLink strategy, or for offline ways to register in the WIDE Online database:
The Special Unit for TCDC
United Nations Development Programme
One UN Plaza, ff-1208
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Tel: (212) 906 5732
Fax: (212) 906 6352
Email: atsede.worede-kal@undp.org
URL: <http://www.undp.org/tcdc/wide>
Use your browser's BACK button
to return to a previous pageFor comments, suggestions, or further information on this site, contact Vance Stevens, webmaster. Regarding content of Papyrus-News, contact Mark Warschauer.