|
|
 |
|
|
UNESCO WSIS Action Directory
How UNESCO is implementing the WSIS Action Plan |
|
|
|
|
Home: Access to Information and Knowledge
|
|
| Go to the Action Plan Chapter on Access to Information and Knowledge | text only |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The aim of the "UNESCO World Report 'Building Knowledge Societies'" is to strengthen the intellectual, strategic and ethical watch capacities of the international community and of societies. Due to be published in 2005, its the choice of theme indicates UNESCO?s interest in the growing importance of different forms of knowledge in society, and in the emergence ? partly under the effect of the revolution brought about by new ICTs ? of a new paradigm of knowledge-based societies.
POPULAR
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
UNESCO is facilitating many communication and information initiatives in South Asia and other parts of the world. In South Asia, specific initiatives that all share a common focus on the application of ICTs for development, particularly poverty eradication, have been developed as part of a research network under the banner Putting ICTs in the Hands of the Poor.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
A two-day UNESCO training course on establishing and strengthening information centres in school libraries in oblasts in the Southern part of Kazakhstan was organized in Almaty from 22to 23 April 2004.. Some 25 librarians participated in the event that aims at enhancing existing library networks and expanding them to rural areas in order to increase the number of libraries as information access points .
The agenda included presentations, for example on the potential of rural school information networks in the Information Society and virtual libraries, and hands-on exercises, for example on the automation of library processes, and the creation of inventories and booklists from e-catalogues.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The UNESCO/IOC African OceanPortal provides access to information and data on all aspects of ocean/coastal research and management for the benefit of various communities such as decision makers, the private sector, the research and education community and the general public.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The objective of the project "Building and Enhancing Infomation Networks between Local Communities" is to facilitate and document innovative models for local information networking; to combine the social and technological dimensions, in ways that facilitate practical use of information by poor women and youth for education, enterprise and income generation.
Based on ongoing research into specific local information environments, configurations and processes for operationalising local information networks will be developed. Networks will simultaneously identify needs,facilitate documentation and knowledge transfer, and especially access to information by poor and marginalised groups, particularly women and youth, notably in conflict and post-conflict areas.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
CDS/ISIS is an advanced non-numerical information storage and retrieval software developed by UNESCO since 1985 to satisfy the need expressed by many institutions, especially in developing countries, to be able to streamline their information processing activities by using modern (and relatively inexpensive) technologies.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
UNESCO's international initiative for Community Multimedia Centres (CMCs) promotes community empowerment and addresses the digital divide by combining community broadcasting with the Internet and related technologies.
The CMC programme offers a global strategy for addressing the digital divide in the poorest communities of the developing world and also among countries in transition. The CMC opens a gateway to active membership of the global knowledge society by making information and communication the basic tools of the poor in improving their own lives.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
UNESCO, together with UNDP and the British Council, supports the development of community multimedia centres (CMC) in Ethiopia. CMCs exists in Bahir Dar, Lalibela, Addis Ababa, Modjo, Assebot, Axum, Debre Birhan, Gondar and Wolisso. The nine centres serve as models for how communities can benefit from ICTs for development. They provide access to information on CD-ROM and on the Internet, offer networking possibilities with other communities within Ethiopia and abroad, and contribute to the work of community development initiatives, for example e.g. women groups, youth clubs and HIV/AIDS awareness groups. Especially access for out of school youth it is a promising experience to improve ICT literacy. Beside access to information, the production of local content on CD-ROMs and on the Internet contributes to and active participation of the community in the information society.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
A two-day International Scientific and Practical Conference on ?Information Technologies and Law (Legal Informatization ? 2004)? organized from 28 to 29 October 2004 in Minsk, Republic of Belarus, under the auspices and with the financial support of UNESCO, looked at access to legal information. The conference included in the list of WSIS thematic meetings was organized by the National Center of Legal Information of Belarus, a governmental institution in charge of facilitating legal information exchange, including the registration of legal acts, the maintenance of a databank of legal information and the dissemination of legal information.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The Container Project , launched in 2003 is one of the few community computer access points in Jamaica. Soon expected to be mobile with a view to serving youth in marginalised communities all over this island-country, it is equipped with computers, internet connection and a young talented staff. UNESCO has been associated with this activity since 2000 and envisages further assistance within the framework of its programmes to create lifelong learning opportunities through community media and to support the development of community multimedia centres. Other partners of the project include local organizations, such as HEART/ NTA, Jamaica which certifies individuals in multimedia technology and facilitates the dissemination of information dealing with HIV/AIDS prevention, environment and sustainable development.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
For many libraries and archives all over the world, ICT are already having impact. In the Pacific, the situation is still unclear. There is the view that it is now only a matter of time before many Pacific libraries and archives move into the digital age. This study, commissioned by UNESCO as part of the Pacific Pathway project, seeks to establish a clearer Pacific situation. The primary focus of the Pacific Pathway project is the promotion of digital access to Pacific culture represented in the documentary holdings of libraries and archives, or the wider access to information by the community in the public domain.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The Connecting Communities project seeks to reinforce and develop ICT capacity building in selected Pacific Island countries. This will assist the deployment of ICT infrastructure and in doing so promote ICT literacy, thereby achieving the key object which is to focus on connecting families living in Pacific Island countries with those living in New Zealand and in other countries.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Project for the development of an international framework for the creation of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs)
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Generic and easily customizable browser that acts as a gateway to a community?s knowledge, communication and empowerment. It enables communities to quickly and efficiently build their own gateway website, enriched with their own local content and connected to knowledge sources and services that are tailored according to their own information and communication needs.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
This one-year project is being implemented by the Juvenile Development Centre, a Nigerian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), in collaboration with the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO. The project is supported by UNESCO?s Information for All Programme (IFAP) as part of an advocacy campaign to encourage the country?s Government to get involved in information literacy. It aims at providing computer and Internet training to about 360 students and 120 teachers from 30 primary and secondary schools from six local government areas of three senatorial districts in Plateau State. Training will also be extended to information professionals in media, libraries, NGOs and Government institutions.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
A global strategy for a more efficient use of recycled IT equipment was developed by donor organizations and potential recipients at an international meeting held at UNESCO's Paris Headquarters on 14 and 15 March 2003. This meeting entitled "New Synergies for Recycling Information Technology Equipment" was triggered by a UNESCO working group set up to study the area of transfer of used technology.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
UNESCO works closely with the University of Waikato (New Zealand) to enhance the open source "Greenstone" digital library software to enable easy and flexible use by librarians in making their collections available in digital form. The full package is available free-of-charge in English, French, Russian and Spanish on a UNESCO multilingual CD-ROM.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The IFLA/UNESCO Internet Manifesto Guidelines will be based on the
principles stated in the IFLA Internet Manifesto . The intention of
these guidelines is to support libraries worldwide in formulating clear
Internet policy defining objectives, priorities and services in relation
to national and local community needs.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Handbook on Community Multimedia Centres written by reputed practitioners and researchers working on CMCs or ICT for development, it is available in hard copy, CD Rom and on WebWorld.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The project ?ICT for reducing poverty of indigenous people in the Caribbean? addresses poverty in isolated indigenous communities using integrated community media and the creation of multimedia products as the focus for a sustainable human development strategy. The purpose is to reduce isolation of the indigenous communities by providing access to ICT training and infrastructure, and enabling the development of local content in integrated community media. The programme will be implemented in Belize, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname. Focus is on the specific situations of the indigenous peoples on the Caribbean region. A collaborative partnership has been established for implementation of the programme in Belize with the Belize Indigenous Training Institute as well as the Mayan Leaders Alliance, the Tumul Kin Centre of Learning in Blue Creek and the Hamalali Garinagu Radio in Dangriga.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
UNESCO launched in 2003 its first project in Ethiopia establishing a partnership arrangement with the Adaptive Technology Center for the Blind (ATCB) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for training blind and visually impaired students, government employees and professionals to use computers equipped with adaptive devices.
The project objectives include the establishment of a computer training centre to assist accessibility of ICT to blind users in the society, training of blind and visually impaired people to operate computers with adoptive equipment and, furthermore, creation of public awareness that blind people can utilize their potentials for their use and the society using adaptive technology.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The pilot training programme ?ICTs and people with disabilities?carried out in cooperation with the Ability Foundation of India seeks to promote equal opportunities for persons with hearing and physical impairments enter the employment sector. To support this, the project will develop an employment oriented training facility offering a range of courses including ICT training. The training will also including counseling and other support aimed at enhancing the self-esteem of trainees. The project will also support broader social awareness raising efforts aimed at overcoming stereotypes and discrimination particularly among prospective employers. The lessons learnt and the training curriculum developed in this project will be made available via the web.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
IDAMS (Internationally Developed Data Analysis and Management Software) is a software package for the validation, manipulation and statistical analysis of data, developed by the UNESCO Secretariat in co-operation with experts from various countries. It is a powerful information-processing tool for statistical analysis, data mining, creating and summarizing underlying knowledge in huge volume of raw information. The full software package for Windows is available upon request free-of-charge in English, French, and Spanish either on Internet for downloading or on a UNESCO Information Processing Tools CD-ROM.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
This project on information literacy aims to provide people with skills and abilities for critical reception, assessment and use of information in their professional and personal lifes. It is being run jointly by the Hanoi University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) Centre Library and Vietnam Development Information Center (VDIC).
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
An information literacy project for headmasters of schools participating in Ghana?s Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) was launched with the support of UNESCO?s Information for All Programme. The objectives of the project are to provide a series of ICT training courses for fifty headmasters and teachers from selected ASPnet schools.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
