Message-ID: <199808182209.SAA59742@dresden.american.edu> Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998 18:09:10 -0400 From: Jean-Claude Lorin <mailto:jlorin@SYNAPSE.NET> Subject: ENTERWeb News # 7 To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
**************************************************************************** ENTERWeb News #7 June/July 1998 < http://www.enterweb.org/>**************************************************************************** ENTERWeb just got a "facelift" !!
The homepage of ENTERWeb The Enterprise Development Website has been redesigned. More punch, more appeal, more clarity in less space so you know right away what the site has to offer. There are new sections on the criterias used for rating sites, on ENTERWeb's mission and objectives, on how to submit a site and on visitors statistics. For those who liked the old menu it is still available directly from the top under "Main Menu".
Let me know your reactions and comments not only on the new look but also on further improvements and or suggestions (<mailto: mailto:jlorin@synapse.net>) I have been thinking lately on adding new topics (knowledge economy, globalization, YK2000,etc) but I need feedback before embarking on those new areas.
I also (finally) cleaned up most of the dead links in ENTERWeb. A huge, time consuming and very frustrating task. It looks as if most large organisations just "love" to change their website structure on an irregular basis (without bothering of the likely impact for the user trying to access their site through either bookmarks or other referring links) How many times did I see a change such as ../site/main/index.html becoming ../home/main/index.html or ../site/index.html resulting in an "http error 404 Site not found" , when in fact it is so easy to leave a re-direct address when effecting a change
You will find hereunder the titles ( and short descriptions ) of the new sites which have been added to ENTERWeb during the months of June and July 1998. If you are interested in accessing any of those sites just go to ENTERWeb main page < http://www.enterweb.org/> and press on the What's new button which will direct you to the appropriate sections.
*************************************************************************** 1) Sistema de Información para el Desarrollo Microempresarial The objective of the "Central America Micro Enterprise Information System" is to provide relevant information to organizations and associations involved in micro and small enterprise development in the region. Setup by COCEMI (Central Coordinating Committe of Microentrepreneurs in Central America) it also aims to provide a political lobbying platform for the sector. Quite unique and very much representative of the importance of the microenterprise sector in Latin America.
2)RISEbusiness The Research Institute for Small & Emerging Business (RISEbusiness) is an independent, nonprofit research and educational organization, located in Washington, which focuses on the need for objective, nonpartisan policy research on small and emerging enterprises and their influence on the nation. (ie US). Potentially interesting but somewhat limited.
3)Businesswomen in Trade This canadian site, part of "Info Export" from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, provides businesswomen with useful ressources for going the "export route". A very good and well presented site, with a lot of potential.
4) Central and East European WWW Resources This site, from Gonzaga University in the US, focuses on legal, political, business and economics links to Central and Eastern Europe. A very good meta-index.
5) Emmerce Emmerce is a "Webzine" (ie an electronic magazine) which explores the field of electronic commerce. It includes news, forums, bi-weekly features, articles, etc. Quite fascinating and essential for anyone wanting to keep up to date with trends, ideas and issues in electronic commerce.
6) Microfinance Systems This subpage of the personal homepage of Hans Verkoijen, a Dutch development worker, presents an overview of current Micro-Finance software programs. Interesting and useful.
7) Planet Bank The PlaNet Bank is the first international institution created directly on the Internet to foster fair development by supporting microfinance. It aims to become a network-institution which will use information technology and the Internet to develop microfinance. Its very ambitious objectives include the creation of an online university, a virtual library and a ratings agency. Very much unproven at this stage but will merit a visit in six months time.
8) Microfinance in Nepal The Centre for Micro-Finance (CMF) is a USAID Funded project of the Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI-Nepal). Its goal is to promote awareness of and commitment to micro-finance (MF) best practices in Nepal within the community of donors, government and MF practitioners. Interesting and promising site especially in the way it uses a web presence as a means to disseminate lessons learned and best practices at the project level.
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If you have sites to suggest for review, please let me know. If you have comments or suggestions on the way ENTERWeb should evolve, don't hesitate and drop me a line, and finally don't forget to tell your colleagues and friends about ENTERWeb. The more feedback I receive the better it will become.
Happy browsing Jean-Claude Lorin ENTERWeb Webmaster <mailto:mailto:jlorin@synapse.net> <http://www.enterweb.org>