Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9503231256.A4453-e100000@solar.rtd.utk.edu> Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 12:50:56 -0500 From: Tak Utsumi <mailto:utsumi@SOLAR.RTD.UTK.EDU> Subject: Part 2 of 3 on follow-up of GTU project by ITU To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L
PART 2 OF 3 ON THE FOLLOW-UP OF GTU BY ITU
Date: Mon, 06 Mar 1995 17:47:12 +0100 (CET)
From: ERNBERG <mailto:JOHAN.ERNBERG@itu.ch>
Subject: ITU BAAP programme No. 12
To: Takeshi Utsumi <mailto:utsumi@columbia.edu>
Tak,
Here is a description of the BAAP programme No. 12 (of which you may have an
earlier version). Best regards. Johan
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BUENOS AIRES ACTION PLAN
Programme 12 : Development of Telematics and Computer Networks
1. JUSTIFICATION
1.1 Problems to be addressed:
Following the UNCED(1), the UN Department for Policy Coordination and
Sustainable Development (UNPCSD) established the Inter-Agency Committee on
Sustainable Development (IACSD) with the main objective of coordinating UN
agencies' and NGOs' efforts to implement Agenda 21. The UNPCSD offers an
opportunity to improve the coordination between such organization and to draw
upon the competence, wealth of information and collaborative networks
developed by each organizations within its sphere of activity in a coordinated
effort towards the goals expressed in Agenda 21. The ITU should contribute to
the implementation of these actions within its field of competence and, in
particular, assist in the on-going efforts to implement the recommended
measures for improving inter-agency information systems and the sharing of
information between UN agencies.
The Internet is a striking example of how fast a truly user-driven global
network for information exchange (and more) can develop, essentially thanks to
the voluntary work of its users. Provided that more people in developing
countries get access at a cost they can afford (and develop the skills to use
it), this network2 would at least provide the answer to many of the needs of
telecommunications for sustainable development. The ITU Development Sector
has an important role to play in bringing such networks within the reach of
people in developing countries, by improving access to these networks and by
contributing to capacity-building. In this context also, the BDT should
promote the development of national policies, laws and regulations that open
access and information services related to the actions proposed by the UNCED.
The BDT itself also needs a network connecting its field offices for the
exchange of information, teleconferencing and videoconferencing.
The Questions Nos. 4/2, 6/2 and 7/2 of ITU-D Study Group No. 2 are relevant to
this programme area and so is the WTDC/94 Resolutions No. 8 (Telecommunication
Support for Protection of the Environment), WTDC/94 Recommendation No. 1
Applications to Health and Other Social Services and WTDC/94 Recommendation
No. 2 (Development of Partnership with International Education agencies).
1.2 Situation by the end of the period
The Regional ITU/BDT offices connected in a network (including ITU
headquarters) and adequately equipped with studios and telecommunication
terminals and support staff to handle ITU's own needs for Internet
connections, e-mail, file-transfer, video, computer, and telephone
conferencing. Other UN agencies and national telecommunication
Administrations in the countries concerned should have the possibility to use
spare capacity of these telematics resource centres. Research institutes,
Government agencies, academic institutions in some countries in each region
and community telecentres established under programme No. 9 will have full, or
at least e-mail connections to the Internet. A report analyzing the impact of
the programme in participating institutes, communities and countries will be
available.
1.3 Programme beneficiaries :
Through electronic networks (in the future connected through "Information
Highways"), the participating institutes and community telecentres in
developing countries will be able to access information, distance education,
training and know-how of other academic and research institutions,
telecentres, public organizations and millions of specialists connected to the
networks. In particular, this programme is a necessary complement to the
programme No. 9 (Integrated rural development) and will therefore help bring
about the benefits identified in the Section 1.3 of that programme.
Development of telematics and access to computer networks in developing
countries will also enhance cooperation with, and among, other UN-agencies and
NGOs. All of this will contribute to sustainable social, cultural and
economic development, to improving North-South, South-South and East-West
cooperation and foster peaceful coexistence.
Telematics equipment suppliers and service providers in developed as well as
developing countries will benefit as this programme contributes to increase
their markets. Sponsors will benefit from the publicity which will be given
to the pilot projects and to the evaluation reports.
2. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES
The long-term goal is to contribute to sustainable, environmentally sound
development by facilitating access to information resources available in many
countries, and by establishing connections to computer networks from many
locations, including rural communities in countries that presently have little
or no access to such resources. More specifically, to give decision makers at
all levels, researchers and agents of change (and in the longer term, ordinary
citizens), including those located in rural areas in developing countries,
access to telematic services enabling them:
to participate actively in the global collaboration in the
follow-up of the Agenda 21 of UN Conference on Environment and Development;
to exchange electronically stored and transmitted data,
information, graphics, still pictures and video for the purpose of improving
trade, transport, health-care, education and training, etc.
to participate in conferences (telephone, on-line computer
and video)
In the next cycle (1995-1999) the objectives are:
to connect all BDT field offices in a network which enables
communication via electronic mail, and through the exchange of electronically
stored multi-media and participation in video conferences. The offices would
then function as hubs and training centres for the countries in which they are
located and for neighboring ones.
to carry out a globally coordinated regional pilot project for the
development of telematics and computer networks; particularly to provide
public sector user groups, including government agencies, academic and
research institutes, etc., and small private enterprises access to e-mail,
computer mediated conferences, databases and library resources, and, in
conjunction with Programme No. 2, to open flexible distance learning
resources.
to provide an electronic forum (i.e., list service or bulletin
board) to allow community telecentres established under programme No. 9, to
exchange experiences.
To achieve this goal will require considerable financial, material and human
resources. The programme should be carried out in close coordination with
Programme No. 9 (Integrated Rural Development) and with all the potential
partners indicated below. Specialists in the ITU field offices and
specialists in the ITU IS Division should be made available to provide
assistance on request to individual countries or organizations. Training
could also be organized regionally (using regional telecommunication training
centres) and multiplied by nationals in their country.
3. MAIN ACTIVITIES
12.1 Development of appropriate national policies guidelines (Refer also to
BAAP Programme No. 1)
Outputs/Indicators:
Availability of policies and guidelines (GL)
Success criteria:
Policies and guidelines for tariff and market access that reduce cost barriers
for public sector user groups, Acceptance of Policies & Guidelines by Study
Group 1
12.2 Identification of participating countries, user groups and partners;
coordinated planning of Telematics development.
Outputs/Indicators:
Partners Participating countries' and user groups' level of commitment
Preliminary plans, agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)
Success criteria:
Programmes 12 and 9 coordinated with credible partners
Commitment of participating countries and user groups
Agreements and MOUs with partners established as required for the
implementation of the programme
12.3 Survey of existing infrastructure;
Planning of networks (in cooperation with BAAP Programme Nos. 3 and 5), that
provide participating institutions and Community Telecentres (participating in
programme No. 9) access to computer networks.
Outputs/Indicators:
Plans, taking into account the requirements for Telematics services for the
participating institutions and user-groups and other initiatives
Success criteria:
Realistic plans, coordinated with other initiatives, to provide access to
Telematics services, as required
12.4 Implementation - provision of equipment and access to networks in
participating institutions and Community Telecentres
Outputs/Indicators:
Installed equipment
Access to networks
Agreements on tariffs during pilot projects
Success criteria:
Equipment installed and working as planned Access to networks as planned and
required Firm and favorable agreements with telecom service and equipment
providers, established as required for the implementation of the programme
12.5
Training of support staff and end-users in participating institutions to use
IT, and Telematics tools.
Outputs/Indicators:
Competence of trained staff
Success criteria:
Staff members in each participating institution competent to provide support
to users as required
12.6 Evaluation of the impact of provision of Telematics services and
promotion of the Telematics development world-wide -facilitate the
establishment of a global library
Outputs/Indicators:
Evaluation report Information dissemination Progress of establishment of
global library
Success criteria:
Evaluation report disseminated to all users.
Evidence of other countries making appropriate use of evaluation report and
models provided.
Global library planned.
4. POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND COORDINATION ARRANGEMENTS
The consortia participating in the European Union 4th Framework RDT Programmes
for Telematics, the Internet Society, the International Research Development
Centre (IRDC) of Canada and other organizations involved in development of
computer networks and training of end-users of such networks are possible
partners in this undertaking. Other possible partners are the numerous
organizations involved in initiatives aiming at the development of
tele-working and tele-medicine and of distance learning, e.g., the
Commonwealth of Learning, the US "Global University" and other similar
initiatives developed in Europe, Japan and Australia.
Satellite and radiocommunication equipment and service providers are potential
partners in the pilot projects which will contribute to developing their
markets. Other stakeholders in industrialized countries include the suppliers
of fibre optic systems, solar power supplies, VSAT systems and other terminals
as well as providers of IT equipment (computers Multimedia, etc.).
Cooperation (possibly through the UN IACSD) with bilateral cooperation
agencies and other UN-agencies, representing sectors which would benefit from
access to telematics and computer networks, in particular FAO, ITC, UNESCO,
UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO, the World Bank and Regional Development
Banks) is an essential condition for this programme to achieve its long term
goals (telematics are only means to accelerate development and, from the
perspective of other organizations, this programme may be considered as one
contribution among many others to this end). Coordination with Programme No.
9 is obviously essential as the community telecentres established in programme
9 represent one of the user groups of telematics (besides other participating
institutions and organizations).
Contributions to this programme can be made in kind3, for example by
providing:
7 specialists for participation in the planning of networks, specification
for equipment, etc.;
7 telecommunication services free or at reduced tariffs during pilot
projects
7 equipment for participating institutions and Community Telecentres
(communication terminals, computers and multimedia hardware), on loan or as
grants, or in cash by providing funds for fellowships, consultants,
translation of documents, etc.
This programme may be part of a larger effort, involving several organizations
and the coordination arrangements will have to be developed in consultation
with these organizations. The PSP Department of the BDT, in close
consultation with the Regional Divisions at HQ and the Regional offices in the
field, will act as a focal point for the ITU.
This programme must be closely coordinated with Programmes No. 1 (Policies,
etc.), No. 2 (HRM/HRD), No. 3 (Business Oriented Development Plans), No. 5
(Computer Supported Network Planning), and No. 9 (Integrated Rural
Development).
(1) UNCED = the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio
de Janeiro, 1992) which produced Agenda 21.2. In some locations, electronic
mail-based access to networked information is a more realistic starting point
than full Internet connection.3. The total cost of hardware and software for
the 40 centres participating in the pilot projects (action line 7.4) is
estimated to Sfr 400'000 (40x10'000) considering that some of these centres
are the same as those equipped under the programme No. 9 (Integrated rural
development). The annual value of free or reduced tariff communications
(action line 7.3) is estimated Sfr 100'000 (40x5'000). It is hoped that these
costs will be covered from by in-kind contributions from equipment and service
suppliers participating in the project.
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* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D. *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education *
* President, Global University in the U.S.A. (GU/USA) *
* A Divisional Activity of GLOSAS/USA *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.) *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-3998, U.S.A. *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Fax: 718-939-0656 (day time only--prefer email) *
* INTERNET: mailto:utsumi@columbia.edu; Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 *
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