Message-ID: <8525660B.0077D977.00@WBLN0024.worldbank.org> Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 18:00:51 -0400 From: mailto:Ahirsch@WORLDBANK.ORG Subject: infoDev Offers Year 2000 Grants to Poorest Countries To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
infoDev Offers Year 2000 Grants to Poorest CountriesThe World Bank?s Information for Development program (infoDev) is inviting governments from around the world to apply for some $14 million in grants to help them grapple with the Year 2000 (Y2K) problem.
This effort is the latest in the program?s Y2K Initiative, which gained serious momentum last month when British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced an infusion of $16.7 million by the UK Department for International Development.
The new grant program aims to tackle the so-called ?millennium bug,? which is expected to affect many computer-based systems all over the world at the turn of the century. While not technically challenging--problems revolve mostly around the use of double digits for dates--fixing the bug may be complex, time consuming, and expensive. Left unfixed, the problem could have serious social and economic repercussions, affecting financial systems, transport, energy and communications networks, as well as the delivery of health and government services.
"This initiative creates a special window for Year 2000-related activities," says infoDev Program Manager Carlos Primo Braga. "We expect about 40 grants, valued at $100,000 each, to go toward helping countries design or improve National Y2K programs, and another 20 grants, at $500,000 apiece, to help countries with systems remediation and testing. Priority is being given to IDA countries."
Braga describes the problem as a good news/bad news situation for developing countries. On the one hand, they don?t depend on computer systems and embedded chips as much as industrialized nations do, but they?re also less aware of the issues and have older systems to fix.
infoDev recently awarded a contract to Consiel, a subsidiary of Finsiel S.p.A. of Italy, to develop a toolkit that will help governments to manage Y2K risks. Under infoDev?s Y2K Initiative, 20 international seminars are also being organized between now and September to help developing countries sort out the millennium computer issue.
In a related story, leaders of the G-8 agreed in their summit?s final communiqué to take "further urgent action" to tackle the Y2K problem. The group said it will work closely with business and international organizations such as the World Bank, to alleviate disruption in telecommunications, capital markets, defense, and central bank systems.
infoDev, established in 1995, is a cooperative program managed by the Bank?s Industry and Energy Department. In 1997, infoDev became part of the Development Grant Facility of the World Bank. Financed by governments, private companies, and multilateral institutions, the program provides grants to innovative information and communication technology projects in developing countries. It has already funded 30 projects, including the feasibility study of the African Virtual University, a toolkit for Internet connectivity in Africa, and networks focusing on health (SE Asia) and environmental (Mexico) themes.
To find out more about the program and application guidelines, visit the infoDev website at http://www.worldbank.org/infodev.
========================================================== Aaron Hirsch infoDev Research Assistant, The World Bank F3K-268, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433 USA Telephone: 202-473-1836 Fax: 202-522-3186 or 202-522-3001 E-mail: mailto:ahirsch@worldbank.org Web: http://www.worldbank.org/infodev