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[Pacific Edge Permaculture + Media <pacedge@magna.com.au>]

Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 17:48:08 -0400
From: "Andrew Levy" <andrew@mediachannel.org>
Subject: [MC-Net] International Conference on IT, Communications &
Development

The International Conference on Information Technology, Communications &
Development December 1-3, 2002, Kathmandu, Nepal Paper / proposal
submission deadline: 30 August 2002

Development organizations, NGOs, media houses, government agencies,
schools and many individuals make use of ICT in one way or another. Yet,
many questions are to be asked: - What are the results? - What is the
context between ICT and development? - Is the www so powerful in
development as many people think it is? - Are the priorities of big
development organizations right when it comes to using ICT or would the
better money be spent on other projects? - Can ICT really a make
difference in the poorest parts of the world? - What are the prerequisites
to apply ICT in remote areas in Nepal, for example? - What impact has ICT
on society? - Which are the lessons to be learnt and experiences to be
shared? - What policies are required, especially in developing countries,
to facilitate the use and access to ICT?

As the technology advances, the gap between the information haves and
have-nots is widening. The digital divide becomes more and more apparent.
To highlight and discuss these issues, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
(FES-N) in Nepal started the conference on Information Technology,
Communications and Development (ITCD) in 2001. ITCD 2001 (www.itcd.net),
which was hosted in Kathmandu, drew more than 30 speakers from 14
different countries.  Altogether 130 participants attended.  Encouraged by
the feedback from last year, the conference for 2002 is now announced.

Six topics have been identified for presentation and discussion. The main
focus across all these areas would be on youth, gender, e-health, and how
technology can help in building democratic societies. But the list is not
exhaustive and ideas are welcome. - Appropriate Information Technologies -
IT, Youth and Volunteerism - Using ICT in Development - Society, Web and
Gender - Policy and Legislation - Internet and democratization

We value inputs made available to the conference and invite papers and
proposals for presentation. The conference will be attended by academics,
development workers, media practitioners as well as ICT experts from Nepal
and other countries.

Selected papers will be offered fast-track approval for publication in a
special edition of the Electronic Journal on Information Systems in
Developing Countries (EJISDC).   Selected papers from the 2001 conference
are now available in Volume 8 at http://www.ejisdc.org/.

Please send papers/proposals for presentations to
Alfred.Diebold@fesnepal.org. Further information about the conference is
available on the web at http://www.itcd.net

Paper / proposal submission deadline: 30 August 2002
Confirmation for presentation deadline: 30 September 2002
Full paper / presentation submission deadline: 30 October 2002.

Looking forward to your contributions.
Dr. Alfred Diebold
Resident Representative
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Nepal Office
Tel: +977 1 522526, 542406
Fax: +977 1 521101
Email: alfred.diebold@fesnepal.org
Visit us at www.itcd.net