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Many
countries, lack ready access to the policy knowledge and expertise
necessary to develop and implement effective ICT strategies at the
national level that are key tools for economic and social development.
Although committed to the process of modernizing their legal and policy
regimes, the expertise required in areas like telecommunications policy
and regulation, spectrum policies, electronic law and policy,
connectivity strategies and e-government is often unavailable. Limited
policy resources also hinder the ability of lesser developed countries
to participate in policy-making process internationally, thereby
reducing their capacity to influence the global evolution of ICTs,
including the world-wide management of the Internet.
The Commonwealth can help to strengthen the policy capacity of
Commonwealth governments, especially smaller states, by supporting
mechanisms that foster the widespread sharing of e-policy resources.
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The
Commonwealth has long recognized the importance of human resource
development as a foundation for social and economic growth, and the
central role that ICTs can play, through distance learning techniques,
in modernizing education and promoting skills development. Commonwealth
organisations have been at the forefront of work internationally in
areas like teacher training, agricultural and health education, and in
technical and vocational training. Continued support for current
Commonwealth programmes in the realm of technology-based distance
learning would reinforce previous success. In addition, targeted
support directed toward strategic initiatives that would help to
modernize educational systems to meet the objectives set out in the
Millennium Development Goals, would further strengthen the special role
and contribution that the Commonwealth has made in the field of
technology and education.
Entrepreneurship for Poverty Reduction
Commonwealth members and institutions have long accepted the role of
the private sector in fostering growth and the importance of
entrepreneurs and SMEs. ICTs create opportunities for individual
entrepreneurs, thus contributing to the creation of wealth and the
alleviation of poverty across all segments of society. Restricted
access to credit and lack of access to practical advice and mentoring,
however, are continuing barriers that hamper entrepreneurship and SME
development.
Commonwealth organisations with significant private sector
participation could act as effective vehicles for encouraging
entrepreneurship and for fostering public-private development
partnerships for development. These organisations could provide a solid
foundation for specific Commonwealth-based entrepreneurship initiatives
aimed at the innovative use of ICTs to reduce poverty and promote
community development.
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Commonwealth members and institutions have long accepted the role of the private
sector in fostering growth and the importance of entrepreneurs and SMEs. ICTs create
opportunities for individual entrepreneurs, thus contributing to the creation of
wealth and the alleviation of poverty across all segments of society. Restricted
access to credit and lack of access to practical advice and mentoring, however,
are continuing barriers that hamper entrepreneurship and SME development. Commonwealth
organisations with significant private sector participation could act as effective
vehicles for encouraging entrepreneurship and for fostering public-private development
partnerships for development. These organisations could provide a solid foundation
for specific Commonwealth-based entrepreneurship initiatives aimed at the innovative
use of ICTs to reduce poverty and promote community development. |
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Ease of access to information and communications technologies is the foundation
for full participation in the modern digital economy and for taking part in the
global social network formed by the world-wide universal reach of the Internet.
Improving connectivity for individuals and communities thereby providing access
to critical transformational information is therefore the major means of correcting
the present imbalance in the use of ICTs, which has been called the digital divide,
and to equalizing opportunities across gender, socio-economic status, and regional
lines. A number of Commonwealth organisations have played pioneering roles in the
use of innovative means of strengthening connectivity, through community tele-centres,
school-nets, and local radio. Further support for these efforts and for their alignment
with broader connectivity initiatives underway internationally, would greatly strengthen
the leadership position of the Commonwealth in this area.
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For
all countries, the rapid globalization of markets and the growing trend
toward regional economic integration are dominant factors influencing
trade and development. ICT networks represent an essential means for
participating in world markets as well as an effective platform for
better regional cooperation and collaboration. ICTs also provide the
Commonwealth, and Commonwealth institutions, including a wide range of
professional and voluntary organisations, with an effective means of
collaborating in areas of mutual interest and concern. Commonwealth
bodies can act as catalysts for regional networking in support of trade
facilitation, professional development, regulatory reform and cultural
exchange.
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