The primary aim of the Connects’ Programme is to share expertise and effect technology transfer between developed and less developed member states on ICT initiatives that help to bring about socio-economic growth.
The Programme is intended to be demand driven and in most instances recipient countries do not have the requisite finances for projects that have been identified. Whilst donor countries are prepared to share their ICT developments, they may not be able to fund the associated technology transfer and adaptation costs and it is for this reason that the Connects Programme is embarking on developing partnerships with donor agencies.
The Donor countries bring to the Programme a wealth of ICT assets representing decades of investment which they are prepared to share with their fellow member states. This is what marks the Commonwealth Connects Programme in its potential for fast tracking appropriate ICT development and deployment.
We are launching the Connects Programme in four regions of the Commonwealth (i.e. Africa, Asia, Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean), and for this reason we are calling on prospective donor agencies in the regions, who attach a high priority to improving ICT capacity to collaborate on this initiative that will add value to the respective administrations.