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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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