ESCAP's Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD) in cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Ministry of Transport and Communication of the Republic of Tajikistan and the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) organized the “Regional Workshop for Knowledge-hubs in Central Asia and Neighbouring Countries” in Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 21 to 23 October 2009. The Workshop was an activity of the ongoing United Nations Development Account Project entitled “Knowledge networks through ICT access points for disadvantaged communities”. The Workshop was to assess how knowledge-hubs/tele-centre networks in Central Asia: (i) benefit from information and knowledge sharing and networking; (ii) contribute to sustainable and inclusive development paradigm including for e-government, e-business, e-agriculture and other e-applications in relatively under-developed areas; (iii) share best practices on programmes at different levels and relevant policies and institutional experiences; and (iv) contribute to understanding of how resources can be mobilized and make them sustainable within the current development challenges. In addition, Central Asia Tele-centre Network (CATN) hosted by International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) was also launched. The meeting was attended by 27 representatives of knowledge-hubs/telecentre stakeholders including managers of various national ICT access point networks, government officers responsible for ICT access point issues, and government agencies from Central Asian and neighbouring countries and a representative of International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Related Documents:

•    Agenda
•   Programme
•   List of Participants
•   Meeting Report
•   Summary of Discussions
•   Presentation Materials:
  

  •  A Brief Introduction of ESCAP by Mr. Wu Guoxiang, Chief, Space Applications Section, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD), ESCAP

  •  Background information of the project entitled “Knowledge networks through ICT access points for disadvantaged communities” , and objective and expected outcome of the current workshop by Mr. Ram Tiwaree, IT Officer, IDD, ESCAP

  •  Special Presentations by representatives of Tajikistan (IREX) , (Centre of ICT) , (OSI)

  •  Presentation by representatives of Belarus

  •  Presentations by representatives of Georgia (1), Georgia (2), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan

  •  Community e-centres/tele-centres for sustainable development and poverty reduction through the services, such as, e-business, e-government, e-health, e-agriculture, disaster risk reduction (linkage with UN Millennium Development Goals, goals/targets of World Summit on the Information Society and Hyogo Framework for Action) – by Mr. Guennadi Fedorov, ESCAP

  •  ICT access points supporting disadvantaged communities - experience from UNECE member countries by Ms. Michiko Enomoto, Economic Affairs Officer, Economic Cooperation and Integration Division, UNECE

  •  Promote the Benefits of ICTs to Poor Rural Areas -Yunnan Experiences by Ms. Xia Sun, Senior Engineer, Yunnan Communications Administration, China

  •  Knowledge hubs in Turkmenistan by Mr. Hanno Schaumburg, Hamburg University and Technology (TUHH), Germany

  •  The Environment for School-based Telecenters in Kyrgyzstan by Ms. Mahriban Karyagdyyeva, Program Coordinator, International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), USA

  •  V ideo greeting from Microsoft by Mr. Akhtar Badshah, Senior Director, Community Affairs Microsoft Corporation

  •  IDRC's experience in tele-centres' networking and sustainable development in Asia-Pacific region by Mr. Basheerhamad Shadrach, Senior Program Officer – Asia , International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

  •  Central Asia Tele-center Network (CATN) – plans, problems and constraints and recommendations by Mr. Mark Skogen, Regional Director, International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX)