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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), in collaboration with the Department of the Information Technology (DIT) of the Royal Government of Bhutan, organized the National Stakeholders Consultation Workshop in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 30 to 31 January 2007.
The workshop marked the first national activity of the project, “Empowering the Rural Areas through Community e-Centers (CeC)” which covers Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal. The project which is being jointly implemented by UNESCAP and ADB aims to reduce poverty, empower communities and improve the quality of life in rural areas through providing communities with access to information and communication technology (ICT). CeC will provide shared facilities for the public to use basic telecommunications services, access to the Internet and various ICT applications for socio-economic activities.
Prior to the workshop, a national baseline study has been conducted. The study assessed the environment CeCs are placed, existing initiatives, good practices, challenges, key issues in establishing CeCs in Bhutan as well as recommendations for a sustainable CeC model.
Based on the findings and recommendations of the study, the workshop discussed the details of the CeC project in Bhutan, such as selection criteria of location, content creation and application, community participation and involvement as well as sustainability mechanisms. One of the discussion points included future actions the Royal Government might consider to take after the completion of the project and how this project will be linked to their plan of establishing one CeC in each geog (block).
The workshop was attended by 68 stakeholders including representatives of various ministries, district administrations, NGOs, CeC practitioners, private sector and development agencies and organized at the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Conference Hall.
Related documents:
- Report of the Workshop (PDF - 54.9 KB)
- Annex 1 - Provisional agenda (PDF - 9.62 KB)
- Annex 2 - List of Participants (PDF - 8.54 KB)
- Annex 3 - Opening Speech by by Mr. Dasho Tashi Phuntsog, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication, Royal Government of Bhutan (PDF - 9 KB)
- Annex 4 - Brief introduction of the project and objectives of the workshop, Ms. Ja-Kyung Yoo, Chief, ICT Applications Section, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) (PDF - 7.49 MB)
- Annex 5 - Evaluation plan: randomized evaluation for the CeC project, Ms. Hyunjung Lee, ICT Specialist, Asian Development Bank (PDF - 13.7 KB)
- Annex 6 - Regional overview of telecenter initiatives, Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Information Technology Officer, ICT Applications Section, (UNESCAP) (PDF - 34.8 KB)
- Annex 7 - Rural telecommunications infrastructure: current and future initiatives, Mr. Pushpa, Bhutan Telecom (PDF - 1.7 MB)
- Annex 8 - Creating an enabling environment: national programme on telecenters, Ms. Sangay Wangmo, DIT, MoIC (PDF - 664 KB)
- Annex 9 - Sharing experience: the Microsoft telecenter model, Ms. Lektsho Y. Dorji, Project Manager, Microsoft Unlimited Potential
- Annex 10 - IDRC CIC Project - Mr. Namgay Wangchuk, Project Manager
- Annex 11 - Major findings from the national baseline study and recommendations, Mr. Gopi Pradhan, National Consultant (PDF - 221 KB)
- Annex 12 - Group's findings on the questions and issues raised by the Baseline Study
- Annex 13 - Group I: Findings (PDF - 13.7 KB)
- Annex 14 - Group II: Findings (PDF - 38.8 KB)
- Annex 15 - Group III: Findings (PDF - 8.95 KB)
- Annex 16 - Group IV: Findings (PDF - 13.9 KB)
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