ICT for Development in Arab Region
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Introduction
Relevance to MDGs
Objectives
Implementation Strategy
Management Arrangements
Partners
Country Implementation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Introduction

This project aims at building capacity and raising awareness on Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) in the Arab Region. This will be done through providing mechanisms for capacity building, supporting regional networks and collaboration, engaging academia, FOSS application development, and raising awareness of government and procurement personnel. This project is a partnership between UNDP/BDP and ICTDAR. Other agencies such as UNESCO Office in Rabat and ESCWA will be partners on specific activities within this initiative. ICTDAR will lead the implementation of this project.

 
 
Relevance to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Applicable to the MDGs in terms of developing local knowledge base and building partnership.
 
 
Objectives

  • Build capacity at the grass root level by encouraging the inclusion of FOSS courses in standard university course offerings, supporting the creation of FOSS applications that will meet the needs of the Region and lead to the strengthening of local and regional expertise, and providing mechanisms for Arab FOSS communities to meet and exchange ideas.

  • Raise awareness on the potential of open source solutions as viable alternatives for the public sector
 
Implementation Strategy

The above will be achieved through:

  • Organize workshops in the Region. Government decision makers will be invited to workshops that will address practical implementations of FOSS in e-governance initiatives and will promote awareness of their comparative benefits as well as clarify some of the misconceptions associated with Intellectual Property Rights and the use of FOSS. Success stories from other countries where FOSS is a standard consideration will be presented.

  • Introduce and promote FOSS as a tool for development through different activities such as seminars at universities and technical institutions, encouraging universities to incorporate FOSS as a standard part of their curricula. The initial target is to reach an agreement with at least one university to formally incorporate FOSS in its curriculum.

  • Develop and disseminate through local partners various FOSS Toolboxes, including:

  • Map FOSS communities in the Region and build a FOSS regional portal as a collaboration platform for the Arab FOSS community.

  • Setup a Regional FOSS Resource Center.
 
Management Arrangements

ICTDAR will have the overall responsibility for the management, implementation and monitoring of this project which will be executed in collaboration with various partners.

 
Partners

  • UNDP’s Bureau for Development Policy (BDP)

  • United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

  • The Université Antonine in Lebanon (UA)

 

The Arab Region

   
ICTDAR UNDP