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Digital Dividend Digest vol. 32
October 29, 2003
CONTENTS
1. New "What Works" Case Study Released:
ITC's
E-Choupal and Profitable Rural Transformation
2. New
in the Digital Dividend Clearinghouse: KidSmart
Early Learning Program, Nile Basin Regional Communication
Center, and Mayan Telecenter Network
3. Special Opportunities: Cable
and Wireless Childnet Academy, UN Public Service Awards; Upcoming
Deadline Reminder: Stockholm Challenge Award
1. New "What Works" Case
Study Released: ITC's
E-Choupal and Profitable Rural Transformation
The fourth in a series of "What
Works" case studies to be released, the e-Choupal
case study presents the success of ITC Corporation's telecenter-based
information and procurement tool in rural Indian agricultural
markets. The e-Choupal model has cut costs and improved efficiency
in the supply chain by providing farmers with access to market
price information and buying direct from the farmer, thereby
avoiding costly middlemen. E-Choupals also provide relevant
crop and weather information, allowing for further farming
efficiencies. Currently, 2,100 e-Choupals serve 1.5 million
rural farmers in five states, with plans to expand to 10,000
e-Choupals by 2008.
Read the executive
summary or the full
case study (PDF).
2. New in the
Digital Dividend Clearinghouse: KidSmart Early Learning
Program, Nile Basin Regional Communication Center, and Mayan
Telecenter Network
Seven new projects have been added to the Clearinghouse
since our last edition of the Digest. Among the highlights
are:
IBM's KidSmart Early Learning Program
IBM's KidSmart Early Learning Program is designed to help
pre-school aged children (ages 3-7) in disadvantaged segments
of society in India get a head start on their academic development
through the use of age-appropriate software developed by IBM.
The latest KidSmart program has been launched in 44 schools
in 16 states across India.
Basin Regional Communication Center
A sister project of the Nile Basin Initiative, the Nile Basin
Regional Communication Center aims to provide connectivity
and IT services to NGOs, governments, and international organizations
throughout the Nile basin. The project is starting with a
pilot center in Uganda with the goal of replicating the project
throughout the Nile basin.
Mayan
Telecenter Network
The Mayan Council for Communication in Solola is in the process
of creating a network of telecenters that will provide community
access to regional and international information resources.
The Solola network is envisioned as including 10 to 20 independent
and self-administrating telecenters.
3. Special Opportunities:
Cable and Wireless Childnet Academy, UN Public Service Awards;
Upcoming Deadline Reminder: Stockholm Challenge Award
Cable and Wireless Childnet Academy 2004
Young people under the age of 18 who have developed a great
Web site (or have an idea for a Web site) which benefits other
young people can enter to win a trip to the Cable and Wireless
Childnet Academy. This unique week-long academy will provide
specialist Web support, technical advice, and leadership training
to a group of talented young Web developers from around the
world. Young Webmasters with noble goals can apply by January
5, 2004 at: www.childnetacademy.org.
UN
Public Service Awards
The United Nations Division for Public Administration and
Development Management invites nominations for the UN Public
Service Awards for 2003. The awards will recognize institutional
contributions made to enhance the role, professionalism, and
visibility of public service. One of the categories this year
is the application of information and communication technology
(ICT) in local government. Nominations should Reach DPADM
no later than November 30, 2003.
Upcoming Deadline Reminder:
Stockholm
Challenge Award
Deadline: November 1, 2003
The aim of the sixth annual Stockholm Challenge Award for
innovative use of information technology is to diminish the
digital divide and to create an information society for all.
The challenge is a platform for innovative projects from all
over the world to create networks for the exchange of experience
and knowledge.
For more information on these and many other special opportunities,
browse to the
Resource Marketplace.
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