Statement
read to WSIS2 plenary on financing the information by the Association for
Progressive Communications, Bread for All, CRIS, Instituto del Tercer Mundo
(ITeM), IT for Change and the Gender Caucus
17
February 2005
We
believe that the TFFM was not adequately representative of civil society in its
composition, nor sufficiently consultative in its process. Civil society needs a
larger role in the ongoing deliberations on developing the WSIS position on
financing.
Principles
We
believe that the following principles need to form the basis of any discussion
on financing the information society.
1. Information and communications networks
are a global public good
We
believe that financing the information society should be based on the principle
that information and communication is a global public good. This is particularly
true for the extension
of network infrastructure in developing countries and to all excluded
populations, women and men, everywhere. The
value of global information networks increases
for ALL users as more national networks and individual users are
added.
2. Centrality of the role of public
finance
We
recognise that private investment is an opportunity on a scale that in many ways
is unique to ICD (Information and Communications for Development). However,
private investment cannot displace the central role of public finance in a core
development area like ICD.
While
encouraging the role of private investment in meeting the goals of ICD, the
limits of the market in reaching these goals must be
recognised.
Public
resources need to be mobilised at local, national and international
levels.
3. The role of community driven and owned
initiatives
The
potential of community driven and owned ICD initiatives and networks, to
contribute to sustainable development and social empowerment, especially women’s
empowerment, should be explored and integrated into financing
strategies.
Recommendations
1. We urge that a commitment to the central
role of public resources in implementing the Geneva Plan of Action be included
in section 11 of the Political Chapeau, referring to resource mobilisation.
This
commitment should also find concrete _expression_ in all sections, of the
operational part, especially in chapter 2 concerning financial
mechanisms.
2. A specific reference to regional
backbone infrastructure in Africa should be added to point c) under paragraph 22
of the Operational Document.
3. Three proposals from conclusion 3 of the
TFFM report should be noted in section 24.. These relate
to:
-
The
“Establishment of a ‘virtual’ financing facility to leverage multiple sources in
support of identified investment objectives in key
locations”
-
The
“Creation of a mechanism for coordinating research and analysis into enabling
policy environments”, and,
-
The
“Development of a ‘rapid response‘ policy and regulatory support mechanism to
intervene in support of short-terms ICT policy sector
initiatives”
Based
on these proposals we recommend the formation of a Global ICD Policy and
Financing Facility to:
-
assist
developing countries utilise existing financial mechanisms for ICD more
effectively
-
provide
policy information, advice and capacity building to developing countries without
conditionality
-
explore
new financial mechanisms to support ICD; mechanisms that avoid diversion of
existing funds. Such mechanisms could consist of a global tax, voluntary or
compulsory, and contributions from commercial internet domain name holders
Such a
facility should be established and operated on a multi-stakeholder
basis.
3. Regarding the DSF we propose that the
DSF be endorsed as a targeted fund supporting ICD in cities and
towns
It
should be:
-
governed
and operated on a multi-stakeholder basis
-
located
in Africa
-
clearly
focussed in its objectives and the scope of initiatives that it
supports
-
adopt
the principles of free and open source software, open standards and open
access
We commit to working in active partnership with all other stakeholders in overcoming the challenges of financing an equitable information society.
For more information on the documents from the proceedings at WSIS Prepcom 2, http://itforchange.net/WSIS/prepcom-2.php
IT for Change, Bangalore
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
T: +91 80 2665 4134
E: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
W: www.ITforChange.net
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