LYON CONFERENCE ON DIGITAL SOLIDARITY: NEW FORMS OF SOLIDARITY FOR DEVELOPMENT

16/09/2008 3:46 pm

Paris, May 6th 2008

“Bernard Kouchner, Alain Madelin, Gérard Collomb and Jean-Jack Queyranne met in Paris today to announce the Lyon Conference on Digital Solidarity. On the proposal of Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade and at the invitation of French president Nicolas Sarkozy, governments, local authorities, businesses, institutions and NGOs from around the world are invited to come together in Lyon on 24 November 2008 to explore innovative answers to the digital divide and build a new international solidarity in the digital age”.

At a time when a global explosion of digital technology contrasts with riots and famine, the latest UNCTAD report reveals the strong correlation between the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the improvement of living conditions in developing countries.

Thanks to significant advances in the global ICT context in recent years, the possibilities offered by digital technology are powerful levers for development. However, despite the considerable progress made by some developing countries, digital divides are emerging at various levels, exacerbating existing imbalances.

Since 2005, the Global Digital Solidarity Fund and the World Digital Solidarity Agency, created in the spirit of the multi-stakeholder dynamic of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), have undertaken several initiatives and projects to reduce the digital divide, made possible by the active involvement of local authorities.

Drawing on this experience and in view of the major challenges regarding funding, organisation and expertise ahead of them, the Fund and the Agency are the key partners of this world conference. The conference reflects the particular commitment of France, Lyon and the Rhône-Alpes Region to these issues and is part of the process of international negotiation on innovative financing mechanisms for development currently being carried out by 54 countries.

The Lyon Conference on Digital Solidarity will focus on three main areas:

  • Redefining the main priorities of digital solidarity (particularly through development projects linked to telemedicine, digital education, universal access in poor areas and the reuse of e-waste),
  • Improving and promoting innovative financing and partnerships mechanisms required for digital solidarity
  • Structuring the Fund and the Agency in a new organisation to enable them to effectively fulfil their role as a catalyst for multi-stakeholder partnerships.

PRESS CONTACT

Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et Européennes
Miguel Angel FLORES
Miguel-angel.FLORES@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Tél 33 (0) 1 43 17 52 01