[WSIS CS-Plenary] fyi: foss at unctad intergovernmental meeting

[ariwae at unl.ac.uk]

Dear Sir/Madam

I am interested in participatiing in the UNCTAD Expert Meeting on
Free and Open Source Software to be held in Geneva on 22-24 September 2004

I am involved in academic research and lecturing at the London
Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. I have research expertise in the
relevant areas of e-strategy, strategic information systems and
e-commerce; facilities management and knowledge management

Kindly send me the necessary information and programme involvdement
relevant to my roles

I look forward to your reply


Ezendu Ariwa



> Hi everyone,
> May I know which organisations from South from this list are going to
> participate in this event?
> Regards,
> Atanu
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
> Behalf Of magaly pazello
> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 6:28 AM
> To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
> Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] fyi: foss at unctad intergovernmental meeting
>
>
> Dear all,
>
> (sorry for cross-posting)
>
>
> An Intergovernmental meeting will be held in Geneva on FOSS under
> UNCTAD coordination:
>
> Expert meeting on Free and Open Source Software: Policy and development
> implications
> Geneva, 22–24 September 2004
>
> http://www.unctad.org/Templates/meeting.asp?intItemID=1942&lang=1&m=8936
>
> Resources available on UNCTAD webpage on FOSS linkaged to some issues
> and aplications:
>
> http://r0.unctad.org/ecommerce/ecommerce_en/freeopen_en.htm
>
> For who from developing and LD countries has good relationship or
> contacts with key people in its Governement and also can be considered
> an expert on FOSS by the Government there are fellowships available.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Magaly Pazello
>
> _______________________________
> Notification
>
> The Expert Meeting on Free and Open Source Software, convened in
> accordance with the decision taken by the Commission on Enterprise,
> Business Facilitation and Development at its eighth session, will be
> held from 22 to 24 September 2004. The Meeting will open at the Palais
> des Nations, Geneva, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 22 September 2004.
>
> Background and purpose of the Meeting
>
> An increasing number of countries are developing national policies and
> strategies to promote the digital economy. Many have recognized the
> important role of software - in addition to hardware, affordable access
> and human capacities and skills - as the medium that enables people to
> use technology productively.
>
> Because social and economic activities are heterogeneous and human and
> natural environments are varied and different, the role of software as
> the interface between this human diversity and, often ubiquitous, hard
> technology is fundamental to the wide adoption of information
> technologies and to closing the digital divide.
>
> Given this singularly important role of software, the increasing
> prominence and use of so-called free and open source software (FOSS)
> has encouraged a debate about its ability to help, in particular,
> developing countries overcome the digital divide and increase the use
> and productive effects of information technology in commercial
> activities, governance and other fields. FOSS is software whose source
> code - its set of instructions - has been made open to the public and
> freely available under a license that prevents its appropriation. It is
> not necessarily free, as in "gratis" or free-of-charge. It is "free"
> and "open" because it can be used, changed and redistributed in a
> relatively unhindered manner.
>
> This Expert Meeting will bring together experts from both developed and
> developing countries, from international and regional bodies involved
> in FOSS issues, from the software technology industry and from civil
> society organizations. The objective of the Expert Meeting is twofold.
> First, it will provide the UNCTAD Commission on Enterprise, Business
> Facilitation and Development with a substantive basis that could
> support discussions about FOSS at a higher policy level. Second, it
> will allow an assessment and exchange of experience among experts from
> UNCTAD member States, while benefiting from inputs from participating
> FOSS specialists from academia, business and civil society.
>
> Participation
>
> Experts are expected to include officials from government offices
> responsible for information technology strategy, including software and
> FOSS policy and implementation. Representatives from other public or
> private institutions, the academic world and NGOs, with proven
> expertise in the subject, will also be invited to participate. Experts
> are nominated by their national governments but will participate in the
> Meeting in their personal capacities. Nominations should be submitted
> to the UNCTAD secretariat no later than 26 July 2004.
>
> In addition, experts from international and regional organizations
> dealing with FOSS issues will be invited. Specialized agencies and
> intergovernmental bodies wishing to participate in the Meeting, as well
> as non-governmental organizations in the General Category and those in
> the Special Category wishing to participate as observers, are requested
> to inform the UNCTAD secretariat of the names of their representatives.
>
> Financial assistance
>
> Funds will be made available to finance the participation of a limited
> number of officially nominated experts from developing countries and
> economies in transition. Governments of developing countries and
> countries with economies in transition requiring funding are therefore
> invited to explicitly request financing in their letters of nomination.
> The Secretary-General of UNCTAD will base the decision as to which
> experts should receive financing on the principle of equitable
> geographical representation, beneficiary needs, in particular LDCs, and
> the expertise of the experts concerned. Changes in nominated experts
> will be considered as new nominations. Nominations with requests for
> financing should be received no later than eight weeks before the
> meeting (i.e. by 26 July 2004 at the latest), and should be accompanied
> with the following information about the nominee:
> 	â–ª 	Curriculum vitae;
> 	â–ª 	 Mailing address;
> 	â–ª 	 Telephone and fax number;
> 	â–ª 	 E-mail address; and
> 	â–ª 	 Name of a contact person in the Permanent Mission in Geneva.
>
>   It should be noted in this connection that once the list of experts to
> be financed has been finalized, the Secretary-General of UNCTAD will
> have all travel arrangements made in accordance with United Nations
> rules and regulations, though use of the least costly travel fare will
> be authorized.
>
> Background documents and contributed papers
>
> The provisional agenda for the meeting, together with the secretariat´s
> annotations, is being circulated as document TD/B/COM.3/EM.21/1. The
> UNCTAD secretariat has prepared, as official documentation for the
> meeting, a background paper entitled "Free and open source software"
> (TD/B/COM.3/EM.21/2), aimed at facilitating the discussions.
>
> Experts are encouraged to submit written contributions on experiences
> with FOSS at the national level, focusing on the following items: (i)
> overall familiarity with FOSS and the FOSS debate in the Government;
> (ii) what strategic, administrative or normative approaches are being
> considered or implemented; (iii) the extent of FOSS use in business and
> households; (iv) examples of significant localization efforts and
> applications; (v) possible economic effects and influence on related
> sectors and issues such as education and intellectual property
> regulation.
>
> These papers will be made available to other participants in the form
> and language in which they are received.
>
> Logistics
>
> The meeting will take place at the United Nations Office of Geneva,
> Palais des Nations. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in the
> six official languages of the United Nations.
>
> Upon arrival, participants are requested, before entering the Palais
> des Nations, to collect their badge at the UN Security Service, Villa
> Les Feuillantines, 13 Avenue de la Paix (close to the main entrance to
> the Palais on the Place des Nations, on the opposite side of the road).
> The Security Service is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (non-stop). Due to
> the existing security measures in force, participants are strongly
> advised to arrive before 8.30 a.m. in order to complete procedures and
> reach the Meeting in good time. Walking from Villa Les Feuillantines to
> the E-Building (Bâtiment E) of the Palais takes about 10 minutes.
> Participants are requested to carry a passport or similar national
> identity card with them. There is a general interdiction on the entry
> of taxis to the grounds of the Palais des Nations, and visitors will be
> dropped off at the requested entrance gates. Further, luggage is not
> authorized inside the buildings unless the Security Service grants
> special clearance.
>
> Further information and contact details
>
> Links to information and details can be accessed at:
> http://www.unctad.org/ecommerce
>
> Nominations and related communications concerning representation at the
> Meeting should be sent to the UNCTAD Secretariat, Intergovernmental
> Affairs and Outreach Service, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10;
> fax: + 41(0)22 917 0056;  e-mail: correspondence at unctad.org.
>
> Substantive and other enquiries should be addressed to Mr. Dimo
> Calovski, Economic Affairs Officer, as the coordinator in the Services
> Infrastructure for Development and Trade Efficiency Division; E.7063,
> Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10; tel: +41(0)22 917 9946 or 917
> 5912 or 917 5515, fax: +41(0)22 917 0052, e-mail:  fossem at unctad.org
>
> (signed)
>   Rubens Ricupero
>   Secretary-General of UNCTAD
>   1 June 2004
>
>
>
>
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