[WSIS CS-Plenary] Digital Solidarity Report – 1

[Nnenna]

Background

 

The Digital Solidarity Fund – DSF-  was born in the process of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society – WSIS.  President Wade, AU Vice for Technology and Infrstructure, was at its origin.  The idea was partly accepted, and  partly criticized by some.  The Fund was to be launched in November 2004 but due to last minutes events not unrelated to crises in the African continent (Ivory Coast) it was changed to the 14th of March 2005.

 

Two days before the official launch, a brief consultation was held in Geneva, at the Villa La Concorde which houses the Secretariat of the DSF.

 

Presence:

   Amadou Top – Vice President DSF
   Alain Clerc- Executive Secretary DSF
   Nnenna Nwaknma –  ACSIS,Board member
   Claude Citon – OCAPROCE
   Anna Leurinda- Culture de Solidarité Afroindigène
   Nouga Adalbert – Village Suisse ONG
   Maurice Katala – AIPD- GL/ DAPSI
   Ladouceur Marie Calixte – Village Suisse ONG
   Louise Lassonde- Foundation en Devenir
   Claude Charleuin – OCAPROCE
   Makou Djouma – OCAPROCE
   Traore Wodjo - CLUB UA-CI
   Oksalapi Anja- YAAKAARE 
   Pape Diouf- DAPSI/ Etic Nord-Sud
   Fatoumata Traoré – RIFAD
   Viola Krebs - ICV
   Mamadou Gaye (on Monday alone)

The meeting started with a welcomenote from Nnenna who was convening.  The agenda was briefing and questions.

 

Briefing:

 

Amadou Top gave an explanation tot he CS on the DSF.  Among other things, he specified the following:

   The PrepCom II received the report from the Task Force on Finace Mechanism set up by Koffi Annan.  The TFFM validated the DSF by concluding that the existing finance mechanisms are not adequate to bridge to the digital divide.
   This conclusion has encouraged the European Union and the USA to lift their reserve on the DSF.
   Cities and local authorities are the principal partners.  This echsnism differs from state systems which are generally heavy.
   The Fund is tripatrite: Government, Private Sector and Civil Society
   It is a global Fund, not an African Fund
   It is based on the contribution of at least  1% of the ICT markets of cities and local authorites
   Contributions also come from cuntries, and  individual donations.
   The DSF is pursuing Regional and National representations
   The demands that are going to be considered by the DSF are non-solvent ones (coming from the most vulnerable groups)
   The opening of this non-solvent group is a viable market for the private sector
   The DSF is a Foundation under Swiss Law
   Its accounts shall be online and can be monitored by the public.

Questions

Top's presentation was followed by questions.  The CS wanted extra info on tyhe following:

   The full list of the Founding members 
   The role of international organizations
   The representativity of the African Diaspora
   The consideration given to indigenous people
   The DSF policy on Free Software
   The decision processes.

Quick answers

   The updated list of Founding members

   The city of Geneva
   The city of Dakar
   Senegal
   Equatorial Guinea
   The Spanish Basque Country
   La Francophonie
   Rhône-Alpes Region of France
   Turin
   Lille
   The city of Lyon
   France
   Saint Domingos
   The city of Saint Domingos
   The Region of Aquitaine
   The city of Délémont
   Nigeria
   Morocco
   Algeria

   Membership and donations are open to organizations.  La Francophonie is a founding member of the DSF.
   The Diaspora of a continent is part of its mother continent.  All the same, projects may be submitted as Diaspora projects through the continent.
   Yes, Indigenous people in many countries are a large part of the most vulnerable.
   The DSF will seek to maximize costs in all areas.  This will apply to the choice in software.  The best options will be adopted as the cases may be.
   There are instances for decisons: the Founding members, the board, the secretariat and the Agency.

The meeting was reconvened for Monday evening after the launch to get feedback from the CS.


		
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