[WSIS CS-Plenary] Invitation to IFAD's panel discussion - "Eradicating rural poverty by connecting rural communities".

[Tracey Naughton]

Dear Colleague,

During WSIS the International Fund for Agricultural Development  
(IFAD), will hold a panel discussion on the theme "Eradicating rural  
poverty by connecting rural communities".



I am pleased to invite you to attend IFAD’s panel discussion, which  
will be held from 9 to 11 am on Thursday 17 November, in Meeting Room  
Béja at the Parc des expositions du Kram (Kram PalExpo).



Information and communication technology (ICT) is a powerful tool for  
rural development. However, before ICTs can make a meaningful  
contribution to improving the lives of rural poor people, certain  
conditions have to be met. These relate to ownership, local content,  
language, culture and appropriate technology. Access to ICTs becomes  
important only once these conditions have been met.

We anticipate that new ideas will emerge from the discussion on how  
to increase the positive impact of ICTs in rural areas of developing  
countries, and on how to ensure that ICTs can contribute in  
meaningful, substantive and sustainable ways to the eradication of  
rural poverty and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.



The discussion will draw attention to the real-time experience and  
lessons learned emerging from IFAD’s First Mile Project in Tanzania,  
which is tackling two challenges: access by rural poor people to  
information and knowledge, and to communication technologies such as  
mobile phones, the Internet and email; and how they can build  
relationships, communicate and negotiate with others along the market  
chain to improve their access to markets. The project is supported by  
the Government of Switzerland.

The discussion will highlight issues including:

the importance of relevant local content
how local people are using and adapting ICTs in innovative ways to  
their own circumstances and needs
convergence and complementarity of traditional and new ICTs

It will do so by bringing in the voices of rural poor people,  
highlighting their needs, priorities and their hopes for how they can  
use ICTs to improve their lives. Panelists will be asked to discuss  
the relevance and implications of the First Mile experiences for  
Africa, for other regions and globally, building on their own  
knowledge and experience.


A specialized agency of the United Nations, IFAD is dedicated to  
eradicating poverty and hunger in the rural areas of developing  
countries. Through low-interest loans and grants, IFAD develops and  
finances projects that enable poor rural people to overcome poverty  
themselves.


Since 1978, IFAD has invested about US$8.7 billion in more than 690  
rural development projects in 115 countries and territories around  
the world. These projects have enabled over 250 million small  
farmers, herders, fisherfolk, landless workers, artisans and  
indigenous peoples to make a better life for themselves and for their  
families. IFAD’s projects help to reduce poverty in some of the  
world’s most remote and fragile areas, and among its poorest and most  
marginalized people.


On my own behalf and that of IFAD, allow me to voice the hope that  
our roundtable will be honoured by your presence and participation.


Sincerely yours,

Sandra McGuire

Director of Communication

IFAD




Panelists

Cyril Enweze, Vice-President, IFAD
Clive Lightfoot, Executive Director International Support Group and  
President of the International Farming Systems Association (IFSA).
Aida Opoku Mensah, Director, United Nations Economic Commission for  
Africa (UNECA)
Clare O’Farrell, Communication for Development Office, Food and  
Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Nathaniel Katinila, Project Coordinator Agricultural Marketing  
Systems Development Programme (AMSDP)
Richard Gerster, Development economist and activities, University of  
St Gall

Agenda

Opening remarks: Cyril Enweze, Vice-President, IFAD
Nathaniel Katinila: Brief presentation on Agricultural Marketing  
Systems Development Programme (AMSDP) and conditions on the ground
Clive Lightfoot: Presentation on lessons emerging from the First Mile  
project
Richard Gerster: How can use of information and communication  
technology help eradicate rural poverty: the role of the donor community
Aida Opoku Mensah: Elements of good policies and strategies to ensure  
relevant and meaningful use of ICTs in rural areas: the role of  
governments and the private sector
Clare O'Farrell: Local appropriation of ICTs and the implications for  
rural development interventions
Debate and discussion
Summing up and closing remarks: Cyril Enweze, Vice-President, IFAD



________________________________________________________
2005 is the International Year of Microcredit -
Microfinance is one way to fight poverty in rural areas,
where most of the world's poorest people live.


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