2008-03-15

Conference on national community multimedia centres in Jamaica

A conference under the theme 'Igniting and Sustaining Community Development in the 21st Century' was held from 12 to 14 March 2008 at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.

UNESCO is cooperating with the Jamaican Ministry of Energy, Mining and Technology (MEMT), ICT4D Jamaica, the Cable and Wireless Foundation, and the HEART Trust/NTA to set up a national network of community access points (CAPs) through community multimedia centres/telecentres in Jamaica.

The purpose of the Conference was to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders in order to consolidate fragmented community-based ICT projects being implemented across the island. It also aimed to highlight the use of CMC/Telecentres as tools for mainstreaming development issues at the national and community levels. Over the three days, the Conference featured presentations, mini workshops and panel discussions to provide participants with an in-depth perspective on lessons learned and best practices in establishing networks as well as the application of ICT for community development.

The involvement of private sector, development organizations, donors and other participants will serve to reinforce the purpose of CAPs and improve collaboration which will contribute to enhanced effectiveness, sustainability, policy and advocacy. The feedback obtained from participants during the conference will be used for further development of the national network.

Click here for more details from UNESCO and here for details from ICT4Dev Jamaica.

No comments: