The rapid evolution of information and communications technology (ICT) is creating newchallenges and opportunities for developing countries. However, opportunities to research the innovative uses and effects of ICTs are too often restricted to those who have access to funding. This means that most current research initiatives on ICTs in thedeveloping world are initiated and implemented by organizations from the developed world. Developing world institutions are in need of financial support to conduct their own research on ICTs for their own socio-economic development.

 

This project provides the necessary funds for researchers of Asia and the Pacific to bring their innovative research ideas to life and create ICT-based solutions to the development problems that they themselves identify. The current phase of the project began in 2001 and is administered by a Southern institution. The current funding partners include IDRC/PAN, the Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), and the Internet Society (ISOC). The project has attracted the interest of other co-sponsors, including Microsoft Operations Pte Ltd., catalyzing the evolution of the programme to a broader ownership base, and involving key national, regional, and international agencies in the Asia Pacific region. The Asia Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) is the regional implementing agency.

 

Two annual competitions for small grants are funded, in which the maximum funding for each grant is $30,000 (USD). Well over 50 grants have been funded to date, which address research on diverse topics such as networking and information sharing, rural development, gender analysis, Internet access and performance, telemedicine, e-learning, e-government, agriculture and environment, and culture preservation.

 

To promote an active R&D environment for innovative Internet-based applications, systems and policy research in the Asia Pacific region. More specifically, the project aims to:

The capacity building that results from this project is two-fold. Managed by a local partner organization (AMIC), this project provides a sustained, open and flexible mechanism for encouraging developing country institutions to build their capacity to administer a multi-donor fund. In addition, the grants that are awarded give institutions in developing countries the opportunity to build capacity to write strong proposals, develop projects, and implement their ideas.