Abstract

An earlier project funded by the CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency), Infodev and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) focused on the development of a conceptual framework, a methodology and a model to measure the digital divide. The model was piloted in nine countries in 2002. A second phase was completed in November 2003 in time for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva, December 2003. The report covered 192 countries and was presented at several WSIS events. Phase III of the project will focus on updating the application, expanding the analytical work, and exploring the issue of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and gender. The initial application covered the period 1995-2001. The update will collect and analyze data mainly from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) statistics for the years 2001 to 2004. The second component will establish linkages between the findings and information society policy in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The last component will involve a thorough analysis of existing data disaggregated by gender. The overall goal is to develop a tool that will enable countries to better understand the impact of specific ICT policies, measure their success in bridging the digital divide and measure their progress against that of other nations.

Recipient Institution(s)