Supporting Community Access to ICT, Economic Growth, Trade and Agriculture

The Center addresses the twin challenges of ensuring equal access and effective utilization of ICT by establishing the necessary infrastructure in underserved areas, and by developing applications to enable development and economic growth.

Information technology is instrumental to creating new businesses and building the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises and agribusiness to compete in local and global markets.

Examples of Center results in these areas:

Reduce the digital divide by creating public access centers offering information technology services to citizens and businesses, and develop sustainability strategies for public access centers, particularly those in rural or disadvantaged communities (Benin, Bulgaria, Ghana, Mali, Paraguay, Romania, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda).
Establish national coverage for Internet connectivity by using government and donor agency requirements for services to induce commercial providers to build out the infrastructure for wireless rural networks (Macedonia).
Develop an agribusiness portal to promote local investment, share cultivation techniques, and help marketing and pricing systems for the region (Romania).
Assist small and medium-size enterprises to collaborate in the introduction of appropriate technology to strengthen their efficiency and market presence (Macedonia).
Carry out project design and training in support of building out women-owned cellular telephone businesses in rural Uganda (Uganda).
Establish electronic tracking systems for tropical marine products to certify origin and ensure proper handling and quality throughout the supply chain (Philippines).
Strengthen agricultural research and knowledge management through ICT to support information access, dissemination of lessons, and communication (Africa Region).