It is high time that all stakeholders actively participate in enhancing the crucial role that the ICTs can have in achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals and that private entities understand the product needs of final users in developing countries.  Products must be tailor-made to fit the special needs of the the peoples living in disadvantaged conditions such as lack of electricity and safe water, low literacy rates, and differing cultural expectations.

Through these efforts, developing countries could become the avant-garde of the Digital Revolution at the highest possible technological level.

The Conference aims to advance the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and, in particular, supports programmes for alleviating poverty through information and communication technologies and empowering women and indigenous people to take a more active role.

The Conference is organized by the Observatory for Cultural and Audiovisual Communication (OCCAM) with the support of the Secretariat of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development, under the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and of the European Parliament, Infopoverty Institute – University of Oklahoma, and the Politecnico di Milano.

www.occam.org