» Bridging The Digital Divide

In preparation for the Millenium Summit, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Anan announced in his millenium Report several immediate initiatives, as examples of the kinds of effective partnerships the United Nations can catalyze. Among these is the United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS) United Nations Volunteers is leading an initiative by Sectary-General Kofi Annan to bridge the "digital divide" between developed and developing countries. The United Nations Informations Technology Service (UNITeS) represents a coalition of high-tech volunteer corps, including Net Corps Canada and Net Corps America, which operates under the coordination of the UNV, the volunteer arm of the United Nations based in Bonn, Germany.

By mobilizing volunteers, both online and on-site, UNITeS provides training on the use and opportunities of information and communication technology. The application of information technology in areas such as health, education, environment and small and micro-enterprises is expected to result in signifant benefits to those who have been marginalized by poverty and lack of access to basic services. The UNV programme brings logistical support, human resources and a record of nearly thirty years of experience in the field of volunteerism to this new endeavour.

UNITeS involves a broad range of institutions worldwide, including governments, civil society, development agencies, academia and private sector. The program intends to foster the participation of developing country nationals as volunteers to the greatest possible extent and give priority to south-south exchanges. In the long run, it is hoped that UNITeS will stimulate the creation of additional digital corps worlwide.

» UNITeS Volunteers in Action

UNITeS became operational on 1 August 2000, with the first volunteer taking up his assignment in India, in the State of Orissa. Other UNITeS initiatives in progress include projects in Bhutan, Botswana, Chile, Ecuador, Jordan, Mongolia, Senegal and South Africa. Key partners include volunteer networks, non-governmental organizations, governments, The UN developement Programme and the World Bank

The UNITeS initiative has launched a new generation of volunteerism meant to level the playing field in the area of information technology. Some 88% of all internet users live in industrialized countries, which account for 15% of the worlds population. To purchase a new computer, the average US citizen has to spend roughly one month of his or her salary, while the average Bangladeshi has to save for eight years.

An official UNITeS website was launched under www.unites.org . The site generates discussion and debate on issues related to information and communication technologies, as well as volunteerism and global development in general. It also generates feedback on values and objectives of the UNITeS/UNV programmes and aims at involving developmental agencies, other volunteer organizations and IT specialists. The website serves as a direct interface for accessing all UNITeS information service and management tools.