The Global Digital Solidarity Fund and IICD sign a Memorandum of Understanding
Mar 23 2007
The Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DFS) Foundation fights the digital divide by promoting North-South and South-South cooperation in the field of information and communication technology (ICT). They do so by supporting community developmental actions, while respecting cultural diversity and local contexts.
The Fund, based in Geneva, implements a new financing mechanism for development, the 1% digital solidarity principle, which enables public authorities worldwide to collect 1% on ICT transactions. Collected funds are re-invested in remote areas, to provide access and to introduce applications which can improve life conditions and revitalize local economies.
In the Memorandum of Understanding, signed late 2007, DSF and IICD agreed to investigate the possibility of joint project funding in countries where DSF and IICD both intervene (such as Burkina Faso). We will explore opportunities to mutualize and further develop on-going projects through shared resources and expertise, for instance by providing access to DSF resources or/and by closely collaborating on monitoring and evaluating projects, based on IICD’s Monitoring & Evaluation methodology. So far, the cooperation resulted in the submission of a project proposal for Burkina Faso and Bolivia. If approved, these projects will be directly funded by Digital Solidarity Fund.