Digital Divide

UNITeS' Mission

The main objective of the United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS), an initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General's Millennium Report, is to develop a global program for information technology volunteers. Its commitment to information technology and development is evident through its collaboration with diverse governments, civil society, the private sector, development agencies and academia. By working directly with the people in developing countries, UNITeS' goal is to help these country partners build capabilities for using and developing IT in human development, especially in fields such as education, environment, health, and small and micro- enterprises.

Partnership Summary

Under the Least Developed Country Initiative, over 30 UNITeS volunteers have been recruited through the Secretary General's UNITeS program, and sponsored by UNDP Africa, APDIP, UNV, Cisco Learning Institute and Cisco Corporate Philanthropy. A combination of IT experts and Gender Experts were based in participating LDCs. They have received special training on the Networking Academy Program and assist Academies to conduct community outreach and expand to secondary cities in order to open training opportunities to a more diverse audience and raise awareness about the importance of IT in reaching sustainable development.

"Addressing the international digital divide is a key component in empowering people to address many different areas of human development, including health, education and environment. Access to information and communication technologies is ultimately about providing communities with greater choices and more access to critical tools and information. The contributions of volunteers worldwide will be paramount in the efforts to bridge the digital divide. The United Nations Volunteer programme (UNV) is proud to be associated with the Cisco Networking Academy Program, which fits well within our growing efforts to facilitate the assistance of volunteers to developing countries in building up their capacity on the uses and opportunities of ICT for human development."

Sharoapeling-Alakija
UNV Executive Coordinaton Cr