Development Orientation

We agree to the need to work for development with ICTs, rather than working with ICTs for development. We need to focus our attention on development purposes and not on technological possibilities.

As a consequence, We also agree to the new concept of ICT-enabled development, eDevelopment for short; where the "e" also means effective, empowering and efficient. Effective edevelopment can result from the use of ICTs to improve the quality and demand responsiveness of a development activity. Empowered edevelopment can result from the use of ICTs to strengthen the ability of people to shape decisions that affect their lives. Efficient edevelopment can result from the use of ICTs to deliver intended outcomes in a well-organized and economical manner.

We acknowledge that capacity building at all levels is needed to ensure that the required institutional and individual expertise is available to best effect. While technical cooperation can help, capacities at all levels need to be developed and strengthened to play their proper roles in the longer term. We need to focus on the people and the skills and wider aptitudes they need to operate in an information society.

We also acknowledge that founding eDevelopment on notions like ownership, partnership, capacity development, demand responsiveness, inclusiveness and joint action; help ensure sustainability in the longer term.

We recognize that eDevelopment is best executed and sustained when it involves the people closest to the problem. For eDevelopment to succeed, it can not be "some" that are identifying, planning, investing, training, using, implementing, analyzing, monitoring and evaluating on behalf of "others". For all of us to benefit, we have to do this together, be involved throughout the whole process.

We recognize the need to humanize ICTs. That is aligning the needs of the various stakeholders with the means at disposal, addressing both personal and inter-cultural relations.