World Dialogue on Regulation

Pro-Poor Pro-Market ICT Policy and Regulation

Pro-Poor Pro-Market ICT Policy and Regulation (PPPM) was a full day seminar co-organised by the International Development Research Centre (Canada), Information for Development Program of the World Bank (infoDev), LIRNE.NET, the World Dialogue on Regulation, LIRNEasia, Research ICT Africa (RIA!), and Diálogo regional sobre la sociedad de la información / Regional Dialogue on the Information Society (DIRSI).

The seminar’s themes reflected the diversity of the research being conducted within the network, such as ICT demand, access and usage by the poor, extending access, usage of universal access funds and public participation in policy processes. During the final session a panel of experts was given five minutes each to present their ideas for policy, regulatory and research priorities in a post-WSIS world.

The day’s session also included the launch of DIRSI’s first book, Digital Poverty: The Latin American Experience. The PDF version of the book is available at DIRSI.NET

When: Thursday 17 November, from 09:00 to 16:45

Where: Matmata Room, Kram Centre

Details: The seminar agenda is available on the IDRC website.

infoDev Forum: Do Policy & Regulation Matter?

Over a two-day period the infoDev Forum focused on addressing some of the key challenges facing the international community in seeking to harness information and communication technologies (ICT) as tools of broad-based development, poverty reduction and opportunity for all. The forum’s sessions began with a series of deliberately provocative questions such as: Do ICTs Matter to the Poor?, Do National ICT Strategies Matter?, and Is Information Infrastructure a Public Good?. The final session on the first day was be chaired by LIRNE.NET managing director, William Melody and will address the question: Do Policy and Regulation Matter?

When: Thursday 17 November, from 09:00 to 18:30 (the Do Policy and Regulation Matter? session closes the first day from 17:00 to 18:30) and Friday 18 November from 09:00 to 13:00

Where: Hannibal Room, KRAM Exposition Center

Details: Information about this and other infoDev activities is on the infoDev website.

RIA! Policy Dialogue

The Research ICT Africa! policy dialogue, ICT Indicators for Development: Measuring ICT Supply and Demand for e-Africa Policy was a full day high level briefing on the African e-index. Organised by RIA!, the meeting was attended by top-level regulators and researchers from Africa as well as researchers from LIRNE/WDR partners from Latin America, Europe and Asia. Robin Mansell, who runs LIRNE’s research programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science offered the keynote address.

When: Wednesday 16 November from 08:30 to 19:30

Where: Corinthia Hotel

Details: Information about the briefing is available on the IDRC website and the agenda can be downloaded from WDR's regulateonline.org site.

IAMCR panels

Transfer of Information Technology and Knowledge: Development & Underdevelopment

Speakers focused on research and practical issues relating to e-exclusion and the knowledge society and the potential of ICTs for leapfrogging development, including critical reflections on issues relating to disparities, IPR, trade, governance, financing ICT development, access and human rights. Among the speakers was DIRSI researcher Hopeton Dunn, LIRNEasia director Rohan Samarajiva and Robin Mansell from LSE.

Where: Renaissance Tunis Hotel, Utique Room

When: 14 November 2005 from 14:00 to 16:00

Details: The agenda is available on IAMCR's website

Communication Research in the Information Age

This second IAMCR panel served to launch International Researchers’ Charter for Knowledge Societies.

Where: Beja Room, Kram Centre

When: 16 November 2005 from 11:00 to 13:00 pm

Details: http://www.petitionOnline.com/iamcr/