July 16, 2001
Information Technologies Can Create Social and Economic Progress in Developing Countries, Says Report. Accenture, Markle Foundation and UNDP Release Findings of Digital Opportunity Initiative

February 5, 2002
Global public-private partnership launches initiative to deliver digital opportunity for all Markle Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme join with private-sector companies, NGOs and foundations to drive e-strategies for developing nations

July 1, 2002
DOTForce Final Report Card: Digital Opportunities for All - Meeting the Challenge
The Dot Force was created as part of the Okinawa Charter on the Global Information Society released at the Group of Eight (G-8) Summit in the summer of 2001, by the Heads of State, and was designed to mobilize the resources and coordinate the efforts of governments, the non-profit and for-profit private sectors, multilateral and international organizations, and others. The initiative aims to establish a greater global understanding of the role that information and communication technologies can play in addressing development needs and in helping to achieve sustainable economic growth.

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  Download DOTForce Meeting, Tokyo, Japan: Remarks by Zoë Baird
  Download DOTForce Letter

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June 2002
Roadmap Toward Enabling Meaningful Participation by Developing Country Stakeholders in Global ICT Policy Processes.
Implementation Team On Global Policy Participation - G8 Digital Opportunity Task Force How can international ICT policymaking be made more inclusive? This Roadmap underscores the importance of meaningful participation by developing-nations stakeholders in global ICT policymaking; defines the current global ICT policy environment and the most common barriers to developing-country participation; examines key lessons drawn from other global policy fora that are not ICT focused; and lays out a framework of priorities and recommended actions to increase developing-nation participation.

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June 2002
Louder Voices: Strengthening Developing Country Participation in International ICT Decision-Making.
A Study by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation and the Panos London
Commissioned by the UK, DFID, this study examines the nature of the challenges facing developing country participants in international ICT decision making, the constraints facing delegates representing developing countries, research and analytical capacities that already exist in the ICTs and telecommunications of least developed countries, the role and effectiveness of regional forums, and examples of countries that have successfully exposed their decision and policy making to broader public and policy debate, as well as those that have not. In addition the study examines the merit of some specific ideas and initiatives already being discussed, such as creating regional centers of expertise in ICT policy within existing academic/research institutions; establishing an electronic newsletter to report on international ICT forums; and building on current DFID programs aimed at creating opportunities; as well as new initiatives within developing countries to stimulate more informed and more inclusive public debate on ICT-related issues, with an emphasis on perspectives from the poor and marginalized.

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