Modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are powerful tools that can help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Indeed, one of the MDG targets explicitly calls on governments, the international community, and the private sector to create innovative partnerships to make the new technologies, specially ICTs, accessible to all. .1 In this context, the effective integration or mainstreaming of ICTs at the local, national and regional levels into development strategies and programmes is pivotal. As stated in the Millennium Declaration, good governance is one of the critical elements that must be in place in developing countries to make the achievement of the MDGs feasible.

Good governance is thus one of the key requirements of development. ICT can support good governance by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of governments; enhancing the delivery of critical public services; making public administrations more attuned to the needs of citizens; improving transparency and accountability; fostering citizen's access to public and official information; enhancing citizens participation in the public policy process; and improving inclusion and participation of all stakeholders in good governance processes. Therefore, eGovernance - namely the process of public decision making that uses ICT to enhance "people-centred" governance - becomes particularly important. The International Conference on e-Government for Development, (Palermo, Italy, 10-11 April 2002), organized by the Government of Italy with the support of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA), raised awareness on the opportunities offered by the use of modern ICT by public administrations in the process of economic and social development, to foster transparency and participation, effectiveness and efficiency.

In view of the enormous potential of ICT to improve governance all over the world, a number of organizations - including governments, business, international organizations, civil society organizations, technical and academic communities - have come together to launch the Community of Expertise on eGovernance for Development. The Community aims at harnessing the potential of modern information and communication technologies to promote good governance and thereby advance development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The establishment of the Community of Expertise on eGovernance for Development is to acknowledge and materialize the importance of partnerships in creating a shared future. The Community will seek to fully leverage the existing and ongoing work on e-governance, especially as it refers to the WSIS Implementation and Follow-up processes, and be attentive towards not duplicating existing work. The Community will function primarily as electronic mail and web-based network using innovative on-line collaboration tools complemented by limited off-line activities.