Preamble

GAID Europe is the European focal point for the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID). The mission and objectives of GAID are to respond to the need and demand for an inclusive global forum and platform for cross-sectoral policy dialogue on the use of ICT for enhancing the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, notably the reduction of poverty. To achieve this aim, GAID will seek to contribute to: (1) mainstreaming of the global ICT agenda into the broader United Nations development agenda; (2) reaching out to and bringing together key organizations involved in ICT for development (ICT4D) to enhance their collaboration and effectiveness for achieving the internationally agreed development goals; (3) raising awareness of policy makers on ICT4D policy issues; (4) facilitating identification of technological solutions for specific development goals and pertinent partnerships; (5) creating an enabling environment and innovative business models for pro-poor investment and growth and for empowering people living in poverty through the people centred and equitable use of ICTs; and (6) acting as a "think-tank" on ICT4D-related issues and as an advisory group to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Mission

GAID Europe acts as a regional network in support of the above mission of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development. GAID Europe's task is to connect European initiatives (specially those coordinated by European Commission and others EU based) that work on internationally agreed development goals, European governmental bodies, European companies, European civil society entities and other relevant stakeholders from the technical community and academia. Supported by the combined power of all stakeholders GAID Europe promotes the use of ICT for reducing poverty worldwide and encourages concrete projects furthering this overarching aim.

Based on relevant surveys analysing the demand and needs of communities in developing countries GAID Europe will identify certain regions for support with the goal of combining engagement of stakeholders in an optimal way. The process of reaching the goals is accompanied by a strategy of step-by-step planning.

Communication Platform

A Steering Group of GAID Europe has been established to coordinate all relevant activities and encourages mutually beneficial communication between all stakeholders. To further enable such exchange of information and announcements on a common platform, a GAID Europe sub-website as part of the GAID website is under development. At least one meeting per year is envisaged to sum up and present past actions and decide about the next steps.

Action Items

• analyse demands and needs of developing countries
  • evaluate existing surveys
  • if necessary initiate further analyses
• define certain regions for initial actions
• create links, work togehther with the rest of Regional Gaid Groups and create interactions with other regional networks
• enlarge the long term expertise of numerous members states with some dedicated developping countries
• plan workshops in these regions, invite local government bodies, european companies, civil society actors and other relevant stakeholders
• encourage stakeholders to start concrete projects
• lobby for a legal framework for public-private partnerships
• reach out to additional key players to be involved in GAID and in its European Network
• it was also proposed to create a European Regional Centre of Excellence on Free and Open Source Software