http://www.itu.int/partners/index.html

As the United Nations’ lead agency for telecommunication and information technology, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is spearheading an ambitious global effort to help "connect the unconnected" by 2015. In doing so, ITU has actively engaged governments, industry, development banks and financial institutions, civil society and other partners.  [Partners & Projects]

The objective is to mobilize human, financial and technical resources for the implementation of the connectivity targets of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the Regional Initiatives adopted by Member States at the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference 2006. As recognized by global leaders during WSIS, achieving these connectivity objectives will serve as a catalyst to help realize the broader 2015 United Nations Millennium Development Goals in health, education, employment and poverty reduction.

In this vein, ITU and partners are organizing a Connect the World series of regional Summits over the coming years, bringing together like-minded stakeholders to work together on concrete actions and projects to expand information and communication (ICT) networks and access as a means of spurring investment, employment and broader social and economic development. The Connect Africa Summit, the first in the series, was held in Kigali, Rwanda in October 2007, under the patronage and leadership of the President of Rwanda, His Excellency, Mr. Paul Kagame.