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Union (ITU) holds the World Telecommunication Development
Conference. Among the many other ITU projects is the Connect
the World initiative, a global multi-stakeholder effort aimed at
building up existing development-oriented connectivity projects
and stimulating new partnerships. Its founding partners vary from
global businesses to governments, and all of them are undertak-
ing concrete activities that contribute to reducing the digital divide
with a strong commitment at the CEO/Leader level. They are
working towards the goal of connecting all communities by 2015.
Multi-stakeholder partnerships
The digital divide is a complicated problem involving multiple
issues, and it cannot be resolved without the concerted efforts of
diverse constituents. Multi-stakeholder partnerships allow indi-
vidual organizations to achieve goals that would be difficult to
attain with their own resources or efforts alone. A cooperative
partnership comprising public, private, civic, and international
parties can accomplish a common goal if each party successfully
fulfils its respective responsibility. In essence, in a multi-stake-
holder partnership, the different capacities and resources of
participating organizations complement each other and create a
synergy that enables shared goals to be accomplished.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) stresses
that the digital divide is a complex social and economic issue that
can only be solved through cooperation and mutual reliance
between different organizations in a variety of fields. The projects,
which governmental agencies, private corporations, international
organizations, and civic groups respectively implement to bridge
the digital divide, can only succeed through cooperation with
other organizations. For example, a public organization would
need a significant amount of human and financial resources to
build a network and provide the many services essential to reduc-
ing the digital divide in rural and poorer urban areas, and those
necessary resources can be raised by contributions from the busi-
ness community. Similarly, a private company might require the
government to ensure fair competition and transparency in the
market, elements that are crucial to efficient investment and devel-
opment in the ICT sector.
Recognizing the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships
in bridging the digital divide, KADO has been carrying out its
programmes through cooperation with diverse entities. KADO
was established on the basis of the Act on Closing the Digital
Divide. It is a leading agency pioneering the domestic and global
attempt to move toward a knowledge and information society by
reducing the digital divide, building a digital welfare society, creat-
ing a venue for a future Information Society, and promoting a
healthy cyberculture. Working together with multiple participants
including central and local governments, post offices, IT compa-
nies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), KADO aims
to realize a digital world where anyone can benefit from infor-
mation and communication services.
KADO is currently involved in many projects aimed at bridg-
ing the digital divide by fostering an environment of equal access
to information. Between 2000 and 2003, 986 Information Access
Centres (IACs) were established and operated for local govern-
ments throughout the nation. In 2004, 30 multi-functional IACs
offering residents e-learning classes, multimedia lessons and
digital resources were established for 28 local governments. In
addition, for the purposes of reducing the digital divide between
social classes and making information access a part of daily life,
80 552 used computers were collected from public organizations,
private corporations, and individuals. Of this total, 61 906
computers were repaired and distributed free of charge to 3 911
organizations and 21 280 individuals through the Used PC
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IT education is provided by Community Technology Learning Centres