The contribution of ICTs to the development of education, science and culture and the construction of a knowledge society

UNESCO Progress Report for the October 2004 Meeting of the Exec. Board

Progress is reported on the following initiatives in the second of UNESCO's two cross-cutting themes:

-- New opportunities for children and young people with disabilities;
-- The application of remote sensing for integrated management of ecosystems and water resources in Africa;
-- Information and communication technology in science and engineering education in Africa;
-- Small islands’ Voice (SIV);
-- UNESCO/IOC regional ocean subportals as part of the UNESCO knowledge portal;
-- ICTs as a tool to improve local governance in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean;
-- DIGI-ARTS subportal/UNESCO knowledge portal;
-- ICTs helping to fight HIV/AIDS: changing young people’s behaviour through preventive education schemes;
-- Harnessing ICTs for the audiovisual industry and public service broadcasting in developing countries;
-- ICTs for intercultural dialogue and diversity: developing communication capacities of indigenous peoples;
-- E-campus - Improving open distance learning;
-- ICTs as a tool for governance and democratic participation;
-- Strengthening telecentres in Central America;
-- Free open source software for information processing and education; and
-- UNESCO knowledge portal.

The other UNESCO cross-cutting theme is "Eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty". UNESCO also has take specific efforts for "Coordination of action to benefit Africa".