AFRO-NETS> World Bank's Development Forum

["R. Kim" <Rkim@worldbank.org>]

[The following message originated from 6 October, 1998 but got (nearly) 
lost due to internal e-mail problems. DN Mod.]

World Bank's Development Forum
------------------------------

World Bank launches Development Forum for on-line dialogue and knowl-
edge-sharing

The World Bank's newly-redesigned Web site:

http://www.worldbank.org/

includes, among other innovations designed to make the site more inter-
active, a discussion space called the Development Forum.

The Development Forum is an electronic venue for dialogue and knowl-
edge-sharing on issues of sustainable development. Its focal point is 
an ongoing and expanding series of electronic Development Dialogues on 
key issues and challenges facing the development community and the 
world's poor, with a particular emphasis on learning from the experi-
ence of those who face these challenges in their daily lives. These 
dialogues will be complemented by other features, including a Speaker's 
Corner, that provoke discussion and debate on development issues, and 
resources for those who wish to develop their own on-line dialogues. 
Also included is an index containing information on ongoing discussions 
focused on development issues such as this mailing list.

The Forum is sponsored by the World Bank as part of a broader effort to 
maximise access to, and effective use of, knowledge and information as 
tools of sustainable development. The objectives of the Forum are:

1) To increase the sharing of knowledge and experience on development
   issues between the World Bank and its external partners and clients,
   by providing tools for focused dialogue that enhances the effective-
   ness of our work by increasing the knowledge base that informs that
   work;

2) To increase opportunities for our clients and other stakeholders
   from developing countries to be active contributors to the creation
   and sharing of high-value information and knowledge on development
   issues;

3) To encourage and facilitate co-operation among development agencies
   and other organisations involved in development by permitting spe-
   cialists across the development community to share information and
   knowledge in a way that enhances their effectiveness.

In order to maximise participation in these discussions by those with 
limited Internet access, all Development Dialogues in the Forum will 
use an email list platform, with messages archived to the Forum web 
site for future reference. By early 1999, the Forum will feature a 
seamless web to email, email to web interface that permits full par-
ticipation in the discussion either by email or from the web site. The 
Forum's organisers will work to mobilise active participation in these 
dialogues by individuals and groups from developing countries. 

A particular effort will be made to reach out to partner institutions 
in developing countries' training and research institutions, think 
tanks, universities, non-governmental organisations and other develop-
ment stakeholders to encourage them not only to foster participation in 
these dialogues but also, over time, to take an increasing role in pro-
posing, planning and leading on-line discussions and knowledge-sharing 
efforts on development issues of their own choosing. These efforts will 
complement the Bank's growing efforts to help developing countries 
maximise access to and effective use of information and communications 
technologies and global networks.

The Forum was launched on Friday, October 2 as part of the launch of 
the Bank's new web site. The launch features Development Dialogues on 5 
topics:

1. Ending Violence against Women (co-sponsored by UNIFEM);
2. Rural Communications in Africa;
3. Corporate Governance: Issues for Developing Countries;
4. Facilitating Foreign Direct Investment;
5. Distance Education and Challenged Communities (sponsored by the Com-
   monwealth of Learning).

The Speaker's Corner within the Forum features as its inaugural speak-
ers 
- World Bank President James Wolfensohn on the need to learn from oth-
  ers, particularly those facing development challenges in their daily
  lives;
- UNIFEM Executive Director Noeleen Heyzer and Third World Network Di-
  rector Martin Khor on the social impact of the East Asia crisis.

The World Bank welcomes the active involvement of other development 
partners in proposing, organising and moderating on-line discussions 
within the Development Forum, which is intended as a resource for the 
entire development community.

For more information, please contact the Forum moderators:
mailto:devforum@worldbank.org

--
R. Kim
mailto:Rkim@worldbank.org

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