March-April 2007

DGF Newsletter


March/April 2007

From the Foundation:


FROM THE FOUNDATION

Launch of Arabic Reform dgCommunity

The new dgCommunity focused on Arab reform is the product of a collaborative effort between the Development Gateway Foundation and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina of Egypt. The Arab reform dgCommunity focuses on issues related to governance, human rights, freedom of expression, rule of law, economic reform, and youth employment. It features resources in Arabic and English. The new portal serves as a platform for aggregating information about reform activities in the Arab world. Creating a virtual community, the site will facilitate the sharing of knowledge among development practitioners. It will also aid in capacity building and improving access to high quality development research in Arabic throughout the developing world.

Visit the Arab Reform dgCommunity.

Become a dgCommunities member.

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Gianluigi Benedetti Joins Board

Gianluigi Benedetti has joined the distinguished panel of experts that make up the DGF Board. He served as counselor in the political office of the Italian embassy in the United States as well as personal assistant to the foreign minister of Italy. He is currently the diplomatic adviser to the Italian minister for public administration reform and innovation. He joins Margareth Nzuki of the Tanzania Development Gateway and Julián Casasbuenas of Portal Avanza as the most recent additions to the Board.

Learn more about the DGF Board.

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Opening of Development Gateway International

As part of the foundation's desire to expand its ability to make aid and development efforts more effective around the world, the Development Gateway Foundation is pleased to announce the opening of Development Gateway International, located in Brussels, Belgium. The office will continue the foundation's mission while working closely with its European partners.

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Support the Development Gateway Foundation

The Development Gateway Foundation launched its first annual campaign to raise funds in support of ICT for development by sending out a call to action to our members. The foundation provides the platform for dgCommunities, an online global network with 36,000 members who use the platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration. The members of dgCommunities are proving every day that the Internet can make a difference in people's lives.

The secure online payment systems of the Development Gateway Foundation is run by Groundspring, a nonprofit organization. When you make a donation, you will automatically be transferred to Groundspring to complete payment information. It is a VeriSign secured service.

Money raised during the campaign will support the programs of the Development Gateway Foundation, which include the creation of over 45 locally owned and managed Country Gateway portals, technical support for dgCommunities, and an online tool for increasing transparency in aid management.

Support the Development Gateway Foundation.

Learn about our programs.


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Coming Soon: DGF Photo Contest

Check back in the next few weeks for more information about the first Development Gateway photo contest! Beginning in mid-May, we will be looking for compelling photographs of socio-economic development in developing countries. Four types of photographs will be accepted. 1) The images may show information and communications technologies helping ordinary people. 2) The images may show people making something, selling wares, working in a field, constructing a building or type of infrastructure, or acquiring knowledge. 3) The images could be abstract images representing hope, the future, or capacity building. 4) The photographs may also include images of original artwork from a developing country. Please do not include photographs of groups of people posing.

Each entry must include a written statement explaining how that image is representative of development. Images will be judged on technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit.

The contest is open to all photographers at least 18 years of age. The winner will receive a $500.00 cash prize. Photographs must be received by September 30, 2007. The winner will be announced on October 9. All submitted photographs may be used in promotion of the foundation in various marketing materials.

Check back on our homepage in a few weeks for more information!

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DFID Using AiDA Database

The Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom has begun using the AiDA database to list its activities and make it more transparent. DFID supplies information to AiDA from its PRISM database of development activities. Some of this information relates to historic activities, mostly to current activities, and some planned ones. AiDA has added 31,430 development activities through the inclusion of the DFID database.

Learn more about AiDA.

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Stories from the Field

The Development Gateway Foundation touches the lives of those in developing countries in a number of ways. From increasing government transparency in Ethiopia to providing government tenders in Turkey, our programs make a difference in the way that information is transferred within government and to the population. With our initial support, countries are able to establish their own internet portals to share local information and provide services to local entrepreneurs.

Read more about the work that we do in Stories from the Field.

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This is the free newsletter of the Development Gateway Foundation.

Give us feedback: sitefeedback@dgfoundation.org

View past issues of the newsletter: http://www.dgfoundation.org/news-events/dgf-newsletter.html

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The Development Gateway Foundation provides Web-based tools to make aid and development efforts more effective. It offers innovative solutions that increase access to critical information, building local capacity and bringing partners together for positive change. The Development Gateway Foundation is a nonprofit organization with activities around the world.

Development Gateway Foundation
1889 F Street NW, Second Floor
Washington, DC 20006
USA
Tel: +1-202-572-9200
Fax: +1-202-572-9290