7/27/04

The Instituto del Tercer Mundo (ITeM) or the Third World Institute is seeking scholars and activists to participate in a research project intended to contribute to the second phase of the WSIS decision-making process.

This research will be focused on key issues of interest to developing countries and, based on it, produce position and briefing papers to advise Southern negotiators and working groups on the policy implications of the different proposals they will be considering during the Summit process.

During the preparatory process for the Tunis WSIS phase events, workshops and/or roundtables will be organised with the aim of publicising the research concluded or works-in-progress. Different stakeholders will be involved in the discussions on the issues under study. Some of the document authors may be invited to present their contributions at these events.

Proposals focused on at least one of the following topics will be considered:

1. Funding mechanisms for the development of communications in the South: Examples of research issues that could be addressed under this topic include (but are not limited to): institutional arrangements for ICTs provision in the South; taxing ICTs as an equitable source of revenues; sustaining social and technical networks after initial funding; ICT financing in the framework of a global partnership for development; and financing infrastructure development in places that lack basic telecommunications services.
2. Internet governance and global ICTs policies: Examples of research issues that could be addressed under this topic include (but are not limited to): institutional arrangements for the democratisation of the Internet; Southern civil society involvement in ICT policy definition; social impacts and the definition of technological standards; human rights protection and new ICTs.
3. Issues that were left out of the WSIS agenda: Examples of research issues that could be addressed under this topic include (but are not limited to): linking the WSIS agenda to other multilateral processes; the impact of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the development of global communications; a Southern civil society perspective of ICTs for Human Development; effective mechanisms to bring down non-physical barriers to access (pricing, trade, patents and censorship policies); ICTs policies for poverty reduction, health promotion and environmental sustainability; ICTs policies for traditional knowledge protection; education paradigms in ICTs from a multicultural perspective.

The project is particularly interested in participants from the developing world. Scholars and activists with expertise on these topics should submit a curriculum vitae, relevant writing samples and a one-paragraph description of research interests via e-mail by 30 July 2004 to Pablo Accuosto at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information about the project, please visit http://wsispapers.choike.org/.