Development Gateway Foundation
Global Competition Launched for the Second Development Gateway Award
Washington, November 29 (ots/PRNewswire)
- US$100,000 Award to Recognize Information Technology's Role in Development
The Development Gateway Foundation is seeking nominations for the second Development Gateway Award. The US$100,000 award will recognize outstanding achievement in using information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve people's lives in developing countries.
ICT has become an increasingly important tool for development. The field is young, however, and the promise of using ICT has yet to be realized in much of the developing world. In launching the 2005 competition, the Development Gateway aims to help advance the use of ICT for development by recognizing leaders and innovative initiatives in the field.
The 2004 award, then called the Petersberg Prize, was given to Grameen Bank-Village Phone, through which women entrepreneurs can start a business providing wireless payphone service in rural areas of Bangladesh. Grameen was chosen from over 200 nominations for its significant impact in creating a new class of women entrepreneurs who have raised themselves from poverty while serving their communities.
An independent foundation launched by the World Bank, the Development Gateway operates a global web portal of development information, and it supports similar information service enterprises around the world to advance development locally. Nominees' stories will be shared on these portals, to advance understanding of their work and of ICT's role in development.
An international panel of independent jurors will review and select the finalists and winner, who will be announced by June. For information, rules, and to access the online nomination forms, please go to http://www.developmentgateway.org/award. The deadline for submission is February 28, 2005.
Web site: http://www.developmentgateway.org http://www.developmentgateway.org/award
Contact:
Karen Lynch of Development Gateway Foundation, +1-202-572-9216, or
klynch@dgfoundation.org