Objectives and Mandate

The Information for Development Program (infoDev) is a global program managed by the World Bank to help developing economies fully benefit from modern information systems.

infoDev: shares worldwide experience with, and disseminates best practices to, governments and key decision-makers, both public and private, on the economic development potential of communications and information systems;

infoDev: channels policy advice and other technical assistance to governments in developing economies on privatization, private entry and competition in the communications and information sectors, and on improving the policy, regulatory and business environment for investment;

infoDev: conducts feasibility and pre-investment studies, and prepares experimental applications in communications and information systems.

infoDev's key method of intervention is through specific activities in the following areas:

*Consensus Building
*Information Infrastructure Development Strategies including Knowledge Assessments
*Telecommunications Reform and Market access
*Demonstration Projects

All activities are designed to support workable strategies and can include workshops, assessments, demonstration projects, feasibility studies, or other approaches. They can cover one or many countries; and address one or many sectors.

Program Development

Suggestions for infoDev activities are received by the Program Manager from any interested source, and are considered for inclusion in the infoDev Work Program. An infoDev indicative Work Program is submitted at the annual meeting of the Donors' Committee. The Work Program includes:

*recommendations from previous meetings of the Donors' Committee;
*interest from the recipients;
*status of research on information technology and services, and evaluation of sector-wide and subsectorial needs and priorities for information usage; and
*inputs from the donor community, including the private sector.

Funding

The funding of activities performed or promoted by infoDev requires a well-coordinated partnership involving the World Bank Group, other multilateral institutions, bilateral donors and the private sector, and the agreement and active cooperation of governments of recipient countries.

The World Bank contributes salaries and benefits of staff managing the program and involved in infoDev activities, a portion of secretarial services and indirect costs such as communications and equipment, office space, and the direct cost of the annual meeting of the Donors' Committee.

Financial contributions to infoDev's "core fund" are made in cash in freely convertible currencies and are untied. Resources comprising the core fund are freely usable in accordance with the infoDev Work Program and financial plan. However, subject to conformity to the Work Program and approval by the Program Manager, a public donor may elect that part of its contribution be applied in several countries, with a thematic or regional focus. Thematic contributions may not be made to the core fund and will comprise a separate trust fund. Contributions from private donors are accepted only to the core fund.

A contribution of $250,000 or more to the "core" fund entitles a private donor to separate representation at Donors' Meetings. Smaller contributions will be accepted, but will not carry the right to participation in Donors' Meetings.

Each donor will enter into a Trust Fund agreement with the World Bank following clearance by the Trust Fund Administrator and the Legal Department of the Bank.

http://www.infodev.org/