The World Bank's goal is to reduce poverty and improve living standards by promoting sustainable growth and investment in people. The Bank provides loans, technical assistance and policy guidance to developing country members to achieve this objective.

ICT focus:

The World Bank states that 'knowledge management' at the Bank includes:

• generating knowledge through research, the Bank's network, the regions and other sources;
  
• and disseminating that knowledge both internally and externally through the networks, regions, the Economic Development Institute and information databases.

  It is aimed, initially, at increasing the individual effectiveness of Bank personnel; then at transferring information and knowledge to the organisational level; and, ultimately, at making information and knowledge readily accessible to all.

  When completed, each knowledge management network will include:

  • help-desks with capacity to answer queries and provide resource maps and information packets;
    
  • databases including terms of reference, consultancy experience and information sources; and
    
  • knowledge bases, including sector strategies, tool kits, analytical tools, best practices, etc.

    These systems are intended to capture the Bank's store of knowledge and make it fully accessible within the Bank and with its partners.

    The Bank jointly funds the DOT.Force Secretariat with UNDP.

    Programme activities:

    These include:

    African Virtual University: This is a 'university without walls' that uses modern information and communication technologies to provide access to high-quality academic and educational resources to sub-Saharan Africa. AVU says that it is Building Digital Opportunities by training world-class scientists, engineers, technicians, business managers and others to promote social development and Africa's movement into the Knowledge Age. [link]www.avu.org/[link]

    Global Information and Communication Technologies Department: Provides policy advice for the ICT sector, including telecommunications privatisation, regulation, internet development (connectivity and e-commerce), postal and broadcast services. Also provides investment support for public subsidy of privately-provided ICT to rural households and the urban poor. [link]www.worlbank.org/ict[link]

    InfoDev: The InfoDev ('Information for Development') programme is a global grant progamme managed by the World Bank 'to promote innovative projects on the use of information and communication technologies for economic and social development, with a special emphasis on the needs of the poor in developing countries.'
    http://www.infodev.org/

    TechNet: The TechNet thematic group within the Bank is intended to encourage understanding of and promote the use of knowledge, education and informatics for development. TechNet acts as a clearing house and network for professionals inside and outside the Bank and disseminates information on relevant issues.
    http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/technet

    http://www.worldbank.org/