Report (Part 2): International Symposium on Volunteering and Development of Capacity in the Information Society (ISV 2003)

Workshop 3: Partnership and Financing

Date: 24 October 2003, 9h00 to 17h30
Moderator: Ramata Molo Thioune, Canadian Cooperation, Senegal
Reporter: Youssoupha Diagne

The participants of this workshop focused on five questions linked to partnerships and financing:

1. What types of financing and partnerships (e-volunteering) are required to maximize the effectiveness of work carried out in the field?
2. How can organizations best work together?
3. What are the conditions for a successful multi-sectorial partnership?
4. How can the private sector be convinced that it must work more with the volunteer sector?
5. How can it be demonstrated that it is not just a matter of “marketing investment", but rather of a global strategy that fits into plans of company responsibility which are ultimately beneficial to companies?
6. Are there “good” and “bad” investments? If yes, what recommendations can be formulated in this respect?

Methodology

After having defined the objectives of the workshop, participants agreed to take the following steps:

1. Develop a common vision regarding appropriate partnership and financing mechanisms in view of Tunis 2005;
2. Outline practical recommendations to fight against the digital divide.

To answer these questions, participants drew on their experience.

Synthesis

When they examined the situation, participants identified several existing initiatives. They regret however that these are not well coordinated.

A dangerous imbalance was noted between the various parties engaged in partnerships.

There is the need for a clear framework related to both partnerships and financing in order to ensure the availability of information and knowledge. An efficient partnership, based on equity and justice, and financing mechanisms taking into consideration the real needs of communities, will make it possible to translate this vision into concrete action.

Each participant described his/her own experiences in the field of ICTs. This has brought to light the significant dispersal of actions that are being carried out.

Recommendations

• Redefine the roles and statutes (participative approach) of each actor in the partnerships (governments, financing agencies, private sector, civil society (volunteers).
• Create a solidarity fund and define projects and programs at a international, national and local level, which need to respond to a true need and create the basis for sustainable development.
• Capitalize on the experience acquired from ICT projects in various countries, recording areas where funds have already been invested into ICTs at any level, according to a participative approach.
• Plead, through ICTs, for company volunteering and for increased recognition of the need for social responsibility, based on already existing mechanisms, such as the "Global Compact".
• Set up, within the United Nations system, a worldwide structure specifically focusing on ICTs; enhance visibility and coherence of national institutions, create a unit specialized in ICTs within the overall Volunteer Family.