Ban Ki-moon Applauds Digital Initiative to boost Millennium Development Goals under Abu-Ghazalehs Leadership

I welcome the GAID membership, under the leadership of its Chairman, Mr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh, to launch web-based knowledge tools and information resources, providing tangible and practical benefits to developing countries in their efforts to advance MDGs- Ban Ki-moon

NEW YORK- September 26, 2010 -United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the launch of a global initiative to harness digital technologies to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), during the High-level Meeting of UNGAID on September 21, 2010 in New York .

Known as the "MDGs eNabler", the initiative comprises a set of online tools aimed at providing users around the world with resources and tools to accelerate progress on the MDGs at the national level.

The project was spearheaded by the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UNGAID), with support from governments and private corporations, academia and civil society.

"I welcome the GAID membership, under the leadership of its Chairman, Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, to launch web-based knowledge tools and information resources, providing tangible and practical benefits to developing countries in their efforts to advance MDGs," said Mr. Ban, in his message to a High-level Meeting of UNGAID.

"ICT can empower farmers to have better access to market, increasing their opportunity to be part of the global supply change," the Secretary-General said.

"ICT can enable students to get better education materials. Doctors use ICT to provide health care to those in need, including in remote areas," he said, adding that such technologies can provide access to unlimited knowledge and opportunity for those who do not have it.

"I invite all stakeholders to join the GAID membership in this Endeavour," he concluded.
More than 80 government leaders, chief executives from technology companies from all around the world, and senior UN officials took part in todays launch.

The "MDGs eNabler" brings together many innovative components, including an ICT solutions matrix, a strategic planner, a portal of ICT-for-development portals, simulation and game tools, and a so-called compendium of excellence. It serves as a "one-stop-shop" for policy-makers, planners, project managers and development practitioners, seeking to implement national development strategies and programs.

The Global Alliance for ICT and Development was established in 2006 as a multi-stakeholder platform to put in practice the spirit and vision of the World Summit on the Information Society and to promote the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs.