The contribution of ICTs to the development of education, science and culture and the construction of a knowledge society

UNESCO Progress Report for the October 2004 Meeting of the Exec. Board (The next Exec. Board meeting is in January, 2005.)

Progress is reported on the following initiatives in the second of UNESCO's two cross-cutting themes:

-- New opportunities for children and young people with disabilities;
-- The application of remote sensing for integrated management of ecosystems and water resources in Africa;
-- Information and communication technology in science and engineering education in Africa;
-- Small islands’ Voice (SIV);
-- UNESCO/IOC regional ocean subportals as part of the UNESCO knowledge portal;
-- ICTs as a tool to improve local governance in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean;
-- DIGI-ARTS subportal/UNESCO knowledge portal;
-- ICTs helping to fight HIV/AIDS: changing young people’s behaviour through preventive education schemes;
-- Harnessing ICTs for the audiovisual industry and public service broadcasting in developing countries;
-- ICTs for intercultural dialogue and diversity: developing communication capacities of indigenous peoples;
-- E-campus - Improving open distance learning;
-- ICTs as a tool for governance and democratic participation;
-- Strengthening telecentres in Central America;
-- Free open source software for information processing and education; and
-- UNESCO knowledge portal.

The other UNESCO cross-cutting theme is "Eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty". UNESCO also has take specific efforts for "Coordination of action to benefit Africa".