Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative

On 12 December 2003, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) affirmed the Geneva Declaration of Principles related to Building the Information Society: a global challenge in the new millennium. it was acknowledged that information and communication technologies have a crucial part to play in addressing these global issues and plays a key role in the Geneva Plan of Action. Almost 50 government leaders, 82 Ministers, and 26 Vice-Ministers from 175 countries, as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, the private sector, and society attended the Geneva Phase of WSIS and gave support to the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Geneva Plan of Action.

The Global eSchools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI) was established in 2004, a result of the work of the United Nations ICT Task Force which agreed that education is an area desperately in need of development and one where ICTs (information and communication technologies) have the potential to create vast positive changes.The UN ICT Task Force approved a proposal for a UN-affiliated organization to work in this field. Providing demand-driven assistance to communities in developing countries who are seeking to channel the potential of ICTs into improving the quality of education in primary and secondary academic institutions. GeSCI is headquartered in Dublin, with the support of the governments of Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and Finland. Canada was one of the founding partners.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a general term that refers to "any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, the Internet, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning."

GeSCI provides expert, strategic advice to the Ministries of Education in the communities of developing countries on the effective implementation of information and communication technologies. Adopting a demand driven, supportive and comprehensive approach, GeSCI aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning through the appropriate and effective use of ICTs, thereby transforming education, empowering communities and promoting development. At its core, GeSCI's basic goal is to facilitate sustainable and quality education and community development, through the effective deployment of ICTs in schools.

At the local, national and regional level, GeSCI works to support the creation and effective implementation of ICT4E strategies, using a collaborative, comprehensive and demand-driven approach. Acting as guide, GeSCI fosters country ownership of ideas, strategies and implementation, allowing communities to maintain sustained development.

In all aspects of its work, GeSCI responds to the Ministry’s needs, who determine the design and implementation of policies and plans. Capacity building strategies and utilizing ICTs cost-effectively to achieve educational objectives are all directed by the Ministry. GeSCI’s approach is comprehensive and coordinated, and driven by demand and need.

At the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative, it is believed that programs to improve the quality of education through the deployment of ICTs in schools can also improve the economic and general social well-being of the wider community. These efforts can provide an ideal system for linking residents to the greater global community, helping to increase the education level of the overall populace, and granting access to health and government services previously unavailable. In short, ICTs deployed in schools to help redress educational deprivation can also help to accomplish wider development goals.

GeSCI’s community is comprised of a number of partnerships from many disciplines, all offering support and expertise to achieve our common goals. As well as their partners in developing countries such as Ministries of Education, rural and urban schools, telecommunications providers and other local partners, GeSCI also fosters relationships with a variety of donors and non-profits whose expert experience of development enhance their efforts to aid their developing country partners.