UN body signs pact with Nasscom, MAIT

The Global e-School and Communities Initiative (GeSCI), a multilaterally-funded body founded by the United Nations Information Communication and Technology (UNICT) Task Force, on Tuesday signed two memoranda of understanding (MoU) with two Indian IT trade bodies "" Nasscom and MAIT.

The MoUs are expected to provide a framework for collaboration between GeSCI and the Indian ICT industry for promoting development and educational goals using ICTs' tools.

Addressing a press conference after GeSCI's formal inauguration by prime minister of Ireland Bertie Ahern, executive director of GeSCI Stephen Nolan said that the MoUs will provide a platform to the industry and GeSCI to work together on developing locally appropriate, cost-effective tools and technologies for enabling programmes in ICT for education and development.

Given India's global leadership in the ICT sector, we are excited about the synergies and possibilities of such a programme in India which will enable us to develop technologies for other parts of the world especially Africa, he added.

Ireland has played a key role in setting up this initiative and is a founding member of GeSCI along with the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Canada.

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, GeSCI was established in 2004 by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's ICT Task Force with a mandate to raise global standards of education for communities in developing world by harnessing the power of technology. Under GeSCI, various civil society organisations, corporates, mulilateral agencies and governments are brought under one roof.

In India, GeSCI proposes to work at the national and state levels, assisting the government and other partners for implementing ICT in education strategies and programmes, said Aruna Sundararajan, country programme director, GeSCI.

The MoUs signed with Nasscom and MAIT is expected to play the role of a catalyst in setting up the Global Innovation Centre in India to develop low cost technologies for developing countries, Aruna added.

Through out this centre, GeSCI plans to incubate, disseminate and showcase technologies and is to be set up with public-private partnerships ventures to inspire, catalyse and promote collaboration nationally and globally.

GeSCI is partnering with the Rajasthan government, the World Economic Forum and the CII in implementing the Rajasthan Education Initiative (REI), a multi-stakeholder driven public-private partnership for improving education in Rajasthan.

According to Aruna Sundararajan, GeSCI is also in close talks with other states, including Karnataka, for assisting in implementing e-schools programme.