Shilpa Sayura Foundation

Kuala Lumpur, 31 October, 2007. A total of 119 projects had been nominated for the Stockholm Challenge - GKP Awards 2007, and nine were chosen by the jury as the best examples of the role of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Development. The winners will be announced and celebrated during GK3, Third Global Knowledge Conference taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 11 to 13 December 2007. They will also be sponsored by GKP to participate in Stockholm Challenge Week in May 2008.

The Stockholm Challenge - GKP Awards 2007 is a new ICT prize promoted by Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) and the Stockholm Challenge. The 9 finalists in four ICT4D categories contested are:

Culture:

• Network of Public Libraries - Medellin Metropolitan Area
• Viva Favela

Economic Development:

• Enabling financial inclusion and increasing efficiency of Self Help Groups Microcredit Federations
• KhmerOS - Khmer Software Initiative

Education:

• Shilpa Satya Project - Digital Self Learning for remote, rural students lacking educational resources and teachers
• TOPIC64 - National network of E-learning centers in 64 provinces of Vietnam
• Information Dissemination and Equal Access (IDEA) Project

Public Administration:

• The etuktuk project
• Rashtra Grameena abhivruddi samacharam - an ICT tool for poor people

Details of these projects, along with the other nominated projects, can be viewed at http://gkp.stockholmchallenge.se.

GKP and Stockholm Challenge share the objectives of harnessing and promoting the potential of ICT to improve lives, reduce poverty and empower people. They are both - in their respective areas - recognised as important platforms for the global promotion of ICT and Knowledge for development. The joint Awards reflect the complementary interests and strengths of the two organisations and are posed to enhance the global impact of ICT4D and K4D.

For more information, please contact:
Ulla Skidén, Project Manager Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Executive Director