The Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN‐DESA) is organizing a Panel Discussion on “Cooperatives and the Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)”. The meeting will take place on 6 June 2012 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event is part of the observance of the “International Year of Cooperatives,” and its proceedings are aimed at examining how ICTs contribute to the efficiency, and to the strengthening and growth, of the cooperative movement. ICTs are defined as those technologies that facilitate communication and the processing of information by electronic means, and include everything from radio, satellite, television to telephones (fixed and mobile), computers and the Internet.
The meeting will look at how ICTs help cooperatives and their members. The speakers will emphasize ICTs as a vital channel for collaboration and for expanding cooperative operations, especially in rural areas. The meeting should address the following questions:
- How can ICTs be used effectively to help cooperatives and improve their efficiency?
- What impact can ICTs have on cooperatives? What more needs to be done?
- What ICTs innovations have taken place or are taking place?
- What are the challenges of ICTs implementation in cooperatives?
- How can ICTs empower cooperatives using applications which provide powerful platforms to help members of cooperatives promote their services, express their views and share good practices?
Download mp3 | Listen 79 minutes
Cooperatives and the Role of Information and Communication Technologies ICTs by Ms. Lila Hanitra Ratsifandrihamanana, Director, FAO Liaison Office, United Nations, New York | PDF | Power Point |
The Role of ICTs in Promoting Cooperatives by Ms. Carolyn Hoover,CEO, dotCoop
The Role of ICTs in Promoting Cooperatives by Mr. Gary Fowlie, Head, ITU Liaison Office to the United Nations
