Organized by UNESCO within the framework of its international initiative for Community
M ultimedia Centers.

Location:
Bucharest, Romania

This meeting comes within the framework of UNESCO's international initiative for Community Multimedia Centres (CMCs), which aims to promote community empowerment and to address the digital divide by combining community broadcasting with Internet and related technologies.


Draft Programme:

12 November
Opening session
Introduction, overview of seminar aims
Presentation of a community multimedia centre (services, activities, functions, target
groups…)
Participants' project presentations/demonstrations
Discussion

13 November
Strategies for practical integration of technologies to meet communication and information needs (radio browsing, computer-in-the-village infobus, etc.)
The technical challenges - infrastructure, maintenance, technical training, back-up expertise and support systems
The human factor - staffing a multimedia centre, use of volunteers, community work, training, user needs and expectationsParticipant project presentations/demonstrations
Discussion

14 November
Models for generation of income: Strategies for Sustainability
The business plan, funding strategies
DiscussionThe place of the community in community multimedia centres - ensuring genuine grass-roots input, gender mainstreaming, good governance, cultural diversity, etc.
Strategies for Networking

15 November
Working groups (4):
Proposals for pilot projects
Drafting of Recommendations/Action plan
Conclusions in Plenary

16 November
Round table with international development partners
Project partnerships: Best practice within region
Presentation of the Recommendations/Action Plan by the workshop participants
Donor discussions
Summing up and conclusions

For more information on the seminar, visit the UNESCO Web site, or contact
Stella Hughes or Rosa Gonzalez.