Dear GKP Members,

GKP ELECTIONS 2010

I am pleased to announce the results of the GKP Elections 2010 which concluded 5 July 2010 (GMT+8).  Three simultaneous elections were conducted to fill 6 positions on the GKP Executive Committee (EXCOMM) as well as the positions of GKP Regional Coordinator for Asia South and GKP Regional Coordinator for Middle East & North Africa (MENA).

A. Member Participation Across 3 Elections

Voters:
25 (22%) of eligible GKP Member Organisations voted in these elections

Candidates:
13 (11%) of eligible GKP Member Organisations stood for these elections

Thank you to all candidates and voters for participating in the elections and congratulations to the following successful candidates!

B. Election Result for EXCOMM

Based on the number of votes and nominations secured (see list in Section D), the following 5 GKP Member Organisations are hereby elected to the GKP Executive Committee term of 2010/2012:

1. International Institute for Communication & Development (IICD)
Official Representative: Caroline Figueres, Managing Director
Alternate Representative: Stijn van der Krogt, Director Country Programmes
[Read IICD's Statement of Intent]

2. Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
Official Representative: Asha Kanwar, Vice President
Alternate Representative: David R. Wilson, Communications Manager
[Read COL's Statement of Intent]

3. Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL)
Official Representative: Alain Berranger, Vice Chair, Board of Directors
Alternative Representative: Carlo Dade, Executive Director
[Read FOCAL's Statement of Intent]

4. Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia-Comite de Cafeteros de Caldas
Official Representative: Pablo Jaramillo Villegas, Leader of ICT for Development Projects
Alternative Representative: Alfonso Angel Uribe, Executive Director
[Read Cafeteros' Statement of Intent]

5. Bellanet
Official Representative: Michael Roberts
Alternative Representative: Kemly Camacho, Researcher
[Read Bellanet's Statement of Intent]

These 5 new EXCOMM members will join the following remaining EXCOMM members who are serving out their 2010/2011 term:

•    United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
•    OneWorld International
•    eCOM-LAC - Latin American and Caribbean Federation for Internet and Electronic Commerce

A 6th EXCOMM position which carries a 1-year term has not been decisively filled as 3 candidates (being CTIC Foundation, Panos South Asia and Young Asia Television (YATV)) are locked in a three-way tie, having obtained an equal number of votes and nominations. As the EXCOMM Election Procedure does not address an event of a tie beyond examining the number of votes and nominations the 6th successful candidate cannot be established from this election. Consequently, EXCOMM shall determine an appropriate mechanism to fill the 6th position and Members shall be advised of such determination at a later date..

C. Election Result for Regional Coordinators

Members will recall that elections for 6 Regional Coordinators positions (i.e. for Africa, Asia East, Europe, LAC, North America and Oceania) were declared closed on 22 June 2010 as a result of lack of candidates.

As a result only elections for the Regional Coordinator for Asia South and Regional Coordinator for MENA were conducted.

Based on the number of votes and nominations secured (see list in Section D), no Regional Coordinator can be announced as elected for either region given that the voting quorum (as provided by Clause 3 of the GKP Regional Networks and GKP Regional Coordinators Constitution and Election Procedures) was not met for either election.

Consequently, EXCOMM shall determine how the Regional Coordinator positions will be filled and Members shall be advised of such determination at a later date.

D. List of All Election Candidates, Votes and Nominations Secured

* In accordance with Clause 10 of the EXCOMM Election Procedure, in the event of a tie in the number of votes received, the candidate with the higher number of nominations prevails.

** BNNRC withdrew their candidacy on 28 June 2010, after voting had commenced.

Sincerely,

Justine Chew
Election Administrator


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E. Elected Candidates' Statements of Intent (for EXCOMM only)

1. International Institute for Communication & Development (IICD)
IICD’s mission is to help several million people with low incomes in Africa and Latin America by creating opportunities in education, health, agricultural livelihoods, governance and the environment. We support them in shaping their own future and the society they live in through access to, and by using and exploiting, information and communication technologies (ICTs). Our experience shows that ICT is a true driver for change, transforming social and working behaviours and triggering ambition to improve, grow and sustain. Please be inspired by our short video presenting our approach: http://annualreport.iicd.org/approach And let's join forces to make this world a better place for all!

2. Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
Recognising knowledge as key to cultural, social and economic development, The Commonwealth of Learning is committed to assisting Commonwealth member governments to take full advantage of open, distance and technology-mediated learning strategies to provide increased and equitable access to education and training for all their citizens. Recognising knowledge as key to cultural, social and economic development, The Commonwealth of Learning is committed to assisting Commonwealth member governments to take full advantage of open, distance and technology-mediated learning strategies to provide increased and equitable access to education and training for all their citizens. COL works in two sectors: Education, Livelihoods and Health. It works in 49 Commonwealth Member States which cover all regions of the world. It has more than 200 partners which include secondary and tertiary-level institutions; ministries of education, human resources, agriculture and health; civil society organisations, community based organisations and private entities. For COL, partnership is not just a strategy, it is also an outcome of its work. COL is committed to strengthening south-south collaborations; building capacity and promoting the free flow of ideas and resources through its investment in developing Open Educational Resources or OERs.

3. Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL)
GKP has traditionally had two main membership groups: the large global development players (including the key funders) and the small ICT4D innovators on the ground, often active in a single region or continent. The voice of the small NGOs (or their association) has mostly been unheard -except when their innovative pilots were needed to illustrate "development results" of official aid (Swiss, Canadian, Scandinavian) or large private IT companies CSR contributions (Microsoft). This is quite fine, as such pilots benefited from being highlighted and praised, but not sufficient nor optimal. Development policy dialogue and advocacy must come from the South.I think it is time now for GKP to listen carefully and broadcast the views of the "smaller" members for real development by, in and for the South. As a election candidate NA rep on the EX COM, I will try to do that. Two ways jump to mind: 1) promote resource mobilization for the GKP members, not the GKP secretariat as in the past; 2) use the NA basis to convince the larger dev orgs to increase their policy and CSR dialogue with the majority of GKP members and put their money to use with the larger base of the GKP membership. We need to move with more entrepreneurship, notably because our current budget is very modest. We need the development changes to come from the south, not simply shift the northern models to the south. I also think the ICT4D sector needs convergence and alliances: too many orgs., incl. GKP, competing for smaller budgets. We need to open discussion with other ICT4D orgs. to see how joint memberships (often the same members) can benefit.

4. Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia-Comite de Cafeteros de Caldas
The Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia has a great experience in using, introducion and adoption ICT in ruralo schools as a means to improve the abilities, aceess to information and competyences to poor children. ICT is also a great tool to overcome poverty, develop communications within remote communities and provide the possibility to find new opportunities for communities, teachers and rural students.

5. Bellanet
Dear GKP Members,

In light of the upcoming elections for the Global Knowledge Partnership Executive Committee, we would like to invite you to place your vote and elect the Bellanet Alliance as a new member of the GKP Executive Committee. Much like the GKP itself, the Bellanet Alliance is an international network of people and organizations promoting partnerships and harnessing expertise on Information and Communications Technology tools and Knowledge Sharing practices in the development community, As a long time member organization of the GKP, Bellanet was present and active during the initial 1997 Global Knowledge conference participating in the Interdepartmental Working Group as well as facilitating discussion groups and organizing workshops. It has been an active member of the network ever since facilitating GKP workshops, participating in GKP conferences, and organizing regional events. A strong believer in the necessity for close cooperation among all organizations regardless of sector or orientation, Bellanet’s purpose is to research and promote the effective and socially responsible use of ICTs and KS practices to broaden inter-agency collaboration, increase participation, diffuse lessons learned and encourage transparency of action. These beliefs are also prominent to the GKP’s core values as an international organization, and the main reason for Bellanet proposing its candidacy to the Executive Committee. Bellanet is committed to seeing GKP’s work continue!

As a member of the Executive Committee, Bellanet would bring the following expertise to the GKP:
• Increasing inter-agency and cross-sectored collaboration;
• Facilitation and coordination of networks and network processes;
• Creating innovative regional, thematic, global and virtual workshops, dialogues, and conferences through the use of ICT tools and knowledge sharing processes;
• Attracting donor funds to support GKP projects through its long history of International contacts;
• A thorough understanding of the GKP as an organization at all levels as well as its understanding of the ideas raised during the ongoing GKP transition process.

We are proud to be part of this important organization and thank you for considering our candidacy in this election to the Executive Committee. Please visit our website for further information on our dynamic organization! www.bellanet.org