SPIDER
From IPID
The Swedish Program for ICT in Development Regions (SPIDER) was created in 2004 on initiative of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm to assist developing countries to combating the digital divide.
One of SPIDER’s core activities is to mobilize Swedish (and international) ICT expertise for the support to developing regions. SPIDER therefore has a network of experts from all sectors and collaboration with universities, governments, NGOs and the private sector. SPIDER supported activities are needs driven and the ultimate goal is poverty reduction through the deployment of ICT –infrastructure, information, education, application and development of content support etc.
There are three types of projects; those initiated from the developing regions (SPIDER funds and provides a collaborating Swedish partner/ Swedish ICT expertise to support the project), or Swedish university initiated projects in collaboration with a development country university and/or organization, and finally SPIDER plays the role of Swedish counterpart for major Sida-financed ICT projects (entailing connecting and computerizing whole universities and sectors). SPIDER also promotes a favourable environment for deployment of ICT and highlighting the importance of ICTs. This is done through support to workshops and conferences, forums etc. Frequently, this support is in form of participation grants to enable participation from developing regions in order to get a development country balanced dialogue.
Furthermore, SPIDER has been the initiator of the development of an ICT4D 7,5-ECTS credits course in 2005, which proved popular, and now running annually, as well as an International Master in ICT4D which started in 2006 at Stockholm University. In the framework of its support to ICT4D education, SPIDER also provides the funds for the IPID network.
Finally, SPIDER has set up a “Junior ICT expert program” to send graduates to support projects on the ground; whilst graduates from the North gets first hand rural developing country experience the project enjoys medium-term support on the ground which encourages technology and knowledge transfer.
