African projects that use information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance livelihood opportunities, improve living conditions and support economic development are invited to participate in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Challenge Award. Projects that are eligible to compete should show that they empower people and communities by using ICT in areas such as health, education, government, business, culture and environment.

The award is designed to support the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which focus on eradicating world poverty. The objective is to stimulate and energise the use of ICT for human and economic development in Africa by finding and acknowledging the best ICT for empowerment projects. The winner will receive 10,000 Euros to be used for further development of the projects activities.

The award is an initiative of the Stockholm Challenge, a collaboration between Sida, Ericsson, The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the City of Stockholm. It is also sponsored by SUN Microsystems and SPIDER, the Swedish Programme for ICT in Developing Regions. The prize giving ceremony will take place in Stockholm on May 11 2006 during the Stockholm Challenge final event, in the presence of what the organisers expect to be a large audience that includes high dignitaries and international media.



Click here for more information on this award.