I just learned about the "Stockholm Challenge" awards to innovative information and communications technology (ICT) projects that display: Empowerment, Equal Opportunity, Equality, Sustainability, Economic survivability, Impact, Entrepreneurship, and Inspiration and transferability.

The 2006 awardees are some amazing efforts - creative application of technology to development needs, and incorporating a lot of collaboration in their services. The 2006 awardees:

In the Culture Category, from Chile, Biblioredes Nosotros en Internet:
BiblioRedes’ mission is to promote cultural exchange between the local communities and their connection with the rest of the world through a public access computing program in public libraries. During the first stage, BiblioRedes linked 378 public libraries in Chile by installing state-of-the-art computer equipment and broad-band connectivity for the integration of all the communities.

In the Environment Category, from Tanzania, African Conservation Network:
The African Conservation Network is aimed at capitalising the latest developments of Internet mapping and generic database technology for the sharing of spatial and non-spatial data and project information. It is both an Internet-based resource system and a forum for NGOs, professionals and the general public to discuss the issues related to biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.

In the Health Category a joint US and Cambodian project Operation Village Health:
Through leveraging of an expanding Internet infrastructure, this cross-cultural program provides email-based physician support to Cambodian health workers in two remote sites, allowing Harvard-affiliated specialists to share their knowledge and collaborate with underserved communities on the other side of the globe.

In the Public Administration category, from Pakistan RISEPAK – Relief Information System for Earthquakes:
RISEPAK is an earthquake relief coordination and accountability tool designed to collect, collate and display information about damage, access and relief for rural Pakistani citizens affected by the Oct. 2005 Earthquake on a public portal, setup within 12 days of the earthquake.

In the Economic Development category, from India, ITC eChoupal:
ITC eChoupal is a one-stop-shop on the internet, transmitting Information (weather, prices, news), transferring Knowledge (farm management, risk management), facilitating sales of Farm Inputs & Consumption goods (screened for quality, price) and offering the choice of an alternative Output marketing channel (convenience, lower transaction costs) to the farmer right at his doorstep.

In the Education category, from Tanzania, the KiLiNuX project:
To localise Linux Operating System and front end applications (OpenOffice, Firefox, others) into Kiswahili, and to assist Kiswahili Linux users to develop their own programs.

Some great work. And... nominations for the 2008 awards are open!

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ICT
Stockholm Challenge