The Medal of the World Congress on Digital Divide was awarded to Ms Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Director of the Development Information Services Division (DISD) by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) during the World Congress on the Digital Divide, held from 14-16 October in Tunis, Tunisia. The medal was given to Mrs Bounemra in recognition of ECA's support and participation in the Congress.

About 1,200 participants from different parts of the world and 28 high-level speakers were in attendance to discuss specific ways in which scientists and engineers can adapt technological innovations and Research and Development (R&D) to bridge the digital divide. The Congress approved the Carthage WFEO Declaration on the digital divide.

ECA was represented by a delegation of staff members from DISD's ICT for Development team who made two presentations on the role of ingenieurs in builiding the information society, organized the African Engineers Day on the theme "Contribution of African Engineers in building the Information Society", and convened the annual meeting of the Partnership for ICTs in Africa (PICTA) as side events of the Congress. Thanks to ECA support, African participation to the congress increased substantially.

Other recipients of the Congress Medal award included Mr. José Medem from WFEO, Mr. Tony Majoran from UNESCO and Nobel Laureate Jerome Karle of the World Innovation Foundation.

ECA has received other awards for its role in advancing ICTs in Africa, including the Radio Series known as Dialogue on Digital Dividends in Africa.

More on the Congress: http://www.wfeo-cic.org/

For more on other aspects of the Congress, contact:

Aida Opoku-Mensah, Team Leader
Promoting ICTs for development
Email: aopoku-mensah@uneca.org
http://www.uneca.org/aisi