The DevForum was launched in 1998 to promote and stimulate public debate, multi-directional knowledge-sharing, and learning on key development issues and challenges facing the development community and the world’s poor. The DevForum is part of the World Bank Insititute's Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) and Multimedia Center. Development dialogues in the Forum are sponsored by the World Bank, frequently in partnership with organizations around the world committed to finding solutions to global development challenges. | Why| How| Who |  | What The Development Forum (DevForum) is an electronic venue for dialogue and knowledge-sharing among members of the development community, focused on an ongoing and expanding series of electronic discussions and consultations for key development issues and challenges. It emphasizes learning from the experience of those who face these challenges in their daily lives.The Forum has its roots in the growing recognition by the World Bank and others in the development community that knowledge and information are vital components of sustainable development. We understand that our clients and other stakeholders from developing countries can–and should–be active contributors of high-value information on development issues. The DevForum was launched in 1998 to promote and stimulate public debate, multi-directional knowledge-sharing, and learning. It is part of the World Bank Insititute's Multimedia Center. We hope that this website will prove to be a useful resource as you get ready to explore the use of focused dialogues and consultations to enhance the effectiveness of your development initiatives.  In 2004, the DevForum became part of a joint initiative called DGroups, which is sponsored by eight different development organizations, inclulding DFID, OneWorld, USAIDS and the World Bank. DGroups is simply a customized version of mailinglist called Lyris with a major improvement of its web interface and offers additional features such as file uploading, a calendar, and easy registration of participants. The organization that actually "built" DGroups, makes improvements, and oversees the partnerships is Bellanet, a small NGO connected to CIDA, located in Ottawa.
| | | Why The Forum has its roots in the growing recognition by the World Bank and others in the development community that knowledge and information are vital components of sustainable development, that our clients and other stakeholders from developing countries can and should be active contributors of high-value information on development issues. The Development Forum is an example of how focused dialogue can facilitate cooperation among development agencies and others involved in development in a way that enhances their effectiveness. | | | | How The focal point of the Forum is an ongoing series of Development Dialogues. The Dialogues sponsored by the Forum vary in their content, format and duration. However, they all share a common goal -- to foster increased dialogue and knowledge-sharing on development issues, in an inclusive, collegial atmosphere. Therefore, the Dialogues all have certain things in common:  They are, in most cases, focused on a particular subject and limited in duration;
They are often times moderated discussions; in other words, a moderator screens all posted messages in advance to assure that they are germane to the discussion and follow the ground rules. This is simply to assure that the discussion stays on topic, so as not to waste the time of all the other participants, and remains civil and constructive. They are all accessible both through the World Wide Web (where they are archived for future reference) and by email (through a "list serv" email distribution list), so that colleagues with limited Internet access can participate. Majority of the discussions are open to the public; anyone interested in the subject and willing to adhere to the ground rules of the Dialogue is welcome to join.
The Forum's organizers work to mobilize active participation in these dialogues by individuals and groups from developing countries. A particular effort is made to reach out to partner institutions in developing countries -- training and research institutions, think tanks, universities, non-governmental organizations, and other development stakeholders -- to encourage them not only to foster participation in these dialogues but also, over time, to build their capacity to propose, plan and lead on-line discussions and knowledge-sharing efforts on development issues of their own choosing.  | | | | Who The Forum is hosted by the World Bank and administered by the Global Development Learning network (GDLN). Development Dialogues in the Forum are sponsored by the World Bank or by other organizations around the world committed to sustainable development. These other organizations include or have included: Transparency International, Center for International Private Enterprise; Panos Institute, London; Bretton Woods Project; New Policy Institute; Estonian Infrastructure and Transit Development Foundation; Regional Office for Africa of the Association des Universités Francophones (AUF); and UNIFEM. We welcome your active participation and your suggestions. Contact Information DevForum/ World Bank Institute
The World Bank
1818 H St., NW, MSN J2-202
Washington, D.C. 20433
Email: ediscussion@worldbank.org  |
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