INAP, GFDD and FUNGLODE launch International Meeting on Learning for Development.
Santo Domingo, December 12th, 2006.

Opening: Video | Photo Gallery

This morning, the National Institute of Public Administration (INAP), the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister institution Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) initiated the Fourth Board of Directors Meeting for the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN). The activity, which took place at FUNGLODE’s headquarters in Santo Domingo, aimed to define policies and procedures which strengthen training and long-distance learning programs offered by the Network’s members. It is the first time that the Dominican Republic has played host to an event for the International Network.

Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development and Vice President of  FUNGLODE, was first to speak at the ceremony.
Whilst greeting participants, she stated: “It is a great honor for us to have you here today.”

She highlighted the role of Leonel Fernández, founder and honorary president of FUNGLODE, as promoter and defender of GDLN on a regional level. She also referred to the work of the non-governmental organization: “training, education and professional development, on both a national and regional scale. The project that you are developing is one of the main priorities on our agenda. We joined the GDLN a year and half ago but we want to be very active partners and give great support to all the projects that are going to be developed.”

The director of INAP, Roberto Obando, was second to speak at the event. The institution has been a part of GDLN since June 2000 and stated that his institution has specific knowledge with regards to the training of public servers. “This promotes development. But there are a series of topics which exceed INAP’s capacities. Because of this, and in accordance with FUNGLODE and other universities, we are taking the necessary steps to transfer responsibilities from INAP to organizations that have a broader vision of development.”

Cristina Malmberg, representative of the World Bank in the Dominican Republic, was the third person to take the stand. “What started as a small project in the year 2000 has surpassed our highest expectations,” stated the director of the multilateral organization. “We still have a long way to go to ensure that those with the very least are able to take advantage of these opportunities. There are other priorities, such as nutrition, safe drinking water, electricity, basic health services, but also in these areas there are important links with the Network, as you are all aware of, which have given life and direction to GDLN”. Malmberg stated that for her it is incredible that through a combination of video conferences, Internet and facilitating learning methods, “it is possible to connect one person to another and link communities with similar interests. This is their work, their contribution to development, to social and economic progress to ensure the reduction of poverty and this is worth ever so much...hands-on.”

Monica Webber, member of the Services Division of GDLN, was the final speaker at the ceremony. Webber stated that all eyes are on the meeting in Santo Domingo due to the fact that the Latin American and Caribbean region is the first area that has made a firm step in the construction of communities, more so than Asia and Africa. “Five years ago the process was referred to as ‘e-learning’ because it was thought that the task in hand was solely about computers. Now we are realizing that we have to learn informally, listen to ourselves and one another, we must combine the tools that we have. We are not an organization yet, we are a movement, a community…and this group is building those steps to overcome that”.

Debates

Among the topics of debate and analysis explored, the experts highlighted three main areas:

• The expansion of distance learning as a means of reaching rural zones in each country, including projects that aim to close the digital breach.
• -The need to analyze different ways of cooperation between specialists and professors from universities that form part of the Network.
• The financial challenges facing GDLN, such as the funds to carry out social development projects.

Although the activity began Monday December 11th, the official opening ceremony took place on Tuesday December 12th, at 9.00 a.m. in the morning. The closing ceremony will begin at 5.45 p.m. on Wednesday December 13th, which will be followed by a dinner at the Palm Court Restaurant at Hotel Jaragua at 7.00 p.m. A traditional folklore dance and orchestra will also be part of the event.

GDLN is made up of representatives from universities, investigation centers, foundations and governmental agencies from different countries in Latin America, the United States and Spain. Since its founding in the year 2000, it has received support and backing from the World Bank. The GDLN is currently made up of over 120 institutions from across the globe.