Pilot project in South Sumatra, Indonesia

Since August 2000, the Ministry for Research and Technology (RISTEK) develops and promotes an National Program called WARINTEK.

WARINTEK is Multipurpose Community Telecenters (MCTs) model in Indonesia as an access Community center, as well as a media for distance education, tele-learning, and face to face community education.

WARINTEK is developed as an alternative for integrated approach for multisectoral activities for urban/rural development including SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) development as well as for education. Its activities are primarily directed toward the development and strengthening the collaboration among member such as Universities/Open University, private sectors, SMEs, Co-operations, Schools, R&D; institutions and local governments.

UNESCO/ASTINFO Bangkok, RISTEK and the Local Government in South Sumatra, enter a joint partnership to establish WARINTEK in South Sumatra Province as an access community center.

These entities have agreed to pilot this project to provide rural and remote communities with public access to information technology, especially the Internet, and with the training to utilize it effectively.

The ultimate goal of this project is the empowerment of community members and the use of such technologies for a variety of applications benefiting sustainable human development and at the same time may be used to established a linkages between them.

The above project is inline with the Indonesian Strategic Policy of S&T; Development 2000-2004, and UNESCO's Information for All Programme.