The Programme for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States and Emergency Telecommunications are a highly focused initiative of ITU that is administered by the Telecommunication Development Bureau. Its primary objective is to bridge the digital divide between the rest of the world and the world's 49 poorest countries. In its effort to bridge the digital divide, the Programme focuses on reforming the telecommunication sector of these countries so as to introduce new structures, which are more conducive to faster and sustained telecommunication development, with well-managed and modern networks. It also seeks to increase the penetration of telecommunication services so as to achieve universal access to those services.

 

The world’s poorest nations can obtain practical assistance in areas of urgent need through the Union’s special Programme for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). These activities include assistance in establishing national regulatory authorities, and help in formulating effective strategies for universal access and rural telecommunications.

 

The ITU also works in partnership with organizations in target countries to improve human resources management and development, one of the most crucial areas still to be addressed in efforts to bridge the Digital Divide.

 

Nowadays some examples of ITU's projects in the Least Developed Countries are the following: the rural connectivity in Samoa, enhancing government services for Rwanda, to build an Information and Communication Technology Training Centre in Liberia, Projects that help Bhutan to gain access to ICT in schools, Projects that help Afghanistan to restore its Telecommunication and Broadcasting Infrastructures, building human resources for the Information society, enhance the Digital Postal Divide in Bhutan and a Project to connecting health care in Senegal which makes possible distance consultation and the exchange of medical information.

 

 Website: http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ldc/ldc_projects.html