UNDP has signed on as a partner to help establish the Global Development Gateway, a development portal on the web that will offer easy pathways to information and knowledge on development activities for governments, civil society and international organizations, the private sector and the development community at large. The initiative will facilitate the sharing of experience and knowledge in development and will offer up-to-date information on projects, resources, best practices and expertise on such subjects as poverty, governance, gender, IT and development and environment. No single institution will dominate the Gateway, which will be managed by an independent non-profit organization and governed by a Board of Directors.

UNDP will contribute knowledge and expertise and will seek strategic links with its programme. The establishment of 50 "country gateways" or national development portals are also envisaged by 2003, where UNDP can also participate. Pilot country gateways are already under way in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ukraine.

For more information on the Gateway initiative contact: Sid Kane, UNDP, (212) 906-5324 or e-mail: sid.kane@undp.org