NetAid, which took launched September 8, 1999, was an online collaboration between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Cisco Systems, to help people in poverty-stricken countries. At the time, it was reported to be the largest online collaborative resource devoted to voluntary and philanthropic efforts connecting developing countries to overseas markets. The idea behind NetAid was to engage people to not only donate resources, but to become more actively involved in anti-poverty programs in developing countries through a website and a webcast. The website was created to build online communities by connecting individuals (especially those new to giving and volunteerism) and efforts in developed and developing nations through tools like chat rooms and other discussion-building mechanisms. The live webcast consisted, according to the New York Times' Seth Schiesel, of three benefit concerts on October, 9 1999 in New York (Giants Stadium, technically East Rutherford, NJ!), London (Wembley Stadium) and Geneva (Palais des Nations). The concerts were simultaneously broadcast via the Internet, radio (including the BBC), and television (MTV and VH-1). Website viewers could watch the concerts on the NetAid website live (including a separate channel for backstage activity), and also had access to online membership applications for relief organizations, multimedia clips on what the organizations do, and links to direct action. The proceeds went towards refugee assistance in Africa and Kosovo. According to the 8/13/99 Wired News Report, NetAid had the capacity for some 125,000 simultaneous live streams, about 10 times larger than any existing website at that time which contained streaming media content. This site also had the capacity to receive 60 million hits per hour, about 10 times the capacity of the web broadcast of the 1998 Olympic games. The corporate resources needed to make such a resource a reality come courtesy of some big players. In addition to San Jose, California-based Cisco, the consulting firm KPMG, and Akamai Technologies, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Internet communications company, are involved. KPMG is handling the website design and electronic commerce transaction system, while Akamai is handling the content delivery systems. Thomas Lippman, in an 8/12/99 Washington Post piece, breaks down the logistics from the nonprofit side. Corporate involvement is necessary for a NetAid to happen. Schiesel wrote that Cisco and KPMG each contributed US$20 million. Lippmann estimated the contributions of Akamai and other partner groups to be between US$5 and US$10 million. UNDP has programs in 174 countries. The development program has lost big contributions from some UN member nations over the years, especially from governments that are not enthusiastic about the open access to information and communication tools. In fact the government is the Internet service provides in many of those nations. Consider that large numbers of folks in developing nations do not have regular access to utilities like electricity or telephone lines, much less so computer and Internet access. NetAid organizers claimed their activity would potentially allow remote villages access to public computer networks, featuring information on overseas markets for crafts and goods, best practices on farming techniques, and real time weather forecasts or health advisories. NetAid, in fact, had as an additional mission-- the creation of some 90 data access centers located in U.N. offices, churches, and schools in developed and developing nations. This would help facilitate direct interaction between complementary relief efforts, and to match donors to on-the-ground relief efforts, around the world. The data centers in particular [as Lippmann points out] would address another form of the "digital divide," namely the gap between those with and without access to information. This is not too far removed from the resources that community technology centers, community networks, community media centers, schools, libraries, and community centers provide many cities and towns in America. As for the companies involved, Lippman points out that as more folks get onto the Internet, and once there is sufficient capacity, Internet markets in developing nations may be able to utilize the services of the partner organizations behind NetAid, and those of similar competitors. It is ultimate aim of UNDP that both the potential infusion of corporate activity and economic growth will help ensure that government reluctance does not prevent these community access centers from having a long-term impact in these developing nations. Relative to those who may potentially donate resources through NetAid, Schiesel's article has an interesting quote, courtesy of Mark Malloch Brown, director of UNDP. Brown states that through NetAid, "[p]eople who write their Congressman or organize a local chapter of Oxfam will be making at least as significant and perhaps more significant contribution than someone who writes a $15 check." It will be interesting to see if that expectation holds. Resources Cited NetAid "With Concerts and Web Site, U.N. Agency Attacks Poverty" August 12, 1999 New York Times, Seth Schiesel [free registration required] August 13, 1999, Wired News Report "An Unlikely Net Alliance" August 12, 1999 Washington Post, Thomas Lippman