<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV class="Section1"><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Dear Colleague,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">During WSIS</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will hold a panel discussion on the theme "</SPAN><B style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN style="font-weight:bold; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; ">Eradicating rural poverty by connecting rural communities</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">".</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">I am pleased to invite you to attend IFAD’s panel discussion, which will be held from 9 to 11 am on Thursday 17 November, in Meeting Room Béja at the Parc des expositions du Kram (Kram PalExpo).</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></SPAN></FONT></P><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">I</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">nformation and communication technology (ICT) is a powerful tool for rural development. However, before</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> ICTs can make a meaningful contribution to improving the lives of rural poor people, certain conditions have to be met. These relate to ownership, local content, language, culture and appropriate technology. Access to ICTs becomes important only once these conditions have been met.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></SPAN></FONT></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">We anticipate that new ideas will emerge from the discussion on how to increase the positive impact of ICTs in rural areas of developing countries, and on </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">how to ensure that ICTs can contribute in meaningful, substantive and sustainable ways to the eradication of rural poverty and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></SPAN></FONT></P><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">The discussion will </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">draw attention to the real-time experience and lessons learned emerging from IFAD’s First Mile Project in Tanzania, which is </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">tackling two challenges: access by rural poor people to information and knowledge, and to communication technologies such as mobile phones, the Internet and email; and how they can build relationships, communicate and negotiate with others along the market chain to improve their access to markets. </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">The project is </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">supported by the Government of Switzerland</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">The discussion will highlight issues including: </SPAN><BR style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><BR style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "></SPAN></FONT></DIV><UL type="disc"><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">the importance of relevant local content</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">how local people are using and adapting ICTs in innovative ways to their own circumstances and needs</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">convergence and complementarity of traditional and new ICTs</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI></UL><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">It will do so by bringing in the voices of rural poor people, highlighting their needs, priorities and their hopes for how they can use ICTs to improve their lives. Panelists will be asked to discuss the relevance and implications of the First Mile experiences for </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Africa</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">, for other regions and globally, building on their own knowledge and experience.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">A specialized agency of the United Nations, IFAD is dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in the rural areas of developing countries. Through low-interest loans and grants, IFAD develops and finances projects that enable poor rural people to overcome poverty themselves.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Since 1978, IFAD has invested about US$8.7 billion in more than 690 rural development projects in 115 countries and territories around the world. These projects have enabled over 250 million small farmers, herders, fisherfolk, landless workers, artisans and indigenous peoples to make a better life for themselves and for their families. IFAD’s projects help to reduce poverty in some of the world’s most remote and fragile areas, and among its poorest and most marginalized people.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">On my own behalf and that of IFAD, allow me to voice the hope that our roundtable will be honoured by your presence and participation.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Sincerely yours,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Sandra McGuire</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Director of Communication</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P><P class="MsoNormal"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana" size="4"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">IFAD</SPAN></FONT></P><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><B style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; "><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; ">Panelists</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></B></P><UL type="disc"><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Cyril Enweze, Vice-President, IFAD</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Clive Lightfoot, Executive Director</SPAN><B style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN style="font-weight:bold; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; "> </SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">International Support Group and President of the International Farming Systems Association (IFSA).</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Aida Opoku Mensah, Director, United Nations Economic Commission for </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Africa</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> (UNECA)</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Clare O’Farrell, Communication for Development Office, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Nathaniel Katinila, Project Coordinator Agricultural Marketing Systems Development Programme (AMSDP)</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Richard Gerster, </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Development economist and activities, </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">University</SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> of </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">St Gall</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI></UL><DIV><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><B style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; "><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; ">Agenda</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></B></P><UL type="disc"><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Opening remarks: Cyril Enweze, Vice-President, IFAD</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI></UL><UL type="disc"><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Nathaniel Katinila: Brief presentation on Agricultural Marketing Systems Development Programme (AMSDP) and conditions on the ground</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Clive Lightfoot: Presentation on lessons emerging from the First Mile project</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Richard Gerster: How can use of information and communication technology help eradicate rural poverty: the role of the donor community</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Aida Opoku Mensah: Elements of good policies and strategies to ensure relevant and meaningful use of ICTs in rural areas: the role of governments and the private sector</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Clare O'Farrell: Local appropriation of ICTs and the implications for rural development interventions</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Debate and discussion</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI><LI class="MsoNormal"><FONT size="3" face="Verdana"><SPAN style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Verdana; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; ">Summing up and closing remarks: Cyril Enweze, Vice-President, IFAD</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></LI></UL><DIV><FONT size="2" face="Courier New"><SPAN style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><FONT size="2" face="Courier New"><SPAN style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Courier New; font-size: 13.3333px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: 13.3333px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV></DIV><DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><HR>________________________________________________________<BR>2005 is the International Year of Microcredit -<BR>Microfinance is one way to fight poverty in rural areas,<BR>where most of the world's poorest people live.<BR></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>