Who Is Who is a network of networks that allows people working in development circles to network, find each other, exhange ideas through on-line discussions as well as post projects through www.developmentshowcase.net.

The ICT Development Network has been set up by UNDP and its partners in support of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Geneva 2003-Tunis 2005. We will be hosting discussions on a wide range of topics during the Summit as well as over the next two years leading up to Tunis 2005.   Key Participants provide expert knowledge and insight to our topics while Moderators work to review contributions, guide the discussion and promote new ideas.

To download the full help guide (draft) click here.

This help section reviews how to:

• register
• join on-line discussions and navigate through them
• search for other members
• submit a project

Register

It is important to provide location and organizational details when you register since this helps us generate statistics on who has participated in various discussions.  Also if you can provide a picture to humanize the discussion!

To become a Member.  Clicking "Become a Member" under User (User Area) will bring your to "Create your Bio" page.  Completing your bio involves 5 simple steps:

• Register.  Enter your username and password.
  
  
• Profile Details.  The more information you give about yourself here, the easier it will be for others with similar interests to find you. Also this information allows us to track the statistics of who has participated on any one discussion. Note that statistics are generated for ICT for Development Network as a whole (top link), as well as for each topic being discussed.
  
  
• Upload Files (optional).  (i.e. C.V., publications, etc)
  
  
• Joining Forums. Select discussions currently underway that you're interested in joining.  Please understand that for some discussions you need to be approved by the moderator to participate.  Also, note that you can make this selection at a later time when you log in as a registered member.
  
  
• Registration Completed.  At this point you can turn to the top of the User Area and find your user tools under "User". 
  

How do I Join a Discussion?

1. Click "on-line Discussions" in the Navigation Bar to see the list of discussions currently underway.  You can also view this list by clicking on "more" under On-Line Discussions on Home.
   
   
2. Choose the Discussions You Want to Participate in.  Clicking on the topic will bring you into the discussion page.
   
   
3. Join the discussion.

If you haven't asked to join a discussion during registration, you can do this now by clicking the join button to the right of the topic discussion.  When your requested participation has been approved, then you will not see this button, and you will see an Email button that will give you the option to activate/deactivate receiving emails from discussions.


How do Discussions Operate?

1. Discussion Layout

Under each topic there is a number of sub-topics, organized as Discussion 'Threads'. To add your views to any of the "threads" under discussion, click the 'Post Reply' button underneath each "message". Your input will form part of the 'Thread' of this discussion.

2.  Participants' Roles

Moderator: The moderator assigned to each discussion will ensure that all flows smoothly, will screen and post documents supplied by the participants, and answer any questions you may have about this topic discussion as it relates to WSIS. 

The moderator will open the forum for discussion with proposed set of 'threads' for sub-topics.   If you have a suggestion for a new thread, which you think warrants its own separate thread, you request this to your discussion moderator (clicking on his name anywhere on the discussion page will take you to your moderator's profile).
 
When the discussions have finished, the Moderator will create a summary document, outlining what has emerged from the discussion which will be posted on this website, and available on WSIS's official website.

Key Participant:  These are experts and/or decision makers that have work in the area being discussed.  Their role is to help drive the discussion, pose key questions, clarify ideas and shape the final document.  They are responsible for identifying key documents for background to discussions as well as providing feedback on the final document developed by the moderator.

Participant:  Ideally, these need to be stakeholders in the WSIS process.  Their role is to contribute with their views and supporting sources on the key issues and questions being posed.

3.  Get Emails of Discussion

Participants can choose to receive emails of any new messages posted to this discussion by clicking the email button. Email will be sent to the address you specified in your profile when you became a member.  If you wish to STOP receiving emails, simply click on this button again.  This provides you the option of participating on line without filling up your in-box!  To update your email address or other information please click on ' Edit My Profile'.

4.  Adding content to Discussions

We welcome additional information relevant to the discussion in the form of Word or Acrobat PDF documents, PowerPoint presentations, Web Links, audio or video files. You can add these to a message you are posting.   All files and links will be screened by the Moderator before being posted in the Supporting Information section for each discussion. on the site.
How Do I Navigate through a Discussion?

Each Online Discussion has a number of Messages/Threads of Sub-Topics. Click the blue highlighted Messages to read the contents. Click 'Read Replies' to see other participants' thoughts for a particular Message/Thread. To add your own views, click 'Post Reply'. To get back to the main Topic Page and view all Messages/Threads, use the back button on your browser.

Search Biographies

In addition to on-line discussions, there is a database of development experts and networks. You can define your search by country or region, area of expertise, special interest, etc. You are also invited to create or update your own network or biography.
Also, discussion members' bios will be available in this database, allowing them to view a brief background of people they're communicating with.

Click the 'Biographies' link in the Navigation Bar panel. Search here for biographies and networks. The map on the front page also allows you to view members by their location. Click on the map image and then on a region. Once you can view countries you will see numbers associated with the number of members located in each. Clicking on these numbers will generate a list of names. Choose a name and view their bio!

To showcase innovative projects, webcasts, videos and documents please go to ICT Development Showcase' in the Navigation Bar panel or click on Submit a Project under Biographies, Networks and Projects. 

Thank-you for contributing to these on-line discussions. By discussing your views here you are helping to form the direction future policy will take!  For any suggestions on the overall website, please contact Fabiola Cedillo at (212) 906-6755 or fabiola.cedillo@undp.org.