WITSA 2010 Global ICT Excellence Awards

Nominating Instructions

The nominating process is unchanged from 2008: Each WITSA association is entitled to nominate a maximum of three candidates regardless of category. A member association can thus nominate all of its (max. three) candidates of choice in one category and none in the other two, or the member can balance its nominees between the three categories as per preference.

Nomination forms are provided below for each of the three award categories. Please complete these forms and send to the WITSA Office no later than March 01, 2010. Please also make sure to include as much background information on each nominee as possible, including a reasoning of why the candidate was chosen. A list of the 2008, 2006, 2004 and 2002 Award nominees (including background documentation) is also available for your information (and possible re-submission). The generic nomination letter provided may be (optionally) used in your outreach to member companies and other interested parties, to obtain well-qualified candidates. The letter includes an annex with award category descriptions as well as copies of the individual nomination forms. Feel free to adopt and modify to meet your individual and local needs. Detailed award descriptions are also available for your information (these have not been changed in substance since the 2000 Awards).

Please contact the WITSA Office with any questions or inquiries.

WITSA Awards Program

Nomination Response Forms

AWARD CATEGORIES:

Awards will be given to individuals, academics, businesses, NGOs, government branches etc., on the basis of particular programs, web sites, strategies of IT / Internet deployment; i.e. the awards will not be political but technical, honoring use and implementation of technology in accordance with the criteria described below (i.e. a government per se will not be a “winner”, but one of its integrated web sites or services may be). The winners may not necessarily represent the most advanced technology solutions, but should be excellent examples of IT deployment which have made a difference for the community of interest (whether providing public services, boosting profits or advancing connectivity):

1. PUBLIC SECTOR ICT EXCELLENCE AWARD

This category could include government branches as well as non-profit organizations:

A: GOVERNMENTS: This award will honor uses of information technology that improve a national or local government’s effectiveness and increase its ability to meet citizen needs – uses that save time and money in government operations, eliminate inefficient practices and processes, improve access to or the quality of services and information or increase communication within government. The winning entry would need to show how IT has been effective within and/or outside the authority in the delivery of services, and it is proposed that projects should demonstrate either one or all of the following:

Ø Ø Use of IT to improve the common good, either at the local, national or global level (measuring the social benefit);

Ø Ø efficient use of current technology;

Ø Ø highlight the benefits of latest advances;

Ø Ø pilot projects evaluating the potential of new innovative means of communication and information distribution.

B. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOs): Criteria set for non-profit organizations, will include the efficient use of information and communications technology to achieve the organization’s goals, as well the use of ICT to improve the common good / social benefits (examples could be i.e. medical groups that facilitate remotely assisted surgery via Internet, deployment of informative databases or other technologies that increase citizen participation in communities of interest – uses that bring aid, comfort, information, support or services to target community groups.

YOUR NOMINEE(S): _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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REASONS FOR NOMINATION (please justify why you think your candidate is qualified): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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SUPPORTING INFORMATION: Please send any supporting information to the address above, including information from candidate (i.e. excerpt from program description, web site print-out, press release, etc.)

2. PRIVATE SECTOR ICT EXCELLENCE AWARD

With respect to BUSINESSES, this award will honor the uses of information technology that directly increase a business’ ability to meet its objectives, improve its competitiveness or better serve its customer needs – uses that, for example, create an advantage in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing and/or distribution of products and services.

YOUR NOMINEE(S): _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY AWARD

The Digital Opportunity Award will be given to individuals, academic institutions, corporations, NGOs or government entities that have made a remarkable and successful effort at reducing the digital divide, but “connecting” previously “unconnected people. Awards can be given on the basis of, for example, programs that help facilitate the deployment of information technology and use of Internet among inner city population segments, or in towns, rural areas or cities in developing and least-developed countries. This award is an all-inclusive category that would provide WITSA member associations with maximum independence in nominating suitable candidates. However, it will be necessary to demonstrate:

- - effectiveness of the programs,

- - number of people benefiting from the deployment of technology

- - degree of the program(s) technology intensiveness

- - level of innovation demonstrated in achieving the program(s) goals.

YOUR NOMINEE(S): _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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