Most of the other G-8 countries are limiting their respective dotforce representation to government and the private sector. Although several G-8 governments were opposed, and most particularly Japan and France, the U.S. argued from the beginning for a third seat at the table for not-for-profit organizations, broadly defined to include private foundations, universities and non-governmental organizations.
The Markle Foundation―a private United States foundation―played a lead role in lobbying both the United States and the other G-8 governments to ensure that there is a third seat at the table for the non-profit community. They convened a working group of non-profit organizations, including Interaction, to develop a strategy and list of policy influentials.
On August 25, 2000, 21 Interaction member organizations met with White House officials to discuss NGOs involvement in this initiative to close the global digital divide. As a result of this meeting, Interaction has established a listserve (an E-mail discussion group) on the dotforce and is collecting best-practice models for the White House on the many ways Interaction member organizations are and have already operationalized information technology for development. This discussion at the White House was the perfect launch of Interaction's Working Group on Information Technology.
At our annual retreat for the heads of our organizations on November 9, 2000, Zoe Baird, President of the Markle Foundation, was our dinner speaker. During her remarks, which focussed in large measure on the Markle Foundation's partnership with Interaction on the dotforce, she reported that earlier that day, she had received word that each G-8 country, including Japan and France, had agreed to add a third seat on the dotforce for non-profit organizations. Markle will serve as the official non-profit delegate for the U.S., with input and direction from Interaction and other non-profit partners. I urge you to use your influence to support your NGOs in this effort.
I urge everyone, and particularly Japan, at it is pledging $15 billion over five years for it cooperation, to see NGOs as true partners in reaching the poor and in solving problems and in ensuring that Japan's development assistance is appropriate and effective in developing countries.
U.S.-Japan Common Agenda: Public Private Partnerships/P-3
Of particular interest to this audience, perhaps, is my role as the co-chair of an initiative called the U.S.-Japan Common Agenda Public-Private Partnership (or "P3"). This is an initiative that works to facilitate cooperation between NGOs, government and business in Japan and the U.S.
We work with colleague organizations in Japan, including the CSO Network Japan, a new network of 35 NGOs, and the Common Agenda Round Table (CART), which promotes the U.S.-Japan Common Agenda, and which is a group of eminent persons from business, academia and NGOs appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have had meetings, such as the January 2000 Honolulu conferences and a Workshop on U.S.-Japan Cooperation on Humanitarian Assistance, October 13 in Tokyo.
