The Information Program has two aims. First, to enhance the ability to access, exchange, and produce knowledge and information for key open society constituencies and disadvantaged groups, especially in the poorer parts of the world. Second, to use new tools and techniques to empower civil society as a force for open society in national, regional and global arenas.
These aims translate into projects in three focal areas, each with its own subset of initiatives:
- Intellectual Property Reform & Open Knowledge
- EIFL Consortium
- Open Access Initiative
- East-East/South-South Translation Support
- Capacity for Civil Society Communication
- Software Tools for Open Society
- Affordable Communications Access
- Free Expression on the Internet
Because the ability to access, exchange, and produce information is integral to most of the work OSI does through its foundations and network initiatives, a cross-cutting aim of the program is to drive experimentation and stimulate innovation across the Soros Foundations network and beyond. Initiatives in areas such as public health, anti-corruption, education, or human rights and justice are undertaken in close partnership with other OSI programs and local Soros foundations.
The Information Program is not solely an information technology program. The mission of the program is social. Technology is an important tool for achieving this mission, but not the only one; the program uses the most appropriate combination of new and traditional media, as well as policy advocacy, training and institution-building, to pursue its goals.
The program's staff are based in London, Budapest, and New York.
The Information Program worked in three areas in 2006: access to knowledge, civil society communication, and open information policy. In each area, it focused on the needs of disadvantaged groups and less developed parts of the world. The program promoted access to knowledge through initiatives on intellectual property reform and the transformation of scholarly communication, access to electronic databases for libraries in developing nations, and support for translations. The program also funded an ambitious array of projects designed to help civil society groups make better use of information and communication technologies. Finally, the program supported policy interventions to ensure affordable Internet access in the poorest countries, to monitor online censorship, and to protect civil liberties and privacy online.
Read more about Information Program 2006 activities.
