The creation of an Efficient Multilingual Electronic Conferencing (EMEC) Service 

will allow the adaptation to the evolution of the Internet of existing regional 

or thematic e.conf. This task, which will be conducted within the framework of 

a specific EMEC methodology, opens the room for the use of new electronic 

conferences and related services as a professional tool for NGOs. 



The project considers a two-step approach: 

- a pilot phase, which requires funding, 

- a subsequent self-sustained phase where services will be sold.



The pilot phase of the project will be conducted with a Caribbean focus and hold 

a set of secondary objectives specific to that region. This one year duration 

phase targets, through the use of existing FUNREDES and ENDA CARIBE e.conf, to 

benchmark the EMEC methodology in the field, while participating to the enhancement 

of  electronic communication within the Caribbean, as a mean to push forward the 

regional integration and sustainable development for NGOs. 



Most of the non (or slightly) moderated e.conf which have been successful in the 

previous stage of the Internet (90’s) are now suffering from similar unwanted 

symptoms, consequences of the exponential growth of the number of users and of 

the decrease of the average level of user education and knowledge of "netiquette". 

All these elements together lead to information overload and loose of focus and 

are representing a situation which deserves attention and appropriate solutions.



An appropriate methodology is required to bring practical and effective solutions 

to that situation, without loosing the criteria of openness and freedom of expression 

which prevails in the Net. The main ingredients of the proposed EMEC methodology 

are two-fold:



1) devices to allow better e.conf focusing and information overload management



2) devices which act as enablers and wideners for community communication.



The two ingredients will be combined in different proportions depending of the 

objectives of  each e.conf, so that to offer a balanced solution.



The systematic moderation and animation, the posting of structured abstracts 

compatible with documentation standards, the organized archiving  of the postings 

for easy and voluntary retrieval are the main ingredients from the focusing 

point of view. The message translation, user support and training for network 

culture reinforcing are the base of the enabling componant.



The first stage of the project will allow practical and useful field of experience 

within the Caribbean, and will be concluded by an in-depth analysis of the results, 

so that to evaluate, validate and eventually modify and consolidate the initial 

EMEC methodology. Reporting and publication of the results as well as of the final 

EMEC methodology is included as part of the first stage. 



The second stage will use the improved EMEC methodology and existing infrastructures 

to market the EMEC services so that to offer to the public a quality service while 

providing the mean for an economic sustainable path for further developments. 



>>> This document addresses only the first stage. <<<<





FUNREDES, with its large experience in networking, its own Internet resources and 

its virtual presence in the Caribbean is in good situation to successfully lead 

the project. ENDA CARIBE, with its regional requirements and presence and its 

own experience in international networking will be an appropriate partner to 

maintain the user perspective and contents.



FUNREDES will offer as its counterpart of the project, its Internet infrastructure  

(<funredes.org> site and information resources) and its Caribbean existing listservs, 

as well as some equipment. ENDA CARIBE will participate with the funding of part of 

the required human resources and will offer some equipments.



The project requires the contracting of a team of young professionals with 

specified skills :

-The Project Manager, with a thorough knowledge of the Internet, will coordinate 

the team and the tasks, and be responsible for the methodology evaluation and reports, 

as well as for the filling of the training requirement of the team. This person 

will be supervised directly by the directors of FUNREDES and ENDA-CARIBE.



-Technical management of the Internet node and application assistant (1)

-Web authoring (1) 

-Librarians (2)

-Translators (2)



This lead to a first year required budget  of 180,000 US$, including the contract 

fee for the professionals and the technical and administrative infrastructures. 

FUNREDES and ENDA CARIBE offer counterpart budgets to the extent of 20,000 US$ 

for each partner, so that  a remaining 140,000 US$ is required to be funded externally.