How do GDLN Affiliates connect people around the world?

GDLN Affiliates are located in more than 60 countries worldwide. Affiliates’ facilities include classrooms or meeting rooms with access to videoconferencing and high-speed internet resources (such as email and instant messenger). These technologies are combined with facilitation and learning techniques that vary according to the individual needs of users. Through these technologies and techniques, GDLN Affiliates enable their clients around the world to communicate with each other for consultation, coordination, and training events in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Who uses GDLN?

More than 70 GDLN Affiliates and their in-country partners offer their services to a diverse set of clients who share one common goal: improving the effectiveness of development around the world. Clients include academic institutions offering distance learning courses on development issues; development agencies seeking dialogue with key partners across the globe; government agencies discussing policy issues with counterparts in other countries; and non-governmental organizations planning joint activities with their partners around the world.

GDLN facilitated more than 900 videoconference-based activities between July 2004 and June 2005, connecting an estimated 35,000 people worldwide. About half of these activities were organized by the World Bank; the other half were organized by GDLN clients, including the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), East Timor’s Ministry of Justice, the Honduran Council for Science and Technology, the Islamic Development Bank, the United States’ Department of Treasury, Yerevan University, and organizations of the United Nations.

Read about GDLN Activities in our Story of the Week archives

How did GDLN get started?

GDLN was initiated in June 2000 under the leadership of James D. Wolfensohn, then president of the World Bank. The Bank – one of the world’s largest sources of development assistance – continues to provide considerable support to the Network by managing, operating, and strengthening the GDLN partnership. GDLN coordination teams in the World Bank’s regional departments work with Affiliates and partners in their respective regions. The Bank’s global communications group provides the technology backbone for setting up videoconferences and connecting those Affiliates who would otherwise not have access to service providers. The Network’s “anchor” unit is housed in the World Bank Institute (WBI). The World Bank is also a major client of the Network.

Since its launch, GDLN has grown from 11 to over 70 Affiliates (as of June 2005). Most Affiliates are located in developing countries. Some were set up through World Bank loans or grants, and most are operated by independent local organizations in their respective countries. Going forward, the Network is expected to continue its dynamic growth; in middle-income countries across Latin America, Asia, and parts of Eastern Europe, emerging in-country networks are remarkably increasing GDLN’s reach and use.

How is the Network governed?

The Network’s governance model reflects the roles, responsibilities, and commitment of the different types of institutions involved in GDLN.

The World Bank participates in the Network through various teams in the Bank’s regional vice presidencies, the Bank’s Information Solutions Group (ISG), and the World Bank Institute (WBI). Together, these teams form the Network’s “hub.” A GDLN management team representing each of these groups acts as the GDLN secretariat, overseeing the management, business operation, and overall direction of the Network.

Each GDLN Affiliate signs a Network Agreement with the World Bank. The agreement formalizes the Affiliate’s association with the Network, as well as its commitment to GDLN business policies and procedures. Affiliates in some regions have formed regional GDLN associations. They may hold regular meetings and exchanges on Network-related aspects in their particular regions. Some Affiliates participate more actively through management and coordination of the Network at the national and regional level; these are National and Regional Coordination Centers. All Affiliates interact regularly with the Bank’s GDLN teams and contribute to the formulation of Network business policies, agreements, and more.

The governance of the Network is currently undergoing an extensive review. The process is expected to be completed in June 2006. Changes to the current governance structure will be posted here.

GDLN teams at the World Bank

To learn about the different GDLN teams across the World Bank click here.