The Programme on Bridging the Rural Digital Divide reflects goals and targets agreed upon in a series of major international development processes detailed below. These processes constitute a complex environment of institutional partnerships and networks. A flexible and multilateral approach is required to ensure that international programmes such as this one have the necessary wider development links and reflect key global policy frameworks.

Millennium Development Goals (MDG): The Programme addresses some of the goals and targets set in the UN Millennium Declaration developed in 2000.

World Food Summit (WFS): The Programme addresses the challenge of enhancing information and communication for development (ICD) in support of the WFS Plan of Action developed in 1996.

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS): The Programme focuses specifically on the rural dimension of the creation of the information society foreseen under the WSIS Plan of Action developed in 2003.

Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) Initiative : The Programme is working to improve consistency between the policy dimension of ICD and the PRS Initiative.

United Nations Roundtable on Communication for Development: The Programme is incorporating the findings of the Roundtable where relevant.

World Congress on Communication for Development (WCCD): The Programme will draw on the outputs of the WCCD, to be held in March 2006, that are related to ICD policy.