The Stockholm Challenge GKP Awards 2007 is a new prize, launched by Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) www.globalknowledge.org, and the Stockholm Challenge. It is designed as an integral part of the Stockholm Challenge 2008 and will open in four of the ordinary six ICT4D categories: Culture, Economic Development, Education and Public Administration. The Stockholm Challenge GKP Awards 2007 opens on January 1, 2007 and will be accessible both from the Stockholm Challenge web site and from the GKP site.

The new award will focus on the role of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in ICT for development and all Stockholm Challenge 2008 applicants in the respective categories will be eligible for the Stockholm Challenge GKP Awards 2007.

Applicants will be required to fill in an additional section of the application form with questions related to their set-up as a Multi-Stakeholder Partnership. An MSP is defined as “a working partnership involving stakeholder organisations from three sectors (government, business and civil society) that contribute skills and resources and share project costs, risks and benefits for a common goal”. The partnership does not have to be formal or contractual but the entry has to show how it meets these criteria.

The Awards will close for entries on 31 August 2007, while applications remain in the Stockholm Challenge which closes on 31 December 2007.

The twelve selected finalists, three in each category, will be sponsored to attend the 3^rd Global Knowledge Conference, an Event on the Future, in Kuala Lumpur from 11-13 December 2007 in order to exhibit their projects, to network and to be celebrated as finalists and possibly winners during the Stockholm Challenge GKP Awards 2007 Ceremony. The winners will also be sponsored to participate in Stockholm Challenge Week including the Awards Night in May 2008.

Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) and the Stockholm Challenge share the objectives of harnessing and promoting the potential of ICT to improve lives, reduce poverty and empower people. They are both – in their respective areas – recognised as important platforms for the global promotion of ICT and Knowledge for development. The joint Awards reflect the complementary interests and strengths of the two organisations and is posed to enhance the global impact of ICT4D and K4D.

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