Constraints of Electronic Publishing in Developing Countries: Spc?s Experience in The Pacific Islands

In contrast to highly developed countries in North America and Europe, what are the specific constraints to effective information delivery in developing countries? Is electronic publishing better suited to information dissemination than print materials for these less developed countries?Drawing on the practical experience of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in the service of 22 Island countries and territories of the Pacific region, this paper provides an overview of the situation and the electronic information and communication issues in the Pacific region.As an international organisation serving 22 Pacific Island countries and territories in the fields of marine, land and social resources, SPC needs to disseminate technical and grassroots information to its members and target groups throughout Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Effective information delivery is therefore a priority of the organisation. Because ofthe Pacific?s unique geographic and development constraints, such as small populations spread over many islands with vast ocean distances, it would appear that electronic publishing is particularly well suited to the effective dissemination of information. But is that really the case and how do current development constraints impact on electronic publishing in thePacific Islands region? This presentation attempts to address the effectiveness of electronic publishing and information delivery in the developing Pacific islands, drawing on SPC?s experience. It looks at the current situation in the light of existing initiatives and the current trend towards a regional approach aimed at improving electronic information access in the Pacific through the development of information and communication technology and the adoption of regional policies