Objective of the Site
This site was launched in 1998. It has been adapted over time to changing circumstances. It began as a site providing software suggestions, mainly open source applications for managing in developing countries. In 1999 and 2000, with World Bank funding, it provided guidance (in seven languages) and software solutions for dealing with Y2K and the lesser known GPS roll over. For the past 20 years it has provided links to management data of interest to developing countries as well as guidance on linking the data and using open source software for data management. The listed sites were often the work of international organizations, and many web sites are now providing these listings, most specifically The Humanitarian Data Exchange. This site is now changing its focus to deal with two specific issues that are key to long term global development. The first is narrowly focused and proposes open source solutions to assist small communities to collect information and to mange with it, while the second is extremely broad and provides links and some analysis to the confluence of a number of game changing global events that will shape the direction of of world's economic and social growth. This second activity will present data and some preliminary analysis on the impact of the long term effect of the Corona virus, climate change, China's growing influence (including specifically the Belt and Road initiative), and the long-term impact of the USA's past and current "America First" policies. The changes to the site will be made progressively--two new sections have been added to the site and they will be expanded over time. Existing links which are still relevant will be kept and reorganized while some older links will be eliminated. The three sections below expand briefly on the planned changes.