eRomania Gateway

The key product offered by eRG through RDG is development knowledge. The main tool for making this product available will be a matrix portal providing information, knowledge and online services for various categories of users - communities - through functional platforms. The portal will focus on the main development interest areas for Romania, such as: rural development, euro-atlantic integration, anticorruption, public administration, knowledge economy, etc.

In the long run, RDG content will be comprehensive, but tailored to the needs of specific audiences. It will include research findings, best practices, case studies, news and other information on development projects. And it will provide funding and commercial opportunities, procurement services, online training, product reviews, and directories comprising various information.

promote the dialogue and collaboration among local communities/civil society, governments, donors, academic and
private sector groups on policy issues, development programs, and local projects;
provide data, statistics, and publications on development through databases and an online bookstore of publications from various sources;
provide opportunities for online procurement and marketing;
promote increased government transparency and accountability through e-government initiatives;
promote the exchange of donor aid information and coordination through a multi-agency projects database;
help building local information and communication technologies (ICT) capacity;
provide tools for building capacity, training, and management and delivery of data;
offer greater visibility for local development activities and experience.

eRG aims to shape RDG into a comprehensive information structure designed to serve a wide range of stakeholders (both Romanian and foreign) in their initiatives of local or global development: governmental organizations, private sector organizations, civil society and NGOs, foreign investors etc.

The content will be provided by private and public organizations which are representative for their field of activity, based on partnership agreements and, as much as possible, for free. For the main domains, which may be controversial or where would be several possible content providers, an advisory and editorial committee will be created. The copyright and responsibility for the content provided for free will belong to the provider.

The content will be clearly structured into a user-friendly format by main topics of interest for customers and will integrate information provided by eRG and/or by various partners.

In terms of outsourced content, eRG will bring together a broad spectrum of local and foreign information sources.

Content is geared toward community groups (e.g., NGOs, private sector, Government officials), specific development topics (e.g., HIV/AIDS, Private Sector Bulge, Telecommunications) and specific regions within countries.

The primary users of the information are those, inside and outside the country, being engaged in development-related work, including government officials, NGO and community leaders, development professionals and researchers, journalists, and business people. The information is also intended to general audiences like students and librarians.

Aiming to create the ultimate source of official information, eRG will target potential foreign investors, business community and donors but it will also have a strong appeal to a broader international and local audience. The development-oriented content of the web site will include the following topics:

Co-brand, lead, and manage a community topic site, key sector (i.e. health, education, etc.), or local level topic in a development theme area. This offers your organization a significant stake and partnership role, allowing you to spotlight your expertise and role in development. Your organization's logo will be prominently displayed on the community page.
Become a cooperating organization by sharing knowledge with a Gateway topic team. Simply link to the RDG site from your home page so that visitors can navigate from your site to the Gateway, designate a point person to work with a Gateway topic team and share ideas and information on best practices, articles, tools, project descriptions etc. In turn, RDGwill add your organization's logo and URL link to its site.

The other component of the association's activity will be to provide off-line services:

Assistance in fundraising for e-development projects;
Consulting in implementing ICT projects;
Managing funds and grants from international institutions for ICT programs;
Personnel training for administration, private and public companies involved in local, national or regional ICT projects;
Facilitating and supporting co-operation between different organizations in strategic e-development and research programs.