The UN World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) will be held in two phases: The first phase is to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, December 10-12, 2003, and the second phase will be held in Tunis, Tunisia in 2005. According to resolution 73 of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations has decided to hold a World Summit. The General Assembly resolution 56/183 has endorsed the framework of the Summit in cooperation with other organizations and partners: governments; private sector, UN bodies and other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society. In line with these resolutions and expectations, the International Research Foundation for Development, as a transnational policy research and advocacy organization within its framework of consultative status granted by the ECOSOC of the United Nations, will host a series of events to contribute to the preparatory process and the World Summit on Information Society.

The world community has recognized the revolutionary nature of information society, which effects all spheres of human lives in the 21st Century. These transformation dynamics have prompted the urgency for a global dialogue to facilitate the full benefits of the information revolution. The International Research Foundation for Development will be an active partner creating an inclusive framework and a global venue to stimulate a comprehensive dialogue on International Communication Technology (ICT) and Information Society.