To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what initiatives (a) promoting and (b) distributing open-source software in developing countries his Department is engaged in. (113358)

DFID helped to promote open-source software by assisting with the development of:

(a) a toolkit to help governments navigate open-source software policy in Africa. This is available at www.catia.ws

(b) a free, open-source software which will allow any website to run over the slowest connection speeds. It allows fast, cheap access to information for those with limited connectivity to the internet. Further information is available at www.loband.org

Issue 31 of DFID’s Developments magazine focused on the role that wireless technology and open source software can play in International Development. Back issues are available on request at publicity@dfid.gov.uk