British Council launches development web site

The British Council, in conjunction with the Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), and umbrella group of Ethiopian NGOs, on Tuesday launched a web-based gateway to development information on Ethiopia, a British Council information officer told IRIN. Genet Awlachew told IRIN on Wednesday that the Development Information Network (or DEVINET) web site, as the network is to be known, is on-line and already "disseminating information that is crucial to decision makers". Following on from the successful implementation of a similar initiative by the British Council in India, the Indev project, DEVINET seeks to establish a database of the experiences and activities of local development organisations to help facilitate operations, avoid duplications and, where possible, improve efficiency. DEVINET will aim to encourage communication and information sharing between NGOs. "In this way NGOs can network themselves in a better way so that they can share experiences on development issues, create partnerships to achieve common goals and avoid duplications," said Awlachew. Amongst other services, DEVINET will provide directories of NGOs working in Ethiopia, their existing development projects, research undertakings and outcomes.