KhmerOS of Cambodia finalist in Stockholm Challenge GKP award 2007 for excellent ICT for development project

KhmerOS has won the second prize in the prestigious international Stockholm Challenge GKP Award in the category "economic development". The global recognition was awarded on 11. December 2007 in Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia by the two organizations "Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP)" and "The Stockholm Challenge". The award is given for excellent examples of implementations of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) that show clear benefits to people and their communities, wide impact and sustainable business models. The award is set up to stimulate innovation within multi-stakeholder partnerships in Knowledge for Development.

KhmerOS focuses on providing training in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in Cambodia with the goal of adapting crucial software to the local needs. KhmerOS achieves this goal inter alia by encouraging the translation of software and manuals into the local Khmer language, which is a precondition for the use of ICTs such as Computer and the Internet for over 95 percent of the population of Cambodia, who do not speak foreign languages fluently enough. According to the jury KhmerOS is a typical best practise example of what the effective use of FOSS can accomplish for developmental needs.

KhmerOS has been working with the National Information Communications Technology Development Authority (NiDA) of Cambodia since 2004 in the area of capacity building and training. As a result, more than 4000 people have been trained in issues such as office applications based on Free and Open Source Software. Also, training material and manuals in the Khmer language have been developed. The partners collaborate in training and networking FOSS multipliers in the area of IT administration through the Linux operating system.