Within the United Nations there are several lines of action. One of them is the Economic and Social Development, within which is Sustainable Development. In particular, there is an action for the development of small island states that includes an explicit reference for the need to establish international scientific collaboration. A very interesting resource is the Programme for the Eradication of Poverty.

Volunteering work within the UN can be done as a UN volunteer or through more indirect means. In the IT field, the UN Development Programme includes an action on IT Development (INFO21). Online volunteering is possible through the NetAid wesite. See also the UN IT services (UNITES).

Several collaboration programmes are available. For example, the ACP-EU Agreement for African, Caribbean, and Pacific states.

For example, Action Contre la Faim, with a strong INRIA contact.

Tahiti: Université de la Polinésie Française. Image analysis of submarine images, for oceanographic studies involving coral.

Barbados: University of West Indies. Confocal microscopy.

Japan's JSPS.