Yes, in part. Mailing lists are off-line versions of computer conferences. They often focus on topics of specific interest to NGOs. To use a mailing list, send an e-mail message to the list's address. Mailing lists can be set up as public fora to which anyone can subscribe, or as private groups which can help coordinate the activities of organizations working in partnership.
Mailing lists are powerful tools for coordination and information sharing.
You can sometimes also access them across computer networks, if they are not located at your local host computer. They contain structured information on specific subjects, and though they vary greatly in format, all on-line databases are designed to facilitate remote retrieval of information. To access information on-line, you must remain connected by telephone line to the conference or remote database at the host computer for the entire time you are using it. As a result, on-line databases are almost always extremely expensive to access, especially from developing countries. This can be due to high access costs or fees paid to the database provider.