WSIS Connection: Bridging the Digital Gap between the Developing Countries and the Information Society

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WSIS Connection Bridging the Digital Gap
between the Developing Countries and the
Information Society

• Youlia Lozanova
• Strategy Policy Unit, ITU

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Outline

• Digital divide
• WSIS vision for the Information Society
• WSIS makes a difference
• WSIS implementation phase
• bridging the gap

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Digital divide

• Lack of ICT infrastructure
• Limited accessibility
• Unaffordable services
• Inefficient use of ICTs
• But also
• Low economic efficiency and welfare
• Divide in terms of educational, professional and
  lifestyle opportunities

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Social exclusion
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Gender divide
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Age divide
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Information Society common vision

• We, the representatives of the peoples of the
  world ... declare our common desire and
  commitment to build a people-centred, inclusive
  and development-oriented Information Society,
  where everyone can create, access, utilize and
  share information and knowledge, enabling
  individuals, communities and peoples to achieve
  their full potential in promoting their
  sustainable development and improving their
  quality of life...
• Para 1, Geneva Declaration of Principles

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WSIS catalyst of positive change for the
developing countries

• We are fully committed to turning this
  digital divide into a digital opportunity for
  all, particularly to those who risk to be left
  behind and being further marginalised.
• Para 10, Declaration of Principles

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Where do we stand now

• 1998 proposal to hold WSIS
• 2003 Geneva Phase of WSIS
• 2005 Tunis Phase of WSIS
• 2005 2015 WSIS Implementation Phase
• 2015 target date for the MDGs

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WSIS Goals achievable by 2015?

• Connect the unconnected
• All villages (800'000)
• All schools and universities
• All hospitals
• All governments public administrations
• others...

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WSIS Goals achievable by 2015?

• Create enabling environment and build capacities
  for effective and efficient use of the whole
  spectrum of ICTs
• ICT training
• E-learning
• Multi-lingualism on Internet
• Support to content creation
• Networking opportunities over the Internet

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Digital divide is shrinking
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Mobile revolution
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Assess to Internet widens globally

• Growth of the key enablers of the Information
  Society, in mln, 1998-2005

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But
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The newer the technology, the less even the
global distribution
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Why was WSIS successful?

• Succeeded to set up clear objectives
• To apply a pluralistic transparent and inclusive
  approach multi-stakeholder app.
• To identify vital mechanisms and procedures able
  to ensure a successful implementation phase
• To identify lead UN agencies to facilitate the
  implementation on the international level

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The Digital Opportunity today

• Map from the World Information Society Report 2006

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The challenge

• ICT use in Africa and Europe, based on the
  Digital Opportunity Index (www.itu.int/wisr)

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The Challenge?

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The way ahead

• Issues to consider
• Multi-stakeholder process
• Facilitation on int. level
• Internet Governance
• Financing of ICTs for Development

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Thank you!youlia.lozanova_at_itu.int