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ITU-D Publications - Archive

This page serves as an archive of ITU-D publications released prior to 2023. For the latest publications, click here. For ITU-D publications released in 2023, click here.

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Child online protection in sports

The intention of this Brief is to support sports organizations – clubs and associations at both the grassroots and professional levels – to better protect children online.

Publication Date: December 2022

Economic and fiscal incentives to accelerate digital transformation – 9th ITU Economic Experts Roundtable: Outcome report

The role of governments in implementing economic and fiscal incentives to accelerate the digital transformation of economies was the main theme of the ninth ITU Economic Experts Roundtable.

Publication Date: December 2022

Country assessment to facilitate digital financial inclusion in Ethiopia

This report presents findings from a country assessment undertaken to facilitate digital financial inclusion in Ethiopia and gives an overview of the current DFS landscape in the country. It also identifies some of the barriers to DFI and suggests how they might be removed.

Publication Date: December 2022

ICT accessibility overview: Assessment for the Africa region

The aim of this report is to support ITU members and stakeholders from the Africa region in their efforts to achieve inclusive digital communities by assessing ICT accessibility as a key driver in achieving digital inclusion within the digital transformation process. The report provides an overview of the current situation of ICT accessibility implementation in the Africa region.

Publication Date: December 2022

Guidebook on accessibility of online job application and recruitment systems

This Guidebook has been developed to help employers understand the barriers that persons with disabilities may face when applying for a job online, and the accessibility and usability requirements that job portals and digital tools used in recruitment processes should meet to support the overarching goal of promoting inclusive employment.

Publication Date: December 2022

Build back better with broadband: Research stories from the front line

As part of the Connect2Recover initiative, a research competition was launched in July 2021 to identify promising research proposals from across the world to accelerate digital inclusion during recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in the selection of 15 winning research proposals.

Publication Date: November 2022

Measuring digital development: Facts and Figures 2022

ITU’s Measuring digital development: Facts and Figures 2022 offers a snapshot of the most important ICT indicators, including estimates for the current year. Latest figures show that an estimated 5.3 billion people of the earth’s 8 billion are using the Internet in 2022, or roughly 66 per cent of the world’s population.

Publication Date: November 2022

Global and complementary actions for electronics extended producer responsibility

As part of a collaboration for International E-waste Day 2022 the International Telecommunication Union, the WEEE Forum and StEP have prepared a thought paper presenting complementary solutions and concepts to propel e-waste collection rates in line with EPR-based regulation, whilst also delving into the perceived need for an international regime around EPR to assist with harmonization efforts.

Publication Date: October 2022

World Telecommunication Development Conference 2022 (WTDC-22): Final Report

The report is a blueprint for connecting the unconnected to achieve sustainable development. It features the Kigali Declaration, Kigali Action Plan, 28 regional initiatives – for Africa, the Americas, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, the CIS and Europe – 40 revised resolutions and four new ones, and 14 ITU-D study Questions; designed to foster meaningful universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation around the world in the period 2022 2025.

Publication Date: October 2022

The State of Broadband 2022: Accelerating broadband for new realities

The ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission’s flagship State of Broadband Report is a unique, global snapshot of broadband network access and affordability. Written through a consensus-driven framework and drawing on the insights of the Commission’s high-level, multistakeholder membership, the 2022 edition provides an overview of the latest trends in digital connectivity, including access, adoption and use in the new post-pandemic world.

Publication Date: October 2022

Spectrum management training in the Asia-Pacific region: A bespoke framework

The Report provides an analysis of the views of Member States and other membership of ITU from Asia and the Pacific on a wide range of matters relating to spectrum management technical requirements.

Publication Date: October 2022

Be he@lthy, be mobile: A toolkit on how to implement mSafeListening, Web Annex, mSafeListening message libraries

The mSafeListening handbook provides evidence-based message libraries for the promotion of safe listening behaviours and prevention of hearing loss. It includes guidance on how to develop, integrate, implement and evaluate a national mSafeListening programme.

Publication Date: October 2022

Be he@lthy, be mobile: A toolkit on how to implement MyopiaEd, Web Annex, MyopiaEd message libraries

This toolkit includes evidence-based message libraries for key population groups, along with operational guidance and resources for adapting, implementing and monitoring the MyopiaEd programme. The toolkit is intended to assist policy- and decision-makers and implementers to establish a national or large-scale MyopiaEd programme.

Publication Date: October 2022

E-learning in Thailand: Mapping the digital divide

At the initiative of the United Nations resident coordinator, and with support from the Government, ITU, together with UNESCO and UNICEF, undertook to map the digital divide in the context of school education in Thailand. This study presents data on access to digital devices and Internet connectivity among Thai students at school and at home.

Publication Date: September 2022

Greening digital companies: Monitoring emissions and climate commitments

The report by the International Telecommunication Union and the World Benchmarking Alliance documents the emissions and energy use of 150 of the world’s leading digital companies. Operational GHG emissions accounted for 239 million tonnes in 2020, equivalent to 0.76 per cent of the world total. The companies consumed 425 TWh of electricity in 2020, accounting for 1.6 per cent of global electricity production.

Publication Date: June 2022

Guide for procuring last-mile connectivity data networks

Traditionally, the Internet service providers build, deploy and provide data networks and services to end users. However, in some instances, building connectivity networks and providing connectivity services are initiated by other public or private institutions such as banks, electricity companies, educational institutions, communities or governments, to ensure additional coverage, quality of service and/or affordability.

Publication Date: June 2022

Global Connectivity Report 2022

In the last 30 years, the number of Internet users surged from a few million to almost five billion. Yet the potential remains untapped because one-third of humanity remains offline, and many users only enjoy basic connectivity. The Global Connectivity Report 2022 provides a detailed assessment of the current state of connectivity and presents solutions to meet this new imperative.

Publication Date: June 2022

Aspirational targets for 2030 - Achieving universal and meaningful digital connectivity in the decade of action

Achieving universal and meaningful digital connectivity —the possibility for everyone to enjoy a safe, satisfying, enriching, productive and affordable online experience— is key for enabling digital transformation and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

Publication Date: April 2022

Be he@lthy, be mobile: a toolkit on how to implement mMyopia

The “Be He@lthy, Be Mobile” (BHBM) global initiative encourages and enables the use of mobile technology for digital health. It is based on the use of digital targeted client communication messaging to address a range of noncommunicable diseases and health issues. Myopia represents an important public health issue in the 21st century; it also poses a considerable financial burden on countries, with an estimated annual global productivity loss of USD 244 billion.

Publication Date: April 2022

ITU-A4AI Policy Brief

The Policy brief - The affordability of ICT services 2021, jointly launched by ITU and the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), finds that prices for fixed and mobile broadband have risen globally amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publication Date: March 2022

The role of government and the public sector in the post COVID-19 digital world 8th ITU Economic Experts Roundtable: Outcome report

The importance of reliable broadband to people and businesses has been underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. The faster a country deploys and upgrades ICT networks, the higher the economic impact, and the stronger its economic resilience will be in the face of pandemics. Furthermore, the faster the country will be able to address different aspects of the digital divide.

Publication Date: March 2022

Benchmark of fifth-generation collaborative digital regulation

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is advocating a new collaborative approach to ICT regulation. Collaborative regulation or 5th generation regulation (G5) broadly defined is based on the concept of generations of ICT regulation, with successive generations evolving from an initial command and control approach for public monopolies, to one of collaboration across institutions and stakeholders to oversee the development of collaborative regulation for a digital economy.

Publication Date: March 2022

Digital agriculture in action – Artificial intelligence for agriculture

New ITU / FAO publication aims to raise awareness about existing AI applications in agriculture and to inspire stakeholders to develop and replicate the new ones.

Publication Date: February 2022

World Telecommunication-ICT Indicators Database 2021

The World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database contains time series data for more than 180 telecommunication/ICT statistics from over 200 economies. Selected demographic, macroeconomic and broadcasting statistics are also included.

Publication Date: February 2022

Be He@lthy, Be Mobile – A handbook on how to implement mSafeListening

The mSafeListening handbook provides evidencebased message libraries for the promotion of safe listening behaviours and prevention of hearing loss. It includes guidance on how to develop, integrate, implement and evaluate a national mSafeListening programme.

Publication Date: January 2022

Status of digital agriculture in 47 sub-Saharan Africa countries

The study provides a useful snapshot of the status of digital agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa against six focal themes essential to understanding digital agriculture, namely: infrastructure, digital penetration, policy and regulation, business environment, human capital and agro-innovation. Each country profile aims at capturing the digital agriculture status of the respective 47 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Publication Date: January 2022

Regional E-waste Monitor for Latin America 2022(also available inSpanish)

The report provides an assessment of statistics, legislation, and management infrastructure of e-waste and persistent organic pollutants in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru Uruguay and Venezuela.

Publication Date: January 2022

Digital Public Goods Alliance Climate Change Adaption Call for Action and Report

Within this report, urgent attention is brought to why relevant datasets are needed as digital public goods, the setbacks caused by a lack of data, and tangible steps that can be taken to help improve access to data.

Publication Date: January 2022

Regional E-waste Monitor for the CIS + Georgia 2021

The report provides an assessment of statistics, legislation, and management infrastructure of e-waste in 12 countries in the region.

Publication Date: December 2021

Digital tools and strategies in COVID-19 infodemic response: Case studies and discussion

This report brings to light some of the important aspects of dealing with health misinformation in the digital age. highlighting experiences of selected countries in leveraging ICTs in COVID-19 'infodemic' response, discusses available solutions, and identifies some of the key enablers for effective digital policy implementation.

Publication Date: December 2021

Accelerating innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation in the Arab States region

This report aims to showcase the digital transformation in the Arab States region as further accelerated by entrepreneurship-driven innovative practices.

Publication Date: December 2021

Regional E-waste Monitor for the Arab States 2021

First ever regional e-waste monitor for the Arab States aims to enhance the understanding and interpretation of regional e-waste data, with the goal of facilitating environmentally sound management of e-waste.

Publication Date: December 2021

Operational framework and guidelines for the planning and execution of ITU regional cyberdrills

ITU CyberDrills is an annual event during which cyber-attacks, or other types of disruptions are simulated in order to test an organization’s cyber capabilities, at the regional and global levels.

Publication Date: December 2021

ITU cybersecurity programme: CIRT framework

The ITU CIRT Framework describes the method ITU uses to establish national CIRT structures that identify, manage, and respond to cyber threats, as well as outline cooperation mechanisms at the regional and international levels.

Publication Date: December 2021

Regional good practices: Accelerating innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation – Africa region

Digital transformation and systems innovation in the Africa region have made great strides in the past years as a result of the work of innovative entrepreneurs, progressive government initiatives on the country and pan-African level, and collaborative ecosystem builders all over the continent.

Publication Date: November 2021

Regional good practices: Accelerating innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation in the Americas region

This report provides an overview of the comparative innovation capacity of the Americas region through ICT-centric innovation policy monitors and insights on how good practice can strengthen capacity to integrate ICT innovation into national development agendas.

Publication Date: November 2021

Measuring digital development: Facts and figures 2021

The Facts and figures series sheds light on the multiple facets and evolving nature of the digital divide and takes stock of progress towards closing it. It serves as a powerful advocacy tool in efforts to put digital development at the top of the agendas of policy-makers and of the development community.

Publication Date: November 2021

Digital Skills Insights 2021

The 2021 issue of the Digital Skills Insights publication discusses the importance of digital skills in a post-COVID-19 world and anticipates the future role of digital skills in a digital ecosystem which is evolving in response to the effects of the pandemic.

Publication Date: November 2021

Regional good practices: Accelerating innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region

This report utilizes the ITU ICT-centric innovation ecosystems approach to highlight good practices that can be adopted throughout the region to close the digital innovation divide.