Highlights July 2024
29 July-2 August
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific delivered a remote presentation at the Regional Meeting on Enhancing Digital Literacy among Older Persons in Asia and the Pacific: Developing Tools to Increase Digital Literacy of Older Persons, organized by UN ESCAP at Beijing, China. The meeting focused on identifying trends, used cases and described best practices to enhance digital literacy amongst older persons. ITU provided insights into age and gender dynamics in digital access and literacy among older persons through statistics from the ITU Datahub and work on digital accessibility
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific participated in the Mekong Forum 2024, organized by the Mekong Institute, which took place in Khon Kaen, Thailand, which aimed to lay the groundwork for a subregional innovation strategy. The Regional Office delivered a presentation on leveraging digital technologies to empower underrepresented groups, including women and youth. An exhibition booth showcased ITU’s work across the world. Mekong Institute expressed interest in collaborating with ITU further, including participation in the Mekong Forum 2025
Digital innovation ecosystem: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre held a consultation meeting in Delhi with several Member States, UN agencies, government officials, private sector and academic organizations. Discussions were held on how the Area Office and Innovation Centre could serve them better and identify concrete opportunities for cooperation in the field of innovation. The takeaways from the session will be utilized to plan upcoming activities and projects of the Innovation Centre in India.
Emergency telecommunications: Asia and the Pacific
ITU Development, in partnership with the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), organized a one-day workshop on Common Alert Protocol (CAP) and Cell Broadcasting (CB) which was attended by experts from Member States. This was followed by a knowledge session with integration partners such as Indian Meteorological Organization and Central Water Commission. The workshop was a platform for knowledge sharing on India's policy, technology development, integration, best practices and applications. The workshop also allowed for discussions on possible partnerships amongst the Member States on Early Warnings for All (EW4All). A presentation was made on the topic of Enhancing resilience through EW4All, highlighting the work of ITU under the EW4All Pillar 3 in the region.
Other: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific hosted a visit by students from the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). The Regional Office showcased our work in Asia and the Pacific, and how academia and students can get involved.
22-26 July
Policy and regulation: Arab States
The ITU Regional Office for the Arab States gave an overview of the implementation of the regional initiatives to the League of Arab States Permanent Committee’s annual meeting in Dubai from 22 – 23 July 2024. The event was hosted by the Telecommunication Digital Regulation Authority of the UAE, in Dubai. ITU’s achievements were well received.
Digital services and applications: Arab States
The Govstack national project in Mauritania, spearheaded in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Modernization of Administration (and the World Bank Group, marks a significant milestone in enhancing government services through digital solutions. A capacity building workshop, under the patronage of H.E. Mohamed-Abdallahi LOULY, Minister of Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Modernization of Administration, focused on the GovStack framework. This framework aims to accelerate the development of digital government services by leveraging standardized digital components and best practices. The primary objective is to strengthen the capacity of the Mauritanian government and public institutions to achieve digital transformation using GovStack principles. This workshop comes as part of a larger project that includes the implementation of three digital services, comprehensive training, and the development of a roadmap for GovStack adoption. The expected impact is to enhance the accessibility and quality of public services, particularly in rural areas, contributing to sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Emergency telecommunications: Arab States
The ITU Regional Office for the Arab States participated in the "Advancing Risk Knowledge to Improve Somalia’s Disaster Early Warning System” and shared the role of the Union as the leader of the third pillar on warning dissemination and communications. Additionally, the Office highlighted the implementation status of Early Warnings For All Pillar 3 in Somalia.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific participated in the Girls in ICT "Leadership" event organized by the Digital Council of Thailand emphasizing the importance of empowering girls and young women in ICT through leadership, digital skills, and experiential learning. The event highlighted ongoing initiatives and future opportunities for fostering gender equality and innovation in the sector. It also featured inspiring sessions from ICT leaders, experts and girls who shared their insights about technology, digital empowerment, and leadership. The Office also expressed appreciation to the Digital Council of Thailand for their valuable efforts in empowering girls and young women in Thailand to pursue studies and careers in ICT.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific held a meeting with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Cambodia (MPTC) to discuss Child Online Protection and Girls in ICT. The meeting highlighted MPTC's recent launch of the Child Online Protection Guidelines for the digital industry, and ITU proposed localizing these guidelines into the local language, offering training support. Both parties explored further collaboration opportunities and discussed potential Girls in ICT initiatives. The session concluded with a commitment to continued dialogue and partnership to enhance online safety for children and promote gender inclusion in ICT.
Digital services and applications: Asia and the Pacific
Under the European Union-funded Programme for Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade (EU-STREIT), ITU conducted the first e-commerce, online marketing, and financial literacy training for value chain farmers at Brandi Secondary School, East Sepik Province. The school, connected to VSAT Internet by the National Information and Communications Technology Authority, Papua New Guinea, and powered by solar energy installed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), now hosts a fully functional resource center. Participants included cocoa and vanilla farmers, fisherfolk, government officials, teachers, SMEs, NGOs, women and youth enterprises, civil service training organizations, farmer groups, and lead farmers. By the end of the five-day training, attendees increased their online visibility, accessed potential buyers, expanded market opportunities, and secured competitive prices. These skills will help them market their crops online, purchase inputs and services, and better manage their finances.
Emergency telecommunications: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific provided remarks at the training workshop on Inclusive Early Warning Communication for the Maldives. The training was organized by Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in Malé. Emphasis was made on a collaborative approach with stakeholders including the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Communications Authority of Maldives, National Disaster Management Authority, and telecom operators to harness technological solutions for Early Warning with a special focus on the implementation of cell broadcast, leveraging AI for Disaster Connectivity mapping, last mile connectivity and national digital network resilience evaluation.
Emergency telecommunications: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific participated in the first national inception workshop on Early Warnings for All (EW4All) in Tonga. ITU facilitated a stakeholder engagement-based assessment of the current state of warning dissemination and communication in Tonga. This assessment identified gaps, which were translated into a draft framework of activities aligned with the recently endorsed National Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) policy. The overall framework for all four pillars will next be presented to the cabinet.
Environment: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific held a meeting on the ongoing project "Creating a Circular Economy for Electrical and Electronic Products in Thailand". Key stakeholders discussed the development of the draft national Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Act, the consultation and coordination of stakeholders, producer engagement and the financing of sustainable e-waste management. This meeting was crucial for aligning the next steps and advancing effective e-waste management in Thailand.
Policy and regulation: Arab States
Organized in collaboration with Qatar's Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), the Workshop on Collaborative Digital Regulation for Qatar was organized in Doha. It introduced the agile approaches to ICT policy and regulation, explored the evolution and metrics of ICT regulation, and provided an in-depth understanding of the ITU Unified Framework. Participants included ministries, regulatory bodies, and network service providers to enhance regulatory practices in Qatar.
Other: Arab States
To enhance collaboration between United Nations agencies and the League of Arab States (LAS), particularly in the realms of ICT development, digital transformation, and meaningful connectivity, a General Cooperation Meeting was held in Geneva. During this meeting, ITU underscored its key initiatives aimed at advancing the Arab Digital Agenda (ADA) and implementing the Arab Cybersecurity Strategy (ACSS). Additionally, the ITU explored potential support it could provide in developing governance frameworks for artificial intelligence (AI).
15-19 July
Digital services and applications: Asia and the Pacific
Under the European Union-funded Programme for Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade (EU-STREIT), the ITU Development Sector (ITU-D) organized digital skills and financial literacy trainings for farmers at the newly established resource center in Angoram Secondary School, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. Over five days, attendees acquired fundamental computing skills, bolstered their Internet capabilities, and deepened their financial literacy. These newly acquired skills will empower them to effectively market their produce online, procure necessary inputs and services, and achieve more effective financial management.
[This activity is the result of a BDT project. You can find more details of the project here]
Policy and regulation: Asia and the Pacific
During the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) 1st Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTDC-25 (APT WTDC25-1) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the BDT Director presented the implementation of WTDC-22 outcomes and their impact on the Asia and the Pacific region, highlighting key achievements and ongoing projects. The meeting successfully elected the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the preparatory group, formed the group’s structure, and nominated Office Bearers. Participants discussed working methods and the work plan for WTDC-25 preparation and engaged in preliminary discussions on key issues. This meeting marks the beginning of the preparation for WTDC-25, reflecting the commitment of the Asia-Pacific region to drive telecommunication development and innovation.
8-12 July
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
As one of the key events of the Girls in ICT Day India 2024 programme, the final assessment of the Coding Challenge was organised by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), India Mobile Congress, and Broadband India Forum, with support from ITU. It engaged high school students in Java and Python coding challenges, fostering digital literacy and igniting interest in ICT. The winners of the challenge will be celebrated during the closing ceremony of Girls in ICT India.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
As part of the Girls in ICT Thailand programme:
• Huawei Thailand organized the "Huawei Girls in ICT: Mastery Learning and Closing Ceremony" to conclude a series of workshops on cybersecurity in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Agency. The event, held at Huawei Tower in Bangkok, was attended by students from schools across the country and featured onsite visits, an inspiring experience-sharing session, expert insights on emerging technologies, and an exhibition.
• The Ministry of Digital Economy of Thailand and Society and Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University organised one-day training on "Leveraging AI for Life”, exploring topics related to covering job creation, career development, and AI ethics, as part of a Girls in ICT 2024 Training Programme, at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific hosted the Generation Connect Asia and the Pacific (GC-ASP) "Passing the Torch" to celebrate the contributions of the outgoing cohort and welcoming the new youth envoys. The event featured a session with regional colleagues discussing thematic priorities and regional initiatives, inspiring the new cohort to contribute to regional digital transformation efforts. The outgoing youth envoys shared their experiences, while the new cohort shared their expectations. Additionally, the interactive breakout sessions allowed the envoys to share insights, network, discuss future plans, and foster collaboration, underscoring the importance of youth in driving digital innovation and connectivity in Asia and the Pacific region.
Emergency telecommunications: Europe
The ITU Regional Office for Europe has organized a virtual workshop on "Building Resilient Communities: Leveraging Cell Broadcast in the Western Balkans" to outline a clear path for implementing support at both national and regional levels for the rollout of Cell Broadcast systems for early warning dissemination
Partner2Connect: Asia and the Pacific
The Partner2Connect (P2C) National Roundtable was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Discussions focused on understanding Cambodia’s digital landscape and mobilizing new P2C pledges. The event underscored the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to achieve Cambodia's digital goals, aligning with the Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035.
1-5 July
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
As part of the Girls in ICT Thailand 2024 programme, Huawei Thailand, in collaboration with ITU, organized the “Experiential Learning Journey” event. Participants explored innovative technologies with a site-visit to Huawei Thailand’s Customer Solution Innovation Centre followed by an engaging open discussion between the attendees and Huawei Thailand professionals.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
Code.org delivered two workshops in the series "Creating Your Own Application with Code.org" for the Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2024 programme, supported by ITU. Participants demonstrated their creative projects - a "Recycle Bin" game and a Chemistry-inspired "Game Lab" during live demos. Students received positive feedback and will receive certificates of completion from Code.org.
Policy and regulation: Americas
ITU Regional Office for the Americas participated in the Latin America Congress on Digital Transformation 2024 and Mobile 360, held in Mexico City by ASIET and GSMA.
ITU presented its work on regulatory improvement, connectivity, infrastructure
deployment and highlighted the Global Regulatory Outlook 2023, the 5th Generation Benchmark in Regulation and the GSR-23 recommendations. Additionally, ITU contributed to the closing panel by summarizing the event’s conclusions.