Highlights September 2024
16-27 September
Capacity development: Global
Technology leaders at the ITU Digital Skills Forum addressed the need for increased action to ensure that individuals everywhere have the digital skills to fully unlock the benefits of today's technologies. Held from 17 to 19 September 2024 in Manama, Bahrain under the theme “Developing skills for digital transformation," nearly 700 participants from 44 countries met at the flagship skills event to address the top priorities for allowing everyone to acquire the digital skills to succeed in a digital society. The event concluded with calls for collaboration, coordination and partnerships in developing and delivering digital skills.
The “ITU Digital Skills Toolkit 2024" released at the Forum empowers policy-makers and other stakeholders – such as the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and academia – by providing insights, tools, and guidance to close digital skills gaps and address the impact of rapid technological advances on people's jobs and skills.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
As part of the Pacific Girls in ICT 2024 programme, a workshop titled ‘Introduction to Data Science and Cybersecurity,’ was delivered by CISCO. Participants actively and meaningfully engaged throughout the presentation and were encouraged to complete CISCO’s training course on Data Science and Cybersecurity.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, in collaboration with Huawei, supported 10 Generation Connect Asia and the Pacific Youth Envoys to attend Huawei's flagship youth programme "Seeds for the Future 2024". The week-long study tour provided the Youth Envoys with a unique opportunity to visit key innovation hubs in China, where they engaged with leading experts and gained firsthand exposure to cutting-edge technologies, including AI, 5G, and green technologies. These experiences allowed the Youth Envoys to enhance their understanding of how technology can address global challenges and explore ways to drive digital transformation in their respective countries.
At the Asia-Pacific Digital Talent Summit, organized by Huawei, ASEAN Foundation, and Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific provided remarks and a panel discussion on digital inclusion and education policy in the AI era, further advancing ITU’s efforts in youth digital empowerment.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific participated in the Digital Innovation for Women's Advancement in the Asia-Pacific Region Workshop, organized by the Department of ICT Philippines and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Manila, Philippines. The Office emphasized the importance of advancing digital engagement for women in the region, recognizing initiatives led by the Philippines, including the Girls in ICT celebrations and digital skills training programmes organized by ITU, co-organizers, and partners, which have significantly impacted over 6,000 participants in the Philippines, Thailand, India, the Pacific, and Malaysia this year. The Regional Office highlighted the persistent gender disparity in ICT across the region and introduced the establishment of its Innovation Centre in New Delhi, which aims to support regional innovation and digital transformation, stressing the need for continued collaboration to ensure digital inclusion and innovation in the near future.
Digital services and applications: Asia and the Pacific
The European Union-funded Programme for Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea (EU-STREIT PNG) program organized the 7th Program Steering Committee in Wewak, Papua New Guinea, featuring a high-level delegation that included the UN Resident Coordinator, the EU Ambassador and the Australian Deputy High Commissioner. The delegation visited project sites across East Sepik Province, including the Brandi Secondary School, where they were introduced to the Renewable Energy & ITU Resource Center. This innovative hub is providing students and the local community with digital skills and e-commerce knowledge, fostering a more connected future. During the visit, ITU conducted its first online e-commerce training for Brandi school teachers and grade 12 students via a Learning Management System (LMS) platform developed by ITU. ITU also successfully presented the progress of its deliverables, focusing on upgraded policy frameworks, digital agriculture services, and enhanced digital connectivity and skills.
Policy and regulation: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific participated in an Ambassador Networking Lunch and Tech Salon alongside ambassadors and consul generals from the Philippines, Vanuatu, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, hosted by Huawei in Nanning, China. This event facilitated productive discussions on strengthening collaboration in digital transformation, focusing on innovation, connectivity, and digital inclusion across the region. The salon provided a platform for exploring opportunities to align efforts in addressing shared challenges and promoting ICT development, furthering ITU's mission to foster an inclusive digital ecosystem.
Policy and regulation: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific participated in the session on "Enhancing Sustainability and Efficiency through Transport Sector Standards Development and Management" at the 3rd International Transport Forum hosted by the China Academy of Transportation Sciences. The Office highlighted its role in developing global digital standards that support intelligent transport systems, enhance operational efficiency, and promote sustainability
Policy and regulation: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific met with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) in Beijing, China, to discuss the ongoing "Building Resilient Connectivity for Hospitals in Asia and the Pacific" project proposal from the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, where MIIT and CAICT's support is essential for securing intergovernmental approvals. Additionally, they explored potential collaboration on digital skills training and mentorship leveraging CAICT’s technical expertise. The meeting with MIIT also addressed further opportunities for cooperation in advancing digital development initiatives.
9-13 September
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific organized a webinar titled “Industry Engagement with AI Standards to Advance Fairness, Equality, and Inclusion”. With speakers from Standards Australia, Microsoft, and Infocomm Media Development Authority (Singapore), the webinar showcased different approaches to using artificial intelligence (AI) standards to ensure that AI is developed and used in a responsible, fair, safe, and inclusive way. The webinar, which gathered participants from across Asia-Pacific, was the third in ITU’s Southeast Asia webinar series on gender-sensitive and socially inclusive AI policies and standards. The webinar series is supported by the project "Enhancing the Development of Standards and Frameworks for Critical Technologies in Southeast Asia", financed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
[This activity is the result of a BDT project. You can find more details of the project here]
Emergency telecommunications: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific organized a masterclass on inclusive and resilient broadcasting development, as a pre-event to the 19th Asia Media Summit (AMS) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hosted by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) and supported by Australia’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts (DITRDCA), the event emphasized the critical role of broadcasting as a key component of Early Warning Systems (EWS). It also explored how both traditional and modern broadcasting technologies can strengthen community preparedness and response, helping to save lives and mitigate the impact of disasters.
Other: Africa
As part of the joint project with Uganda ‘Technical assistance and training to Uganda on National ICT development strategy’, a technical meeting was held with national stakeholders to review Uganda’s strategy for e-waste and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Information from the assessment and suggestions on the country’s draft EPR regulation were shared.
[This activity is the result of a BDT project. You can find more details of the project here]
26 August - 6 September
Emergency Telecommunications: Arab States
The ITU Regional Office for the Arab States, participated in the Sixth Meeting of the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Cairo. Organized by the League of Arab States, the meeting brought together DRR and Sendai Framework focal points from Arab countries, alongside representatives from UN agencies, the private sector, and NGOs to discuss the Arab region's progress in implementing the Sendai Framework and preparations for the upcoming Arab Regional Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction.
Digital Innovation: Arab States
The ITU Regional Office for the Arab States, in partnership with the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) of Qatar, organized a National Cocreation Digital Innovation Profile Workshop, which brought together stakeholders representing Qatar’s diverse innovation ecosystem. The workshop aimed to assess the nation’s ecosystem capacity and maturity, guiding stakeholders toward a competitive, sustainable ICT-enabled economy.
Digital inclusion: Asia and the Pacific
A “Youth Empowerment: Celebrating Girls in ICT Day Malaysia 2024” event, organized by the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), and the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA), was held at the 19th Asia Media Summit. The sessions aimed to inspire girls and young women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), ICT, and broadcasting.
During the Summit, the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific shared presentations on ITU’s work on capacity building and ITU data and statistics in the region. In addition, ahead of the Summit, a seminar on artificial intelligence, gender equality, and social inclusion in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was also organized.
Digital services and applications: Asia and the Pacific
The ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific presented the Smart Village/Smart Island (SVSI) Initiative at the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication (SOMRDPE), during a session on "Optimising Digital/Smart Village in Revitalising Village Economy," hosted by the Ministry of Village Development and Disadvantaged Regions of Indonesia. The Regional Office emphasized that the SVSI has been adopted as a key project of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group under Indonesia's Presidency in 2022 and is part of the ASEAN Digital Ministers - ITU Priority Cooperation Area. Expanding SVSI across the Asia-Pacific region, including Indonesia, and the ongoing development of ITU's SVSI methodologies and tools was also highlighted during the session.
Digital services and applications: Asia and the Pacific
The 3rd Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting under the European Union-funded Programme for Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea (EU-STREIT PNG) meeting was held in Vanimo, West Sepik Province. It was preceded by field visits to a Resource Centre, developed by ITU in collaboration with the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), in the remote Ossima village, West Sepik Province, where they observed ongoing e-commerce and gender-based business development training organized by ITU and FAO. During the TWG meeting, ITU presented six months of project deliverables under the EU-STREIT Program.
Environment: Asia and the Pacific
A Government Consultation Workshop on Regulating Electronic Waste was hosted in Bangkok, Thailand, by the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, in collaboration with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and Pollution Control Department (PCD) of Thailand, with the support of the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA). The two-day workshop brought government stakeholders together to discuss the e-waste landscape in Thailand. The Office highlighted the importance of building a sustainable e-waste management system and government stakeholders discussed capacity-building gaps and identified priority products for future e-waste management. This workshop forms a critical part of ITU’s ongoing efforts to support Thailand in its journey toward an effective and sustainable WEEE regulatory framework.
[This activity is the result of a BDT project. You can find more details of the project here]
New Members: Asia and the Pacific
NTT DOCOMO, Japan's largest telecommunications company, joined as a new Member of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D).