Page 114 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

ITU And UNDP Join Forces to Address Urgent Unmet Capacity Building

Needs

The rise of digital technologies and ways
of working offers extraordinary new
opportunities to further global sustainable
development and achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals, from increasing
economic resilience to mitigating the
damage of COVID-19 and delivering
more effective public services. Yet not
everyone is equally able to take advantage
of these opportunities, particularly as
the rapid pace of digital change places
further demands on resource-constrained
governments and societies. Bridging the
world's digital divide is increasingly urgent,
as those who left out of today's digital
transformation are in danger of falling
further behind. This means ensuring that
digital services are available everywhere, in-Charge at the UN Office of the Envoy to drive digital capacity development, and
as well as affordable and accessible to all. on Technology. "The Joint Facility will intends to have a new single structure
To address this key issue, the International further strengthen our collective effort to facilitating joint resourcing, roles, and
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the equip people with the needed digital skills, responsibilities. Through its Development
United Nations Development Program literacy and capabilities, alongside with Sector, ITU provides direct assistance and
(UNDP) have launched a Joint Facility for the multi-stakeholder network for digital capacity development initiatives to bridge
Digital Capacity Development to support capacity development envisioned in the the digital divide, promote digital inclusion
those not currently served by existing roadmap." The Joint Facility aims to: and facilitate digital transformation for all.
digital capacity development resources • direct stakeholders to relevant existing "Making adequate capacity development
or channels. The Joint Facility stands in ITU/UNDP resources, including digital tools available to all is more important than
support of the UN Secretary-General's literacy and skills training; ever to bridge the digital divide and connect
Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, which • identify areas of unmet demand for half of the world's population that are
calls for "a broad multi-stakeholder network digital capacity development initiatives still offline," said Doreen Bogdan-Martin,
to promote holistic, inclusive approaches and work with end users to develop new Director of ITU's Telecommunication
to digital capacity-building for sustainable interventions when needed; Development Bureau. "There are many
development, including a new joint facility • identify patterns and trends in unmet aspects to developing digital skills apart
for digital capacity development, which stakeholder needs; and from the actual training. Through the Joint
will be led by ITU and UNDP." People and • direct strategic, operational, and Facility, we will be able to assist countries
communities currently underserved in programmatic support in executing across the digital skills development value
terms of digital capacity will benefit from digital strategies, capacity development chain from assessing digital capacity
more efficient and effective support from initiatives, or other high-priority needs, advising on digital strategies, and
the ITU/UNDP Joint Facility, which aims to operational areas for partners. even helping with procurement and raising
make digital opportunities accessible to Digital capacity must be strengthened funds for digital development. We are
all. "Robust and effective digital capacity on both the local and international levels incredibly excited to work together with
building underlines the fulfilment of the to enable inclusive digital and societal the UNDP towards this." UNDP's wide
Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital transformation. While governments are field presence and topic expertise will help
Cooperation, by supporting countries in the main target audience, other groups match key local context to relevant digital
their efforts to harness the full potential requiring digital capacity support will also solutions. "The lack of sufficient digital
of digital technology as part of their digital benefit from the services offered by the skills is a major barrier to reaping the
futures", said Assistant Secretary-General Joint Facility. The Joint Facility cements benefits of digitalization and threatens to
Maria Francesca Spatolisano, Officer- the partnership between ITU and UNDP leave the most marginalized behind," said

114 APRIL-MAY 2021