Page 36 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

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Cisco and OECD Launch Pioneering Research Initiative on Digital Well-

Being

Technology is transforming our lives, changing the way we learn, industry, educational institutions, non-profits and community
work, interact with others and get access to all types of services. leaders must work together in new ways to prioritize our
Depending on our ability to access technology and use it in the right collective well-being for a healthy, prosperous and safe digital
way, technology can improve our sense of well-being and be a real life. It’s no coincidence that the priorities and the OECD's Well-
driver of progress. Cisco, a global technology leader committed to being Framework resonate so profoundly. This partnership taps
fostering an inclusive future for all, continues its efforts to address into Cisco and OECD’s collective expertise in understanding the
the digital divide through a new research collaboration with risks and unlocking the value of digitization across verticals and
the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development industries to ultimately power safe and inclusive communities, and
(OECD). This collaboration aims to help promote a responsible use resilient economies,” said Guy Diedrich, Senior Vice President &
of technology as well as fairness, inclusion and equitable access Global Innovation Officer of Cisco.
in a global digital economy. Digital Access is No Longer a Privilege for Some but a Necessity
Igniting a Global Conversation for All
As digital transformation continues to reshape every aspect The partnership between Cisco and the OECD builds on existing
of our lives at an intensifying pace, Cisco and the OECD Centre research into digital well-being. It acknowledges that while digital
on Well-being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity technologies offer benefits like improved access to education
(WISE) are joining forces to examine the complex nature of digital and health information, they also pose risks. Notably, the digital
transformation and its role as both a catalyst for progress and divide, where those lacking digital literacy—a blend of technical,
a source of potential risks to well-being. “The OECD has a long emotional, and social skills—fall behind, becoming vulnerable to
tradition of work supporting policy makers better understand the mental health risks and safety concerns. Recognizing that broad
digital transformation and develop appropriate policies to help internet access isn’t enough to participate in digital life, the new
shape a positive digital future. Our initial report, ‘How’s Life in partnership seeks to rally citizens, businesses, policymakers and
the Digital Age’, highlighted the benefits and challenges of digital workers to develop a balanced approach that ensures technology
transformation, from enhanced access and productivity to issues improves well-being and mitigates potential risks.
like the digital divide and personal security threats in people’s A New Industry Study and Knowledge Hub
everyday life and workplace. Our partnership with Cisco helps us Cisco and the OECD will conduct research and create a global
take the next step in broadening what we know about the interplay knowledge hub, capturing data and expanding knowledge on
between technology and life to enrich our understanding of well- the influence of digital transformation on different aspects of
being in the digital realm,” said Romina Boarini, OECD WISE Centre people's lives. This initiative marks a crucial step in understanding
Director. This collaboration aims to create an interactive, dynamic technology’s role across a broader definition of well-being that
and engaging digital platform for sharing experiences to help covers 11 key dimensions: education and skills, healthcare,
develop a detailed picture of how digital technologies influence jobs and earnings, income and wealth, subjective well-being,
different aspects of our lives. Grounded in the OECD Well-being smart communities—work-life balance and social connections—
Framework, the platform will gather new statistics and people’s environmental sustainability, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity,
insights on digital well-being as a whole, including the impact of governance and civic engagement, and housing. The research
the digital divide and inequalities in the uptake and use of digital aims to help users make informed decisions, empower individuals
technologies. to navigate the digital landscape responsibly, and to promote a
Strategic Momentum from Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration healthy relationship with emerging technology. “While we continue
Programs to strive for full digital inclusion around the world, we cannot do so
Cisco's involvement in the OECD WISE Centre initiative is an at any cost. It is our responsibility to keep well-being top of mind,
extension of its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, which and this partnership will help us connect with people around the
has a long history of collaborating with governments, industry and world to learn about their experiences with digital technology—
academia to foster sustainable, secure and inclusive communities how it influences their social connections, their jobs and work-life
through over 1500 projects in 50 countries. balance, and their physical and mental health. Co-building a model
“We cannot close the digital divide on our own. Governments, and better understanding the role technology plays in everyday life
is fundamental to our work at Cisco, and to pursuing our purpose
to power an inclusive future for all,” said Fran Katsoudas, Executive
Vice President & Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer of Cisco.
The Year Ahead: Hub Launch and Well-being Forum
The partnership will launch its ‘Digital Well-being Hub’ in the
second half of 2024. In November, Cisco will participate in the
OECD’s World Forum on Well-being, which addresses the value of
well-being approaches for improving knowledge, performance and
cooperation across the public, private and civil sectors in a context
of societal change.

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