An overview of ICTD Dr. Haidar Fraihat Director Information and Communication Technology Division

Transcription

1 An overview of ICTD Dr. Haidar Fraihat Director Information and Communication Technology Division

2 Vision ESCWA Member Countries recognizing ICT as a new development paradigm inducing transformation towards knowledgebased economy and information society

3 Mission increase the capabilities of member States in harnessing ICT4D enable ESCWA countries to integrate into the global economy; establishment of a leading ICT sectors in EMC s

4 ICTD ICTD ICT Policies Section ICT Application Section ESCWA Technology Centre

5 Regional Challenges/Problems Addressed Poverty and high unemployment rates in the ESCWA region especially among women and youth. EMC s remain more of consumers than producers of ICT. Fragmented ICT applications and services targeting socioeconomic development. Low ICT readiness and utilization in some ESCWA member countries. Limited digital Arabic content. Inadequate usage of ICT measurement for policy-making. Manpower skills gap. Lagging compared to other regions

6 ICTD Portfolio

7 ICTD Portfolio 1. ICT Policies and Strategies for EMC s 2. Follow-up on WSIS process 3. Internet Governance (IGF and AIGF) 4. ICT Infrastructure 5. Access 6. Arabic Domain Names System 7. Digital Arabic Content 8. ICT Sector and transition to Knowledge Economy 9. Cyber Legislations 10. Cyber Security and Cyber Crime 11. Information Society Measurements

8 UN Processes MDG Process Rio Process Beijing Process WSIS Process Copenhagen Process Etc.

9 Overview of the WSIS Process 21 December 2001: UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183 which endorsed holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Main objectives: Bridging the digital divide Formulating a common vision of the Information Society Phase 1: Geneva 10 to 12 December 2003 Main outcomes: Geneva Declaration of Principles (DoP) Geneva Plan of Action (PoA) Phase 2: Tunis 16 to 18 November 2005 Main outcomes: Tunis Commitment Tunis Agenda for the Information Society

10 Internet Governance (IGF and AIGF) Objective: To foster multistakeholder dialogue on public policy issues related to Internet governance (Critical Internet Resources, Access, Content, Openness, Security); Achievements: ESCWA /LAS regional initiative "Arab Dialogue on Internet Governance" (ArabDIG) the "Arab Regional Roadmap for Internet Governance: Framework, Principles and Objectives ; Launching the Arab IGF process under the joint ESCWA/LAS umbrella for the period Global Process UNSG Arab Process ESCWA ES, LAS SG

11 Arabic Domain Names System Objectives: to allow the use of the Arabic language in Internet addresses, which has long been limited to ASCII characters: Language perspective; Script perspective; Major Achievements: Re-Engineered the Internet Architecture to allow the use of Arabic Publishing RFC #5564 in 2010 on Linguistic Guidelines for the Use of the Arabic Language in Internet Domains; As part of the ICANN cctld fast track, 12 Arab countries have registered their country names in Arabic;. لبنان إسم.مصر.السعودية.األردن

12 Applying the New Arab TLDs -." عرب " and Leading the Arab Efforts to acquire the TLDs ".arab" opportunity for the Arab region; Acquiring the Arab TLDs has a cultural and regional dimension; Bridging the language barrier digital divide; Promoting a domain name industry in the region; Branding; ESCWA developed a Preliminary Feasibility study on Establishment of the Domain Name Registry for the ".arab" and TLDs;." Generic عرب " With ESCWA help, LAS, ITU and UAE-TRA successfully submitted the Arab TLDs dossier to ICANN in early LAS Owner and applicant TRA-UAE Application file Development ITU Application file development & fee payment ICANN Application ESCWA Strategic advice & financial guidance 13

13 ICT Sector and transition to Knowledge Economy Promoting the development of the ICT sector including best practices in financing and enhancing competitiveness. Studying the Competitiveness of the ICT Sector in the Arab Region: innovation and investment imperatives ICT as a leading sector is a new development paradigm for the region.

14 Cyber Legislation Objective: To enhance the legal and regulatory framework for the development of the knowledge society in the Arab region. Role: To raise awareness and assist EMCs in the formulation, adoption and harmonization of cyber legislation through regional integration. Major Achievements: ESCWA Cyber Legislation Directives (produced and adopted) Studies on the status of cyber legislation in the region Regional framework for the deployment of the directives at national and regional levels Enhanced capacity of EMCs

15 Digital Arabic Content Objective: To promote the Arab community contribution to the knowledge-based economy through the development of Digital Arabic Content (DAC). Role: To raise awareness on the importance and potential for DAC and its industry: cultural preservation, job creation and development of ICT sector; and to assist EMCs in their DAC initiatives. Major Achievements: Advising on the status of DAC in the Arab region and making strategic recommendations for its development. Producing high level reports on DAC industry and its new business models. Proposing practical model for the promotion of DAC industry

16 Measuring the Information & Knowledge Societies Objective: To monitor the transformation of EMCs towards knowledge societies and measuring their progress. Role: To transfer International expertise and exchange of regional best practices on measurement issues through our active membership in the global Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development. Main Achievements: Regional Profile of the Information Society in Western Asia. National Profile of the Information Society in Western Asia. Studies on the Impact of ICT on Socioeconomic Development Enhanced capacities of EMCs on Information society measurement.

17 Activities EGMs Regional Research and Development (R&D) in the ICT sector EGM on the role of ICT in socio-economic development EGM on Regional Platform on cyber legislation and digital Arabic content Flagship Meetings Conference and Public Consultations to Establish the Arab IGF Process First Annual Meeting of the Arab IGF, 2012 Second Annual meeting of the Arab IGF, 2013 Field Projects Academy of ICT essentials for government leaders in the ESCWA region Field Project on Promoting the Digital Arab Content industry through incubation - Phase II Field Project on Regional harmonization of cyber legislation to promote the knowledge society in the Arab world

18 Activities Publications and Technical Materials Regional competitiveness of the ICT sector in ESCWA member countries Regional Profile of the Information Society in Western Asia-2013 Four Reviews of Information and Communication Technologies and Development, issues 17, 18, 19 and 20 Impact of selected e-services on socio-economic development National Profiles of the Information Society in Western Asia 2013 Impact of ICT on Arab youth Status of Digital Arabic Content (DAC) industry in the region Progress on the implementation of e-gov strategies in the ESCWA region Workshops Five workshops on Internet Governance MAG Workshop on egov Best Practices in Turkey and Arab Countries Capacity-Building Workshop on the Collection of Cyber Security Data in the ESCWA Region Workshop on ICT measurement models

19 ESCWA Technology Center, Amman Scientific and Technological-Based Innovation for Sustainable Development 1. STI Observatories: Jordan, Palestine, Qatar, Lebanon, Syria.. ~ Egypt, UAE 2. IP National Systems: Jordan, Lebanon 3. Technology Transfer (Universities): Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Egypt 4. Technology Commercialization: Saudi Arabia (KACARE and KACST) Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon (Commercialization Tour) 5. Scientific Innovation in Media (culture): Pan Arab MBC4 with Qatar Foundation GCC youth with FGCCC

20 New Initiatives and Projects in-hand

21 ESCWA Government of Turkey - UNDP Turkey TRIANGULAR COOPERATION Mapping of the Western Asia region with regards to e- government practices and systematic Development and conduct of tailor-made context-specific programs Technical Cooperation scheme for the establishment of e-government frameworks Development of regional framework South-South Cooperation Technology Transfer

22 Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders in the ESCWA Region (AIGLE) Duration: 36 Months Target countries: ESCWA member countries Beneficiaries: Civil servants at the middle management level and above, Government leaders and policymakers, all public entities at national, provincial and local levels Project objective: To impart the essential knowledge and expertise that will help civil servants, policymakers and Government leaders in the ESCWA region to more effectively plan and implement ICT initiatives, facilitating their transition towards knowledge-based economies

23 Building Capacities in Developing Appropriate Green Technologies for Improving the Livelihood of Rural Communities in the Arab Region (SDPD and ETC/ICTD) Duration: 24 months Target Countries: ESCWA member countries Beneficiaries: Policy makers in line ministries (including industry, energy, irrigation, agriculture), research institutions, private sector, water user associations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), civil society Project Objective: To strengthen the capacity of countries in the Arab region to mainstream pro-poor green technology initiatives into national development programmes and policies, in order to enhance livelihoods particularly in rural communities.

24 Cooperation with other Organizations Regional League of Arab States KACST Qatar Foundation ARADO KACARE FGCCC UN Regional Commissions UNESCO UNIDO UNCTAD UNDP ITU UNODC UNOOSA ECA-North Africa

25 Finally Moving From T to ToT Harnessing EMC available resources Coping with the Changes in Technological Paradigm Synergizing with others Eliminating overlap, duplication, etc Focusing on Impact, vs. output

26 Thank you