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Workshop on Digital Transformation for the Pacific

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​BACKGROUND

Digital transformation is a very high priority for countries in the Pacific, aligned with the ITU Strategic Plan, ITU Asia-Pacific Regional Initiatives, Pacific ICT Ministerial 2023 Lagatoi Declaration, SIDS4 Conference, and the United Nations SDCF Pacific 2024. Several countries have developed or are in the process of developing their national and sectoral digital transformation strategies. In addition, the countries have undertaken several steps towards the implementation of these strategies.  
 
ITU is currently part of the three UN Joint Programmes supporting the countries in these areas including a) Accelerating SDG achievement through digital transformation to strengthen community resilience in Micronesia (SDG Fund) - ITU (lead), FAO, ILO, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNODC; b) Advancing the SDGs by Improving livelihoods and resilience via economic diversification and digital transformation (SDG Fund) - ILO (lead), ITU, UNESCO, UNODC, UNOPS, OHCHR); c) Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea (EU) - FAO (lead), ITU, ILO, UNCDF, UNDP, which are drawing to a close in 2025. In addition, ITU has been supporting through projects by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) of the Australian Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to facilitate digital transformation and enhance ITU regional presence in the Pacific. 
 
ITU has been assisting Members through development of national digital transformation strategies, building skills at national and community levels, providing strategic advice, supporting emergency telecommunications and cybersecurity, as well as facilitating Smart Islands. Furthermore, countries in the Pacific have requested ITU to raise awareness and build capacity in areas of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital government technical implementation (GovStack), amongst others. ITU is also currently undertaking a study on identifying the priority telecommunications/ICT needs of the countries in the Pacific and the means to serve these needs. It will also serve as an important input as Members in the Pacific prepare for the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25). 
 
A three-day workshop is proposed in the Pacific bringing together ITU Members, partners, donor agencies, and academia to share experiences from the ongoing programmes and projects, and to discuss and validate the priority needs study. ​​​​

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

The workshop aims to achieve the following objectives: 
  1. Share experiences on digital transformation in the Pacific with Members and partners facilitated by the Joint Programmes (SDG Fund, EU) and projects (DITRDCA, ADB), and attract partnerships. 
  2. Build capacity on whole of government (GovStack), and strategies to embrace emerging technologies (such as Artificial Intelligence). 
  3. Share the findings of the telecommunication/ICT needs study for the Pacific, gather inputs and discuss the way forward  ​

TARGET AUDIENCE

​The workshop will invite ITU Members in the Pacific, including government officials, policymakers, UN agencies, partners and representatives from various sectors involved in digital transformation in the Pacific.  

DATES

​The workshop is scheduled to take place from 12-14 February, 2025 in Suva, Fiji. 

EXPECTED OUTCOME

  1. ​Achievements, best practices and learning lessons from digitalization activities in the Pacific shared with Members, partners, donors, academia and other stakeholders. 
  2. Enhanced partnerships in the Pacific to accelerate digital transformation.  
  3. Comprehensive understanding of using a whole-of-government approach to digital government and emerging technologies in the Pacific. 
  4. Telecommunications/ICT needs assessment for the Pacific countries, undertaken as part of the ITU-DITRDCA project, validated. 

PROVISIONAL AGENDA

​​Day 1 - 12 Febru​​ary 2025 ​

​TIME
 ​ACTIVITIES
​08:00 - 09:00​
​Registration​​
​09:00 - 09:45

 ​Opening Session:
  • Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, ITU Regional Office for Asia-Pacific 
  • Mr. Shaheen Ali, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives and Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications
Group photo
​09:45 - 10:15
​​Tea/coffee break
​10:15 - 12:15
Session 1: Whole-of-Government and GovStack 
 
Objective: The session will share best practices on using a whole-of-government approach for digital transformation in the Pacific with emphasis on the technical framework for digital government facilitated by GovStack. 
 
Speakers: 
  • Mr. Nabhonil Roy Chowdhury, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (presentation)​
  • Mr. Flierl Shongol, Deputy Secretary, Department of Information Communications Technology, Papua New Guinea
    (Presentation)
  • Mr. Avish Naidu, Director, Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives and Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, Fiji ​ 
    (Presentation)
Brief presentation on Innovation Cafe, Ms. Akanksha Sharma, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific  and Mr. Nabhonil Roy Chowdhury, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific ​
(Presentation)
​12:15 - 13:15
​Lunch
​13:15 - 15:15
​Session 2: Deploying emerging technologies for digital transformation  
 
Objective: The session will share experiences, best practices and strategies for deploying emerging technologies (such as Artificial Intelligence, blockchain) to accelerate digital transformation. 

Moderator:
Mr. Savenaca VOCEA, Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement – Oceania, ICANN
 
Speakers: 
Mr. Chaklam Silpasuwanchai, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
(presentation)
​15:15 - 15:45​
​Tea/coffee break
​15:45-16:30
 Session 3: Deploying emerging technologies such as AI & IoT for digital transformation (continued) 
 
Objective: The session will share experiences, best practices and strategies for deploying emerging technologies (such as Artificial Intelligence, blockchain) to accelerate digital transformation. 
 
Innovation café led by Ms. Akanksha Sharma, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific ​​
(Presentation)​


​Day 2 - 13 February 2025

​TIME
 ​ACTIVITIES
​09:00 - 10:30

 Session 4: Digital transformation in the Pacific – The power of partnerships 
 
Session: The session will share achievements and experiences from the UN Joint programmes and digitalization projects in the Pacific : 
  1. ​Accelerating SDG achievement through digital transformation to strengthen community resilience in Micronesia, Mr. Ashish Narayan, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (5 min)
  2. Advancing the SDGs by Improving livelihoods and resilience via economic diversification and digital transformation, Mr. Ashish Narayan, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (5 min)
  3. Supporting Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade in Papua New Guinea, Mr. Kanagat Alyshbaev, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (5 min) 
  4. ITU-ADB project on Smart Islands in the Pacific, Mr. Ashish Narayan, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (5 min)
 
​Panel discussion: Leaving no one behind in digital transformation (45 min) 

The panel will share the experiences of participating UN agencies in the above joint programmes with the focus on digital transformation. 
 
Moderator:  
Mr. Dirk Wegener, UN Resident Coordinator in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, MCO for Fiji 
 ​​
Speakers:  
  • Ms. Helen Kirsch, Technical Officer, ILO 
  • Ms. Sara Garcia de Ugarte, Culture Programme Specialist, UNESCO Regional Office for the Pacific States
  • Mr. Shanaka Jayasekara, Regional Programme Coordinator Southeast Asia and Pacific, Global Maritime Crime Programme, UNODC
    (presentation)​
  • Mr. Tokumitsu Kobayashi, Pacific Small Island Developing States Advisor, UNOPS South East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office
  • Ms. Heike Alefsen, Regional Representative for the Pacific, UN OHCHR
  • Ms. Joann Young, Assistant FAO Representative (AFAOR) to Fiji​
The panel discussion will be followed by Q&A session. 
10:30 - 10:45
​​Tea/coffee break
​10:45 - 12:15

Session 5: Digital transformation in the Pacific – Country presentations and experiences 
 
Objective: The session will share country practices on digital transformation in the Pacific with a focus on national and sectoral strategies, digital government, Smart Villages and Smart Islands, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and digital skills, among others. 
 
Moderator: Mr. Kila Gulo Vui, CEO, National Information Communications Technology Authority, Papua New Guinea
 
Speakers: 
  • Mr Edward Albert, Assistant Secretary, TC&I, Federated States of Micronesia ​
  • Mr. Phillip John Hardstaff, Director of ICT, Ministry of Telcommunications, Nauru 
  • Mr. Domingo Kabunare, OIC, Digital Transformation Office, Kiribati 
  • Mr. Stalin Pedro, Director, MPII, Palau ​
​12:15 - 13:15
​Lunch
​13:15 - 15:45
Session 6: Digital transformation in the Pacific – Country presentations and experiences (continued) 

Objective: The session will share country practices on digital transformation in the Pacific with a focus on national and sectoral strategies, digital government, Smart Villages and Smart Islands, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and digital skills among others. 
 
Moderator: Mr. Avish Naidu, Director, Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives and Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, Fiji 
 ​ 
 
Speakers: 
  • Mr. Lotufaavae Raohiti Lausului Siimamao, Senior Policy Analyst;Mr. Maletino Folokoko Fala, Officer, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Representative from Samoa 
  • Mr. Stan Ahio, Ministry of MEIDECC, Kingdom of Tonga 
  • Mr, Reuben Ziru, Manager Innovations, MCA Solomon Islands
  • Mr. Opetaia Simati, Director ICT, Ministry of Transport, Energy, Communications and Innovation, Tuvalu
  • Mr. Sajib Azad, Digital Governance Specialist / Digital Democracy Manager, UNDP Pacific 
​15:45 - 16:00
​Tea/coffee break
​16:00 - 17:00
Session 7: Innovation Cafe on using Digital ID to accelerate Digital transformation in the Pacific 

Objective: The session will share country practices on digital transformation in the Pacific with a focus on national and sectoral strategies, digital government, Smart Villages and Smart Islands, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and digital skills among others. ​
 
Innovation café led by Ms Akanksha Sharma & Mr Nabhonil Roy, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific 


Day 3 - 14 February 2025

​TIME
 ​ACTIVITIES
​09:00 - 10:30

Session 8: Priority telecommunications/ICT needs of the Pacific 

Session: The session will present the initial findings of the Priority telecommunications/ICT needs for the Pacific 
 
Moderator: Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific 
 
Presentation by Ms. Huong Quynh Nguyen,​​ ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific followed by comments and suggestions from participation 
(Presentation)​​
10:30 - 11:00
Innovation café led by Ms. Akanksha Sharma, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

Given the remoteness, low population and high costs of connecting the unconnected in the Pacific, Smart Islands provides a unique approach to take benefits of digital transformation to rural and remote Pacific communities. What innovations can we bring in to sustain and scale Smart Islands nationwide? 
​11:00 - 12:15
Session 9: Panel discussion: Investing, financing and partnering to scale digital transformation projects and programmes in the Pacific 
 
Objective: The session will discuss ways and means to scale up and strengthen digital transformation initiatives in the Pacific. 
 
Moderator:  
Ms. Maria Myutel, Acting Director, International Engagement – ITU and APT Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts, Government of Australia (Confirmed) 
 
Panellists:  
  • Mr. Peter Nicholls, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Specialist (e-Applications) (Online) and Mr. Pedro Tavares, Public Management Specialist (Digital Transformation), Asian Development Bank
  • Mr. Toni Kristian Eliasz, Senior Digital Development Specialist, World Bank  
  • Ms. Zeituna Mustafa Abdi, Country Coordinator - Fiji, UNCDF 
  • Mr. Phillip Henderson, President, PITA (online) 
  • Ms. Telesia Kobiti, Programme Officer, Pacific Disability Forum (online) ​​ 
​​12:15 - 12:30​
 ​Workshop closing followed by lunch 

Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific 
​13:15 - 15:45
Discussion on ITU-DITRDCA project on Feasibility study: Addressing the special telecommunications/ICT needs of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) (ITU Members Closed Session) 
 
Moderator: Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific 

​

EVENT INFORMATION

ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP

Organized by:

   Supported by: 
    ​


FOCAL POINT

​​Mr. Ashish Narayan
Programme Coordinator
ashish.narayan[at]itu.int

Ms. Rury Demsey
Programme Administrator
rury.demsey[at]itu.int

Ms. Lena Östlund
Project Officer
lena.ostlund[at]itu.int

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