“The Enabling Infrastructure” – a true Knowledge Society requires a strong ICT foundation that is innovative, flexible and trustworthy. Thus, we cannot ignore the requirement of a skilled, ethical and professional ICT workforce to provide this infrastructure. We explore the linkages between ICT Professionals and the Information and Knowledge Society and suggest that international standards of professionalism must be defined and embraced.
Money for development is scarce, ICT projects are known for their failures, some spectacularly so. One report in Australia reported that from 10 case studies of large government ICT Enabled projects all were over budget by 200%, were late and failed to deliver the benefits that were attributed to them at the start. That report suggested the reasons for these failures were related to lack of proper skills in Leadership, Accountability and Governance, Planning, Funding, Probity and Procurement and Project Management. These are topics that ought to be addressed for relevance to the WSIS community to ensure that the developing world can learn from the mistakes of the developed world.
WSIS Forum 2015 should begin the journey in exploring these reasons and their links to professionalism, standards, skills and training and ethical practice as indicated in the WSIS +10 Outcomes Document.
Session's link to the Sustainable Development Process
5. Forge a New Global Partnership. A new spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and mutual accountability must underpin the post-2015 agenda. This new partnership should be based on a common understanding of our shared humanity, based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. It should be centered on people, including those affected by poverty and exclusion, women, youth, the aged, disabled persons, and indigenous peoples. It should include civil society organizations, multilateral institutions, local and national governments, the scientific and academic community, businesses, and private philanthropy.