It is an immense pleasure to acknowledge the efforts of the organizers and all the participants in putting this together and making it a success.
I want to thank the UN Secretary General's Envoy on Technology, Amandeep Singh Gil, who dedicated his time to grace the session.
I want to congratulate and thankthe 14 member organizations of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, not merely here and now, but for their work and achievements over the past two decades. Indeed, the Partnership was established in 2004 at this very WSIS Summit, following a call for better data at WSIS 2003.
What defines the Partnership and our ability to track and understand digital transformation?
I believe it is: collaboration, commitment, and innovation.
The Partnership has developed methodologies, published manuals, and delivered capacity-building through online courses, even during the challenging times of COVID-19.
But that's not all: the Partnership is also a platform for dialogue and knowledge-sharing--including here at WSIS.
Stakeholders have learned from each other's experiences, challenges, and successes.
So, be proud of your achievements. Thanks to you, we -all of us- are better equipped, better informed, and better able to make that journey to meaningful connectivity, and ultimately the SDGs themselves.
So, what of the journey ahead?
Much remains to be done. There are still too many data gaps. In many countries, data ecosystems must be improved.
ICT, especially in development, is rapidly evolving. We must adapt, and innovate, to keep pace. We must explore new data sources and investigate more disaggregated data sets to fill gaps and enable targeted policy interventions.
So, my call to you is to continue your mission in the spirit of the last two decades.
Today, I want to renew ITU's commitment, not only to this alliance, but to the whole ICT measurement agenda.
Our reason is clear. Knowing where we are, and where we ought to be, is always the first step of our journey.
We must use the data to design more effective policies, make more effective investments, and, ultimately, see more effective outcomes.
Unused data has no value. But the right data can be the lifeblood for a digital transformation to the millions who lack it.
This is our key message going forward. I look forward to seeing the continuing impact of your work. My very best wishes for a long and enduring partnership on measuring ICT for development.
Thank you.
