Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening. Thank you for joining us for this successive 8th Steering Committee Meeting of the
Connect2Recover initiative.
Let me start by extending a warm welcome to the Members of the Steering Committee – representatives from the governments of Australia, Czech Republic, Japan, Lithuania, and Saudi Arabia.
Thank you for your contribution to the initiative, and the impact that it has made in meeting the mandate of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the ITU. We have already seen significant
impact on the ground. The human-centric nature of this initiative is easy to see.
With your support, Connect2Recover is helping us respond to WTDC Resolutions such as Resolutions 16, 18, 25, 60 that address the needs of the least developed countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This meeting of the Steering Committee is aimed at providing regular reporting on the work that we are undertaking. Since the last Steering Committee meeting, there has been a steady progress in the work of Connect2Recover in different regions.
- For example, with the support of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, I am pleased we have made great progress in the Arab States region. The report on the digital infrastructure resilience assessment was well received by the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The numbering plan framework for the State of Palestine is at an advanced stage, whilst the telecommunication/ICTs market review for Syria is progressing well.
- In the Americas, the recruitment of the expert to carry out a resilience assessment in Grenada is ongoing. I would also like to inform you that in Haiti, in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the southern part of Haiti on 14 August 2021, an assessment on damage and a resilience review were carried out and were completed last year. The report was well received by CONATEL. As a follow-up, the National Roundtable in Haiti is being planned with CONATEL and the industry in Haiti to provide greater impact on the ground and assist Haiti to rebuild their telecommunications infrastructure and ensure resilience to natural hazards.
- In Europe, we are making good progress in assisting Moldova to develop their Emergency Telecommunication Plan and in operationalizing Cell Broadcasting with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic. I am also pleased to inform you that the pilot on IPv6 laboratory in Montenegro is also under way.
- In Africa, the resilience assessment for Zimbabwe is also progressing well.
Furthermore, an Information Session on Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Meaningful Connectivity for Member States, Regulators, Sector Members and Academia in the African Region was held on 2 May 2023 with the kind support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan.
The event offered a platform for knowledge sharing of lessons learned from global Connect2Recover interventions and the opportunity for the Member States to discuss their needs and request for technical assistance.
The ongoing work under the Connect2Recover initiative has good outcomes that include: meeting the telecommunication/ ICT needs of least developed countries in Africa and strengthening their connectivity and resilience with respect to their digital infrastructure and contributing to closing the digital divide.
- In the Asia-Pacific region, with the support of the Department of Information, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts of Australia, the regional office is working with countries interested in assessments on digital network resilience and affordability of services. An example is the assistance we provide to Tonga to develop their Quality of Service / Experience rules to strengthen the resilience of national ICT infrastructure in the aftermath of undersea volcanic eruptions.
After the Regional Radiocommunication Seminar 2022, there are plans to develop a Masterclass on Technologies Defining the New Broadcast Media Approaches in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development.
I am proud that Connect2Recover provides the evidence of the importance of resource mobilisation and international cooperation in meeting the outcomes and needs of the membership. In that regard, the impact of Connect2Recover (which is one of our four special initiatives) was shared earlier this week during
the ITU-D Study Group 1 Workshop on Meaningful Connectivity: The key to sustainable development.
Going forward, I am looking forward to your participation in the Telecommunication Development Advisory Group from 19 to 23 June this year where we will be reporting on the progress, we have made in the implementation of the Kigali Action Plan.
Thank you once again for your continued support and commitment. Your generosity is touching lives.
