Watch the session

Introduction​

The first chapter of the Road to Addis Series launched in 2020 comes to an end and concludes the discussions on the "6 enablers of connectivity for Sustainable Development". After almost a year of productive and engaging discussions, this session examined the key outcomes of the Series, presented "The Connectivity Road to Sustainable Development" booklet, and launched the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, a multi-stakeholder alliance to foster meaningful connectivity and digital transformation in hardest-to-connect communities, including those in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Coalition will serve as a leadership platform to mobilize new resources, partnerships, and commitments across four Focus Areas, which will also become the main discussion items of the second chapter of the Road to Addis Series. With the Partner2Connect meeting, the first chapter of Road to Addis Digital Development series, has come to a successful conclusion, kick starting the preparatory work of the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition.

Click here for further information on the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition

The Road to Addis: Partner2Connect Meeting was a side event of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.

Event Programme (EN)

Download the event programme here

​

Confirmed Speakers

Special Remarks by:

H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde
​Video Address byH.E. Sahle-Work ZewdePresident of EthiopiaBiography »

Panellists (In alphabetical order)

Stay tuned for more speakers coming soon!

David Kirkpatrick David Kirkpatrick (Moderator)Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Techonomy Media ​ Biography »​
Ali Al-Toblani Ali Al-Toblani​Young Leader, Generation Connect, ITU​ ​ Biography »​
H.E. Hassel Larry Bacchus H.E. Hassel Larry BacchusMinister of Digital Transformation of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago​ Biography »​
Doreen Bogdan-Martin Doreen Bogdan-MartinDirector, ITU Telecommunication ​Development Bureau​ Biography »​
Sinead Bovell Sinead BovellFounder of WAYE. Member of ITU Generation Connect Visionaries Board​ Biography »​
Vint Cerf Vint CerfVP and Chief Internet Evangelist, Google​ Biography »​
Ted Chen Ted ChenCo-Founder and CEO Evercomm Singapore. Member of ITU Generation Connect Visionaries Board​ Biography »​
H.E. Yankhoba Diatara H.E. Yankhoba DiataraMinister of Digital Economy and Telecommunications of Senegal​ Biography »​
Charlotte Petri Gornitzka Charlotte Petri GornitzkaAssistant Secretary-General and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships (Empowering Communities)​ Biography »​
Gessienne Grey Gessienne GreyYoung Leader, Generation Connect, ITU​ Biography »​
Shalin Jyotishi Shalin JyotishiSenior Analyst, New America. Member of ITU Generation Connect Visionaries Board​ Biography »​
Micaela Sánchez Malcolm H.E. Micaela Sánchez Malcolm Secretary of Public Innovation of the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers, Argentina​ Biography »​
Mmabatho Motsamai Mmabatho MotsamaiFounder The Afrolutionist. Member of ITU Generation Connect Visionaries Board​ Biography »​
Janati Nakimera Janati NakimeraCo-Founder and CEO Solar Net Metering, Uganda​ Biography »​
Dunola Oladapo Dunola OladapoEngagement Manager, Generation Connect, ITU​ Biography »​
​Emma Randall ​Emma RandallYoung Leader, Generation Connect, ITU​ Biography »​
Usha Rao-Monari Usha Rao-MonariUnder-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDP​ Biography »​
Courtenay Rattray Courtenay RattrayHigh Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States​ Biography »​
Nick Read Nick ReadCEO, Vodafone Group​ Biography »​
Joshua Setipe Joshua SetipaManaging Director, UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries​ Biography »​
H.E. Shulgan Konstantin Konstantinovich H.E. Konstantin Konstantinovich ShulganMinister of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus​ Biography »​
Preeti Sinha Preeti SinhaExecutive Secretary, UNCDF​ Biography »
Brad Smith Brad SmithPresident, Microsoft​ Biography »
Maria-Francesca Spatolisano Maria-Francesca SpatolisanoOfficer-in Charge, Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology, and Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, DESA, United Nations​ Biography »​
Ellen Taylor Ellen TaylorYouth Engagement, Generation Connect, ITU​ Biography »​
Hans Vestberg Hans VestbergChairman and CEO, Verizon​ Biography »​
Hon. Bob Loughman Weibur Video address byH.E. Bob Loughman WeiburPrime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu​ Biography »​
Maikel Wilms Maikel WilmsPartner and Director, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, BCG​ Biography »​

The Connectivity Road to Sustainable Development E-booklet

The Connecitivy Road to Sustainable Development E-booklet

The "Connectivity Road to Sustainable Development" E-booklet summarises the outcomes of the first chapter of the Road to Addis Series.

Discover more

Partner2Connect Digital Coalition

Partner2Connect Digital Coalition ​Discover more

VIDEOS SHOWCASED DURING THE SESSION

Highlights of the Road to Addis Digital Development Series

Introducing ITU's Partner2Connect Digital Coalition


Find the playlist of the ​videos showcased along the #RoadToAddis series ​ ​here​.​​

CONNECTIVITY IN THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: STATUS REPORT 2021

Connectivity in the Least Developed Countries:Status report 2021

The Connectivity in Least Developed Countries: Status report 2021, produced by ITU and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), will be launched at the event. The report examines the root causes of the wide usage gap in LDCs and provides practical solutions to improve digital access, as well as concrete policy recommendations to help accelerate progress towards universal and affordable connectivity.

Discover more
​

​

JOIN THE CONVERSATION​

Please use the hashtags #RoadToAddis, #ITUWTDC and #Partner2Connect on all digital platforms.

​For virtual backgrounds, flyers and other visual materials, please access our Social Media Pack.​

​

​

Partner2Connect Digital Coalition Focus Areas

The Partner2Connect Digital Coalition works to ensure that people everywhere, and in particular in LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS can access and use digital connectivity to transform lives, communities, and society, through the following focus areas:

Connecting people everywhere Connecting people everywhere
Empowering communities Empowering communities
Building digital ecosystems Building digital ecosystems
Incentivizing investments Incentivizing
investments
Final episode of the first chapter of the Road to Addis series
Partner2Connect

​​​
Road to Addis: Partner2Connect Meeting​

20 September 2021. 8:30-11:30 a.m. EST/ 14:30-17:30 CEST

​Zoom webinar

The event was delivered in English with simultaneous interpretation in the five other UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish and Russian). English captioning was also provided.