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Presentations and Policy Actions

​Cross-Cutting Session on Digitalization:
Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development Goals in the Wake of COVID-19

​15 March 2021 | Virtual Meeting

​[10:00-10:20]​
Welcome and opening remarks  
  • Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, Head of the International telecommunication Union (ITU) Office for Europe
  • Ms. Elisabeth Tuerk, Director of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
  • Mr. Francisco André, Co-Chair of the RFSD 2021, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Portugal
  • Ms. Gwi Yeop Son, Regional Director of Development Coordination Office ​

​[10:20 – 10:25]
Keynote Speech 
  • Ms. Valeryia Ionan, Deputy Minister in European integration of Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
​[10:25-10:30]
Youth Speech 
  • Mr. Daniel Kalemi (Albania), Youth Envoy – Generation Connect - Europe Youth Group (CG-EUR): Presentation of the project / Declaration to Member States
​[10:30 – 11:10]
Topic 1: Ensuring universal digital inclusion

 

Setting the context: Bridging digital divides in the times of COVID-19, ensuring universal meaningful connectivity.

  • Jaroslaw Ponder, Head of ITU Office for Europe 

Ensuring the participation of girls and women in digital sector and its dynamics, and the women's participation in the digital world; with a special focus on the repercussion of COVID-19 for women and girls in digital space. (UNIDO, UN Women)

  • Ms. Oxana Kukharchuk, Board member of “Element", Private Sector, Russia [Policy Action]
  • Ms. Nino Enukidze, Rector of Business and Technology University, Georgia.  [Policy Action]

 

Creating a safe and empowering cyberspace for children and the youth through capacity building, skills development and the adoption of a multi-stakeholder approach to address the new challenges related to the current global pandemic.

  • ​Ms. Vilma Tomco, Director General of the National Authority for Electronic Certification and Cyber Security Council of Ministers of Albania [Policy Action]

Questions and answers

Moderator: Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, Head of ITU Office for Europe 


​[11:10 – 11:50]
Topic 2: Accelerating the digitalization of services  

Highlighting the emerging role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) as an engine for agriculture development in Europe and Central Asia.

  • Ms. Eszter Varga, Senior Researcher at Institute of Agricultural Economics of Hungary [Policy Action]
  • Ms. Sophie Treinen, Information and Knowledge Management for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia [Policy Action]

 

Open data policy towards the benefit of the society: Ensuring a climate resilient recovery from COVID-19

  • Mr. Milan Dacic, Representative for Europe at World Meteorological Organization (WMO) [Policy Action]

Strengthening the national capacities in implementing mobile health in the European region and developing solutions to manage the COVID-19 outbreak.

  • Prof. Isaac Túnez, General Secretary for Research, Development and Innovation of the Regional Ministry of Health and Families of Andalusia [Policy Action]
  • Mr. Stefano Quintarelli, Chair of the Adivsory Group for Advanced Technologies in Trade and Logistics of the UN-CEFACT [Policy Action]

 Questions and answers 

Co-moderators:

  • ​Ms. Sophie Treinen, Information and Knowledge Management for the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia [Policy Action]
  • Mr. Clayton Hamilton, Coordinator, Digital Health Flagship Division of Country Health Policies and Systems World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe 


​[11:50– 12:25]
Topic 3: Creating an enabling environment for digital trade 

 

Strengthening sustainable trade through ICTs to promote inclusive, transparent and traceable value chains.


 

Underscoring the importance of ICTs in pursuing trade-related environmental objectives following. 

  • Ms. Haruko Okusu: Chief of Section – CITES Programme Management [Policy Action]
  • Ms. Maria Cardenas Fischer, Senior Programme Management Officer at the Basel Convention [Policy Action]

Spotlighting the importance of new technologies to support trade and trade facilitation for more resilient and responsive economies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  • Ambassador Vuk Zugic – Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities [Policy Action]

Questions and answers​

Moderator: Ms. Elisabeth Tuerk, Director of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Division of the UNECE
 

​[12:25 – 12:30]
​Closing remarks:

 
  • Ms. Natalia Mochu, Head of ITU Office for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)