| T.2-1 Bridging the standardization gap (e.g. remote participation, fellowships, establishment of regional study groups) |
| T.2-2 Workshops and seminars, including offline and online training activities, complementing the capacity-building work on bridging the standardization gap undertaken in ITU-D |
| T.2-3 Outreach and promotion |
T.2-1 Bridging the standardization gap (e.g. remote participation, fellowships, establishment of regional study groups)
ITU-T is leading efforts to improve the capacity of developing countries to participate in the development and implementation of international ICT standards, using the vehicle provided by
ITU's Bridging the Standardization Gap (BSG) programme.
Regional Groups within ITU-T Study Groups have proven effective mechanisms to coordinate regional contributions to ITU and increase the number and quality of technical contributions.
[64] ITU-T has 15 regional groups:
- Seven for Africa (Study Groups 2, 3, 5, 12, 11, 13, and 17)
- Three for the Americas (Study Groups 2, 3 and 5)
- Three for the Arab States (Study Groups 2, 3 and 5)
- Two for Asia and the Pacific (Study Groups 3 and 5)
- Two for the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications / CIS region (RCC/CIS) (Study Groups 3 and 11).
Fellowships continue to be awarded to delegates from certain eligible countries.
The figure below shows the fellowships awarded during the study period with a breakdown by region and gender. 444 fellowships were awarded to developing and low-income countries over the 2013-2016 study period.
[65]
TSB continues to improve electronic meeting facilities for the membership, assisting delegates in avoiding costly airfares and hotel expenses. Statistics on e-meetings have been compiled as from 2014 and are indicated below. [66]
T.2-2 Workshops and seminars, including offline and online training activities, complementing the capacity-building work on bridging the standardization gap undertaken in ITU-D
ITU-T assists delegates from developing countries in increasing the value of their participation in ITU-T.
New 'hands-on' training sessions – offered to ITU-T Study Group participants – focus on the development of practical skills to maximize the effectiveness of developing countries' participation in the ITU-T standardization process. These training sessions cover topics including strategies for participation in study groups, drafting contributions to meetings, presenting proposals, collaborative working methods and building consensus. [67]
T.2-3 Outreach and promotion
Open events and symposia in developing countries raise awareness of ITU-T services, and encourage peer-learning and best-practices in standards-based innovation.
Regional Standardization Forums held for developing countries or in developing countries provide tutorials on ITU-T working methods, as well as more technically-oriented events covering themes including human exposure to EMF, quality of service, smart water management, international mobile roaming, mobile financial services, digital identity and big data.
[68]
[64] WTSA Res. 44; WSIS AL C3, C4, C11; SDG Targets 9.5, 10.6, 17.6
[65] WTSA Res. 44; WSIS AL C4; SDG Targets 4.B, 9.5, 10.6, 17.6
[66] WTSA Res. 32; WSIS AL C4; SDG Targets 10.6, 17.6[67] WTSA Res. 18, 44; WSIS AL C4; SDG Targets 9.5, 10.6, 17.6
[68] WTSA Res. 18, 44; WSIS AL C4, C11; SDG Targets 9.5, 10.6, 17.6
