Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) Objectives

The 7th World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-17) was successfully organized in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 9 to 20 October 2017, under the theme of “ICT for Sustainable Development Goals (ICT4SDGs)".  WTDC-17 adopted the Buenos Aires Declaration; an ITU-D Contribution to the ITU Strategic Plan for 2020-2023; and the Buenos Aires Action Plan (BaAP) comprising regional initiatives, new and revised resolutions and recommendations to support the fulfilment of the Sector's objectives, and 18 final reports and 14 new Questions to be studied by ITU-D study groups.​

ITU celebrated the 25th anniversary of ITU-D in 2017 and marked this event with special celebration activities at WTDC-17, which included Ministerial roundtables, which re-affirmed the importance of ICTs in development and in contributing to the implementation of SDGs.

ITU-D convened global and regional forums to discuss global regulatory trends to promote strategic dialogue on policy, legal and regulatory issues, as well as on economic and financial issues and market developments.  ITU-D provided data, research, analysis and knowledge exchange tools, and platforms to support membership. ITU-D worked closely with other sectors in all regions to develop infrastructure and services.

To contribute to bridging the innovation divide and accelerate digital transformation, ITU-D developed strategic tools for ICT innovation policies guidance, undertook ICT-Centric Innovation Ecosystem reviews measured ICT innovation capabilities, hosted knowledge-sharing dialogues, and implemented projects.

To enhance partnership with mobilizing resources to support development initiatives and projects, between 2014 and 2017, BDT has signed 197 partnership agreements and created various products and tools, including databases on partners, partnership agreements and websites for sponsorship opportunities.

ITU-D’s cybersecurity activities have helped to strengthen Member States’ capacity to incorporate and implement cybersecurity policies and strategies into national plans, and have also resulted in enhanced organizational capacity.  BDT’s efforts were also aimed at facilitating the development and use of ICT applications and services that supported sustainable development, including in the fields of public administration, business, education and training, health, employment, environment, agriculture and science.

ITU-D contributed to strengthening the capacities of ITU Member States by implementing a new ITU Centre of Excellence (CoE) Strategy in line with WTDC Resolution 73 (Rev. Dubai, 2014).   ITU hosts the world’s most comprehensive and up-to-date collection of ICT data and statistics relating to ICT infrastructure, access and usage, policy and regulation, and cost and tariff policy issues. The work of ITU has resulted in the enhanced availability and dissemination of internationally comparable ICT statistical databases​.

ITU-D supported members to design national digital skills development strategies and ICT accessibility policies, including for women and persons with disabilities, promoted digital skills for decent jobs for youth, and encouraged girls and young women to pursue ICT studies and careers.  ITU-D raised awareness and provided concentrated assistance to LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS.

ITU-D contributed to climate change mitigation and adaptation through the development of satellite communication capacity and by providing emergency communications solutions.  ITU has facilitated emergency disaster response, strengthened capacity and improved communications for disaster relief, and has helped several Member States affected by disasters to re-establish their communication networks by delivering direct assistance and infrastructure damage assessments and by helping in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure. In contributing to the mitigation of epidemics, ITU-D developed and implemented a big-data project to combat Ebola.

The Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG) met annually to advise the BDT Director on the implementation of the WTDC-14 Action Plan and the preparations for WTDC-17.  ITU-D study groups provided an opportunity for the membership to share experiences, present ideas, exchange views, and achieve consensus on strategies to address telecommunication/ICT priorities.
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