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ITU hosts Second Advisory Board Meeting of Smart Sustainable Development Model Initiative
Leaders of ICT sector review progress and discuss future agenda
Geneva, 26 June 2014 – The Second Advisory Board Meeting of the Smart Sustainable Development Model Initiative opened today to review progress and to discuss the way forward. The meeting of the Advisory Board brings together leaders of the telecommunication/ICT sector to leverage the power of ICTs to save lives and promote sustainable development.
The Smart Sustainable Development Model Initiative (SSDM) is an international, multi-stakeholder platform that seeks to link ICT for development with ICT for disaster management in order to achieve sustainable development. The aim is to optimize the use of resources by utilizing existing infrastructure in order to minimize additional financial investments.
“ICTs have the potential to develop communities and countries while at the same time saving lives,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré. “The SSDM initiative is about transforming this potential into reality.”
Today’s meeting, which follows the First Advisory Board Meeting held in October 2013, reviewed and assessed the progress made in the areas of financing, partnerships, business models, infrastructure, new technologies, policy, regulations and advocacy.
“In the wake of the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2014 that took place in Dubai earlier this year, the SSDM initiative takes on an importance at a whole new level,” said Mr Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. “The ideas in the reports presented today will go a long way in supporting us as we implement the Dubai Action Plan adopted at the Conference. It is this complementarity that makes this Think Tank relevant and an important part of ITU’s overall strategy to accompany countries on their journey towards sustainable development.”
The Advisory Board, which meets twice a year, is chaired by Mr John M. Nasasira, Minister of Information and Communications Technology of Uganda. It is composed of eminent personalities with a range of interests and expertise in emergency telecommunications and sustainable development. They include policy makers, satellite operators, regulators and service providers.
“This Initiative must succeed, as people who came here are all volunteers, they are all concerned with disaster management issues, and they are highly experienced and knowledgeable people,” Nasasira said.
The Advisory Board will meet again later this year to review progress and address other strategic issues.
For more information, please see: www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Initiatives/SSDM/Pages/default.aspx or contact:
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
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Monica Albertini
Communications Officer,Telecommunication Development Bureau
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