Digital Transformation as Sustainable Development Pathway
United Nations Development Programme ,
Session 310
New technologies are transforming economies and societies across the globe, shaping a future that is irrevocably digital, increasingly connected and on constant hyperdrive. The evolution, diffusion, and convergence of technologies continue --- rapidly in some parts, slowly in others, but everywhere disrupting the way we do business, shifting whole industries, redefining institutions and people’s engagement with them, and changing how we live overall.
The prospects of many, of whole economies and societies, will depend on how effectively governments, stakeholders and development partners respond to technological trends, and to the interplay of these trends with other major trends (such as urbanization, changing nature of work, demographic swings, climate change, increasing magnitude of disasters, environmental challenges, among others). The prospects particularly of humanity aspiring for a future of shared prosperity, durable peace and sustainable planet will depend on how tactical these responses are in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
For developing countries that deal with concurrent priorities in the midst of significant constraints, embarking on digital transformation as a sustainable development pathway is a serious challenge. There is need for 1) models that speak to their local and national contexts; 2) tools that assist assessment of unique needs and development of relevant solutions; 3) partners able to not only impart but to collaborate on strategic application of knowledge and expertise; and, 4) support in ensuring that efforts link to priorities on the ground and advance the SDGs. It is in this context that the Government of Estonia and UNDP agreed to collaborate on efforts that support digital transformation as a development pathway.
This session is designed to explore the key trends and issues on new technologies and sustainable development, introduce the Estonia-UNDP cooperation and its objectives, engage experts and the ICT community on the development of digital transformation tool that can assist the development of digital transformation roadmaps for SDG achievement, and provide a space for stakeholders and potential partners to connect and explore collaboration . The session is in three segments, with the first focused on exploring key trends and issues; the second focused on engaging the WSIS community on the approach, encouraging discussions to guide and inform its development; the third as a space for exploring collaboration.
Moderator
Minerva Novero-Belec, Policy Specialist, Governance [SDG 16 and SDG Localization] | Cities and Digital Transformation
Speakers/Panellists
Welcome: Anneli Vares, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Estonia to the UN
Brief on the session: Minerva Novero-Belec, UNDP
Segment 1: Key trends and issues; Perspectives with floor interaction [60 minutes; ~8 minutes each]
Anir Chowdhury, Chief Adviser at the Prime Minister Office on Digital Bangladesh (Government perspectives, Digital Bangladesh, digital transformation in the country’s growth)
Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of Digital Government, UN DESA (evolution of e-government and the e-Government 2020, global trends)
Scarlett Fondeur Gil, Economic Affairs Officer, ICT Policy, UNCTAD (digital economy, trade, ICTs and the SDGs; how we could measure progress on digital transformation that is relevant to national/local context; eTrade Readiness)
Richard Kerby, head of the Review Committee of the Arab Digital Economy Strategy (trends in the Arab States; confirmed)
Atsuko Okuda, Chief of ICT and Development at ESCAP (regional perspective on trends; data, etc.)
Ted Chen, Focal Point for Science and Technology, UN Major Group on Children and Youth (MGCY); Youth High-Level Facilitator, WSIS; Asia’s 30 Under 30 (youth entrepreneurship in future trajectories of countries and cities; Smart Nation/Cities and smart energy; capacity building )
Notes
PPT optional (focus will be on raising key/top points and encourage discussions, thus ppt not required)
The workshop engages UN agencies as members of UNGIS and are requested to approach the discussion also in terms of how inter-agency cooperation on digital transformation can be taken forward, how UNGIS can systematically support the development of digital transformation roadmaps that is integrated into or linked to SDG roadmaps.
Segment 2: Briefing and consultations on the development of the digital transformation tool [45 minutes]
· Overview: Minerva Novero-Belec, Policy Specialist, Governance, Cities and Digital Transformation, UNDP
· The approach: Devika Iyer, Policy Specialist, Inclusive Growth, UNDP; Marit Lani, Project Manager, Estonia e-Governance Academy
· Discussions, Participants urged to share insights and related approaches; Reflections on potential cooperation on digital transformation
Segment 3: Informal engagement/Network building [15 minutes]
Session's link to WSIS Action Lines
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C1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
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C2. Information and communication infrastructure
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C3. Access to information and knowledge
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C4. Capacity building
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C6. Enabling environment
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C7. ICT Applications: E-government
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C7. ICT Applications: E-business
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C11. International and regional cooperation
Session's link to Sustainable Development Process
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Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
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Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
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Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
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Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
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Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
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Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
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Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
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Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
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Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
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Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
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Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
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Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
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Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
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Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
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Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
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Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
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Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development