Dear WSIS Stakeholders,

WSIS Forum 2022 starting 15 March 2022 with Final Week: 30 May – 3 June 2022, the Agenda and Programme of the Forum will be built on the basis of the submissions received during the Open Consultation Process (OCP). The Open Consultation process aims at ensuring a participatory and inclusive spirit of the Forum. This process actively engages multistakeholders in the preparatory process to ensure broad ownership and further improvements of the Forum. The Open Consultation Process will include a collection of inputs from regional and national WSIS related events.

The virtual launch of the open consultations will take place on Thursday 19 August 2021, 14:00–15:00 CEST. Stakeholders are invited to participate remotely through the remote participation facilities.

ITU launched an International Competition under Connect2Recover which aims to identify promising research proposals that will accelerate digital inclusion during the COVID-19 recovery globally. It is open to Academia, including early career researchers and think tanks. Individual experts who are affiliated with academic institutions may also apply. The deadline for submitting the research proposals is 31 August 2021, and the winners will be selected one month later. Fifteen (15) research grants, worth USD 42,000 each, will be awarded to winning research teams and they will have six months to submit their research papers. The Connect2Recover Initiative will enable this knowledge exchange through joint (online) events with the selected research teams and policymakers. Winning teams will benefit from great visibility during these events and will have opportunities to present and discuss their research directly with decision makers.

Do you have a research proposal that can accelerate the #COVID19 recovery with #digital technology?

Check out the ITU #Connect2Recover Research Competition and submit your ideas for a pandemic-resilient & inclusive digital society before 31st August 2021

The ITU Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet) is holding an online open consultation on the topic: The role of the Internet and international Internet-related public policy in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and possible future pandemics. All WSIS stakeholders are invited to submit contributions to this Open Consultation by 5 September 2021 through the online form. The consultation will be followed by a virtual meeting on 20 September 2021 where all respondents are invited to present their submissions and engage in a discussion with other participants, including members of the CWG-Internet.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Technical Advisory Group for Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). This “Call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.

The open call for experts is published on the WHO website. Deadline: 30 September 2021.