Summit on the Information Society

The Information and communications technologies have advanced at an unprecedented rate during the last 10 years. The world has experienced economic and social benefits from access to Internet. The rapid diffusion of mobiles technologies have shown that ICTs could be a tool for change and that we should link it policy and development programmes to foster development outcomes. The penetration of mobile technology, the growth of smartphones along with the growth of mobile broadband has shown that the world is changing towards mobile. The initial plans to end the “digital divide” and make the Internet accessible to everyone should change based on the new context. There has been much change and development on the ICT arena during the last 10 years that a new World Summit on the Information Society is needed. Additionally, there have been several positions among different stakeholders that the first two Summits were not inclusive and that the declaration paid little attention to the comments and recommendations of civil society organizations in particular. For all of these a new Summit could help to enhance the objectives and include all stakeholders. A new summit could present an opportunity to support policy changes and lead to a faster achievement of development goals.

ICTs a tool for development?

ICT4D refers to use of ICTs in the fields of socioeconomic development, international development and human rights. The goal of ICT4D is to make use of the ongoing transformation by actively using the enabling technology to improve living conditions of societies and segments. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can play a critical role in sustainable human development and poverty eradication. ICT is a powerful enabler of development goals because of the way in which it improves communication and the exchange of knowledge and information necessary for development processes. ICT is pervasive and cross-cutting, impacts the full range of human activity and has become one of the main enablers in the pursuit of poverty alleviation and wealth creation in developed and developing countries. As accelerator, driver, multiplier and innovator, ICTs are powerful if not indispensable tools in the massive scaling up and interlinkage of development interventions and outcomes. ICTs also play a critical role in speeding up the flow of information and knowledge between government and citizens and transforming the way in which governments and citizens interact. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) the challenge for all countries is to create and develop a system of governance that promotes, supports and sustains human development. Governments in many parts of the world have made huge ICT investments aimed at improving governance processes. The rapid diffusion of mobile technology has brought forward new opportunities to foster public service delivery and access to public information, enhance the transparency and accountability of public institutions and private organizations, and empower stakeholders to have louder voices in key decision-making processes. The potential of ICTs as key enablers of development, and as critical components of innovative development solutions, is fully recognized in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. However, all stakeholders should consider that in order to fully use ICTs for development the necessary content and skills should be accompany the enabling environment, including broadband Internet, mobile technologies and applications.