Participants recognized the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in development, including as a means of implementation (MOI) for the post-2015 development agenda, at the 2014 World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT).
The Congress took place in Guadalajara, Mexico, on 29 September 2014, under the theme, 'Building the Digital Age Together.'
1 October 2014: Participants recognized the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in development, including as a means of implementation (MOI) for the post-2015 development agenda, at the 2014 World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT). The Congress took place in Guadalajara, Mexico, on 29 September 2014, under the theme, ‘Building the Digital Age Together.’
Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), noted that proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5, 9 and 17 explicitly refer to ICT and identify technology as an MOI. He said the SDGs should, inter alia: recognize the fundamental role of technology and innovation in achieving the goals; and create conditions to allow countries to achieve technological upgrading. According to Kituyi, ICT can help to mitigate climate change, reduce disaster risk, improve education and energy efficiency, make remittance flows more affordable and strengthen governance. He said a “more development-oriented information society” is needed, and emphasized ICT development as a result of advances on broadband connectivity, data storage capacity and mobilize technologies as well as social media.
The Congress included a special briefing session on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+10 Review of progress. The Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) – a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which provides advice to ECOSOC and the UNGA – is conducting a ten-year review of the progress made in implementing WSIS outcomes. The open session during WCIT offered an opportunity for Congress participants to share experiences and insights on the WSIS, as a contribution to the review. The session focused on stakeholders’ perception of WSIS outcomes and achievements, challenges to the implementation of WSIS outcomes, and priorities toward addressing the information society in the post-2015 agenda.
WCIT also included a ‘Smart Cities’ Forum, during which participants discussed best practices for smart cities, open data success cases for smart cities and visual analytics.
WCIT serves as a platform for industry, policymakers, academia and other stakeholders to showcase how ICT innovations help create new alternatives for a challenging world. [WCIT Website] [UNCTAD Secretary-General Statement] [WSIS Review Consultation Information Sheet] [Smart Cities Forum Information Sheet]