OF8 Implementation of WSIS Action Lines for SDGs,WSIS Forum 2019
12 November 2018 - A Open Forum on Other in Paris, France
Report
Other
Sub-theme description: WSIS Action Lines and SDGs
The World Summit on the Information Society WSIS Forum is the only event of its kind where the programme is completely crowdsourced. Therefore, as organizers, ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP, are pleased to announce the Open Consultation Process on thematic aspects and innovations on the format of the WSIS Forum 2019.
The process aims at ensuring a participatory and inclusive spirit of the Forum, scheduled to be held from 8-12 April 2019 at ITU HQ in Geneva.
The Agenda and Program of the WSIS Forum 2019 is designed in collaboration with the multistakeholders on the basis of official submissions received during the Open Consultation Process on the thematic aspects and innovations of the format of the WSIS Forum 2019. Involving all WSIS Stakeholders (governments, civil society, private sector entities, academia and international organizations), this process aims to ensure active participation of different sectors during the event. The process began in July 2018 and is structured in five phases that include online submissions and physical meetings.
The first physical meeting will take place on 12 November 2018 at 12:20 in room III, UNESCO Headquarters.
The First Physical Meeting of the Open Consultation Process for the WSIS Forum 2019 will provide an opportunity for the participants to learn more about the WSIS Process, in particular, the implementation of WSIS Action Lines for the Achievement of SDGs, the WSIS Forum 2019 Open Consultation Process, WSIS Prizes 2019, WSIS Forum 2019: Photography Contest, Exhibition, Hackathon, Youth and other special tracks.
Agenda:
- Welcoming Remarks
- Update on the Preparations for WSIS Forum 2019: Mr Vladimir Stankovic, WSIS Secretariat, ITU
- Contributions by the WSIS stakeholders
- Q&A
Calls for Action:
Stakeholders are invited to make official submissions to the WSIS Secretariat for the Open Consultation Process. | Deadline: 10 February 2019
- Share your views the thematic aspects and innovations on the format of the forum
- Recommend speakers
- Request thematic workshops
- Request exhibition stalls
Submit
WSIS Prizes 2019 contest is open to all stakeholders entities representing governments, private sector, international and regional institutions, civil society and academia. Each entity is allowed to submit one project per category. Deadline for submissions 30 November 2018.
Submit
WSIS Photo Contest 2019: Participate in building a collage of photographs from around the world demonstrating how ICTs are playing an enabling role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Three winning entries will be awarded and presented at the WSIS Forum 2019. | Deadline: 10 February 2019
Submit
Background
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum is a global United Nations (UN) multistakeholder platform facilitating the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines for advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS Action Line co-/facilitators and other UN organizations (UNDESA, FAO, UNEP, WHO, UN Women, WIPO, WFP, ILO, WMO, ITC, UPU, UNODC, UNITAR, UNICEF and UN Regional Commissions).
It represents the world's largest annual gathering of the ‘ICT for development’ community. It provides an opportunity for information exchange, knowledge creation and sharing of best practices, while identifying emerging trends and fostering partnerships, taking into account the evolving Information and Knowledge Societies. In follow up to the outcomes of the UN General Assembly Overall Review of the Implementation of WSIS Outcomes (Res. A/70/125) and with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Res. A/70/1), the WSIS Forum is constantly evolving and strengthening the alignment between the WSIS Action Lines and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The WSIS Forum will therefore serve as a key forum for discussing the role of ICTs as a means of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, with due regard to the global mechanism for follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The WSIS Forum is the only event of its kind where the programme and agenda are completely crowdsourced and build during the open consultation process. The inputs received during this meeting will be integrated in the outcomes of the Open Consultation Process.
Ms Sasha Rubel | Program Specialist | Knowledge Societies Division | UNESCO
Mr. Torbjörn Fredriksson | Chief | ICT Policy Section | Division on Technology and Logistics | UNCTAD
Ms Scarlett Fondeur Gi | Economic Affairs Officer | ICT Policy Section | UNCTAD
Mr Vladimir Stankovic | ICT Policy Analyst | Corporate Strategy Division | ITU
Mr Deniz Susar | Governance & Public Administration Officer | UNDESA
WSIS Prize Laureates
WSIS Stakeholders representing Private Sector, Civil Society, Academia and Technical Community
Moderator: Mr Vladimir Stankovic | WSIS Secretariat | ITU
Vladimir Stankovic, WSIS Secretariat, ITU
IGF 2018 Report
Implementation of WSIS Action Lines for SDGs towards WSIS Forum 2019
1st Physical Meeting of the Open Consultation Process
- Session Type: 1st Physical Meeting of the WSIS Forum Open Consultation Process
- Title: Implementation of WSIS Action Lines for SDGs towards WSIS Forum 2019
- Date & Time: 12 November 2018, 12:20-13:20
- Organizers: ITU together with UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP (International organizations)
- Chair/Moderator: Mr Vladimir Stankovic, WSIS Secretariat, ITU
- Rapporteur/Notetaker: Mr Vladimir Stankovic, WSIS Secretariat, ITU
- List of speakers and their institutional affiliations:
- Ms Sasha Rubel | Program Specialist | Knowledge Societies Division | UNESCO
- Mr Torbjörn Fredriksson | Chief | ICT Policy Section | Division on Technology and Logistics | UNCTAD
- Mr Vladimir Stankovic | ICT Policy Analyst | Corporate Strategy Division | ITU
- Mr Deniz Susar | Governance & Public Administration Officer | UNDESA
- Ms Joyce Dogniez | Senior Director | Global Community Engagement | ISOC (WSIS Prizes 2018 Winner)
- Theme: Development, Innovation & Economic Issues
- Subtheme: Other: WSIS Action Lines and SDGs
- Key messages of the discussion. The event focused on informing stakeholders, and soliciting their suggestions regarding preparations for the 2019 WSIS Forum, with the theme Information and Communication Technologies for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The Agenda and Program of the WSIS Forum 2019 is designed in collaboration with the multistakeholders on the basis of official submissions received during the Open Consultation Process on the thematic aspects and innovations of the format of the WSIS Forum 2019.
- The First Physical Meeting of the Open Consultation Process for the WSIS Forum 2019 provided an opportunity for the participants to learn more about the WSIS Process, in particular, the implementation of WSIS Action Lines for the Achievement of SDGs, the WSIS Forum 2019 Open Consultation Process, WSIS Prizes 2019, WSIS Forum 2019: Photography Contest, Exhibition, Hackathon, Youth and other special tracks.
- Involving all WSIS Stakeholders (governments, civil society, private sector entities, academia and international organizations), this process aims to ensure active participation of different sectors during the event. All participants were invited to contribute by addressing Calls for Action.
- Summary of the interventions and discussions with open calls for action: Participants provided input on the potential themes for thematic workshops for the upcoming WSIS Forum. They reflected on past events and proposed ideas on additional interactive formats for the event. They discussed how to best implement the WSIS process, in an effort to align the WSIS Action Lines with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
- Following the welcoming remarks by session organizers, the update on the Preparations for WSIS Forum 2019 was shared in the form of a presentation. Major focus of the presentation were the ongoing open Calls for Action where the participants were invited to make official submissions to the WSIS Secretariat for the Open Consultation Process before the deadline (10 February 2019), sharing their views on the thematic aspects and innovations on the format of the forum, recommending speakers, requesting thematic workshops, requesting exhibition stalls, etc.
- Participants were invited to submit their ICT-related projects for the WSIS Prizes 2019 contest until 30 November 2018, and to participate in the WSIS Photo Contest 2019.
- The session also benefited from presentation by UNDESA, the WSIS Action Lines C1, C7eGov, C11 lead facilitator, on their implementation activities; and, from the WSIS Prizes 2018 Winner in WSIS Action Line C11, Internet Society, on their experience and appreciation of the contest, inviting ICT community to contribute to the WSIS Prizes 2019.
This was followed by Q&A with muiltistakeholders present. All contributions were taken into account and will be incorporated into planning for the WSIS Forum 2019. Video of the full session can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJ-gZPeIqQ&list=UUk0zf4oI0IsJLh1owvUQSfQ&index=40
- Please describe any suggestions regarding the way forward/ potential next steps /key takeaways:
- Participants expressed enthusiasm for WSIS Forum 2019. Several noted their long-time support of the WSIS process. The group highlighted a desire to focus on innovative technologies, and their impact on information and knowledge societies.
- Some specific issues raised included lifelong learning and livelihoods, youth engagement, digital skills needed for achieving SDGs, universal access to information and knowledge, empowering economies in digital era, and financing for digitalization.
- Special tracks at the WSIS Forum and other innovative solutions were appreciated, with special mention to hackathons and its potential contribution to advancing SDGs.
- Please estimate the total number of participants.
Estimated number of participants present at the session: 24
- Please estimate the total number of women and gender-variant individuals present.
Estimated overall number of women present at the session: 10
- To what extent did the session discuss gender issues, and if to any extent, what was the discussion?
The session did not directly address issues related to gender equality and/or women’s empowerment. However, it did mention the importance of gender-balanced participation, including the speakers at the WSIS Forum 2019. It was reported that WSIS Forum is increasingly benefiting from growing number of women participants. Special mention was the gender-balanced participation at the WSIS Forum hackathon.
