Previous Page  76 / 208 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 76 / 208 Next Page
Page Background

[

] 76

I

NFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

technology (ICT) is an

increasingly important tool for social and economic develop-

ment and is the driving force behind the transition towards

economies and societies based on information and knowledge.

For developing the transition economies, ICT can provide a means

to leapfrog some long and painful stages in the development

process, and help to stimulate growth and prosperity.

The United Nations Regional Commissions – the Economic

Commission for Africa (ECA), the Economic Commission for

Europe (ECE), the Economic Commission for Latin America and

the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Economic and Social Commission for

Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the Economic and Social

Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) – are playing a leadership

and catalytic role to provide digital opportunities and harness the

growth potential of ICT. They provide an interface between differ-

ent ICT layers and the development community, bringing together

public and private sectors, foundations and donors to develop

initiatives and modalities aimed at building ICT capacities for devel-

oping countries and countries with economies in transition.

The regional perspective is an indispensable intermediate stage

in bringing together national particularities and global require-

ments for the Information Society. This has been demonstrated

during the Geneva 2003 WSIS process, especially by the regional

consultations and negotiations that resulted in the Declarations of

Bamako (Africa), Bavaro (Latin America and the Caribbean), Beirut

(Western Asia), Bucharest (Europe and North America) and Tokyo

(Asia Pacific), which provided major inputs for the WSIS

Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action.

This has continued with the preparation of the second phase

of WSIS as a result of the regional conferences held in Brazil (Latin

America and the Caribbean), Ghana (Africa), Greece (Europe),

Islamic Republic of Iran (Asia and the Pacific), and Syria (Western

Asia), with concrete Regional Action Plans and Roadmaps.

As the world prepares for Tunis, the role of the Regional

Commissions will be critical more than ever in the implementation

of the Regional Action Plans that will be adopted in Tunis, where the

work on building the Information Society will gather momentum.

The post-Tunis phase will require technical assistance, capac-

ity building and training, facilitating peer dialogue, exchange of

experience and promoting good practices; and in the implemen-

tation of national and regional Information Society strategies and

roadmaps.

Information Society:

regional initiatives and activities

United Nations Regional Commissions

ECA has implemented the Africa Informal Society Initiative (AISI)