2023 ECOSOC Partnership Forum Side Event: WSIS Cooperation for Accelerating Progress on the SDGs


United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

Session 131

Tuesday, 31 January 2023 14:30–15:45 (UTC+01:00) UNGIS

The achievement and the progress for 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development require multistakeholder collaboration and partnerships. Given the global challenges and with eight years ahead to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the need for accelerated actions is paramount. To collectively achieve the SDGs, collaboration within the UN system and with non-UN stakeholders, including private sectors, civil societies, academia, youth, and many more is imperative.  
 
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development highlights the importance of information and communication technologies (ICT) and global interconnectedness as powerful enablers of growth, to accelerate human progress, to bridge the digital divide, and to develop knowledge societies. More needs to be done to leverage the potential of digital technologies.  
 
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is a UN process that includes an annual, multistakeholder Forum where governments, civil societies, private sectors, academia, international organisations, technical communities, and others are able to network, partner, and share how to achieve the SDGs through the framework of the WSIS Action Lines. WSIS emphasises multistakeholder collaboration and cooperation across all regions and sectors.  
 
United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) is a great example of existing well-functioning digital cooperation in the UN system. Its mandate includes promoting collaboration and partnerships among the members of the Chief Executives Board (CEB) to contribute to the achievement of WSIS goals, providing guidance on issues related to inclusive information and knowledge societies, helping maintain issues related to science and technology at the top of the UN Agenda, and mainstreaming ICT for Development. UNGIS offers a valuable knowledge and resource base that has been developed in the past decade on a multi-stakeholder basis focusing on innovative tools and approaches to tackle multiple development challenges.  
 
This session, co-organised by WSIS and UNGIS will focus on how the ICTs and the WSIS cooperation can help accelerate the SDGs, learning from the COVID-19 experience to build an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable societies and economies. It is important to strengthen partnerships and digital cooperation towards achieving goals and targets across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 


More information about the 2030 ECOSOC Partnership Forum: https://sdgs.un.org/events/ecosoc-partnership-forum-2023 

Registration to the 2030 ECOSOC Partnership Forum (virtual participation only): https://forms.office.com/e/vF2zDD6Hsg. Deadline is Monday, 30 January.


Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas
Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas Deputy Secretary-General International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Tomas Lamanauskas took office as ITU's Deputy Secretary-General on 1 January 2023. In this key elected role, he assists with organizational management and fosters close collaboration across ITU's radiocommunication, standardization, and development activities. Mr Lamanauskas aims to forge impact-driven partnerships, help the industry cut emissions, and implement results-oriented management to ready ITU for a dynamic future.


Dr. Tawfik Jelassi
Dr. Tawfik Jelassi Assistant Director General The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Mr. Jean Paul Adam
Mr. Jean Paul Adam Director Technology Climate Change and Natural Resources Management Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

Liberato C. Bautista
Mr. Liberato C. Bautista President Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO) | USA | Philippines

Ms. Mei Lin Fung
Ms. Mei Lin Fung Chair and Cofounder People Centered Internet and Impact Network

Mr. Maikel Wilms
Mr. Maikel Wilms Partner & Director The Boston Consulting Group

Mr. Vladimir Stankovic
Mr. Vladimir Stankovic Program Coordinator International Telecommunication Union Moderator

Ms. Gitanjali Sah
Ms. Gitanjali Sah Strategy and Policy Coordinator International Telecommunication Union Moderator

WSIS Action Lines
  • AL C1 logo C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
  • AL C2 logo C2. Information and communication infrastructure
  • AL C3 logo C3. Access to information and knowledge
  • AL C4 logo C4. Capacity building
  • AL C5 logo C5. Building confidence and security in use of ICTs
  • AL C6 logo C6. Enabling environment
  • AL C7 E–GOV logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-government
  • AL C7 E–BUS logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-business
  • AL C7 E–LEA logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning
  • AL C7 E–HEA logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-health
  • AL C7 E–EMP logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-employment
  • AL C7 E–ENV logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-environment
  • AL C7 E–AGR logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-agriculture
  • AL C7 E–SCI logo C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-science
  • AL C8 logo C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
  • AL C9 logo C9. Media
  • AL C10 logo C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
  • AL C11 logo C11. International and regional cooperation
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 1 logo Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
  • Goal 2 logo Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
  • Goal 3 logo Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
  • Goal 4 logo Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
  • Goal 5 logo Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  • Goal 6 logo Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
  • Goal 7 logo Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
  • Goal 8 logo Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
  • Goal 9 logo Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  • Goal 10 logo Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Goal 11 logo Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Goal 12 logo Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  • Goal 13 logo Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Goal 14 logo Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
  • Goal 15 logo Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
  • Goal 16 logo Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
  • Goal 17 logo Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development