During the V Conference of the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), which takes place from March 5 to 9 in Doha, the capital of Qatar, world leaders faced on Monday two of the biggest obstacles facing those nations: making better use of science, technology and information. innovation, and promote structural changes to overcome the impediments suffered by the marginalized.
In the first case, the harsh reality faced by millions of people and the inequalities that this creates is devastating: Internet does not contribute anything if you cannot access the networkIt also doesn’t matter if you can access the network but you don’t know how to use a browser.
According to many of the speakers at today’s session, the key issue is finding ways not only to connect those left behind, but to sustainably address the digital divide and foster the conditions for more inclusive.
Increased digital divide
A new report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) shows that the digital divide between the least developed countries and the rest of the world shows no signs of narrowing.
Although since 2011 the number of people using the Internet has gone from 4% to 36%, two thirds of the population is still offline.
According to the Least Developed Countries Facts and Figures report, it is estimated that only 407 million people used the internet in 2022. The 720 million people still offline in these nations represent 27% of the world’s offline population, despite that the population of these nations only represents 14% of the world population.
The study also revealed that the challenge of bringing communities online has become more complex in the last decade than simply building physical connections. And even among those who could access the internet, many did not, due to barriers ranging from awareness to knowledge to cost.
Achieving a sustainable digital transformation
An example of these challenges is the Doha Action Program which calls for providing greater and substantial support to the least developed countries “to ensure affordable and reliable access broadband, mobile networks and Wi-Fi”.
“The digital deployment of the least developed countries through science, technology and innovation is not just an opportunity, it is an imperative. A moral imperative,” said the Secretary General of the aforementioned UN agency, Doreen Bogdan-Martin today. .
“I think it’s up to us to make connectivity meaningful and digital transformation sustainable,” he added.
Throughout the remainder of the Conference, which will run until 9 March, ITU will highlight the importance of digital cooperation to accelerate and achieve the Doha Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular through public-private partnerships such as the Digital Partner2Connect Coalition, which has mobilized over 600 pledges to date worth nearly $30 billion.
Alliance for inclusive digitization
“There are so many young people… more than 50% of the least developed countries are under the age of 19. That is the world’s future workforce,” Justin Spelhaug, vice president and global chief technology officer for the UN, told UN News. Microsoft Philanthropies Social Impact.
“And it’s important that companies like Microsoft and other private sector companies support the development of these countries in collaboration with the UN and in partnership with governments, with the ultimate goal of making a difference,” he said.
Spelhaug noted that the Alliance for Digital Development program of the world Bank aims to increase access to technology, digital public goods, broadband and digital training services in the world’s least developed countries.
“The program brings together a couple of key elements and an economic business model aimed at creating greater access to technology. It brings together digital public goods under (software developer) GitHub offering the necessary services for governments, whether they are open source or another type,” he explained.
This partnership will also enable the UN to advance its goals of creating a more prosperous world. Spelhaug believes that with the help of this programme, the number of least developed countries will be significantly reduced during the next conference.
New partnerships for least developed countries
Parallel to the Conference, the three-day Private Sector Forum is also held, which seeks to help improve access to finance, create employment, transfer technology and promote long-term sustainability in least developed countries.
The Forum today focused on improving digital connectivity as a driver of progress in the least developed countriesas well as in the improvement of agricultural and rural development.
“In the interest of leaving no one behind, the Forum represents an important opportunity to mobilize support from the private sector and help the least developed countries reach their full potential,” said Rabab Fatima, Secretary General of the Conference.
During the Forum, panel discussions and interactive sessions focused on building partnerships with the private sector on sustainable energy, agriculture, digital connectivity, climate change and sustainable tourism.
Networking opportunities will allow participants to share best practices, exchange ideas and identify solutions to promote private sector participation in least developed countries.
Activities planned for tomorrow will focus on the participation of the least developed countries in world trade, as well as issues related to youth development and education.
