Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the Insert event logo here? digital divide Dr Lilia Perez-Chavolla and Dr Tim Kelly, ITU ITU/Korea WSIS Thematic Meeting, Seoul, 23-24 June 2005 Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 1
Agenda WSIS and the digital divide Why multi-stakeholder partnerships? Multi-stakeholder partnerships in action Selected case studies Measuring the digital divide Digital divide trends Towards a composite Digital Opportunity Index Overcoming barriers and enhancing partnerships Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 2
WSIS and the Digital Divide Universal, ubiquitous, equitable and affordable access to ICT infrastructure and services, constitutes one of the challenges of the Information Society and should be an objective of all stakeholders involved in building it. (Para 21) We are fully committed to turning this digital divide into a digital opportunity for all, particularly for those who risk being left behind and being further marginalized. (Para 10) Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 3
The newer the technology, the less even the global distribution 2004 Broadband Internet users Mobile phones Fixed lines TV sets Population High income economies Middle and lower income economies 150m 730m 1.8bn 1.2bn 1.2bn 6.3bn 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: ITU World Telecommunication Indicators Database. Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 4
Why multi-stakeholder partnerships? Partnerships are a means to an end Bring together stakeholders from public & private sector, civil society and NGOs to: Collaborate towards a common goal Fulfill a specific role matching each partner s core competencies Complement each other s capabilities & resources Share equally risks and benefits Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 5
An evolving concept Change in the scope of the concept New actors in the telecom arena: private sector International initiatives promoting inclusion of civil society and non-governmental organisations World Summit on Sustainable Development (2000) World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS): Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 6
Complementary role of stakeholders Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 7
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Action Source: WSIS Stocktaking Database based on 891 M SP projects subm itted as of 8 June 2005 Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 8
Entities implementing MSPs by region Source: WSIS Stocktaking Database based on 891 M SP projects subm itted as of 8 June 2005 Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 9
Projects: National policies Goals: Promote access to basic and advanced telecom infrastructure and services Develop enabling environment for ICT applications in other fields (commerce, health, education) Governments are key force Increased collaborative efforts Between ministries With international organisations, private sector and civil society With other countries in the same region Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 10
Asian Broadband Programme Initiative of the Government of Japan (2002) Goal: Invigorate information flows within the region and make Asia a global information hub and leader region in ICTs (NGN) by 2010 Bring benefit of ICTs to all people in Asia at affordable prices Partners: China, Indonesia, Japan, republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 11
Bottom-up approaches to access Lithuania s Window to the Future Alliance Partners: mobile & fixed operators, largest banks and IT companies in the country Government joined in late 2002 and created an integral strategy for public internet centres By 2004, 175 centres had been established around the country Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 12
International efforts: Connect the World Partnership International commitment to promote development and connectivity (16 June 2005) ITU and around 20 other partners from all the main categories of stakeholders (KADO, Microsoft, Child Helpline International and UNESCO, among others) Encourage new partnerships to bridge the digital divide and meet WSIS commitments by 2015 Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 13
Projects: Capacity building Connectivity only a pre-condition for access Need to build local capacity and heighten awareness of ICTs potential capabilities Use of local language and cultural content improves sense of ownership of projects and use of applications Barriers: Illiteracy Examples: elangviet and REACH Afghanistan Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 14
Projects: ICT applications Education - Egypt s Community Knowledge Generation E-Library Initiative (ICT Trust Fund & UNDP) Health - Pakistan s Health Information Online portal (Ministry of Information technology & others) Governance - Azerbaijan s National e-governance Network Initiative (Ministry of Communication & Information Technologies & UNDP) Agriculture - Farmer s Information Network (FarmNet) developed by FAO in cooperation with many regional partners Trade - E-Business Forum (UNCTAD, WTO, local chambers of commerce) Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 15
Closing the gap Telephone access in developing countries grew by 20% per year, 1990-2003, compared with 8% per year in developed countries Mobile phone networks have grown from 11 million users in 1990 to reach 2 billion by mid- 2005 Pre-pay mobile schemes have made them particularly attractive to low-income households 1 000 100 10 1 Per 100 inhabitants: Fixed and mobile combined 19 times difference 45.4 2.3 Developed Developing 124.7 25.0 1990 2003 4 times difference Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 16 Note: Log scale used. Source: ITU World Telecom Indicators Database.
Towards a composite Digital Opportunity Index (DOI) A realistic international performance evaluation and benchmarking ( should be developed to follow up the implementation of the Plan of Action Para 28 In cooperation with each country concerned, develop and launch a composite ICT Development (Digital Opportunity) Index. Para 28a Extracts from WSIS Plan of Action Quality Infrastructure Access Path Affordability & Coverage Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 17 Source: ITU/KADO Digital Bridges Project: See Background Paper #6.
Financing options for multistakeholder partnerships Tariff cross-subsidies Targeted tariff discounts Pre-paid cards Telecentres Liberalisation of payphones Universal service funds Least cost subsidies Digital solidarity fund 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 2 5 2 14 Arab States 8 27 Operational Planned No fund Europe 7 5 17 Asia- Pacific 11 14 14 2 11 7 Africa Americas Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 18 Note: Breakdown of Universal Service Funds by region, based on 146 responses to ITU questionnaire.
Some factors for success in multistakeholder partnerships True partnership, based on mutual trust and willingness to learn (e.g., Connect the World programme, bringing together 22 partners) Ability to adapt to technological change (e.g., HealthNet project) Long-term commitment on behalf of partners (e.g., IDRC commitment to projects e.g. Acacia, BellaNet, ICA, Pan-Asia Networking) Replicability and scaleability of projects (e.g., GrameenPhones VillagePhone initiative extended to 39 000 villages in Bangladesh and replicated also in Uganda) Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 19
website: www.itu.int/wsisbridges contact: Lilia.Perez-Chavolla@itu.int Tim.Kelly@itu.int Thank you Multi-stakeholder partnerships for bridging the digital divide 20