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Joint UNCTAD-ITU-UNESCAP WorkshopInformation Society Measurements in Asia-Pacific Bangkok, 26-28 July 2006

Dr. Susan TeltscherChief, ICT Policy and Analysis UnitICT and E-Business Branch, SITEUNCTAD

ICT and E-Business BranchUNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

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Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development

A global, multi-stakeholder initiative by key stakeholders working on ICT statistics

An umbrella for co-ordination of ongoing activities and for planning future activities based on the commitment by the partners

A framework for raising additional resources to assist developing countries

Launched at UNCTAD XI, Brazil, June 2004

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International level

ITUOECDUNCTADUNESCO Institute for Statistics(UN ICT Task Force – G@ID)World Bank

Regional level

ECAECLACESCAPESCWA Eurostat

Current members

Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development

http://measuring-ict.unctad.orghttp://measuring-ict.unctad.org

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Main objectives

Defining and analysing internationally comparable statistical indicators on ICT and developing methodologies

Assisting developing countries in the collection of ICT statistics

Helping countries implement and promote their ICT policies

Developing a global database on ICT indicators

To promote the advancement of comparable ICT data at the global level by:

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Phase I: June 2004 – December 2005

Contributions to the WSIS process (Geneva, 2003 and Tunis, 2005) and its follow-up

Global stocktaking to collect information from all countries on their statistical measurement of ICT

Standardisation of ICT data and adoption of set of core ICT indicators (February 2005)

Contributions to UN Statistical Commission

Development of methodological material on the collection of ICT statistics

Meetings and events at regional and global levels to promote ICT measurement

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WSIS Contributions

WSIS Geneva: Parallel Event on “Monitoring the Information Society”, Geneva, December 2003

WSIS Tunis phase: inputs to draft final Tunis documents

WSIS Thematic Meeting on “Measuring the Information Society”, Geneva, February 2005

WSIS Tunis Parallel Event on “Measuring the Information Society”, Tunis, 15 November 2005

WSIS outcome documents

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WSIS Geneva Plan of Action (para 28)

“A realistic international performance evaluation and benchmarking (both qualitative and quantitative), through comparable statistical indicators and research results, should be developed to follow up the implementation of the objectives, goals and targets in the Plan of Action …”

“All countries and regions should develop tools so as to provide statistical information on the Information Society, , with basic indicators and analysis of its key dimensions. Priority should be given to setting up coherent and internationally comparable indicator systems,, taking into account different levels of development.”

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WSIS Tunis Agenda

We call for periodic evaluation, using an agreed methodology, such as described in paragraphs 113-120.

114. The development of ICT indicators is important for measuring the digital divide. We note the launch, in June 2004, of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, and its efforts:

a) to develop a common set of core ICT indicators; to increase the availability of internationally comparable ICT statistics as well as to establish a mutually agreed framework for their elaboration, for further consideration and decision by the UN Statistical Commission.

b) to promote capacity building in developing countries for monitoring the Information Society.

c) to assess the current and potential impact of ICTs on development and poverty reduction.

d) to develop specific gender-disaggregated indicators to measure the digital divide in its various dimensions.

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Phase II: January 2006 – December 2007

• Steering Committee (UNCTAD, ITU, ECLAC)

• 4 Task Groups (capacity building, government, education, database)

• Capacity building (training material, technical workshops, assist NSOs; PARIS21)

• Expand list of core indicators (education, government)

• Global database

• WSIS follow-up

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UNCTAD contribution

• UNCTAD XI Partnership launch (Brazil, 2004)

• Informal co-ordinator during first phase

• Steering Committee (UNCTAD, ITU, ECLAC)

• Leader of Task Group on Capacity Building

• Technical assistance on ICT measurement (advisory missions, training material, sponsoring of technical workshops)

• Website: http://measuring-ict.unctad.org (discussion forum)

• UNCTAD information economy database

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ICT and E-Business BranchUNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

  

 

http://measuring-ict.unctad.org

susan.teltscher@unctad.orgsusan.teltscher@unctad.org