Title: Towards Information Society - National e-Strategies in the Arab World
Author: David Morgan
Source: www.yacout.info
Date (published): 07/06/2010
Date (accessed): 17/06/2010
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
The report, National e-Strategies for Development Global Status and Perspectives 2010, highlights the varying stages of development in the adoption of ICT across the Arab World.

The report is published within the framework of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the WSIS’s Tunis phase and the adoption of the Tunis Agenda for Information Society.

Focusing on progress towards the achievement of an inclusive digital society, the report points out that while some Arab countries have already taken measures to facilitate the transformation of their societies others are just taking the initial steps or are still facing basic challenges posed by insufficient ICT infrastructure.

Nevertheless, almost all Arab countries or territories are fulfilling the WSIS recommendations concerning the formulation of ICT strategies, having either developed such a strategy or being ready to adopt existing drafts.

Title: World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report (WTDR) 2010: Monitoring the WSIS Targets: A mid-term review
Pages: 258 pp.
Publisher: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Date (published): 29/04/2010
Date (accessed): 26/05/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, 6,5 MB)
Abstract:
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005) brought together governments, civil society and the business sector to discuss a broad range of subjects related to ICT for development. In the end, governments agreed on a set of commitments and actions to foster the establishment of an inclusive infor- mation society. In particular, ten targets were identified in the Geneva Plan of Action, along with numerous recommendations based on different action lines (Action Lines C1 — C11). The targets, to be achieved by 2015, are:
1. To connect villages with ICTs and establish community access points
2. To connect universities, colleges, secondary schools and primary schools with ICTs
3. To connect scientific and research centres with ICTs
4. To connect public libraries, cultural centres, museums, post offices and archives with ICTs
5. To connect health centres and hospitals with ICTs
6. To connect all local and central government departments and establish websites and e-mail addresses
7. To adapt all primary and secondary school curricula to meet the challenges of the information society, taking into account national circumstances
8. To ensure that all of the world’s population have access to television and radio services
9. To encourage the development of content and put in place technical conditions in order to facilitate the presence and use of all world languages on the Internet
10. To ensure that more than half the world’s inhabitants have access to ICTs within their reach

The year 2010 marks the midpoint between the Tunis phase of WSIS (2005) and the deadline for achieving the WSIS targets (2015), in line with the target date of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This World Telecommunication/ICT Development Report presents a mid-term review of the progress made towards achieving the ten WSIS targets. The overall objective of the report is to provide policy-makers with a comprehensive assessment of the WSIS targets to date and, based on the findings, make suggestions on the types of policy measures required to meet them. The report also highlights the need for formal monitoring of progress towards achieving the WSIS targets. Currently, there are no agreed indicators for the targets which countries could use for monitoring purpose
...
The report is based on the latest available data. While some data are collected at the international level, notably by ITU, UNESCO and UNDESA, overall data availability relating to the WSIS targets is poor. To complement these data sources, a survey was carried out by ITU among its Member States, between September and November 2009. The information provided by countries is featured throughout the report.

Title: Towards inclusive knowledge societies: a review of UNESCO's action in implementing the WSIS outcomes
Author: David Souter
Pages: 66 pp.
Publisher: UNESCO
Date (published): 06/05/2010
Date (accessed): 17/05/2010
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, 19.8 MB!)
Abstract:
This report reviews the UNESCO’s work in these implementation areas during the five years since the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2005. It summarises some highlights of what has been achieved to date and reflects upon the challenges which have arisen in the implementation of WSIS outcomes.
The report looks in turn at UNESCO’s three main roles in WSIS implementation:

as a coordinator/lead facilitator, with ITU, UNDP and UNCTAD, of the overall implementation process, including UNGIS and the WSIS Forum;

as a facilitator of six Action Lines to facilitate the implementation of the WSIS outcomes in specific areas of work; and

as an implementer of programmes and initiatives that seek to build inclusive Knowledge Societies and thereby contribute to the achievement of WSIS goals.

The final section of the report looks forward over the next five years to suggest ways in which implementation of WSIS results might be more effectively integrated in the broader work that UNESCO and other agencies are doing. This work aims at achieving the benefits that can be derived from the Knowledge Societies to whose development UNESCO is committed.

French version: Vers des sociétés du savoir

Title: National e-Strategies for Development: Global Status and Perspectives, 2010
Pages: 68 pp.
Publisher: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Date (published): 29/04/2010
Date (accessed): 17/05/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, 4,2 MB)
Abstract:
In its Paragraph 85, the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society denotes the leading role that governments, in partnership with other stakeholders implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), have in the elaboration of “comprehensive, forward-looking and sustainable national e-strategies, including ICT strategies and sectoral e-strategies [...], as an integral part of national development plans and poverty reduction strategies, [...] before 2010”.1
The report “National e-Strategies for Development: Global Status and Perspectives, 2010” provides a high-level update and an overview of the progress countries have made in their effort to develop national e-strategies, ICT strategies and sectoral e-strategies, analyzing as well the extent into which ICT have been incorporated into poverty reduction strategies and other national development plans.
In order to provide a broad analysis of ICT strategies, this report describes strategic approaches of national e-strategies and provides three examples of national ICT strategies, detailing their evolution over time.
The report identifies at least 161 economies (84 percent) that have already met the WSIS target of having a national ICT strategy in place by 2010. It also indicates areas where existing national e-strategies could be improved, such as their strategic orientation and their integration into national development plans and poverty reduction strategies. Based on the analysis of sectoral e-strategies, the report also emphasises the need for more comprehensive sectoral e-strategies that take full advantage of the potential ICT have for the economy and society. Finally, the appendix provides the reader a comprehensive list of national ICT strategies developed by ITU Member States.
The information presented in this report comes largely from the WSIS stocktaking,2 an extensive online research initiative conducted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which brings together national ICT and sectoral e-strategies of ITU’s Member States, as well as publications by the five UN Regional Commissions.

Title: APC's assessment of the fourth Internet Governance Forum, Sharm El-Sheikh, 15-18 November 2009
Author Editor:
Pages: 7 pp.
Publisher: Association for Progressive Communications
Date (published): 26/11/2009
Date (accessed): 30/11/2009
Type of information: official statement
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"This year the fourth internet governance forum was playing it safe – perhaps because next year could be its last – but we still saw real progress. Privacy no longer plays second fiddle to security, people’s rights online are recognised as central by all sides. Social networking was the new star centre stage. There are still too few women and people of colour but participants are getting younger which is a good sign. Next year APC hopes for an IGF focusing on development and human rights and looking to the future. "
(via http://twitter.com/phat_controller )