1. Developing the Information Society in Western Asia ------- UN-ESCWA Activities during 2008-2009 by Georges Younes Representing UN-ESCWA (ICTD) younesg@un.org Geneva - 19 May 2009 younesg@un.org

2. 1.The division’s stated objective and expected accomplishments for 2008 and 2009 2.IS panorama in the ESCWA region 3.Some 2008-2009 activities 4.This year’s main IS event 5.Questions and answers Agenda

3. To narrow the digital divide and to build an inclusive, people-centred and development-oriented information society in accordance with internationally agreed development goals and objectives. ICTD: Objective for 2008-09

4. (a) Increased implementation of the Regional Plan of Action for Building the Information Society, particularly in relation to the information and communication technology sector (b) Enhanced capacity of member countries to provide e-services in Arabic targeting socio-economic development Expected Accomplishments

5. IS Panorama in Western Asia (2008) 2008: Little improvement over past years Region’s Internet penetration: 11.81% - world average: 22.04% (ITU figures) Digital divide also exists within region (richer/poorer countries): Mobile penetration in UAE: 173%; Yemen: 14%

6. Regional Plan of Action - WA Original formulation of RPOA: 2005 10 programmes/38 projects Partners: private sector, public sector, international organizations, regional organizations 2006-2008: Formulation of Arab ICT Strategy and companion plan of action Much of the RPOA was adopted “as-is” by the League of Arab States and backed by the Arab Telecommunications and Information Council of Ministers (ATICM) RPOA update: June 2009 during WSIS follow-up conference in Damascus (more later)

7. ISPER: Information Society Portal Regional online tool for following up on the RPOA Caters to Arabic and English speakers/ bilingual library Real-time discussion forums

8. Biennial publication “Regional Profile of the Information Society” compiled from “National Profiles” All action lines covered in both publications Include a chapter that highlights ICT achievements which may have an impact of the MDGs Comparative analysis help Governments update/fine tune strategies and implementation plans To iron out the kinks of past profiles, ESCWA held in November 2008 a “Consultative Workshop on the National Profiles in Western Asia” Modified template to improve quality/accuracy National/Regional IS Profiles

9. Access to Information and Knowledge (1) Access in rural areas remain one of the main obstacles 3-year project (2006-2009) involving Regional Commissions (ESCWA as lead agency): “Knowledge Networks through ICT Access Points for Disadvantaged Communities” Transformation of existing ICT access points/community telecentres into knowledge hubs Knowledge hubs provide, develop, organize, share and disseminate knowledge to the communities they serve

10. Access to Information and Knowledge (2) 2008 activities Design of the Knowledge Networks portal Formulation of regional and global knowledge strategies Training workshops for key staff of participating telecentres

11. Capacity Building ESCWA and UNESCO are partners in “ICT Education in Iraq” Aimed at addressing problems related to education in a conflict zone Work subdivision: ESCWA: ICT infrastructure UNESCO: Training and e-learning 2008 activities: Sessions on the formulation of education strategies ICDL instructor training Creation of courseware Infrastructure and equipment for 5 training centres and 10 schools

12. Enabling Environment 2007 Study: “Models for Cyber Legislation” 2008 Workshop: “Cyber Legislation and its Implementation in the ESCWA Region” 2009 Project: “Harmonization of Cyber Legislations” 2009 Study: “Building Trust in e-Services in the ESCWA Region”

13. Cultural Diversity (1) Arabic speakers: 5% of the world population Arabic content on the Internet: 0.16% Digital Arabic content (DAC) is a subject that is dear to the heart of policymakers in the Arab world Field project: “Promotion of the Digital Arabic Content Industry through Incubation” Partnership with 5 incubators in (1 in each) Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Yemen Competition to select DAC projects to be incubated under the supervision of participating incubators

14. Cultural Diversity (2) Active involvement of ESCWA in the development of an “Arabic Domain Names System” (ADNS) 2003: Creation of the “Arabic Domain Names Task Force” (ADNTF) 2008: Collaborative efforts with global players (Afilias; PIR) to resolve outstanding issues Involvement of communities and experts from diverse parts of the globe using Arabic script (e.g. Persian and Urdu)

15. International & Regional Cooperation (1) Many ESCWA initiatives have been carried out in partnership with international and regional organizations Collaborative efforts are coordinated primarily with United Nations Regional Commissions, UN specialized agencies, UNDP regional offices the League of Arab States as well as governments of member countries

16. International & Regional Cooperation (2) “ESCWA Technology Center for Development” aims at supporting national and regional capacity-building in science, technology and innovation A manifestation of regional cooperation and integration as it is based on a partnership between ESCWA and its member countries, particularly those who will host and partially fund the centre Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria expressed interest in hosting the centre Status: Final negotiations

17. Financing Mechanisms May 2009: a workshop on “Investment in the ICT Sector.” The main objective of the workshop is to raise the awareness of member countries and to increase their understanding of policies, mechanisms and modalities that promote ICT investment and in the region Participants included policymakers from investment authorities and ministries of ICT, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, investment bankers as well as representatives of investment companies.

18. Measuring the Information Society 2008: In collaboration with the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics (AITRS) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a training workshop on “Measuring ICT Indicators” Theoretical and hands-on training on data collection of the core list of ICT indicators, including indicators on ICT infrastructure, access to and use of ICT by households and individuals, use of ICT by businesses, as well as on trade in ICT goods

19. Regional Follow-up to the Outcome of the World Summit on the Information Society 16-18 June 2009 Damascus, Syria 2009 Main IS Event in Western Asia (1)

20. 2009 Main IS Event in Western Asia (2) Highlights implementation activities related to WSIS outcomes, the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) and the Arab ICT Strategy An updated version of the RPOA including a list of new projects targeting the needs and realities of the Information Society for the period extending from 2009 to 2015 A roadmap for the implementation and follow-up of future WSIS-related activities The creation of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) Arab Region Network.

21. 2009 Main IS Event in Western Asia (3) Draft Agenda - Day 1 - 16/06/2009 Time Track 1Track 2Track 3 9:30-11:00 Opening Ceremony (Plenary) ESCWA, MOCT, UNESCO (Update on WSIS Activities in the Arab World), IDRC, GAID (TAGI), ITU, LAS 11:00-11:30 Coffee Break 11:30-13:00 Keynote Speakers (Plenary) ESCWA (RPOA), GAID, Cisco (ICT for Collaboration and Increased Productivity), Microsoft, SCS, STE, AITRS, ARADO 13:00-14:00 Lunch Break 14:00-15:30 Regional ICT StrategiesICT InfrastructureResearch and Development Mohamed Abdel Wahab (Arab Business Forum for ICT): Arab ICT Strategies for ICT Services Mahmood Sharief AlShaikhli (Ministry of Science and Tech Iraq): Government-Wide ICT infrastructure Abdul Kader Kamli (Madar Research - UAE): Statistical Irregularities and Other Issues Facing ICT Research in the ESCWA Region Abebe Chekol (UN-ECA): Implementing the World Summit on the Information Socieity (WSIS) Action Lines in Africa: Analysis of Country Reports ITU: To be contacted ESCWA Technology Centre Abdel Rahman Sabry (LAS-Egypt): Progress made in Regional ICT Strategies STE: To be contactedArab Advisors Group: To be contacted ESCWA - RPOA GDS (Lebanon): To be contactedOmaima Dakak: To be contacted 15:30-16:00 Coffee Break 16:00-17:30 National ICT StrategiesMeasurements/IndicatorsCapacity Building Ahmed El-Sherbiny (MCIT - Egypt): Egypt's Information Society Strategies in Light of WSIS Outcomes Eman Yassin (CAPMAS - Egypt): Measure the Impact of the Use of Communications Technology Towards Building the IS Youssef Monsef (Lebanese University): WSIS Recommendations and Readiness of Universities in the ESCWA Region Yahya al_Rewi (Aden University): اليمن ومقررات القمة العالمية لمجتمع المعلومات ESCWA - Rami ZaatariMarwan Tarazi: Regional Network for Learning Innovation in the Arab World Contact Tania Zaroubi for Lebanon's strategyESCWA - Sukaina Al-Nasrawi ESCAP - Suk Rhee: To be confirmed AITRS - National Statistical Offices: To be contactedTarek Shawki (UNESCO): To be contacted Nawar Al-Awa (Damascus University): Title not provided

22. 2009 Main IS Event in Western Asia (4) Draft Agenda - Day 2 - 17/06/2009 Time Slot Track 1Track 2Track 3 09:00-11:00 Digital Arabic ContentCommunity TelecentresICT Applications Nabil Ali Abdul Aziz (Pico Advanced Multilingual Systems): To be provided Nasser Khalaf (National IT Center - Jordan): Community Centres for Sustainable Development Abdulilah Dewachi (Qatar): Addressing national shortages in skilled human resources Mohamed El-Sharkawi (Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage): Documentation of the Arab World Memory: Status and Future Paulette Assaf (Cisco - Levant): Connected Communities Business Initiative Model in Lebanon Fadi Abdulhamid (TAGI - Syria): eReadiness Framework for E- Government and e-Commerce Implementations - Theoretical Framework ESCWA Ahmed Eisa: Impact of Telecentres (GDCO) in Community Development through ICT ICTDAR: Development of ICT Applications in Arabic Noureldin Cheikh Obeid: Syrian Community Telecenters and Their Contribution to Development Fadi Salem (Dubai School of Government): To be contacted ESCWA 11:00-11:30 Coffee Break 11:30-13:00 ICT SectorICT/Media ConvergenceICT in Education Jawad Jalal Abbassi (Arab Advisors Group - UAE): Overview of the Arab Telecom and Internet Broadband Markets Robert Madi (Mindshare - Lebanon) Convergence of ICT and MediaHaif Banayan (Jordan Education Initiative): To be contacted - e-mail failed Hisham Qattan (Jordan Computer Society): To be contacted UNESCO: To be contacted ESCWA - Gaby Deek: To be contacted 13:00-14:30 Lunch Break 14:30-16:00 Women in the Information SocietyInternet Governance/ADNSArab GAID Network Salam Yamout (Women in IT): Using ICT to Empower Women and Youth Charles Sha'Ban (TAGI): Update on the IGF-MAG WorkGAID Claudia Morrell (MDWIT): Building Capacity for Development through Women and ICTs Baher Ismat (ICANN): To be contacted (already invited as a participant) E-education: ??????? Nada Hamzi (Women in Technology): To be contactedAbdel Aziz Al Zoman: To be contacted Poverty reduction????? Bahjat Youssef (Dubai Women's Office): Center for Women and Technology for the Arab Region Iba's Uwasheq: ???????? ESCWA

23. 2009 Main IS Event in Western Asia (5) Draft Agenda - Day 3 - 18/06/2009 Time Slot Track 1Track 2Track 3 09:00-11:00 Security and TrustInvestments/Economic CrisisEmpowering Youth through ICT Hoda Baraka (MOICT Egypt): Towards an e-safety agenda in the Arab World Khater Abou Habib (Kafalat - Lebanon): To be contacted Ziad Haddara (ICTDAR): Engaging Youth in Local Development through Responsible Citizenship Elie Mikhael (MOSA - Lebanon): Protection of Children from Internet ExploitationNicholas Rouhana (Berytech): Development of an enabling environment for ICT in Lebanon IDRC: Youth and Employability - To be contacted Khedija Ghariani (AICTO): To be contacted Samir Aita: To be contacted ESCWA 11:00-11:30 Coffee Break 11:30-13:00 Public Private PartnershipsLegal Framework/Cyber LegislationICT for Development George Akiki (Partnership for Lebanon/Cisco): PPP Model - Partnership for LebanonYounis Arab (Arab L@w Group): تقييم الاداء التشريعي العربي في ميدان تكنولوجيا المعلومات Najat Rochdi: ICT to Address Local Development Mona Jabbour (Lebanese University): Legal Informatics Center and Access to Legal Information IDRC: Regional Capcacity in ICT4D - To be contacted Sami Sharaf: To be contactedNadia Hegazi (MCIT Egypt): Job creation in the Information Society Wassim Harb: To be contactedKrikor Ajemian (Amman Chmaber of Commerce): The Role of Chambers of Commerce in Bridging the Digital Divide ESCWA - ICT for MDGs: Georges Younes 13:00-14:30 Lunch Break 14:30-16:00 Plenary GAID Arab Network: Yousef Nusseir RPOA Update: Mansour Farah 16:00-16:30 Coffee Break 16:30-17:00 Closing

24. 2009 Main IS Event in Western Asia (6) Register for the Conference, by 1 June 2009 Registration form available at: http://www.escwa.un.org/inform ation/meetingdetails.asp?refere nceNum=850E

25. Questions?

26. Thank you Georges Younes Representing UN-ESCWA (ICTD) younesg@un.org Geneva - 19 May 2009 younesg@un.org