Digital societies are built on access, trust and use. This means developing a digital strategy and regulations that enable affordable and reliable access and provide a secure and trusted online environment.
Keep in mind that this should ensure that everyone has the necessary skills to fully participate in the digital society.
A digital society is one where digital technologies and their applications are fully and productively integrated into everyday life.
Achieving this requires more than simply acquiring devices or connecting to the Internet.
It requires the development of an appropriate ecosystem of infrastructure, legislation, policies, capacity development and financing.
A new UNDP’s 2022-2025 Digital Strategy has been developed to reflect efforts to support countries in constructing inclusive, ethical, and sustainable digital societies.
It is also reflective of the fact that the Digital Revolution will continue to shape how the organisation responds to the monumental challenges our world now faces.
Strengthening government capacity for digital transformation
Digital technology can have a transformative impact on sustainable development efforts by boosting efficiency, increasing transparency, and lowering costs in ways never before possible.
So, digital strategy is about more than access to technology.
It is about:
- building networks that connect people to the information they need;
- empowering individuals with new tools for participation;
- finding innovative solutions tailored to local contexts that can be adapted worldwide.
So, to stay relevant in the face of significant transformation, UNDP launched a digital strategy in 2019 to maximise the value of technology and innovation to address development issues.
UNDP is working to support 100 million people, half of whom live in urban areas, to escape poverty and help 500 million gain access to clean energy by 2030.
Its digital strategy focuses on the belief that digitalisation can help UNDP meet this ambitious target.
Moreover, it is one of the three enablers of its strategic plan.
The UNDP says it has already helped develop and use digital technology in many ways to support communities with their development needs.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the agency assisted 82 countries in adopting more than 580 digital solutions.
For instance, by digitising birth and death records in Palestine, UNDP has helped make it easier for families and hospitals to manage these records.
Rwandan COVID-19 treatment centres and the Kigali international airport have received UNDP-donated robots that help to identify infections.
Building on the progress from the first strategy
With the Digital Strategy 2022-2025, UNDP hopes to maintain and accelerate the momentum that has already been generated across the organisation and among its partners.
In a strategy document published last month, UNDP outlines how it will assist countries in reaping the benefits of digital technology with a three-pronged approach.
The strategy is titled “Creating a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet.”
To help countries reap the benefits of digital technology, UNDP will use a three-pronged approach:
- experimenting with different approaches and technologies;
- supporting countries in creating more inclusive digital ecosystems that can withstand seismic shifts in the future
- future-proofing the organisation itself
This digital strategy states that UNDP will work to ensure people can access and use technology to improve their lives and contribute to economic growth.
Old technology and inefficient processes are often a barrier to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Digital skills can help young people gain employment and lead fulfilling lives.
Internet users can grow small businesses, access government services, learn new skills, or participate in the political process.
However, the digital divide is still an issue worldwide as 2.9 billion people – mostly in developing countries – remain without access to the Internet.
That’s why the UNDP’s 2022-2025 Digital Strategy complements global efforts to expand access to affordable broadband.
It aims to enhance the digital capacity of key groups, including women and people with disabilities.
This strategy will set the stage for new jobs while boosting human development.
To conclude…
The 2022-2025 UNDP Digital Strategy provides a roadmap for the digital transformation of governments, economies and societies.
Countries need to start moving from being “digital-ready” to becoming a “digital champion”.
After all, resilient digital societies are not just those that resist disruptions but also those prepared to deal with them.
Inclusive digital societies allow everyone to exercise their right to access, use, and benefit from digital technology.
They are those with robust infrastructures that all can access, regardless of geography, gender, or other characteristics.
That means not just having contingency plans in place when a problem occurs but also building systems that are more robust in the first place, including more diverse internet connections.
Sources:
https://www.broadbandcommission.org/
https://www.broadbandcommission.org/broadband-targets/
https://digitalstrategy.undp.org/documents/Digital-Strategy-2022-2025-Full-Document.pdf
https://www.undp.org/publications/digital-strategy-2022-2025
https://www.undp.org/publications https://www.africa.undp.org/content/rba/en/home/presscenter/articles/2020/undp-deploys-smart-anti–epidemic-robots-to-fight-against-covid-.html
