BUENOS AIRES ACTION PLAN
- Programme 12
Development of Telematics and Computer Networks
1. JUSTIFICATION
2. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES
3. MAIN ACTIVITIES
4. POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND COORDINATION ARRANGEMENTS
1.1 Problems to be addressed :
Following the UNCED, the UN Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development (UNPCSD) established the Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development (IACSD) with the main objective of coordinating UN agencies' and NGOs' efforts to implement Agenda 21. The UNPCSD offers an opportunity to improve the coordination between such organization and to draw upon the competence, wealth of information and collaborative networks developed by each organizations within its sphere of activity in a coordinated effort towards the goals expressed in Agenda 21. The ITU should contribute to the implementation of these actions within its field of competence and, in particular, assist in the on-going efforts to implement the recommended measures
for improving inter-agency information systems and the sharing of information between UN agencies.
The Internet is a striking example of how fast a truly user-driven global network for information exchange (and more) can develop, essentially thanks to the voluntary work of its users. Provided that more people in developing countries get access at a cost they can afford (and develop the skills to use it), this network would at least provide the answer to many of the needs of telecommunications for sustainable development.
The ITU Development Sector has an important role to play in bringing such networks within the reach of people in developing countries, by improving access to these networks and by contributing to capacity-building. In this context also, the BDT should promote the development of national policies, laws and regulations that open access and information services related to the actions proposed by the UNCED.
The BDT itself also needs a network connecting its field offices for the exchange of information, teleconferencing and videoconferencing.
The Questions Nos. 4/2, 6/2 and 7/2 of ITU-D Study Group No. 2 are relevant to this programme area and so is the WTDC/94 Resolutions No. 8 (Telecommunication Support for Protection of the Environment), WTDC/94 Recommendation No. 1 Applications to Health and Other Social Services and WTDC/94 Recommendation No. 2 (Development of Partnership with International Education agencies).
1.2 Situation by the end of the period
The Regional ITU/BDT offices connected in a network (including ITU headquarters) and adequately equipped with studios and telecommunication terminals and support staff to handle ITU's own needs for Internet connections, e-mail, file-transfer, video, computer, and telephone conferencing. Other UN agencies and national telecommunication Administrations in the countries concerned should have the possibility to use spare capacity of these telematics resource centres.
Research institutes, Government agencies, academic institutions in some countries in each region and community telecentres established under programme No. 9 will have full, or at least e-mail connections to the Internet. A report analysing the impact of the programme in participating institutes, communities and countries will be available.
1.3 Programme beneficiaries :
Through electronic networks (in the future connected through "Information Highways"), the participating institutes and community telecentres in developing countries will be able to access information, distance education, training and know-how of other academic and research institutions, telecentres, public organizations and millions of specialists connected to the networks. In particular, this programme is a necessary complement to the programmeNo. 9 (Integrated rural development) and will therefore help bring about the benefits identified in the Section 1.3 of that programme. Development of telematics and access to computer networks in developing countries will also enhance cooperation with, and among, other UN-agencies and NGOs. All of this will contribute to sustainable social, cultural and economic development, to improving North-South, South-South and East-West cooperation and foster peaceful coexistence.
Telematics equipment suppliers and service providers in developed as well as developing countries will benefit as this programme contributes to increase their markets. Sponsors will benefit from the publicity which will be given to the pilot projects and to the evaluation reports.
The long-term goal is to contribute to sustainable, environmentally sound development by facilitating access to information resources available in many countries, and by establishing connections to computer networks from many locations, including rural communities in countries that presently have little or no access to such resources. More specifically, to give decision makers at all levels, researchers and agents of change (and in the longer term, ordinary citizens), including those located in rural areas in developing countries, access to telematic services enabling them:
- to participate actively in the global collaboration in the follow-up of the Agenda 21 of UN Conference on Environment and Development;
- to exchange electronically stored and transmitted data, information, graphics, still pictures and video for the purpose of improving trade, transport, health-care, education and training, etc.
- to participate in conferences (telephone, on-line computer and video)
In the next cycle (1995-1999) the objectives are:
- to connect all BDT field offices in a network which enables communication via electronic mail, and through the exchange of electronically stored multi-media and participation in video conferences. The offices would then function as hubs and training centres for the countries in which they are located and for neighbouring ones.
- to carry out a globally coordinated regional pilot project for the development of telematics and computer networks; particularly to provide public sector user groups, including government agencies, academic and research institutes, etc., and small private enterprises access to e-mail, computer mediated conferences, databases and library resources, and, in conjunction with Programme No. 2, to open flexible distance learning resources.
- to provide an electronic forum (i.e. list service or bulletin board) to allow community telecentres established under programme No. 9, to exchange experiences.
To achieve this goal will require considerable financial, material and human resources. The programme should be carried out in close coordination with Programme No. 9 (Integrated Rural Development) and with all the potential partners indicated below. Specialists in the ITU field offices and specialists in the ITU IS Division should be made available to provide assistance on request to individual countries or organizations. Training could also be organized regionally (using regional telecommunication training centres) and multiplied by nationals in their country.
3. MAIN ACTIVITIES
| 12.1 Development of appropriate national policies guidelines (Refer also to BAAP Programme No. 1) |
| Outputs/Indicators:
- Availability of policies and guidelines (GL)
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Success criteria:
- Policies and guidelines for tariff and market access that reduce cost barriers for public sector user groups,
- Acceptance of Policies & Guidelines by Study Group 1
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| 12.2 Identification of participating countries, user groups and partners; coordinated planning of Telematics development. |
| Outputs/Indicators:
- Partners
- Participating countries' and user groups' level of commitment
- Preliminary plans, agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)
|
Success criteria:
- Programmes 12 and 9 coordinated with credible partners
- Commitment of participating countries and user groups
- Agreements and MOUs with partners established as required for the implementation of the programme
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| 12.3 Survey of existing infrastructure; Planning of networks (in cooperation with BAAP Programme Nos. 3 and 5), that provide participating institutions and Community Telecentres (participating in programme No.9) access to computer networks. |
| Outputs/Indicators:
- Plans, taking into account the requirements for Telematics services for the participating institutions and user-groups and other initiatives
|
Success criteria:
- Realistic plans, coordianted with other initiatives, to provide access to Telematics services, as required
|
| 12.4 Implementation - provision of equipment and access to networks in participating institutions and Community Telecentres |
| Outputs/Indicators:
- Installed equipment
- Access to networks
- Agreements on tariffs during pilot projects
|
Success criteria:
- Equipment installed and working as planned
- Access to networks as planned and required
- Firm and favourable agreements with telecom service and equipment providers, established as required for the implementation of the programme
|
| 12.5 Training of support staff and end-users in participating
institutions to use IT, and Telematics tools. |
| Ouputs/Indicators:
- Competence of trained staff
|
Success criteria:
- staff members in each participating institution competent to provide support to users as required
|
| 12.6 Evaluation of the impact of provision of Telematics services and promotion of the Telematics development world-wide -facilitate the estblishment of a global library |
| Outputs/Indicators:
- Evaluation report
- Information dissemination
- Progress of estabblishment of global library
|
Success criteria:
- Evaluation report disseminated to all users. Evidence of other countries making appropriate use of evaluation report and models provided. Globallibrary planned.
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4. POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND COORDINATION ARRANGEMENTS
The consortia participating in the European Union 4th Framework RDT Programmes for Telematics, the Internet Society, the International Research Development Centre (IRDC) of Canada and other organizations involved in development of computer networks and training of end-users of such networks are possible partners in this undertaking. Other possible partners are the numerous organizations involved in initiatives aiming at the development of tele-working and tele-medicine and of distance
learning, e.g., the Commonwealth of Learning, the US "Global University" and other similar initiatives developed in Europe, Japan and Australia.
Satellite and radiocommunication equipment and service providers are potential partners in the pilot projects which will contribute to developing their markets. Other stakeholders in industrialized countries include the suppliers of fibre optic systems, solar power supplies, VSAT systems and other terminals as well as providers of IT equipment (computers Multimedia, etc.).
Cooperation (possibly through the UN IACSD) with bilateral cooperation agencies and other UN-agencies, representing sectors which would benefit from access to telematics and computer networks, in particular FAO, ITC, UNESCO, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO, the World Bank and Regional Development Banks) is an essential condition for this programme to achieve its long term goals (telematics are only means to accelerate development and, from the perspective of other organizations, this programme may be considered as one contribution among many others to this end). Coordination with Programme No. 9 is obviously essential as the community telecentres established in programme 9 represent one of the user groups of telematics (besides other participating institutions and organizations).
Contributions to this programme can be made in kind, for example by providing:
- specialists for participation in the planning of networks, specification for equipment, etc.;
- telecommunication services free or at reduced tariffs during pilot projects
- equipment for participating institutions and Community Telecentres (communication terminals, computers and multimedia hardware), on loan or as grants.
or in cash by providing funds for fellowships, consultants, translation of documents, etc.
This programme may be part of a larger effort, involving several organizations and the coordination arrangements will have to be developed in consultation with these organizations. The PSP Department of the BDT, in close consultation with the Regional Divisions at HQ and the Regional offices in the field, will act as a focal point for the ITU.
This programme must be closely coordinated with Programmes No. 1 (Policies, etc.), No. 2 (HRM/HRD), No. 3 (Business Oriented Development Plans), No. 5 (Computer-Aided Network Planning), and No. 9 (Integrated Rural Development).
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