A new partnership between the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Association of Communications and Telecommunications Regulators of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries[1] (ARCTEL-CPLP) will foster the implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) projects and activities in Portuguese-speaking African countries. The initiative is designed to leverage ICTs towards achievement of sustainable development goals in these countries (ICT4SDG).

"This collaboration between ITU and ARCTEL-CPLP will advance much needed ICT development in Portuguese-speaking countries," said Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. "It will focus on important areas of work including disaster risk reduction, the establishment of early warning systems and capacity building."

"This partnership is very timely as ARCTEL-CPLP is working on a common Digital Agenda through a number of ICT4SDG projects in its member countries," said Filipe Batista, Secretary-General of ARCTEL-CPLP. "From e-commerce to e-government strategies, the association hopes to promote digital inclusion, innovation and serve as a role model within the next 10 years." 

Under this partnership, ITU will provide support to ARCTEL-CPLP's project Sustainable Villages for Development (SV4D), which is being implemented in Cape Verde, Mozambique and São Tomé and Principe. This will promote connectivity and broadband access as well as the universal use of ICT, by establishing ICT centres in remote areas, organizing capacity-building initiatives and deploying equipment.  

ITU will also support a project on disaster management to be implemented in Mozambique.

​Learn more about the important work of ITU's Telecommunications Development Bureau here: www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Pages/About.aspx

Learn more about ARCTEL-CLP here: www.arctel-cplp.org