Digital Solidarity "WSIS"
Forum concluding session at ITU TELECOM AFRICA to debate achievements of the first phase of the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS), and to examine the preparations for the second phase to be held in Tunis

Cairo, 5 May 2004 — The first phase of the WSIS took place in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, with a second phase set to take place in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005. At the first phase of the Summit, a Declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action for building an inclusive global Information Society were established. In particular, the Plan of Action established a "Digital Solidarity Agenda". The aim of this Digital Solidarity Agenda is to put in place the conditions for mobilizing human, financial and technological resources to enable every human being to be a part of the Information Society.

Areas of the Digital Solidarity Agenda agreed at the first phase of WSIS included the formation of priorities and strategies, the mobilization of resources, and the creation of a Task Force, under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to examine the possible need for new funding mechanisms for bridging the digital divide.

ITU TELECOM AFRICA 2004 is the first major ITU event to take place after WSIS. Not only is it the first major event, but it is also taking place in Africa, the region where the need to bridge the digital divide — the overriding goal of WSIS — is greatest of all. For these reasons, the Digital Solidarity "WSIS" Forum session will be a particularly appropriate and timely occasion to reflect on the achievements of the first phase, and plan for the second phase of the Summit.

The Geneva phase of WSIS set down the foundations of the Digital Solidarity Agenda, a concept originally proposed by President Wade of Senegal, and began the work of defining what form this "solidarity" should take. Now this Forum session will allow for vital follow up debate, with a particular emphasis on the Africa region.

The session will discuss and explore how the Digital Solidarity Agenda could be widened to ensure that it addresses the key areas that are of relevance to Africa. The emergence of big African strategic investors such as MTN, Vodacom, Orascom and Econet is an illustration of how Africa’s indigenous ICT sector is now making its mark on the region’s ICT market. The future role of Africa’s own ICT sector is just one factor that needs to be considered in order to define solidarity in an African context.

A successful Digital Solidarity Agenda for Africa will require not just financing, but also the participation and support of all the players who have a stake in Africa’s ICT future, from governments to the private sector.

In addition to discussing key issues and defining the scope of the Digital Solidarity Agenda, participants, who are drawn from a wide base of expertise in this area, will be able to form broad areas of agreement as a key step towards phase two of WSIS.

With key speakers, including eminent regional experts such Mr Adama Samassekou, President of the WSIS Preparatory Committee (Geneva phase) and His Excellency Mr Cornelius O. Adebayo, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications — to name just two of a number of experts — this session promises to wrap up the Africa Forum on a constructive and forward-looking note. In addition, the session will conclude with a reading of the Youth Declaration, which will be drafted by the participants of the Youth Forum — again a signpost to the future.

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