Countries with special needs

‘Countries with special needs’ as defined in ITU resolutions are countries that have gone through periods of armed conflict, civil strife or war and suffered destruction to their telecommunication infrastructure.

ITU provides technical assistance, seed money for the reconstruction of the damaged networks and seeks partners willing to co-finance projects in these countries. Projects are focus on four key areas:

Development of infrastructure and introduction of new technologies

Development of rural telecommunications

Sector restructuring

Human resources development

Below is a list of countries falling in this category*:

Afghanistan

Burundi

Central African Republic

Democratic Republic of Congo

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Haiti

Iraq

Liberia

Libya

State of Palestine

Rwanda

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Sudan

Timor-Leste

* Based on ITU categorization

References

World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC), Resolution 18 (Rev. Kigali, 2022), Special technical assistance to Palestine.

WTDC, Resolution 25 (Rev. Kigali, 2022), Assistance to countries in special need: Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea‑Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan and Timor-Leste.

ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, Resolution 125 (Rev. Bucharest, 2022), Assistance and support to Palestine for infrastructure development and capacity building in the telecommunication and information technology sector.

ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, Resolution 193 (Rev. Bucharest, 2022), Support and assistance for Iraq to continue rebuilding and developing its telecommunication/information and communication technology sector.

ITU Council Resolution 1408 (2022), Assistance and support to Ukraine for rebuilding their telecommunication sector.

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