Committed to connecting the world

SDG DIGITAL

Mandate

​ICTs help the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developed countries (LLDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS), to address their specific development challenges. LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS face a number of connectivity barriers: many LDCs have large land areas and rural populations, and are sparsely populated, which makes the roll-out of terrestrial communication infrastructure more difficult. LLDCs lack direct access to the sea and many SIDS have numerous islands and often face high communication costs.

ITU has mainstreamed the needs of the world's most vulnerable countries in all its activities and programmes and develops tailored programmes of assistance in such areas as technology and network development, regulation, capacity building, and emergency telecommunications. It also provides concentrated assistance and helps LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS to fully participate in the information and knowledge society. 

ITU works with many private and public stakeholders, including with the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). Through its work, ITU also supports the LDCs in their graduation process.

ITU Resolutions

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  • PP 139 (Rev. Dubai, 2018) Use of telecommunications/ information and communication technologies to bridge the digital divide and build an inclusive information society
  • PP 30 (Rev. Busan, 2014): Special measures for the least developed countries, small island developing states, landlocked developing countries and countries with economies in transition
  • PP 34 (Rev. Busan, 2014) Assistance and support to countries in special need for rebuilding their telecommunication sector
  • WTDC Res. 5 (Rev. Buenos Aires, 2017) – Enhanced participation by developing countries in the activities of the Union
  • WTDC Res. 16 (Rev. Buenos Aires, 2017) (Rev. Hyderabad, 2010) – Special actions and measures for the least developed countries, small island developing states, landlocked developing countries and countries with economies in transition
  • WTDC Res. 25 (Rev. Buenos Aires, 2017)– Assistance to countries in special need: Afghanistan, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Timor Leste
  • WTDC Res 37 (Rev. Buenos Aires, 2017) – Bridging the digital divide
  • Resolution 1 (Dubai, 2012) of the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), on special measures for landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS) for access to international optical fibre networks

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