BDT Director Doreen Bogdan-Martin moderated the Spring meeting of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable development, on 23 March.
The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development was established in 2010 by ITU and UNESCO with the aim of boosting the importance of broadband on the international policy agenda and expanding broadband access in every country to accelerate progress towards national and international development targets. Led by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Carlos Slim Helù of Mexico, it is co-chaired by ITU's Secretary-General Houlin Zhao and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
Over 50 commissioners representing governments, international organizations, private companies, civil society and academia discussed how to leverage digital cooperation to build an inclusive post-COVID digital future for all.
Ms Bogdan-Martin pointed to that fact that the COIVD-19 pandemic has shown the world the power of connectivity, and that it has reinforced the need to accelerate digital transformation across all sectors to build resilience in the face of future crises. She also noted that the pandemic has laid bare the profound and growing inequalities between those who have access to the Internet, and those who do not.
''The challenges we face extend beyond mere connectivity. Affordability of access and devices remains an insurmountable barrier for far too many. Poor digital skills constitute a major block. Lack of relevant content in usable languages and formats is a further impediment.'' She emphasized that failure to address these gaps will dramatically increase the risk of leaving many behind.
In this vein, Ms Bogdan-Martin stated her belief that the role of the Commission has never been more critical. She stressed, ''In you, our distinguished Commissioners, we have a powerhouse of industry know-how, talent and hands-on experience. You are all leaders in your fields, creative thinkers and problem-solvers who know how to get things done.''
With optimism, Ms Bogdan-Martin said to Commissioners, ''Leveraging your skills, and your commitment, this Commission can play a uniquely powerful role as a convenor of innovative multi-stakeholder strategies and partnerships that deliver on our vision of an inclusive digital future for all.''
