BDT Director Doreen Bogdan-Martin gave opening remarks at a webinar on ITU's Connect2Recover initiative, hosted along the side lines of the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5). The webinar specifically discussed how countries could ''build back better with broadband.''
Ms Bogdan-Martin noted that the Connect2Recover initiative (launched with the support of the government of Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) aims to strengthen countries' digital infrastructure ecosystems, and help them remain robust and resilient in times of major crisis.
In order to scale and create global impact, Connect2Recover is being coordinated with other relevant ITU initiatives, such as the Giga initiative with UNICEF to connect every school to the Internet, and ITU's project with the African Union and ILO on Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills in Africa's Digital Economy.
Participants gained insights from countries' experiences in implementing resiliency measures in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their experiences in addressing gaps in policies and strategies for preparedness. These strategies could potentially benefit other countries that strive to adopt National Emergency Telecommunication Plans.
Ms Bogdan-Martin affirmed, ''As we strive to deliver on our promise to leave no one behind' and achieve the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, digital will certainly be a part of the equation.''
Find the BDT Director's full opening remarks here.
