A special side event featuring private and public sector experts will be held during the High Level Policy Forum (HLPF) in New York on 15 July 2016. This special side event will focus on how the spread of information and communication technology (ICT) and global interconnectedness has the potential to accelerate human progress, to bridge the digital divide and to develop knowledge societies, especially when working in tandem with scientific and technological innovations across areas as diverse as medicine and energy.

"ICTs are vital in driving progress towards achieving each and every one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals," said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General. "ICTs can empower billions of individuals around the world – by providing access to education resources and healthcare, and services such as mobile banking, e-government and social media, amongst others. We need to be better aware of the role ICTs can play from inspiration to action to multi-stakeholder engagement and implementation."

The high-powered session will focus on three main aspects of ICT-based empowering solutions for SDGs achievement:

• Access to advanced technologies – between and within countries, between urban and rural areas, men and women, boys and girls.
• Preview of the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) report #System Transformation – How digital solutions will drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, The report includes an analysis of not only the opportunities linked to ICT for the SDGs, but also the measures needed to overcome the current barriers to uptake.
• The mobile industry's critical role – its commitment to work together and in partnership will be a game changer in leveraging the socio-economic impact of mobile technologies on individuals, businesses and governments around the world.
  
  Experts will explore the essential need for multi-stakeholder engagement and cooperation in light of the still existing barriers to ICT adoption worldwide. Joint action by policymakers, multilateral organizations, and the ICT sector will be required to connect the billions of currently unconnected individuals and to deliver a range of life-enhancing and life-changing services at the required speed, scale, and complexity needed to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
  
  HOW: To register for the side event, please contact Ms Sharon at London@un.org by 13 July 2016 COB.
  
  Passes will be distributed on 15 July at 46St and 1^St Avenue (Visitor Security Entrance) from 12h00 – 12h45. 
  
  WHO:
  
  Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ‎Chief of Strategic Planning at International Telecommunication Union
  
  Christopher Lloyd, Vice Chair GeSI Board, Verizon
  
  Jessica Long, Managing Director - Strategy & Sustainability, Accenture
  
  Julia Burchell, Senior Manager, Insights at GSMA
  
  Isabelle Mauro, Head of Telecommunications, World Economic Forum
  
  Moderator:
  
  Gary Fowlie, Head, ITU Liaison Office to the United Nations
  
  WHAT: Follow-up and review of ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals.
  
  WHEN: 15 July, 1:15-2:30
  
  WHERE:
  
  United Nations Headquarters, 46St and 1^St Avenue (for security clearance)
  
  Conference Room #4 – UNHQ