Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications (GET-2019)

Wednesday, 6 March 2019

09:00 - 09:30Opening Ceremony

Welcoming speeches
Hon. Mr Yogida Sawmynaden
Minister
Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation
Mauritius

Biography
Hon. Mr Marie Joseph Noël Etienne Ghislain Sinatambou
Minister
Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and Sustainable Development
Mauritius
Mr Mahmad Aleem Bocus
Chairman
Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA)
Mauritius

Biography
Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Biography

09:30 - 10:00Group picture and coffee breakThe coffee break is kindly sponsored by ICTA.
10:00 - 12:00Session 1: Leaders' dialogue: disaster management and risk reduction - ICT opportunities and challenges There is global recognition for the need to put disaster management and risk reduction at the core of sustainable development strategies. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development acknowledges the role of ICTs as a cross-cutting tool for development, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction recognizes telecommunications as critical infrastructure, along with the critical role of ICT services, including big data and social media. Today, the large majority of the world’s population is covered by a mobile cellular signal and half the world’s population is using the Internet. This allows more people to be reached, in a timely manner. Greater connectivity and ICT access and use opens up new ways of delivering services and saving lives. This Leaders’ Dialogue will highlight key challenges and opportunities of using ICTs for disaster risk reduction and management, from the perspective of the international development and humanitarian communities and the ICT industry. It will highlight country experiences and present good practices with regard to cooperation, coordination and partnerships.

Chair
Mr Jerome Louis
Officer-in-Charge
Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA)
Mauritius

Biography

Moderator
Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Biography

Panelists
Dr Rooba Yanembal Moorghen
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation
Mauritius

Biography
H.E. Mr Monise Laafai
Minister
Ministry of Communications and Transport
Tuvalu

Biography
Dr Ram Sewak Sharma
Chairman
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

Biography
Ms Kirsi Madi
Director
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)

Biography
Ms Enrica Porcari
Chief, Information Office and Director, Technology Division, World Food Programme (WFP)
Chair, Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC)

Biography
Ms Nanjira Sambuli
Senior Policy Manager, World Wide Web Foundation
Member of the United Nations Secretary General's High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation

Biography

12:00 - 12:30Side-event: The Role of the Satellite Communication in Disaster Response(Interpretation will not be available for this session.)

Presenter
Mr Ethan Lucarelli
Director, Regulatory and Public Policy
Inmarsat

Presentation : Satellite Services: Communications for Disasters and Emergency Response
Biography

12:30 - 14:00Lunch break This lunch is kindly sponsored by ICTA. (The lunch will take place at the Senso restaurant of the Intercontinental Hotel.)
14:00 - 15:30Session 2: High level debate: Information and Communication Technologies for saving lives – lessons from the Caribbean, a case studyDisasters have devastating effects on people’s lives, livelihoods, and they often hit the most vulnerable people and countries, in particular the Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. In the Caribbean, the devastations of Category 5 hurricanes Maria and Irma that hit the region in 2017, lead to widespread destruction, loss of life, and affected economic growth. At the same time, ICTs were used extensively to monitor and track the hurricanes, to warn communities at risk, and for recovery efforts. This session will provide a review of the role of ICTs in mitigation, preparedness and response. A panel of key Caribbean stakeholders and experts will discuss lessons learned from the 2017 hurricanes, identify the progress that has been made in using ICTs for disaster risk reduction and management, and share the result from recent reviews and assessments.

Moderator
Ms Kim Mallalieu
Deputy Chairman, Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
Senior Lecturer, The University of the West Indies

Biography

Panelists
Ms Bernadette Lewis
Secretary-General
Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)

Biography
Mr David Farrell
Principal
Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH)

Biography
Ms Nikima Royer Jno Baptiste
Chief Executive Officer
Digicel (Dominica) Ltd

Biography
Mr Damian Barker
Deputy Director
Department of Disaster Management, Anguilla

Biography

15:30 - 16:00Coffee breakKindly sponsored by ICTA.
16:00 - 17:00Session 3: Breakout sessionsA limited number of breakout sessions will engage a group of participants around specific topics, to address and provide inputs to challenges related to the overall GET-19 topic of ‘Innovating together to save lives’. Breakout sessions will be moderated by a facilitator and guided by a set of questions that will be made available to participants ahead of the event. Each breakout session will include two short introductory presentations, followed by a discussion round. The key outcomes and recommendations of the breakout session will presented by the session facilitators on the last day of the meeting (Friday, 08 March, 11:00-12:00). (Interpretation will not be available for these sessions.)
Breakout Group 1: Disaster Connectivity MapsAccess to information and communication technology (ICT) networks and services are critical, in particular in times of disasters. Real-time information on the type, level and quality of connectivity are important to identify connectivity gaps, and to make decisions on where and when to deploy often limited human, financial and physical resources. A number of ICT industry players – mobile network operators, Internet service providers, Internet and social media companies – have data that could be used to identify and monitor the status of connectivity, in real time. The objective of this session is to discuss possible ways of developing disaster connectivity maps that build on different sources and that can provide live information on the ground, when disasters strike. (Interpretation will not be available for this session.)

Facilitators
Mr Frank Schott
Managing Director, New Program Development
NetHope

Biography
Ms Vanessa Gray
Head, Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States & Emergency Telecommunications Division
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Biography

Firestarters
Mr Alex Pompe
Research Manager, Data for Good Team
Facebook

Presentation : Facebook Disaster Maps
Biography
Ms Nikima Royer Jno Baptiste
Chief Executive Officer
Digicel (Dominica) Ltd

Presentation : Partnerships for Saving Lives - Disaster Connectivity Maps
Biography

Breakout Group 2: Framework for Connectivity CooperationWhile connectivity challenges arise during almost every disaster or emergency, each has its unique circumstances and obstacles to overcome. This session strives to outline the commonalities across most connectivity crises – including the stakeholders and their roles, technical challenges, policy challenges, and prioritization trade-offs – in an attempt to establish a common Framework for Connectivity Collaboration. The objective of this session is to come to a common understanding and approach to re-establishing connectivity during a crisis to enable well-meaning responders, including service providers, governments and other stakeholders to move quickly to restore connectivity when people are most in need. (Interpretation will not be available for this session.)

Facilitators
Mr Chris Weasler
Head, Global Spectrum Policy and Connectivity Crisis Response Program
Facebook

Biography
Ms Enrica Porcari
Chief Information Officer and Director, Technology Division, World Food Programme (WFP)
Chair, Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC)

Biography

Firestarters
Mr David Marshack
Global Regulatory Support
Loon

Biography
Mr Lars Ruediger
Program Director, Ericsson Response
Ericsson

Biography

18:00 - 20:00Welcome ReceptionThe welcome reception is kindly sponsored by ICTA. (The reception will be held by the Fountain of the Intercontinental Hotel.)

Thursday, 7 March 2019

09:00 - 10:30Session 4: Disruptive technologies and innovations for connectivity, disaster risk reduction and responseDisruptive technologies and technological advancements and innovation create new possibilities for supporting disaster resiliency and risk reduction actions. This includes developments in the area of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data. Innovations in such areas as satellite imagery, robotics and drone technology are transforming many fields, including disaster risk reduction and management. To ensure that connectivity is available in remote and rural areas, existing technologies are being improved, and new solutions developed. This session will identify innovative IT and ICT solutions to provide connectivity, as well as emergency services when disasters strike. It will assess the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies as a driver of accelerated and structural change, and assess progress and opportunities.

Moderator
Mr Kartik Kulkarni
Chair, Global Humanitarian Technology Activities
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Biography

Presenters
Ms Vanessa Gray
Head, Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States & Emergency Telecommunications Division
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Presentation : Digital technologies and disaster management
Biography
Mr Kevin Allen
Manager, IBM Developer Content Acquisition Content Lead, Call for Code
IBM Digital Business Group

Presentation : Call for Code - Code and Response
Biography
Ms Kim Mallalieu
Deputy Chairman, Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
Senior Lecturer, The University of the West Indies

Presentation : Massification of Disaster Detection and Monitoring
Biography
Ms Julie Kearney
Head of Regulatory Affairs
Loon

Presentation : Connect People Everywhere
Biography
Ms Jennifer Miller
General Counsel
Loon

Presentation : Connect People Everywhere
Biography

10:30 - 11:00Coffee breakKindly sponsored by ICTA.
11:00 - 12:00Session 5: Emergency telecommunications for better preparednessGreater preparedness helps address potential impacts caused by natural hazards more proactively. Information and communication technologies offer important tools to identify and monitor risks, and deliver alerting messages to vulnerable communities. Many countries are reducing the risk and impact of disasters by adopting innovative policies, by optimizing the use of multi-hazard early warning systems, and through efficient and effective last mile communication. The aim of this session is to discuss the benefits of investing in preparedness, to highlight innovations and improvements in the area of preparedness, and to present policies and initiatives that help to monitor and identify risks and deliver alerting messages to vulnerable and threatened communities. It will highlight the role of policy makers to position themselves as industry facilitators for saving lives and showcase good practices of cooperation and partnerships.

Moderator
Ms Salma Farouque
Preparedness and Resilience Officer Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC)
World Food Programme (WFP)

Biography

Presenters
Mr Timothy Kelly
Lead Digital Development Specialist
World Bank Group

Presentation : Disaster Risk Reduction and Management: Digital Technologies to the rescue?
Biography
Mr Bevil Wooding
Caribbean Outreach Liaison
American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)

Presentation : Enhancing Caribbean Telecommunications Emergency Preparedness and Resilience
Biography
Mr Ken Okong’o
Policy and Advocacy Manager, Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation
GSMA

Presentation : Emergency Telecommunications for Better Preparedness
Biography
Mr Sathya Narayanaswamy
Country Manager India
Viasat

Presentation : Satellite broadband for disaster management, and sustainable development
Biography

12:00 - 12:30Side-event: Regulatory Actions for Disaster Response – The Brumadinho’s Case(Interpretation will not be available for this session.)

Presenter
Ms Patricia Coutinho
Engineer
Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL)
Brazil

Presentation : Regulatory Actions for Disaster Response – The Brumadinho`s Case
Biography

12:30 - 14:00Lunch breakThis lunch is kindly sponsored by ICTA. (The lunch will take place at the Senso restaurant of the Intercontinental Hotel.)
14:00 - 15:00Session 6: ICT strategies, policies and plans for disaster managementPreparedness is important to enhance the use of telecommunications and information and communication technologies for disaster management and risk reduction. Successful disaster risk reduction results from the combination of top-down, institutional changes and strategies, with bottom-up, local and community-based approaches, including in the areas of telecommunications and ICTs. This includes specific regulation and policies and the development of national emergency telecommunication plans (NETPs) and standard operating procedures. To guide countries, ITU is developing global guidelines for the development of NETPs. This session will present these guidelines, and identify opportunities and challenges in adoption and implementation at the national level. It will highlight the importance of regional and national coordination, the challenges of importing ICT equipment and the importance of the Tampere Convention. The session will also discuss policies and regulation that are necessary to operationalize an NETP.

Moderator
Mr Joseph Burton
Counselor for Technology and Security Policy
International Communications and Information Policy
United States

Biography

Presenter
Mr Cosmas Zavazava
Chief of Projects and Knowledge Management Department
Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Presentation : Global Guidelines to develop National Emergency Telecommunication Plans
Biography

Discussants
H.E. Mr Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi
Associate Minister
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Samoa (Independent State of)

Biography
Ms Abida Shaukat
Director of Radio Based Services
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority

Biography

15:00 - 15:15Coffee breakKindly sponsored by ICTA.
15:15 - 17:00Session 7: People, processes, technologies – a tabletop exercise Tying in with the theme of GET-19, a simulation tabletop exercise on a fictitious disaster will engage participants in an interactive learning experience on the alignment between “people, process, technology” for effective preparedness and response. The objective of this exercise is to increase awareness about the need of inter-agency coordination in disaster preparedness and response, to highlight the need for clear coordination structures and engagement with telecommunication service providers, media agencies, telecommunications bodies, meteorological and seismology service, and disaster management authorities. It will further demonstrate that preparedness efforts can improve response effectiveness, showcase the process of dissemination of warning advisory to the public using ICT-based early warning systems, as well as the value of GIS visualization and ICT enabled tools for decision-making. (Session co-organized with the Emergency Telecommunication Cluster (ETC).)

Facililtator
Mr Mike Zandvliet
Consultant on emergency response and disaster recovery for IT solutions
Mission Control Ltd.
New Zealand

Presentation : Simulation Exercise – Welcome to Getonia!
Biography

Friday, 8 March 2019

09:00 - 10:00Session 8: Improving disaster resilienceICTs are key for building resilient communities by providing timely information on hazards through early warning and alerts and the delivery of critical information for better decision making when disasters strike. At the same time, it is critical to ensure that the resilience of all communication networks is strengthened and remain operational to be used to provide the necessary platforms to keep communication channels open, and to allow citizens to play an active role in disaster management activities. Increasing communication resilience to disasters to help affected governments safeguard systems and prepare for responses when disasters strike also means that extra capacity or capabilities, as well as less vulnerable services such as satellite, are prepared in advance and activated as needed. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction highlights the importance of investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to "build back better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. It is important to invest in resilient ICT infrastructure to ensure that national telecommunication infrastructure is robust enough to provide communications throughout the disaster management cycle. This session will raise awareness on the opportunities of ICT to build more resilient communities. It will also highlight the need to invest in resilient ICT infrastructure for sustainable development and disaster relief and resilience.

Moderator
Ms Elysa Jones
Chair
OASIS Emergency Management Technical Committee

Biography

Presenters
Mr Cedrick Mbeyet
Infrastructure Unit Manager
African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC)

Presentation : Resilience and security of Critical Internet Infrastructures in Africa
Biography
Mr Darmen Ellayah
Police Inspector
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC)
Mauritius

Presentation : Improving Disaster Resilience
Biography
Mr Franz Russ
Director, Business Operations and Infrastructure Procurement
Intelsat Jackson Holdings S. A.

Presentation : Improving Disaster Resiliency Franz Russ Intelsat Director Business Operations and Infrastructure Procurement
Biography

10:00 - 10:30Coffee breakKindly sponsored by ICTA.
10:30 - 12:00Session 9: Transforming the humanitarian response through ICTs Each year millions of people are forced to leave their homes and seek refuge from conflicts, violence, human rights violations, and the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. The number of forcibly displaced people continued to rise throughout 2017 and at the end of 2017, 69 million people were in need of protection and assistance. Up to 85 per cent of the forcibly displaced find refuge in low- and middle-income countries. At the same time new levels of ICT connectivity and use offer new opportunities for addressing the growing challenges deriving from humanitarian crisis. ICTs offer new tools for communicating within and between humanitarian organizations, and to reach their communities at need. They also provide critical information on and for those in need, and offer new services, for example through digital payment and digital identification tools. This session will discuss the main ways that humanitarian operations can become more efficient, effective and responsive by using ICTs. It will also discuss ways of mainstreaming data collection and analysis in emergency response, highlight challenges in terms of connectivity, services and ICT equipment, and address ethical challenges related to the use of data.

Moderator
Mr Timothy Kelly
Lead Digital Development Specialist
World Bank Group

Biography

Presenters
Mr Frank Schott
Managing Director, New Program Development
NetHope

Presentation : NetHope empowers committed organizations to change the world through the power of technology
Biography
Ms Clara Van Praag
Humanitarian Education Accelerator (HEA) Programme Coordinator
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Presentation : Connectivity for Refugees
Biography
Ms Caryn Saslow
Research Associate of the Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT)
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

Presentation : UNOSAT – Transforming the Humanitarian Response through Satellite Imagery & Geospatial Technology
Biography
Mr Charles Yorke
Regional Coordinator
Ghana Refugee Board
Ghana

Presentation : Transforming Humanitarian Response through ICT
Biography

12:00 - 12:30Side-event: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Role in Disaster Planning(Interpretation will not be available for this session.)

Presenter
Ms Kelly O'Keefe
Chief, Multilateral & Regional Affairs Branch International Bureau, Global Strategies and Negotiation Division
Federal Communications Commission
United States

Presentation : FCC Role in Disaster Planning
Biography

12:30 - 13:30Special lunch to celebrate International Women’s Day 2019A special lunch sponsored by ICTA to celebrate International Women’s Day 2019. (The lunch will take place at the Senso restaurant of the Intercontinental Hotel.)

Opening remarks by
Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Biography
Ms Nanjira Sambuli
Senior Policy Manager, World Wide Web Foundation
Member of the United Nations Secretary General's High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation

Biography

13:30 - 14:15Session 10: Results from breakout sessions on day 1 and key lessons of the tabletop exercise on day 2Facilitators of the breakout sessions (Session 3) and the tabletop exercise (Session 7) will present key discussion points, findings and recommendations.

Facilitators
Mr Frank Schott
Managing Director, New Program Development
NetHope

Biography
Mr Chris Weasler
Head, Global Spectrum Policy and Connectivity Crisis Response Program
Facebook

Presentation : Framework for Connectivity Collaboration
Biography
Mr Mike Zandvliet
Consultant on emergency response and disaster recovery for IT solutions
Mission Control Ltd.
New Zealand

Presentation : Simulation Exercise Debrief
Biography

14:15 - 14:30Presentation of Chair's summary and conclusionsThe Chair of GET-2019 will present the conclusions and recommendations of the meeting.

Mr Jerome Louis
Officer-in-Charge
Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA)
Mauritius

Biography

14:30 - 15:00Closing ceremony
Mr Mahmad Aleem Bocus
Chairman
Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA)
Mauritius

Biography
Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Biography