Background
Development focuses on fulfilling people’s needs as a first priority in its processes. People’s voices, especially of the poor, show that poverty means more than ‘low income’: it is also about vulnerability, exclusion and isolation, unaccountable institutions, powerlessness and aggravated exposure to violence. Therefore, development contributes in promoting inclusion, cohesion, resilience, citizen security and accountability; as well as translating relationships between societies, states and communities into operations.
Historically, innovation - in its widest sense - has been used to foster economic and social development. Moving into the 21st century, where ICTs have been proved to be an engine for economic growth and greater citizen inclusiveness; it has become imperative to capitalize on the benefits that the ICT sector can bring to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to mitigate any challenges in the economic ecosystem that could prevent the full utilization of the Innovation in achieving Developmental Goals.
Egypt ICT Trust Fund (ICT-TF) - since almost 12 years - has been constantly promoting, adapting and using innovative tools for sustainable development. ICT-TF is consolidating its role in knowledge sharing, capacity building. It is also building bridges, aiming to support young men and women, people with disabilities and to work closely with several partners from public and private sector, civil society and young individuals.
The Innovation for Development workshop will be led by high-level representatives to create a cross-cutting dialogue among countries to identify best practices in designing and implementing innovation operations and to learn from successful (and unsuccessful) experiences in speakers’ countries.
Objectives
The session will highlight how ICTs have come to play the foremost important role in achieving Sustainable Developmental Goals; focusing on some best practices in this regards, shedding light on how Innovation for Development was used in attaining inclusive empowerment for marginalized segments of the population, as well as addressing challenges in the economic ecosystem that prevent the full utilization of Innovation for Development.
Keywords:
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Policies and operations
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Innovative ICT solutions for solving developmental challenges such as e-education and e-health - ICT for SME’s, and how it has enabled market access bypassing financial roadblocks, energy, food security and e-agriculture